Introduction to APA Style Quotes
APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used for research papers in the social sciences. One key element of APA style is incorporating and quoting outside sources in the text of a paper. Authors need to properly cite any information, ideas, or direct quotations taken from outside sources, whether that be a book, article, website or other material. This helps avoid plagiarism and allows readers to identify the original sources of information. Proper quoting in APA style is important for research integrity and to strengthen arguments by drawing on credible evidence from experts in the field.
There are specific rules in APA style for incorporating both short and long quotes into the text of a paper. Short quotes are word-for-word extracts under 40 words, while long quotes are any extracts over 40 words. Both require proper in-text citations and attribution, but formatting differs slightly. Knowing when and how to properly quote outside sources is integral for any research paper. This article will provide an in-depth overview of APA style guidelines for quoting and citing sources, with examples to illustrate proper format.
Use of Short Quotes
Short quotes under 40 words should be incorporated into the text and enclosed by double quotation marks. Provide the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number(s) in parentheses immediately after the quote. For example:
Smith (2020) states that “some key considerations when analyzing data include addressing issues of reliability and validity” (p. 30).
If the author’s name is included in the text, only include the year in parentheses:
As Smith (2020) noted, “some key considerations when analyzing data include addressing issues of reliability and validity” (p. 30).
If the quotation is attributed to multiple authors with the same last name, provide both authors’ initials and the year:
“Reliability refers to consistency of measures” (J. Smith & P. Smith, 2021, p. 45).
For quotations with no page numbers (such as electronic sources), no page number is included in the citation.
Formatting of Long Quotes
Long quotes of 40 or more words should be formatted as a block quote and indented 0.5 inches from the left margin. Font size should remain the same as the rest of the paper. Do not use quotation marks. Provide the author, year, and page number(s) after the final punctuation mark of the long quote.
For example:
Brown (2019) analyzed factors impacting research methodology:
Reliability and validity are fundamental concepts in research design. Reliability refers to the consistency of measures, or the degree to which an instrument measures the same way each time it is used under the same condition with the same subjects. Validity refers to how well an instrument measures what it purports to measure. Multiple strategies exist to increase reliability and establish validity. (p. 56)
(Brown, 2019, p. 56)
Integrating Multiple Quotations
When incorporating multiple related quotations, introduce them individually and separate by semicolons. Include the page number with the final citation only:
Jones (2018) discussed key considerations: “It is important to establish consistent measures; valid instruments must align with what is intended to measure” (p. 102). Smith (2017) also noted the importance of “reliable and valid methodology; without these standards, results cannot be interpreted meaningfully” (p. 102).
Quotations With Ellipses
Use an ellipsis (…) to indicate words have been omitted from a quotation. Place ellipses inside “quotation marks for short quotes or before the final punctuation in block quotes. For example:
Jones (2018) stated “Reliability ensures results can be…replicated” (p. 45).
Brown (2019) discussed methodology standards:
Consistency in measures helps “…establish reliability across studies” (p. 67)…
Altering Quotations
Altering or correcting portions of direct quotations should be noted using [brackets]. For example:
Williams (2020) emphasized the importance of reliability, noting it “refers to measures being [consistent] each time” (p. 104).
Omitting Author From In-Text Citations
When the author’s name is included in the narrative, only include the page number(s) in parentheses after the quotation:
As noted earlier, Williams (2020) stated reliability “refers to measures being [consistent] each time” (p. 104).
Summary of APA Style Quotes
Proper quoting in APA style helps integrate and evaluate evidence from authoritative sources. Short quotes under 40 words are included in double quotation marks with attribution in the text; long quotes of 40+ words are block indented without quotation marks. Both require in-text author, year, page citations. Altering quotations, multiple quotes, and omitting the author when named all have specific APA conventions. Following these guidelines ensures quotes are correctly attributed and integrated to strengthen research validity. Proper quoting is a fundamental aspect of ethics and integrity in scholarly research papers.