Formatting a quote block may seem complicated, but it's actually quite easy to do. The process of formatting a citation block depends on the citation style you are using: Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychology Association (APA), or Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago). These three styles use a fairly similar format, although there are slight differences between each style.
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Method 1 of 3: Creating Quote Blocks in MLA Style
Step 1. Use block quotes if your quote is longer than 3-4 lines
When using the MLA format, block citations should be used if the material or information cited is more than three stanzas (eg in poetry). Use block quotes if the text is longer than four lines of prose (eg in novels).
- For example, if you are quoting the first stanza of Sapadi Djoko Damono's Metamorphosis, you will need to use block quotes because the stanza is longer than three lines.
- As another example, you might want to quote a paragraph from the novel Pintu Forbidden by Sekar Ayu Asmara. If the paragraph is longer than four lines, use block quotes.
Step 2. Begin the quote with a short sentence
Place a colon or comma at the end of the sentence towards the quote block, depending on the punctuation you feel is more appropriate. Use a colon if the quote is a continuation of your opinion or statement. Insert a comma to indicate the author's speech. For example, you could write it like this:
- "Roland Barthes wanted to understand the difference between cinema and photography:"
- In his novel White Jacket, Herman Melville argues,"
Step 3. Add quotes on a new line, without quotes
Unlike short quotes in the MLA style, block quotes do not require quotes. You need to start the quote on a separate line. Press the “Enter” key to create a new paragraph specifically for citation material/information. For example, your quote would look like this:
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Roland Barthes wants to understand the difference between cinema and photography:
My interest in photography turned to the cultural realm. I feel like I like photography more than cinema, but I know I can't separate the two. This question keeps stuck in my mind. I also have an “ontological” desire: I want to learn as much as possible about the “identity” of photography itself.
Step 4. Make the quote indent 1.3 centimeters from the left margin
All quotations should be indented to appear as separate “blocks” of text from the rest of the paragraph. To make the text indent, mark the entire quote and press the “Tab” key on the keyboard. You can also move the tab on the ruler above the document 1.3 centimeters to the right.
If you are quoting more than one paragraph, make the first line of each paragraph indent by 0.6 centimeters
Step 5. Double-space the quote
The MLA format requires double spacing in all major text sections. Keep this spacing on the quote block.
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If you quote more than three lines of poetry, keep the line division and original formatting. As an example,
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Don't do it again
visit
face that feels
in vain, the white one
the passer
that. (Darmono 1)
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Step 6. Add author information and page numbers in parentheses at the end of the citation
Place the citation information after the closing punctuation mark in the last sentence. Don't write "p." (for English), “p.”, or other abbreviation before the page number. For example, your quote entry would look like this:
"I also have an "ontological" desire: I want to learn as much as possible about the "identity" of photography itself." (Barthes 3)"
Step 7. Continue your writing on a new line
After completing the quote block, press “Enter” key to create a new one. If you want to continue on the same paragraph, remove the indents and keep normal margins. If you are starting a new paragraph, make the first line of the paragraph indent by 1.3 centimeters.
Method 2 of 3: Creating Quote Blocks in APA Style
Step 1. Use citation blocks for material/information that has 40 words or more
The APA style requires you to use block quotes based on word count. Count the words in the quote to determine if the number exceeds 40. If so, use block quotes.
- In a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, you can mark the citation and click the “Word Count” option in the “Review” or “Proofing” menu. The option will tell you the number of words in the quote.
- For example, if you are quoting a long paragraph from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, you should use a citation block.
Step 2. Begin the quote with a marker phrase
A marker phrase is a sentence that tells readers that you are going to quote information. Place a comma or colon at the end of the phrase. There are three common ways of starting a quote block in the APA style. You can:
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Mention the author and year of publication of the source at the beginning of the sentence. For example, you could write it as follows,
In Morgan's 2013 study, he stated,
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Include only the author's name in the text at the beginning of the sentence. For this pattern, you must enclose the year of publication in parentheses and place it after the author's name. As an example,
Morgan (2013) suggests that:
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Do not mention the author's name at the beginning of the sentence. For example, you could write it as follows,
Several studies show disagreement with these findings:
Step 3. Make the quote indent 1.3 centimeters from the left margin
Start the quote on a new line. Mark the quote and press the “Tab” key once. Alternatively, move the tab on the ruler over the document 1.3 centimeters. All citations must be indented. You don't need to use quotes for quotes.
If you are quoting multiple paragraphs, make the first line of each paragraph in the quote indent by 1.3 centimeters
Step 4. Use double spacing on quotes
In APA style, the entire text must use double spacing, including block quotes. To apply double spacing to a quote, mark the quote first. Click the paragraph formatting button and select the “double” or “2.0” line spacing option.
Step 5. Place the citation information in parentheses at the end of the citation
You may need to state the author, year of publication, and the page number of the cited information, depending on how you start the citation. Separate each quote element with a comma and insert the abbreviation "p." or "things." before the page number. Place this entry at the end of the closing punctuation mark after the last sentence in the quote.
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If you include the author's name and the year the source text was published in a tagging phrase, you only need to include the page number at the end of the citation. As an example,
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In Jones' 1998 study, he found that:
The scent of lavender reduced stress by 20%. Individuals who were exposed had lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to the control group. Lavender also decreased the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (p. 112)
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For Indonesian:
In research conducted by Jones in 1998, he suggested that:
The scent of lavender can reduce stress levels by up to 20%. The people who were exposed to the scent also had lower heart rate and blood pressure than the control group. Lavender can also reduce the time it takes subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (p. 112)
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Jones (1998) found that:
The scent of lavender reduced stress by 20%. Individuals who were exposed had lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to the control group. Lavender also decreased the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (p. 112)
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For Indonesian:
Jones (1998) suggests that:
The scent of lavender can reduce stress levels by up to 20%. The people who were exposed to the scent also had lower heart rate and blood pressure than the control group. Lavender can also reduce the time it takes subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (p. 112)
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If you don't mention the author's name and year of publication at the beginning of the sentence, you will need to include the author's name, year, and page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. As an example,
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One study found that:
The scent of lavender reduced stress by 20%. Individuals who were exposed had lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to the control group. Lavender also decreased the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (Jones, 1998, p. 112)
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For Indonesian:
A study shows that:
The scent of lavender can reduce stress levels by up to 20%. The people who were exposed to the scent also had lower heart rate and blood pressure than the control group. Lavender can also reduce the time it takes subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (Jones, 1998, p. 112)
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Step 6. Reuse normal margins after the quote is complete
Press the “Enter” key to create a new line. If you want to write in the same paragraph, leave the quotation hanging or indented and remove the indentation on new lines. If you are starting a new paragraph, make the first line of the new paragraph indent by 1.3 centimeters.
Method 3 of 3: Creating Quote Blocks in Chicago Style
Step 1. Use block quotes for text that is longer than five lines or 100 words
This rule usually applies to prose. If you are citing poetry, create a citation block if the text is more than two lines long.
For example, if you are quoting a seven-line paragraph from Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre, you need to use a quote block
Step 2. Begin the quote with a marker phrase
This sentence or phrase can contain a figure making a statement or presenting an argument explaining the importance of this quote. End the marker phrase with a colon or comma.
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Use a colon if the quote can prove or further your point. For example, you could write it as follows:
In a variety of ways, text can establish the difference between what is seen and what is not:
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Use a comma if the quote is only used to indicate what the author/resource is saying. As an example,
In his response, Jones said,
Step 3. Start the block quote on a new line without quotes
After introducing the quote, start the quote on a new line. With placement like this, you can separate the quote from the rest of the text.
Step 4. Make the quote indent 1.3 centimeters from the left margin
In most computer and writing applications, you can make your text indent by marking the quote and pressing the “Tab” key. You can also slide the tab on the ruler 1.3 centimeters to the right.
Step 5. Apply single spacing to quotes
Although the rest of the text uses double spacing, citations must be formatted in single spacing. Bookmark quotes. Open the paragraph formatting options in a word processing program and click the " Single " or "1.0" spacing option.
If you are quoting multiple paragraphs, make the first line of the paragraph indent by 0.6 centimeters. Use the same formatting on the first line in subsequent paragraphs
Step 6. Add a footnote or bracketed quote at the end of the quote
Place a footnote or parenthetical quote after the closing punctuation mark in the last sentence of the quote.
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The first footnote must contain the author's name, title of the text, location of publication, name of publisher, and date of publication (follow this order). As an example,
Peterson, Mary. Effects of Smoking on the Body. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984
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The parenthetical quote is added after the closing punctuation mark in the quote block and looks like this:
(Peterson, 118)
Step 7. Use a new line to continue writing
Once the quote is complete, create a new line to continue writing. If the same paragraph continues, remove the indentation or indentation to return to normal margins. If you want to create a new paragraph, make the first line of the paragraph indent by 1.3 centimeters.
