As a writer, one of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to properly quote sources in your work. In academic writing, it is crucial to give credit to the original author by including proper citations. The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most widely used citation styles in the social sciences. In this blog post, we will provide a beginner’s guide to quoting in APA style.
Understanding APA Style
A key aspect of APA style is the use of in-text citations to acknowledge the original source of information. When quoting directly from a source, you must include the author’s last name, the publication year, and the page number in parentheses at the end of the quote. For example: (Smith, 2019, p. 25).
Quoting Short Passages
When quoting a short passage (less than 40 words), you should include the quote within quotation marks. Make sure to also include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number in parentheses immediately after the quote. For example: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” (Smith, 2019, p. 25).
Quoting Long Passages
For longer passages (more than 40 words), you should create a block quote by indenting the entire quote and omitting the quotation marks. Remember to include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark. Block quotes should be double-spaced and indented from the left margin.
Paraphrasing and Quoting
In addition to direct quotes, you can also paraphrase information from a source. When paraphrasing, it is still important to provide a citation to the original source. Make sure to reword the information in your own words and include an in-text citation with the author’s last name and publication year.
Conclusion
Quoting in APA style may seem daunting at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. Remember to always give credit to the original author and follow the guidelines set forth by the APA style manual. By mastering the art of quoting in APA style, you will elevate the professionalism and credibility of your writing.
We hope this beginner’s guide to quoting in APA style has been helpful. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or tips to share!