When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations
differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating
quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced.
Short quotations
To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your
text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page
citation (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the text, and include a complete reference
on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should
appear after the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points should appear
within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical
citation if they are a part of your text.
For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:
According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though
others disagree.
According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184).
Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
When short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in short
quotations of verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and
follow the slash).
Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I remember" (11-12).
Long quotations
For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a
free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the
entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the
first line of the quotation by an additional quarter inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs.
Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting
verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your
essay.)
For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense,
so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or
else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on
quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in
recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)