How to cite a quote within a quote: use double marks for the outer passage and single marks for the nested one, then credit the source you actually read. This is a small but important part of writing a strong essay. American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and Chicago Manual of Style rules all follow this same punctuation pattern, though the citation phrasing differs by format. This guide covers the exact rules for each style, the block-quotation exception, and the mistakes students make most often.
The Basic Mechanics of Nesting Quote Marks
A nested quotation happens when the passage you are citing already contains someone else’s words. In standard American English, the outer passage takes double marks and the inner one takes single marks, and the source you cite is the one you actually read, not the person quoted inside it.
According to the study, “the committee announced that ‘all preliminary results were withdrawn’ before the vote” (Chen, 2023, p. 12).
The double marks belong to Chen, the author you read. The single marks belong to the person Chen is quoting inside their own sentence. This same pattern applies whether you are citing an article or citing a book chapter that repeats another researcher’s words.
Periods and commas go inside every closing mark, including the innermost one. Question marks and exclamation points go inside the marks only when the question or exclamation belongs to the quoted words themselves, not to your own sentence.
Do APA, MLA, and Chicago Use the Same Rules for a Quote Within a Quote?
No. Punctuation stays the same across styles, but the citation phrase that signals a secondhand source changes by format. APA uses “as cited in,” MLA uses “qtd. in,” and Chicago spells out “quoted in.” The same table below applies whether you are citing a newspaper article or a peer-reviewed journal.
| Style | In-text phrase | Bibliography entry |
|---|---|---|
| APA (7th ed.) | (as cited in Chen, 2023) | List only the indirect source (Chen) that you actually read |
| MLA (9th ed.) | (qtd. in Chen 12) | List only the indirect source (Chen) in your bibliography |
| Chicago (17th ed.) | quoted in Chen | List only the indirect source (Chen) in the bibliography |
The American Psychological Association’s guidance on indirect sources confirms this exact phrasing, and only the work you actually read belongs in your bibliography. The MLA Style Center’s rules for quoted material within quoted material use “qtd. in” for the same purpose. The Chicago Manual of Style spells the phrase out rather than abbreviating it.
How Do You Punctuate a Nested Quote Inside a Long Quoted Passage?
Once a passage is long enough to become a block quotation, typically 40 or more words in APA or four or more lines in MLA, the outer marks disappear entirely because the indentation already signals that this is quoted material.
The committee members sat in silence. When the lead researcher finally spoke, saying “all results must be considered preliminary at this stage,” several members audibly reacted. The implications were clear to everyone present. (Chen, 2023, p. 45)
Notice the inner passage still uses regular double marks, even though the outer marks were removed. This is the one case where a nested passage does not follow the double-outside, single-inside pattern, since there is no outer mark left to nest inside of. The official APA guidelines on quotations confirm that block quotations of 40 words or more drop the surrounding marks in exactly this way.
When Should You Cite the Original Source Instead of an Indirect One?
Track down and cite the original source directly whenever the inner passage is central to your argument, not just a passing mention. Academic writing rewards an original source over a secondhand, indirect source whenever you can reasonably get access to it.
- The passage is core evidence for your argument, not background color
- The original source is reasonably accessible through your library or a database
- You are writing a thesis, dissertation, or publication where rigor matters most
- The indirect source may have altered, condensed, or mistranscribed the wording
An indirect citation is acceptable when the initial material is genuinely out of reach, such as a historical document, an untranslated foreign-language work, or one of many out-of-print sources. It is also fine when the passage is illustrative rather than load-bearing, or when you are specifically discussing how the go-between source used it. Deciding this early, while you are still outlining your essay, saves you from rewriting citations later. If the nested passage turns out to be less important than the surrounding argument, consider paraphrasing instead of quoting it directly.
Do American and British English Use the Same Nested Mark Order?
No. American English places double marks on the outer passage and single marks on the nested one, the pattern used throughout this guide. British publishers commonly reverse that order, though house style varies.
This American-versus-British distinction is documented in university writing guides such as the British vs. American English resource from the University of Nevada, Reno. Follow whichever convention your instructor, publisher, or department specifies, and stay consistent across the whole paper rather than mixing the two systems.
What Mistakes Do Students Make Most Often With Nested Citations?
Four errors account for most of the nested-citation mistakes instructors flag: mismatched marks, wrong attribution, unverified wording, and unnecessary triple nesting. Fixing these is part of improving your overall essay writing, not just your citations.
If a nested passage is doing more work than clarifying your point, break it out, explain the context in your own words, and save the direct wording for the single most important phrase. For more on introducing quotations in an essay or citing a website, browse the full citation guide library for style-specific walkthroughs on other primary and secondary sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if there is a quote within a quote within a quote?
Triple nesting is rare and technically follows an alternating pattern of double, single, double marks. In practice, if a sentence needs three layers of punctuation, it usually reads more clearly if you paraphrase the outer layer or cite the initial source directly instead.
Do I list both the original and indirect source in my bibliography?
No. In APA, MLA, and Chicago style, you list only the go-between work, the material you actually read, in your reference list. The initial author’s name appears only in the in-text citation, introduced with “as cited in,” “qtd. in,” or “quoted in,” depending on format.
How do I handle a nested quote from a source in another language?
Use the translated wording as it appears in the work you read, and keep the same double-outside, single-inside punctuation. Note in your sentence or a footnote that the passage is translated, and credit the translator if the go-between source identifies one.
Can I use ellipses inside a nested quote?
Yes. Use an ellipsis to omit unnecessary words from either layer, as long as the omission does not change the initial author’s meaning. Keep the surrounding marks exactly where they were before you trimmed the wording.
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Terry is a Chicago-based writer and editor who creates practical, student-friendly guides on essay writing, research, and citation styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago). He’s spent 15+ years editing educational content and building clear examples that help readers apply rules without guessing. When he’s not revising drafts, he’s usually turning messy notes into clean outlines and hunting down the one detail everyone skips.