Example Of APA Block Quote | Format It Without Errors

Block quotes feel simple until a grader marks off points for one tiny detail: the indent is off, the period is in the wrong spot, or the citation lands inside the sentence when it should sit outside. If you’ve ever stared at a long quote and thought, “Where does the citation go again?”, you’re in the right spot.

This guide gives you the layout, the citation moves that trip people up, and a clean sample you can copy as a pattern. You’ll also get a quick setup path for Word and Google Docs so your formatting doesn’t drift after edits.

APA Block Quote Example With Citation Order

APA Style treats a long quotation as a separate block of text when it hits 40 words or more. That word count is the trigger. Once you cross it, you stop using quotation marks and you set the quote apart with indentation.

The layout has three parts: a lead-in line that introduces the quote, the indented block, and an in-text citation placed at the end in the right order.

Block Quote Detail	What APA Expects	Slip That Costs Points
Length trigger	Use a block format at 40 words or more	Keeping quotation marks past 40 words
New line	Start the block on a fresh line	Running the long quote into the paragraph
Indentation	Indent the whole block 0.5 in. from the left margin	Indenting only the first line, or indenting 1 in.
Spacing	Keep double spacing inside the block	Adding extra blank lines above or below
Quotation marks	Omit quotation marks for the whole block	Leaving marks on the first and last line
Ending punctuation	Keep the period (or other ending mark) in the quoted text	Moving the period after the citation
Citation order	Place the in-text citation after the ending punctuation	Placing the citation before the period
Page or locator	Add a page number or another locator when pages aren’t available	Leaving out the locator for a direct quote

What A Block Quote Looks Like In APA 7

Here’s a clean sample you can model. Notice four things: it starts on a new line, it’s indented as a unit, it stays double-spaced, and the citation comes after the final punctuation.

Lead-in sentence (your words): Martinez described the habit that separates rushed drafting from careful revision:

Writers who revise well do one thing early: they decide what the paragraph is meant to do. Once that job is clear, every sentence gets tested against it. If a line doesn’t serve the paragraph’s job, it gets trimmed or moved, even if it sounds nice on its own. (Martinez, 2021, p. 44)

The quote ends with the period that belongs to the quoted sentence. Then the citation appears in parentheses. No extra period comes after the closing parenthesis.

Where The Citation Goes In A Block Quote

The citation placement is the part that flips compared to short quotations. With a short quote, the citation often appears before the period. With a block quote, the citation comes after the period at the end of the quoted text.

When you format a long quotation as a block, treat the citation as a tag attached to the whole block, not as a piece of the sentence.

Parenthetical Citation Pattern

Use a parenthetical citation when you don’t name the author in your lead-in. The end citation typically includes author, year, and a locator like a page number.

… quoted passage ends here. (Author, Year, p. #)

Narrative Citation Pattern

Use a narrative citation when you name the author in the lead-in. In that case, the end citation usually keeps the locator, while the author and year appear in the lead-in.

… quoted passage ends here. (p. #)

When There’s No Page Number

Some sources don’t use page numbers, like many web pages. APA still wants a way for readers to find the quoted lines. Use a paragraph number, a section heading, or another clear locator that fits the source.

Example Of APA Block Quote With A Multi-Paragraph Passage

A long quotation can span more than one paragraph. The whole block stays indented. Then each new paragraph inside the block gets an extra first-line indent.

The first paragraph of the quoted passage begins here and runs as a normal paragraph within the block quotation, keeping the same left indent as the rest of the block.

The second paragraph begins with an added first-line indent inside the block. The block indent still stays in place for the whole passage. (Nguyen, 2020, pp. 118–119)

That nested indent is easy to miss on a quick skim. It also makes your quote easier to read, since the paragraph break shows up clearly.

How To Set Up A Block Quote In Word And Google Docs

You can format a block quote by tapping Tab a few times, but that route often drifts once you revise. Use paragraph settings instead so the indent stays locked in.

Microsoft Word Setup

1. Write your lead-in sentence, then press Enter.
2. Paste or type the quotation on its own line.
3. Select the block quote text.
4. Open Paragraph settings and set Left Indent to 0.5 inches.
5. Keep double spacing and remove quotation marks.
6. Add the citation after the final punctuation, with a locator.

Google Docs Setup

1. Write your lead-in sentence, then press Enter.
2. Select the block quote text.
3. Go to Format → Align & Indent → Indentation options.
4. Set Left to 0.5 inches and keep double spacing.
5. Delete quotation marks and add the citation after punctuation.

If your paper uses hanging indents on the References page, don’t confuse that with block quote indentation. A block quote indents the entire passage from the left margin, not just the first line.

Choosing The Right Lead-In Sentence

A block quote shouldn’t drop into a paper out of nowhere. Your lead-in gives context and signals why the quote belongs in this paragraph. Without that setup, a long quote reads like a copy-paste dump.

Three lead-in patterns work in most papers:

• Claim then quote: State your point, then use the quote as proof.
• Source-first then quote: Name the author and year, then present the passage as the author’s wording.
• Situation then quote: Name the moment in your argument, then show how the quote fits.

After the block quote, add your own follow-up line or two. Tell the reader what the quoted lines show and how they connect to your claim.

When A Block Quote Helps And When It Hurts

Long quotations are a tool, not a default. Use a block quote when the author’s phrasing matters, when wording needs close attention, or when trimming would change the meaning.

Skip a block quote when you only need one line. A short quotation or paraphrase often reads smoother and leaves room for your own explanation.

Common Block Quote Errors That Trigger Red Ink

Most block quote mistakes fall into a short list. Fix these and you’ll dodge the usual grading traps.

Mixing Quotation Marks With Block Formatting

If you indent the quote as a block, drop the quotation marks. The indentation already signals that the lines are copied word-for-word.

Using The Wrong Punctuation Order

In APA block quotes, the citation follows the ending punctuation. That means the period comes first, then the parentheses.

Forgetting The Locator

A direct quotation needs a locator whenever the source provides one. Page numbers are the usual choice. If pages don’t exist, use another locator that points readers to the spot you quoted.

Over-Quoting

Too many long quotes can make your paper sound like a patchwork of other people’s writing. Use block quotes sparingly, then do the heavy lifting in your own sentences.

APA Style Pages That Set The Rule

If your instructor wants manual-accurate formatting, start with the official APA Style quotations guidance, then check the APA paragraph indentation rules for block quote indentation and multi-paragraph details.

Block Quote Checklist You Can Paste Into Your Draft

This mini checklist is meant for a final pass right before you submit.

• The quotation is 40 words or more.
• The block starts on a new line after a lead-in sentence.
• The entire block is indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• The block stays double-spaced with no extra blank lines.
• No quotation marks appear around the block.
• The ending punctuation stays inside the quoted text.
• The citation comes after the ending punctuation, with a locator.
• If the block has two paragraphs, the second paragraph has a first-line indent inside the block.

If you’re unsure whether your passage reaches 40 words, do a quick count before you format it. Count the words in the quoted text only, not the citation. If it lands at 39, keep the quote in the paragraph. If it lands at 40, switch to the block layout and follow the checklist.

Quick Practice Set With Correct Layout

Use these patterns as a reference. Swap in your own source details and keep the structure the same.

Use Case	Block Quote Layout	Citation Note
Author not named in lead-in	Lead-in sentence, then an indented block, no quotation marks	End with (Author, Year, p. #) after the period
Author named in lead-in	Lead-in names the author and year, then the indented block	End with (p. #) after the period
Two-paragraph quotation	Whole block indented; second paragraph gets first-line indent	Citation appears once at the end of the block
Web page with no pages	Indented block; keep spacing and indentation consistent	Use a heading or paragraph number as a locator
Quote ends with a question mark	Keep the question mark inside the quoted sentence	Place the citation after the question mark
Short quote miscast as a block	Keep the quotation in the paragraph with quotation marks	Citation placement follows the short-quote pattern
Block quote inside your own paragraph	Put your claim before the block, then your follow-up after it	Don’t let the block replace your explanation

How To Use This In A Real Paper

When you’re stuck, build the paragraph in three moves. Start with your claim in one sentence. Add the block quote as proof. Then write two to four sentences that connect the quote back to your claim.

If you want one clean model to compare against your draft, match each piece: lead-in, indent, spacing, punctuation, then citation. Once those line up, you can stop fiddling with margins and get back to writing.

In your next draft, try dropping in one example of apa block quote using the checklist. Then scan your citation placement. If it sits after the punctuation, you’re on the right track.

As you finish, add one more example of apa block quote only if the author’s wording is doing work that your paraphrase can’t match.