As a journalist and content writer, it’s crucial to follow the guidelines of APA style when quoting sources in your work. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to properly quote in APA style. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this guide will help you ensure that your quotes are cited correctly and adhere to academic standards.
Understanding APA Style
APA style is a citation and formatting style established by the American Psychological Association. It is commonly used in the social sciences, education, and business fields. When quoting in APA style, it’s important to follow the rules for in-text citations and reference lists to give proper credit to the original source.
In-Text Citations
When quoting a source in your writing, it’s essential to provide an in-text citation that includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example, if you are quoting a sentence from a book written by John Smith published in 2019, your citation should look like this: (Smith, 2019). If you are directly quoting the text, you will also need to include the page number in your citation.
Quoting Short Passages
For short quotations (less than 40 words), include the quote within the text and enclose it in double quotation marks. Place the author’s name, publication year, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” (Smith, 2019, p. 22).
Quoting Long Passages
For long quotations (40 words or more), use a block quote format where you indent the entire quote on both sides. Do not use quotation marks for block quotes. After the quote, include the author’s name, publication year, and page number in parentheses. Remember that block quotes should be used sparingly and only when the quote is crucial to your argument.
Conclusion
Quoting in APA style may seem daunting at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. Remember to always provide proper credit to your sources and follow the guidelines of APA style to ensure the integrity of your work. We hope this guide has been helpful in navigating the world of quoting in APA style. If you have any questions or additional tips to share, please leave a comment below!