How to Quote in a Research Paper
To quote in a research paper, copy the source’s words exactly, wrap them in quotation marks, introduce them with a signal phrase, and follow them with an in-text citation that points to the source and page. Use a direct quote only when the original wording matters; otherwise paraphrase. The mechanics are the same across APA and MLA, but the citation format differs. Here is how to quote a source, quote an author, and handle the punctuation and citations that go with it.
When to quote versus paraphrase
Quote when the exact wording carries the meaning: a precise definition, a memorable phrase, a claim you’re going to analyze word by word, or language so specific that rewording would distort it. Paraphrase in every other case, which is most of the time. Research papers that quote too much read as stitched-together sources rather than your own argument. A good working ratio is mostly paraphrase, with direct quotes reserved for the few places where the words themselves are the evidence. Our guide on how to paraphrase a quote covers the alternative in detail.
How to quote a source in a research paper
Four parts make a correctly quoted sentence. First, a signal phrase that names the source and sets up the quote: Smith argues that… or According to the 2021 report,…. Second, the quoted words in quotation marks, copied exactly, including any original spelling. Third, the in-text citation with the location. Fourth, your own sentence explaining why the quote matters, so it doesn’t sit there unexplained.
In APA: Smith (2020) noted that “the effect was strongest in younger participants” (p. 14). In MLA: Smith argues that “the effect was strongest in younger participants” (14). APA includes the year with the author and uses “p.” before the page; MLA gives just the page number. For the full rules, see how to cite a quote.
How to quote an author in a research paper
Naming the author in your signal phrase is usually the cleaner choice, because it tells the reader whose idea it is before they read it and keeps the parenthetical short. When you name the author in the sentence, you don’t repeat the name in the citation. In APA, put the year in parentheses right after the name; in MLA, you only need the page number at the end. If you don’t name the author in the sentence, put the name in the parentheses instead: (Smith, 2020, p. 14) or (Smith 14). Signal phrases like “argues,” “notes,” “found,” and “claims” are covered in signal phrases for quotes and how to introduce a quote.
Short quotes versus block quotes
Short quotes run inside your paragraph in quotation marks. Longer passages become block quotes: set off from the text, indented, and without quotation marks. The length threshold differs by style. In MLA, quotations longer than four lines of prose are blocked. In APA, the threshold is 40 words. In a block quote, the citation goes after the closing punctuation, not before it, which is the reverse of an inline quote. The formatting rules are in how to block quote.
Punctuation and small changes
Commas and periods go inside the closing quotation mark in American usage. When your signal phrase ends with “that,” you usually don’t need a comma before the quote: Smith argues that “…”. When it’s a full introductory clause, use a comma: Smith puts it plainly, “…”. If you need to change a quote to fit your sentence, use square brackets for added or altered words and an ellipsis (…) for omitted words, but never change the meaning. Keep the original spelling; if there’s an error in the source, you can mark it with [sic].
How to integrate a quote smoothly
A quote should read as part of your sentence, not a foreign object dropped into it. Three integration methods cover most cases. Weave the quoted words into your own grammar so the sentence reads correctly with the quote in place: The report calls the trend “unmistakable and accelerating” (p. 3). Introduce with a colon after a complete sentence: The conclusion is blunt: “the model failed” (p. 9). Or use a signal phrase and comma for a fuller quote. Whichever you pick, the grammar of your sentence and the quoted fragment has to line up, which is where square brackets earn their place, letting you adjust a verb tense or pronoun so the seams don’t show.
Handling a quote within a quote
When the passage you’re quoting already contains quotation marks, switch the inner set to single quotation marks so the reader can tell them apart: She wrote, “the term ‘objective’ is doing a lot of work here” (p. 5). In a block quote, which uses no outer quotation marks, keep the source’s original double quotation marks as they appear. This comes up often with sources that themselves quote other people, and getting the nesting right signals careful handling of the material.
FAQ
How do you quote a source in a research paper?
Introduce it with a signal phrase, put the exact words in quotation marks, add an in-text citation with the page number, and then explain the quote in your own words.
How much of a research paper should be quotes?
As little as possible. Quote only when the exact wording is the evidence; paraphrase everything else. Papers dominated by quotes read as summaries rather than arguments.
Do you need a page number when you quote?
Yes, for direct quotes. Both APA and MLA require the page (or paragraph) number so a reader can find the exact passage.
How do you quote an author’s exact words?
Copy them exactly, enclose them in quotation marks, and cite the source. Use square brackets for any words you add and an ellipsis for words you remove, without changing the meaning.