How to quote quotations is about using the right quotation marks, nesting quotes cleanly, and giving a clear citation so readers can trace the original words.
You’ve got a line you want to use. The snag: that line already contains a quote. Maybe it’s dialogue inside a memoir. Maybe it’s an interview transcript inside a news article. Or maybe you’re quoting a scholar who quoted someone else. If you copy it carelessly, you can distort meaning or end up with punctuation soup.
This guide shows you how to handle quotations inside quotations, when to switch to a block quote, and how to cite what you used. You’ll also see a simple workflow you can reuse for any assignment.
What Counts As A Quotation Inside A Quotation
A “quotation inside a quotation” happens any time the words you’re quoting include someone else’s exact words. You’re doing two jobs at once: quoting your source, and keeping the quote that already lives inside your source.
You’ll see this in:
- Dialogue in novels, memoirs, and plays
- Interviews, transcripts, and oral history
- Articles that quote an expert, a witness, or a public statement
- Academic writing that quotes a definition or a central line
Your goal is readability first: make it obvious which words belong to which speaker, and don’t bury the reader in punctuation.
How To Quote Quotations In Essays And Reports
Most school writing in the U.S. uses double quotation marks for the main quote, then single quotation marks for the quote inside it. Some British styles flip the order. Your class rules win.
| Situation | What To Do | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|
| A short quote that contains a shorter quote | Use double quotes outside, single quotes inside | Two voices are easy to spot |
| A quote inside a quote inside a quote | Rewrite the sentence or shorten the inner quote | Punctuation doesn’t take over |
| A long quote (block format) that contains a short quote | Block the long quote, keep marks only for the inner quote | The block itself has no outer quotes |
| You need to cut words out of the middle | Use an ellipsis with the style your class uses | The cut doesn’t change meaning |
| You need to add clarity inside the quote | Add bracketed words, keep them brief | Your additions stay honest |
| You’re quoting a quote found quoted in another source | Try to locate the original source before using it | You can cite what you actually read |
| Your quote ends the sentence | Place punctuation based on your style guide | Periods and commas sit correctly |
| Your quote is part of your sentence | Blend it grammatically and keep your voice around it | The sentence still reads smoothly |
Standard nested marks in American usage:
- Outer level: double quotation marks
- Inner level: single quotation marks
Build The Sentence Before You Add Quotation Marks
Write your sentence without quotation marks first. Decide where the borrowed words begin and end. Add the outer marks. Then scan the borrowed words for any quoted speech and wrap only that inner part in single marks.
Keep The Reader Oriented With Clear Attribution
When a quote already contains a quote, your reader needs a steady “who said what” trail. Use speaker names, author names, or source labels right before the quotation. Then add the citation your style requires.
If the quote is doing heavy lifting, add one plain sentence after it that explains why it belongs in your paragraph. Don’t drop a quote and sprint away.
A quick test: cover the quote with your hand. If the paragraph still makes sense, you’ve set it up well. If it falls apart, add a stronger lead-in and a clearer follow-up line too.
Quotation Marks Rules That Prevent Punctuation Chaos
Quotation marks signal exact words taken from a source. Purdue OWL gives a clear overview of common cases, including single marks inside double marks. Cross-check tricky punctuation with Purdue OWL quotation marks guidance.
Put Single Quotation Marks Only Around The Inner Quote
Don’t switch the whole sentence to single quotes just because there’s an inner quote. Single marks have one job here: mark the quote that lives inside the quote you’re already using.
Watch End Punctuation When Quotes Nest
End punctuation can stack up when you have nested quotes. A clean fix is to rewrite the sentence so the quote doesn’t end the line, or to trim the quote so punctuation stays readable. If you must end with nested marks, proofread slowly and check your class style rules.
Use Block Quotes When Length Forces It
If the quoted passage is long, a block quote reads better than a run-in quote full of commas and quote marks. Many style guides set a threshold for when to block a quotation. In APA style, a quotation of 40 words or more is formatted as a block quote, with no quotation marks around the block. APA’s official page lists the setup on APA Style quotations rules.
Lead in with your own words so the reader knows what they’re about to read and why it belongs.
Step By Step Method For Quoting A Quote Inside A Quote
Use this workflow when you’re building a paragraph with nested quotation marks. It also helps you keep your citation tied to the words you used.
- Copy the exact passage from your source into a draft file.
- Mark the exact words you plan to keep, then delete the rest.
- Check whether the passage contains quoted speech or quoted text.
- Add outer quotation marks around the passage you’re using.
- Add single quotation marks around the inner quoted words only.
- Blend the quote into your sentence so it reads naturally.
- Add the citation in the format your class requires.
- Reread once and fix any clunky spots.
When The Inner Quote Is Too Long
Sometimes the inner quote is the problem. It’s long, packed with commas, or full of names the reader doesn’t need. Try one of these moves:
- Quote only the most useful fragment of the inner quote.
- Paraphrase the inner quote and keep only a short exact phrase.
- Switch to a block quote if length is the main issue.
- Rewrite the sentence and describe the inner quote in your own words.
When You Need To Change A Word Inside A Quote
Sometimes you need to adjust tense, add a name, or clarify a pronoun so the quote fits your sentence. Brackets are the standard tool. Use them sparingly, keep them short, and never use them to twist what the source meant.
Quoting Quotations In MLA, APA, And Chicago
The nested quotation idea stays the same across styles: outer marks for your direct quote, inner marks for quoted text inside it. What changes is citation format, punctuation habits, and block quote rules.
MLA writing often uses author and page number, while APA uses author and year, then a locator like a page number for direct quotes. Chicago often uses notes, depending on the version you’re assigned.
Pick One Style And Apply It Everywhere
A paper looks careless when citation details shift from paragraph to paragraph. Choose the style your class requires and stick with it across the whole draft.
Use Locators When You Quote Directly
Direct quotes deserve a locator when the source provides one. Printed sources usually give page numbers. Many PDFs do, too. Some web pages don’t, so your style guide may tell you to use headings, paragraph numbers, or another locator.
When you’re learning how to quote quotations, treating locators as part of the quote helps you avoid a last-minute scramble.
Common Mistakes That Make Quotes Look Wrong
Most quote problems come from small, avoidable slips. These are the ones teachers spot fast.
- Stacking quote marks without a reason. If you see three quote marks in a row, pause and check what each one is doing.
- Leaving out attribution. A quote with no “who said it” feels floating and weak.
- Dropping a quote without commentary. Your paragraph needs your voice before and after the quote.
- Editing the quote silently. If you change words, show it with brackets or ellipses as your style requires.
- Using a quote you didn’t verify. If you copied a line from a quote-collection site, track down the real source.
How To Quote Quotations In Emails And Slides
Not every quote lives in an essay. You might be writing an email to a teacher, building a slide deck, or preparing a handout. The same honesty rules apply: if you use someone’s exact words, mark them as a quote and name the source.
Keep Quotes Short In Slides
Slides are skimmed. Use a short line, add the speaker’s name, and put the source in small text at the bottom. If the quote contains a quote, trim it until it still makes sense with minimal punctuation.
Use Plain Formatting In Email
Email clients can mangle indentation and spacing. If you need a longer quotation, use a simple indentation or a vertical bar at the start of each line, then cite the source clearly. If you paste a quote that includes another quote, keep the nested marks so meaning stays intact.
Secondhand Quotes And How To Handle Them Safely
Sometimes you can’t reach the original source. Maybe the book is out of print. In that case, you’re dealing with a secondhand quote: you’re quoting a source that quoted someone else.
The cleanest move is to find the original source and quote it directly. When that’s not possible, be transparent in your wording. Name the source you actually read, and avoid implying you saw the original document.
Also, keep the quote short. The more you lean on a secondhand quote, the easier it is to inherit someone else’s mistake.
Quick Style Differences For Long Quotes
Block quotes are where students slip up, since each style sets its own threshold. Use this table as a quick contrast, then check your assigned style guide for details.
| Style | When To Block A Quote | Outer Quotation Marks? |
|---|---|---|
| APA (7th) | 40 words or more | No |
| MLA (9th) | More than four lines of prose or three lines of verse | No |
| Chicago | Often 100+ words or about 6–8 lines | No |
Mini Checklist Before You Submit
Run this pass before you turn in your work.
- Every direct quote has quotation marks or block formatting.
- Every quote has a clear source and a locator when available.
- Nested quotes use double marks outside and single marks inside (or the reverse if your class uses that style).
- Brackets and ellipses show changes, and they don’t change meaning.
- Your paragraph has your own sentence before and after any longer quote.
- You didn’t rely on a quote you can’t trace to a credible source.
Clean quoting is mostly small habits done every time. Do that, and your writing reads smoother, looks more credible, and keeps you away from accidental plagiarism.