How to Use Direct Quotes
This Resource Page will help you:
- Understand what direct quoting is and why it’s important in scholarly work
- Learn the differences between direct quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing
- Use strategies for effective direct quoting
What are Direct Quotes?
Direct quoting is the practice of copying a part of text or spoken words from a source into your own writing or speech, exactly as it originally appears. It involves reproducing the original author's exact words and is typically enclosed in quotation marks.
Direct quotes are often used when you want to emphasize the author's specific wording, particularly when it's a unique or influential phrasing. They require proper attribution to the original source to avoid plagiarism.
Below is an example of a direct quote:
According to Trenholm et al. (2015), “feedback practices are varied and complex” (p. 1197).
To know more about APA formatting rules for direct quotes, check our resource page on citations and how to use them in APA style.
What is the Difference between Direct Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing?
Direct Quoting involves using the exact words from another source and placing them within quotation marks. Direct quotes are valuable when you want to emphasize the author's specific wording, particularly when it's a unique or influential phrasing.
Paraphrasing allows you to rephrase the source's content in your own words, maintaining the original meaning but altering the sentence structure and vocabulary. It requires a deeper engagement with the material and demonstrates your grasp of its nuances. To learn more about paraphrasing strategies, check our resource page on how to paraphrase.
Summarizing involves condensing the main ideas of a source into a shorter version, capturing the essential points while omitting minor details. Summaries provide an overview of the source's key arguments. To learn more about summarizing strategies, check our resource page on summarizing.
For more information on the difference among paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing, check this video from St. Michael’s College Library and the Writing Advice page at the University of Toronto.
Why do we use Direct Quotes?
Provide evidence: Direct quotes support arguments or claims made in academic writing, providing concrete evidence from reputable sources.
- Ensure accuracy: Using the original author's exact words guarantees precision in conveying their ideas, avoiding misinterpretation or distortion of their meaning.
Increase authority: Quoting authoritative sources can lend credibility to the writer's argument, demonstrating thorough research and engagement with the topic or focused issues.
- Engage with existing scholarship: Incorporating direct quotes allows you to engage directly with the work of other scholars, facilitating academic dialogue and critique.
When to Use and not to Use Direct Quotes
Direct quoting is appropriate...
When quoting a definition or specific term
García (2009) refers translanguaging as “the act performed by bilinguals of accessing different linguistic features or various modes of what are described as autonomous languages, in order to maximize communicative potential” (p. 140).
When an author expresses an idea uniquely or powerfully
According to Soreide (2006), “if several positions make clusters within a discourse, an identity will emerge” (p.529).
When providing evidence for an argument
The technological challenges faced by instructors and universities in teaching were also recognized by Stacey & Wiliam’s (2012) study, in which the authors found that instructors and universities had a difficult time to “keep pace with the use of technology for doing and teaching mathematics” (p. 721).
Direct quoting is not appropriate...
When synthesizing information from multiple sources
As indicated by scholars in most recent studies (e.g., Brown, 2020; James, 2023; Patal, 2022), the integration of technology into language education offers a multifaceted view on enhancing learning outcomes.
When summarizing the information in your own words is more concise
According to a study by Anderson and Jiang (2018), the pervasive use of digital media among adolescents has been linked to notable shifts in social interaction patterns. Specifically, they found a decline in face-to-face communication skills among youth, attributed to the increased preference for digital communication platforms. With the finding, the authors argued that this shift could have long-term implications for social development and relationship building in the digital age.
The information summarized above covers the three-page content elaborated in in Anderson and Jiang’s article.
When expressing your personal opinion or sharing your personal experiences
From my personal experience, incorporating only ten minutes of meditation into daily routine has significantly reduced my stress levels. Initially skeptical, I noticed a profound change over several weeks, marked by increased calmness and a better ability to handle stressful situations. This firsthand experience has convinced me of meditation’s potential benefits, aligning with the research findings of Smith et al. (2020) on the efficacy of mindfulness practices.
How to Use Direct Quotes
Integrating quotations in academic writing is a skill that requires balance. While quotations can provide valuable evidence and support for your arguments, you should use them sparingly. Overusing direct quotes can detract from your voice and analysis.
Here are some strategies on how to integrate quotations effectively without overusing them:
- Only use quotations that directly contribute to your argument or provide significant support. Avoid including quotations for the sake of filling space or appearing scholarly. Each quotation should have a clear purpose and relevance to your discussion.
Example: But it is not only the vocabulary of a language that determines how and what we think and perceive, but also the grammar. In the Hopi language, no distinction is made between past, present and future; it is a "timeless language" (Gross, 1996, p. 324), compared with English. In European languages, time is treated as an objective entity, as if it were a ruler with equal spaces or intervals marked off. There is a clear demarcation between past, present and future corresponding to three separate sections of a ruler.
- You can also omit part of the contents of a quote by using an ellipsis (three dots) to represent the removed text. Please note that you should not change the original meaning of the quote when doing so.
Example: Gross (1996) points out that in the language it is "not only in the vocabulary… but also the grammar" (p.137) that influences how and what we understand.
- After presenting a quotation, follow up with your own analysis or interpretation. Explain the significance of the quotation in relation to your argument. This demonstrates your engagement with the material and reinforces your perspective.
Example: Smith (2001) claims that "education is the key to societal progress." (p. 12) This assertion aligns with the idea that informed citizens contribute to the advancement of society through knowledge and critical thinking.
- Before or after a quotation, provide contextual information to help readers understand its relevance. Explain why the quotation is significant, how it supports your argument, or how it contributes to the ongoing academic conversation.
Example: Dr. Johnson, a leading expert in education policy and reform, contends that technology holds the potential to revolutionize traditional teaching methods. In her influential work on the intersection of technology and education, she argues that the integration of digital tools in classrooms can cater to diverse learning styles, enhance student engagement, and better prepare individuals for the demands of the modern workforce. As she eloquently states, “In this digital age, education must evolve to meet the dynamic needs of learners, and technology serves as a catalyst for this transformative process” (2021, p. 34). By emphasizing the role of technology in transforming education, Dr. Johnson contributes to the ongoing academic conversation surrounding innovative teaching methodologies and the evolving landscape of learning environments.
- Instead of using a direct quotation, consider paraphrasing or summarizing the author's ideas. This allows you to incorporate the information in your own words while still crediting the source. Paraphrasing and summarizing demonstrate a deeper understanding of the material and showcase your analytical skills.
Check How to Summarize and How to Paraphrase for examples and strategies for summarizing and paraphrasing.
If you need support about direct quoting in APA style, refer to Citations and APA Style resource page. You can find the information regarding direct quotes from slide 4 and 5 in the section “What are In-Text Citations and How to Create them?”