Citing Without Quoting

Citing Without Quoting

Secondary Sources

Integrating Secondary Sources

When you locate a source (primary source) that relates to your overall argument and that source is using academic sources to address the issue itself, the sources embedded in the primary source are called secondary sources. 

Creating a Hanging Indent (Directions)

Creating a Hanging Indent

Start Here

• What is MLA citation style?
• 8th edition changes
• The core elements
• MLA handouts
• Sample MLA formatted papers
• Formatting the hanging indent
• Tutorials
• Learn more
• Related guides

Save time by using Microsoft Word to format the hanging indent:

[1] Select the text you would like to format (you can select your entire list of citations, for example, to format all at once)

[2] From the Home tab in Word, select the arrow next to Paragraph

[3] Next, under Special, select Hanging

[4] Click OK.  Your selected text will now be formatted with a hanging indent.

BASICS: Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Quoting Sources:

When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.

Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources:

When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.

Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.

What are in-text citations?

MLA BASICS: 
http://libguides.reynolds.edu/mla
APA BASICS: 
http://libguides.reynolds.edu/apa

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: APA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: APA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 12 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=577070&p=3980599.

BASICS (MLA)

Web address for this page:: https://libguides.reynolds.edu/mla

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Quoting Sources:

When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.

Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources:

When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.

Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.

What are in-text citations?

MLA Specific Lessons

Signal Phrases

Visit this link for help with Signal Phrases: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/mla-signal-phrases.html

In-text vs Parenthetical Citations

Visit this link for help with In-text / Parenthetical Citations: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/mla-in-text-vs-parenthetical-citations.html

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: MLA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: MLA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 23 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=535461&p=3663645.

(MLA) Signal Phrases

Signal Phrases

Signal phrases let your reader know that you are quoting or summarizing from another source.

Examples:

In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, " . . . "

As Matt Sundeen has noted, " . . . "

Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that " . . . "

" . . . " writes Christine Haughtney.

" . . . " claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs.

Taken from the Bedford Handbook (583)

Verbs in Signal Phrases

acknowledges adds admits agrees argues asserts believes claims

comments compares confirms contends declares denies disputes emphasizes

endorses       grants illustrates implies insists notes observes points out

reasons refutes rejects reports responds suggests thinks writes

(MLA) In text vs. parenthetical citations

In text vs. parenthetical citations

What is an in-text citation?

In an in-text citation, the author's name appears in a sentence and not in parentheses.  Please note that in MLA citing, page numbers (if available) usually go in parentheses.  This is the same whether paraphrasing or quoting.

Examples: 

(APA) In-text vs. parenthetical citations

In-text vs. parenthetical citations

What is an in-text citation?

• In an in-text citation, the author's name appears in the sentence and not in parentheses.  Example: Walters (2003) wrote that most people tend to follow the path of least resistance.
• When the name of the author appears in a sentence, the year of publication, if available, must always follow it. If the year of publication is not available, n.d. (no date) is used instead.  Example:  Johnson and Travers (2016) discussed the causes of this disaster, while Marston (n.d.) focused on the consequences.
• Page numbers must be used in parentheses after a direct quote (this is an exact quote, in quotation marks). If page numbers are not available, paragraph numbers are used. Example: (para. 10).  Page (or paragraph)  numbers are not used when paraphrasing. 
• Book titles and the titles of other standalone works are formatted in title case and in italics. Example: Little House in the Big Woods.
• Article titles and the titles of other parts of works are formatted in title case and in quotation marks. Example: "The Iridescent History of Light."

What is a parenthetical citation?

• A parenthetical citation (also called "in reference") is one where the required information is placed in parentheses.
• In APA style, the information in parentheses consists of the last name(s) of the author(s), the year of publication, and page or paragraph number(s) in the case of an exact quote.  Examples:  (Smith, 2017); (James, Vargas, & Rhodes, n.d.).
• If there is no author, then the title of the article is placed in parentheses, followed by the year (or by n.d. if there is no date). Example: ("The History of the Circus," 1997).
• For long titles, a shortened form of the title is used in parentheses. For example, the title "Milk Chocolate Is Better Than Dark, the End," would be shortened in the parentheses to "Milk Chocolate."

In-text/parenthetical citations and the References list

In-text and/or parenthetical citations must parallel the entries on the References list. See the examples below -- parallel elements are in red.

In-text/parenthetical citations	References
Garber (2016) writes that "dark chocolate hasn't had a glass of Merlot since it saw Sideways" (para. 13).	Garber, M. (2016). Milk chocolate is better than dark, the end. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/milk-chocolate-is-better-than-dark-chocolate-the-end/505511/
While chewing is normal and has health benefits for dogs, they need to be taught what they can chew and what they can't ("Destructive Chewing, " n.d.).	"Destructive chewing." (n.d).  Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/destructive-chewing
Duckworth (2018) writes that cadets with high scores are as likely to drop out of West Point as cadets with low scores.	Duckworth, A. (2018). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. New York, N.Y.: Scribner.

In text and parenthetical citations

One author in text	When you reference an author in the text, you follow the author's name with parentheses containing the year the work was published. Kessler (2003) found that among epidemiological samples, results varied.
One author in reference	When you reference the author in parentheses, use the last name followed by a comma and the year of publication). Early onset results in a more persistent and severe course (Kessler, 2003).
Two authors in text	Refer to the authors by their last names, and follow this with the year of publication in parentheses. Smith and Jones (2007) conducted several studies on the subject.
Two authors in reference	When you refer to more than one author in parentheses, use an ampersand (&) before the last surname and follow that with a comma and the year of publication. Some authors conducted longitudinal studies that spanned decades (Smith & Jones, 2007).
Three to five authors in text	The first time you refer to the authors, use all their names followed by the year in parentheses. For subsequent references, use the surname of the first author followed by "et al." and the year of publication in parentheses. First reference: Smith, Jones, and Taylor (2010) found that.. Subsequent references: Smith et al. (2010) later discovered that...
Three to five authors in reference	First reference: That year, the problem became the subject of many studies (Smith, Jones, Taylor, Coleman, & Anderson, 1976) Subsequent references: A breakthrough finally settled the issue (Smith et al.,  1976).
Six or more authors in text or reference	When you have six or more authors, use this format for either text or reference: Last Name, et al. In text: Smith et al. (2005) found that preferred character traits varied by culture. In reference:  Preferred character traits vary by culture (Smith et al., 2005).
Two or more works in text	Good et al. (2001); Hedden and Gabrieli (2004); Raz (2000); and West (1996), indicated that recent behavioral research has revealed changes that occur with aging in the regulation and processing of emotion.
Two or more works in reference	Recent behavioral research has revealed changes that occur with aging in the regulation and processing of emotion (Good et al., 2001; Hedden & Gabrieli, 2004; Raz, 2000; West, 1996).
Same author (or by the same two or more authors in the same order) with the same publication date in text.	When the same authors have published more than one study in the same year, and every study lists their name in the same order, identify each study with a letter after the year (1996a, 1996b, etc.) Several studies conducted by Smith and Harrison (2005a, 2005b) indicate that increased education has reduced crime in metropolitan areas.
Same author (or by the same two or more authors in the same order) with the same publication date in reference.	Same as above, but the information is placed within the parentheses. Several studies indicate that increased education has reduced crime in metropolitan areas (Smith & Harrison, 2005a, 2005b).
Indirect or secondary source in text	Give the secondary source (Jones) in the reference list and in text, name the original work (Bradley) and give a parenthetical citation for the secondary source (Jones). Bradley stated that orientation classes are necessary for new online college students (as cited in Jones, 2006, p. 42).
Web page with no author	Cite in parentheses the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the year. Use double quotation marks around the title or abbreviated title. This has been argued before ("New Child Vaccine," 2001).
Direct quotation in text, under 40 words	When you are using a direct quotation that is up to 40 words, use quotation marks around it followed by parentheses containing the name of the author(s), a comma, the year of publication, and the page number. Confusing this issue is the overlapping nature of roles in palliative care, whereby “medical needs are met by those in the medical disciplines; nonmedical needs may be addressed by anyone on the team” (Csikai & Chaitin, 2006, p. 112).
Direct quotation in text. No page numbers available	Some online sources do not have page numbers. Use paragraph numbers. If possible, use section heading plus the paragraph number within that section. If section heading is very long, use abbreviated heading (e.g. first few words of heading) with quotation marks. “Sometimes interrogators went beyond the guidelines” (Frankel, 2004, Broad Public Support section, para. 4).  “Unlike professional basketball and American Football, interest in baseball has not been sweeping the globe” (Lahman, 2014, “Origins of the Game,” para. 1).
Direct quotation in text, over 40 words	Omit quotation marks and start a block quotation on a new line and indent one-half inch from the left margin, double-spaced. Others have contradicted this view: Co-presence does not ensure intimate interaction among all group members. Consider large-scale social gatherings in which hundreds or thousands of people gather in a location to perform a ritual or celebrate an event (Smith et al., 2007, p. 12).
Bible, Qu'ran, or other classical religious works	Reference list entries are not required when you cite ancient Greek and Roman works or classic religious works. However, in the first parenthetical citation, indicate the version of the classic work you used.  General in-text reference: The researchers consulted the Bible (King James Version) to provide items for the development of their religious values assessment. Direct quote: Three virtues are extolled in the passage: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:1 New International Version). Paraphrase: The Qur’an prohibits eating pork (Qur’an 5:3).

• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2019 2:22 PM
• Web address for this page:: https://libguides.reynolds.edu/apa

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: APA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: APA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 12 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=577070&p=3980599.

(APA) Signal Phrases

Signal Phrases

Signal phrases let your reader know that you are quoting or summarizing from another source.

Examples:

In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, " . . . "

As Matt Sundeen has noted, " . . . "

Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that " . . . "

" . . . " writes Christine Haughtney.

" . . . " claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs.

Taken from the Bedford Handbook (583)

Verbs in Signal Phrases

acknowledges adds admits agrees argues asserts believes claims

comments compares confirms contends declares denies disputes emphasizes

endorses       grants illustrates implies insists notes observes points out

reasons refutes rejects reports responds suggests thinks writes

• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2019 2:22 PM
• Web address for this page:: https://libguides.reynolds.edu/apa

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: APA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: APA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 12 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=577070&p=3980599.

BASICS (APA)

Web address for this page:: https://libguides.reynolds.edu/apa

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Quoting Sources:

When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.

Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources:

When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.

Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.

What are in-text citations?

APA Specific Lessons

Signal Phrases

Visit this link for help with Signal Phrases: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/signal-phrases.html

In-text vs Parenthetical Citations

Visit this link for help with In-text / Parenthetical Citations: https://learnsourceusage.blogspot.com/2019/09/in-text-vs-parenthetical-citations.html

Works Cited

Woetzel, Denise. “Research Guides: Citation Style: APA: In Text & Parenthetical Citations.” In Text & Parenthetical Citations - Citation Style: APA - Research Guides at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 12 Sept. 2019, libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=577070&p=3980599.

Three or More Authors

Sources With Three or More Authors

There are a number of sources written or created by three or more authors. Many research studies and reports, scholarly journal articles, and government publications are developed by three or more individuals.

If you included the last names of all individuals in your narrative MLA in-text citations or in parentheses, it would be too distracting to the reader. It may also cause the reader to lose sight of the overall message of the paper or assignment. Instead of including all last names, only include the last name of the first individual shown on the source. Follow the first author’s last name with the Latin phrase, “et al.” This Latin phrase translates to “and others.” Add the page number after et al.

MLA In-Text Citation & Parenthetical Guide

Need Help with MLA In-text Citations?  Review the EasyBib helpers below.  If your instructor is using a different edition of MLA, though, you will need to use what your instructor is advocating in that classroom.

MLA In Text Citation & Parenthetical Guide Everything You Need to Know About MLA In-Text and Parenthetical Citations Researchers add quotes or information from books, websites, journals, and many other source types into their own projects or assignments. This is done to: Provide additional evidence to defend or oppose an argument or claim Provide background knowledge on a topic to aid in understanding Include the essence or eloquence of another author’s work in a project

APA Usage (parenthetical / in-text citations)

Need Help with APA In-text Citations?  Review the EasyBib helpers below.  If your instructor is using a different edition of APA, though, you will need to use what your instructor is advocating in that classroom.

APA: Multiple Authors

Need Help with APA In-text Citations?  Review the EasyBib helpers below.  If your instructor is using a different edition of APA, though, you will need to use what your instructor is advocating in that classroom.

Works with three to five authors

Using Signal Phrases to Avoid Dropped Quotes

ELIMINATE DROPPED QUOTATIONS

Always use proper signal phrases

You need to integrate borrowed material naturally into your own work so that it reads smoothly as part of your paper.  You will not ever have a sentence that is entirely from an outside source. 

Use of an outside source always requi

Cite, Sight, and Site: What’s the Difference?

Cite, Sight, and Site: What’s the Difference?

Wikipedia as a Spring-Board to RELIABLE, CREDIBLE Sources

When conducting research for yourself or others (such as in an article or essay), you can use Wikipedia to spring-board your ideas on the topic.  However, since Wikipedia is not always reliable—meaning that the content is not always properly verified or accurate—it is best to not use any content from Wikipedia to construct your opinions or arguments on a matter. Instead, peruse the content on Wikipedia, gather ideas, write down some notes about keywords, people, or issues, and then get ready to search the library for scholarly sources to learn as much accurate content as possible. 

See the helpful links below to understand how to use Wikipedia successfully, or even to create your own Wikipedia page, but remember, DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE.

Signal Phrases

Humanities › Languages

Examples of Signal Phrases in Grammar and Composition

By Richard Nordquist 

Updated September 10, 2018

In English grammar, a signal phrase is a phrase, clause, or sentence that introduces a quotation, paraphrase, or summary. It's also called a quotative frame or a dialogue guide. A signal phrase includes a verb (such as said or wrote) along with the name of the person who's being quoted. Although a signal phrase most often appears before a quotation, the phrase may instead come after it or in the middle of it. Editors and style guides generally advise writers to vary the positions of signal phrases to improve readability throughout a text. Examples of How to Vary Signal Phrases Maya Angelou said, "Start loving yourself before you ask someone else to love you." "Start loving yourself before you ask someone else to love you," Maya Angelou said. "Start loving yourself," Maya Angelou said, "before you ask someone else to love you." As Mark Twain observed, "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions." According to Frito-Lay research, women snack only 14 percent ... The candidate insisted that the tariff must be reduced to a "competitive basis" and taxes ... Undernourished children have long been India’s scourge—“a national shame,” in the words of its prime minister ... Common signal phrase verbs include the following:  argue, assert, claim, comment,confirm, contend, declare, deny, emphasize, illustrate, imply, insist, note, observe, point out, report, respond, say, suggest, think, and write. Context, Flow, and Citation In nonfiction, signal phrases are used to give attribution rather than set off dialogue. They are important to use when you are paraphrasing or quoting someone's ideas other than your own, as at best it's intellectually dishonest if not plagiarism to do so, depending on the amount of text used and how closely it mirrors the original text. "A signal phrase usually names the author of the source and often provides some context for the source material. The first time you mention an author, use the full name: Shelby Foote argues. ... When you refer to the author again, you may use the last name only: Foote raises an important question. "A signal phrase indicates the boundary between your words and the source's words." (Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers, A Pocket Style Manual, 6th ed. Macmillan, 2012) "Readers should never be in doubt about your use of a source. Your frame can introduce, interrupt, follow, or even surround the words or ideas taken from sources, but be sure that your  signal phrases are grammatical and lead naturally into the material." (John J. Ruszkiewicz and Jay T. Dolmage, How to Write Anything: A Guide and Reference With Readings. Macmillan, 2010) "If we mention the author's name in the text in a signal phrase ('According to Richard Lanham ...'), then the parenthetical citation includes the page number only (18). If we use more than one work by an author, and we have identified his or her name in the text, our parenthetical citation must include a short title of the work cited and a page number ( Style 18)." (Scott Rice, Right Words, Right Places. Wadsworth, 1993) "You ... need to integrate borrowed material naturally into your own work so that it reads smoothly as part of your paper. ... Leaving the signal phrase out results in an error known as dropped quotation. Dropped quotations appear out of nowhere. They can confuse your reader and interrupt the flow of your own writing." (Luis A. Nazario, Deborah D. Borchers, and William F. Lewis, Bridges to Better Writing, 2nd ed. Cengage, 2013) Punctuating Signal Phrases Punctuating signal phrases in a sentence is simple and straightforward. "If the quotation begins the sentence, the words telling who is speaking ... are set off with a comma unless the quotation ends with a question mark or an exclamation point. ... ·         'I didn't even know it was broken,' I said. ·         'Do you have any questions?' she asked. ·         'You mean I can go!' I answered excitedly. ·         'Yes,' she said, 'consider this just a warning.' "Notice that most of the previous quotations begin with a capital letter. But when a quotation is interrupted by a signal phrase, the second part doesn't begin with a capital letter unless the second part is a new sentence." (Paige Wilson and Teresa Ferster Glazier, The Least You Should Know About English: Writing Skills, 12th ed. Cengage, 2015)

Nordquist, Richard. "Examples of Signal Phrases in Grammar and

Composition." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2018, thoughtco.com/

signal-phrase-grammar-and-com