Example of a Quote: What a Direct Quote Looks Like and How to Cite It
A quote is another writer’s exact words, copied without change and placed inside quotation marks with a citation showing where they came from. Here is a plain example:
According to Singh et al. (2019), “quotes can be useful in academic writing” (p. 25).
That single sentence contains the three parts every quote needs: quotation marks around the borrowed words, a signal of who said them, and a citation pointing to the source. Below are more examples in each major style, plus how a quote differs from a paraphrase.
Example of a quote in APA style
APA puts the author, year, and page number with the quote:
Business expert Laura MacLellan (2018) said, “Ever-improving mobile and I-cloud computing technology continues to make fixed addresses less relevant” (p. 16).
Or with the citation at the end:
One study concluded that “quotes can be useful in academic writing” (Singh et al., 2019, p. 25).
For the full rules, see APA quote citation.
Example of a quote in MLA style
MLA uses the author’s last name and a page number, with no comma between them:
The shift toward hybrid skill sets “could open up opportunities for women to move laterally into tech departments from other specialties” (Mayor 18).
For more, see MLA quote citation and how to quote in MLA.
What are the parts of a quote?
Every properly used quote has three parts. First, the exact words, unchanged, inside double quotation marks. Second, a signal phrase or attribution that tells the reader whose words these are (“According to Singh et al.,”). Third, a citation in the required style so the reader can find the original. Drop any one of these and the quote is either unclear or, if the citation is missing, plagiarism.
Example of a quote vs a paraphrase
A quote copies the words exactly. A paraphrase restates the idea in your own words, and still needs a citation. Same source, two ways to use it:
Quote: Flora Lewis wrote that “learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.”
Paraphrase: Lewis argued that a new language changes not just vocabulary but the way a person thinks.
Quote when the exact wording matters or is memorable; paraphrase, which you should do more often, when you only need the idea. See direct quotes and how to paraphrase a quote.
How to introduce a quote in a sentence
Do not drop a quote in without warning. Lead in with a signal phrase and the right punctuation. A full sentence introduction takes a colon; a partial one flows with a comma or no punctuation:
She made the point directly: “Fixed addresses matter less every year.”
MacLellan noted that technology “continues to make fixed addresses less relevant.”
For the full set of lead-ins, see how to introduce a quote.
FAQ
What is an example of a quote?
According to Singh et al. (2019), “quotes can be useful in academic writing” (p. 25). It shows the three parts: quotation marks, an attribution, and a citation.
Do you always need a citation with a quote?
Yes. Any borrowed exact wording needs a citation, and so does a paraphrase. Without one, using someone else’s words is plagiarism.
What is the difference between a quote and a paraphrase?
A quote copies the words exactly and uses quotation marks. A paraphrase restates the idea in your own words. Both need a citation.
How long can a quote be?
Short quotes run inline. Longer ones, roughly 40 words in APA or four lines in MLA, become block quotes with no quotation marks. See how to block quote.