This article covers how to introduce a quote in an essay. We focus on integrating a quotation into your writing, not the mechanics of citing it. For citation format guidance, see our guide on how to cite sources in essays (APA, MLA, and Chicago).
When introducing a quote, you have three options:
- Use a complete sentence to set it up
- Integrate the quote seamlessly into your own writing
- Use a simple introductory word or lead-in to get started
In the sections below, we cover each method with examples. Knowing how to introduce a quote correctly is one of the most practical essay writing skills you can develop.
Quotes are valuable when they support your claim or demonstrate that you understand your sources. The process of using a quote well breaks down into three steps:
- Making a statement (your argument or claim)
- Introducing the quotation
- Analyzing (explaining how the quote supports your point)
Note: For APA and MLA format, read our article on how to cite sources in essays. Need help with essay structure? See our how to write an essay guide.
Before diving into the methods, let’s cover the basics of quotation marks.
How to Use Quotation Marks (Inverted Commas)
When you use a quote exactly as written, place inverted commas around it. This shows the information comes directly from the original and has not been altered.
American and British styles differ in their use of inverted commas:
| Style | Outside | Inside | Comma | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | Double | Single | Inside | Inside |
| British | Single | Double | Outside | Outside |
American:
As Freeman reported, “Van Dusen could be heard being outraged, ‘I can’t believe she said, “Can you help me?”!’”
British:
As Freeman reported, ‘Van Dusen could be heard being outraged, “I can’t believe she said, ‘Can you help me?’!”’
Exception: In APA and MLA styles, the final punctuation mark goes after the citation in parentheses.
APA example:
Taylor (2016) thinks the response to punishment is anger: “Punishment, especially if its justice is doubtful,…coarsens the human soul and hardens it” (p.72).
MLA example:
Spencer defines social evolution as a “transition from a state of relative uncertainty, incoherence, and homogeneity to a state of relative certainty, connectedness, and versatility” (54).
In terms of punctuation, you can introduce a quote with:
- A comma, if you use signal verbs like “says,” “states,” “explains,” etc. (see the full list in the next chapter)
- A colon, if you use a complete sentence before inserting the quotation
- No punctuation mark, if you use words like “that,” “as,” or if you seamlessly integrate the quotation into your text
What introductory words can I use for quotations?
Apart from standard words like “believes” or “notes,” you can use dozens of synonyms as quote starters. Each word carries its own connotation, so choose carefully. The examples below are placed after the term “the author” or the author’s last name. We show usage after the list.
| VERBS | SYN | SYN | SYN | SYN | SYN | SYN | SYN | SYN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announce | claim | mention | note | point to | refer | remark | report | state |
| Answer | react | reply | respond | retort | ||||
| Approve | accept | acknowledge | admit | agree | allow | confirm | endorse | praise |
| Argue | disagree | disapprove | dispute | object | oppose | protest | urge | |
| Ask | beg | demand | explore | insist | investigate | plead | question | request |
| Assume | hypothesize | imagine | imply | infer | speculate | theorize | think | wonder |
| Call | brand | designate | label | name | stamp | tag | title | |
| Decide | agree | conclude | judge | opt for | take a stand | |||
| Denounce | accuse | blame | censure | condemn | correct | criticize | slander | vilify |
| Deny | decline | refuse | refute | reject | ||||
| Describe | characterize | compare | express | formulate | report | |||
| Discuss | analyze | comment on | conclude | debate | evaluate | review | suggest | talk about |
| Explain | clarify | define | demonstrate | elaborate | expound | illustrate | make clear | portray |
| Inform | acquaint | advise | caution | instruct | notify | reassure | warn | |
| Repeat | rehash | reiterate | restate | retell | ||||
| Say | allege | assert | assert | comment | enounce | pronounce | speak | voice |
| Show | display | emphasize | expose | indicate | manifest | note | point out | reveal |
| Tell | cite | narrate | quote | report | review |
Another popular way to introduce an excerpt is by using the expression “according to.”
According to Harlow (2006), nominalists “denied the existence of a single Divine entity …, oriented researchers away from theological problems, and considered natural phenomena the subject of scientific knowledge” (p.22).
Whether you are learning how to quote in an essay for the first time or refining your style, full signal phrases give you more natural ways to introduce a quote than repeating the same verb. Most use the author’s last name rather than a full name. The table below pairs each phrase with an example sentence.
| Signal Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| According to X, | According to Freeman, “the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice.” |
| As X argues, | As Freeman argues, “the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice.” |
| In the words of X, | In the words of Freeman, “the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice.” |
| X states that | Smith states that the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice. |
| X points out that | Freeman points out that the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice. |
| In X’s view, | In Freeman’s view, “the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice.” |
| X emphasizes that | Freeman emphasizes that the habit forms within three weeks of consistent practice. |
When to Use Quotes
Do not insert quotations randomly in your essay. That will confuse your reader and weaken your argument. Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing a direct quote:
Pick an excerpt that supports your claim. Use results from credible research, an opinion from a subject matter expert, or confirmed statistics. You can also cite a passage from a text you are reviewing or critiquing.
Don’t leave an excerpt without proper analysis. Your analysis must connect the wording to your point. If you cannot explain how a quote relates to your claim, leave it out.
Use direct quotations sparingly. Essays are about showing your point of view. A maximum of one excerpt per paragraph is a good rule. If you need more support, consider paraphrasing instead.
Note: Do not start or end a paragraph with a quote!
Your tutor wants to see how you understand the topic, not just how many field experts you can reference.
Starting an Essay With a Quote
Many students want to know how to start an essay with a quote, and the short answer is: carefully. Opening an essay with a quotation works only when the excerpt does real work. It should support your thesis, not fill space before your point begins. Readers expect the introduction to signal what the essay is about within the first few sentences, so a quotation that wanders off-topic costs you more than it earns.
When it works: use an opening quotation when the source states your central idea more sharply than you could paraphrase it, when the author carries authority on your subject, or when the wording itself is what you plan to analyze, such as in a close reading of a text. This approach is common in research-based essays that build on a published source from the first line.
When to avoid it: skip the quote-first opener for short essays, timed exams, or any assignment where the instructor asks for your own voice from the first line. An excerpt with no lead-in reads as a stall tactic rather than a strong start.
How to frame the opening line:
Never drop the excerpt on its own. Name the author, using their last name or the source title if no author is credited, note the year if it matters to your argument, and connect the original wording to the point you are about to make.
Good example (framed, tied to thesis):
Author and researcher Angela Duckworth states that “grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals” (Duckworth, 2016, p.8). This definition captures exactly what separates students who finish difficult projects from those who abandon them, and it is the pattern this essay traces across three case studies.
Once your opening excerpt is in place, move directly into your thesis statement so the reader sees the connection right away. For more on building the rest of your opening paragraph, see our guide on how to start an essay.
The Quote Sandwich Method
The most reliable way to introduce a quote is to follow the quote sandwich method: Lead-In, Quote, Analysis. This three-part structure ensures every quotation is properly set up and explained.
- Lead-In: A sentence or phrase that introduces the source and frames the quote
- Quote: The exact words from your source, in quotation marks
- Analysis: Your explanation of how the quote supports your argument
Good example (sandwich method applied):
Smith argues that early education shapes lifelong habits: “Children who read for pleasure before age ten are significantly more likely to become lifelong readers” (Smith, 2018, p.44). This finding supports the need for schools to prioritize independent reading time in the early grades.
Poor example (orphan quote, no context or analysis):
“Children who read for pleasure before age ten are significantly more likely to become lifelong readers.” Reading is important for education.
The good example names the source, provides the exact quotation, and explains why it matters. The poor example drops the quote with no context and no follow-up. Instructors often call this an “orphan quote.”
Introducing a Short Quote
A short excerpt is one that fits on four or fewer lines in your essay. Use inverted commas and cite the origin inline. There are three ways to introduce a short quote:
Signal words or phrases:
In his book, Winstanley (2009) says, “With developed eidetic memory, a person can ‘see’ a missing object down to the smallest detail” (p.13).
A full-sentence introduction:
According to Jung (1997), these spheres are essentially opposites: “The unconscious is like a reflection of a mountain in a lake, a mirror image, the back of the conscious … the unconscious is regarded as performing a compensatory function” (p.298).
Seamless quote integration:
The difference between rational and irrational functions is that the former “base their modus operandi on the judgment of the mind,” whereas the latter base theirs on “the sheer perception” (Jung, 1998, p.720).
Introducing a Block Quote
Block quotations are used for longer passages. In APA format, a block quotation is required when a passage exceeds 40 words. In MLA format, use one when a passage runs more than four typed lines. Block quotations do not use inverted commas. Indent the entire passage instead. For formatting requirements, see our essay format guide.
Block quotations require more analysis than short quotes. The longer the passage, the more your reader needs you to explain its significance.
The methods for curing patients in the medieval and early modern time periods would probably be considered torture today:
The hospital regime was a mixture of punishment and religious devotion. Chains, manacles, locks, and stocks appear in the hospital inventory from this time. The shock of corporal punishment was believed to cure some conditions, while isolation was thought to help a person “come to their senses.” (“From Bethlehem”)
Introducing Paraphrases and Summaries
When you express information from a source in your own words, you do not need quotation marks. You still need to cite the source and provide your own analysis. Learn the difference in our guide on paraphrasing vs. summarizing.
Original:
“Every bit of incoming information presents a choice: whether to pay attention, whether to reply, and whether to factor it into an impending decision. But decision science has shown that people faced with a plethora of choices are apt to make no decision at all” (Begley 30).
Summary:
More options make it harder for people to make a decision, Begley argues (30).
Paraphrase:
We have to process all the data we receive and decide what to do with it, from ignoring it to using it for a decision (Begley 30). Too many choices can leave us unable to decide, according to decision science (30).
Can I alter quotes?
Yes. You can condense the original passage by removing details that are not relevant to your argument. Shorter quotes are often more effective. Use an ellipsis to remove unnecessary parts and follow these guidelines:
- Do not place an ellipsis if you use only a brief excerpt.
- Do not omit information if its absence distorts the original meaning of the quote.
- Put a period before the ellipsis if you skip one or more sentences.
Wilde absolutizes art, affirming its dominant position in the world: “A great artist invents a type, and Life tries to copy it … Literature always anticipates life. It does not copy it but molds it to its purpose” (11).
You can also use square brackets to show that you changed or added words. This is necessary when you need context to understand the quote or when pronouns need to agree with their antecedents.
Taylor reports, “He [Jonathan] tried to persuade me of his innocence, but all the evidence was against him” (55).
As Robert Ballard recounts, “It [the final resting place of the RMS Titanic] is a quiet and peaceful place and a fitting place for the remains of this greatest of sea tragedies to rest” (Eckholm).
When you include a poem, show where the line breaks by using a slash (/).
Heaney directly compares poetry writing to the digging his ancestors did: “Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests. / I’ll dig with it” (line 29-31).
Common Mistakes When Introducing Quotes
Even students who understand how to introduce a quote sometimes fall into predictable traps. Here are the most common errors to avoid:
- Orphan quotes: Dropping a quote with no lead-in. Always name the source before quoting.
- No analysis: Ending a paragraph with a quote. Always explain what the quote means in the context of your argument.
- Over-quoting: Using too many direct quotations instead of your own voice. Aim for no more than one excerpt per paragraph.
- Misrepresenting the original: Cutting words in a way that changes the meaning. If in doubt, paraphrase instead.
- Wrong format: Forgetting to indent block quotes or adding inverted commas around them. Check the required essay format (MLA, APA, or Chicago).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you introduce a quote in an essay?
Learning how to introduce a quote in an essay comes down to three steps. Name the source and frame the excerpt, add the quotation in inverted commas, and follow it with your analysis. This is called the quote sandwich method: Lead-In, Quote, Analysis.
What is a signal phrase when introducing a quote?
A signal phrase is a word or short phrase that attributes a quote to its source. Common examples include “Smith argues,” “According to Jones,” and “As Williams notes.” You follow the signal phrase with a comma and then the quotation.
When should I use a block quote instead of a short quote?
Use a block quote when a passage is more than 40 words (APA) or more than four typed lines (MLA). Block quotes are indented and do not use quotation marks. They require more analysis in the text that follows.
Can I start a sentence with a quote?
Technically yes, but it is generally poor practice. Starting a sentence with a quote gives your reader no context and no signal phrase to identify the source. It is better to begin with a lead-in that names the author.
What is the difference between a quote and a paraphrase?
A direct quote uses the exact words from a source and requires quotation marks. A paraphrase rewrites the idea in your own words and does not use quotation marks, but still requires a citation. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on paraphrasing vs. summarizing.
The list of references
- Suggested Ways to Introduce Quotations — Columbia College
- Words That Introduce Quotes or Paraphrases — Gallaudet University
- Integrating Quotes — Ashford University
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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.