How do I quote in an essay?
William Rodriguez
Updated on February 21, 2026
The following general steps address how to properly integrate a quotation into an essay.
- Step 1: Introduce the Author of the Quotation. ...
- Step 2: State the Quotation. ...
- Step 3: Summarize the Quotation. ...
- Step 4: Analyze the Quotation. ...
- Step 5: State the Quotation's Relevance to Your Argument.
How do you quote in a paper example?
For example, if you are using MLA, you can use author's last name and then the year in parentheses: "Quote," (Doe, 2016). If you don't know the author's last name, then use the article title: "Quote" (Title of Article, 2016).How do you lead a quote into an essay?
Introduce the quote with a descriptive verb.Use descriptive verbs like "states," "remarks," "notes," "comments," or "maintains." Always use the last name of the author, followed by the descriptive verb. Then, use a comma and include the quote.
How do you properly quote?
To quote a source, you must ensure: The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks or formatted as a block quote. The original author is correctly cited.
...
Introducing quotes
- Add an introductory sentence.
- Use an introductory signal phrase.
- Integrate the quote into your own sentence.