Embedding Embedding Quotations in a Quotations in a

SentenceSentence

Embedding quotations Embedding quotations using transitional words using transitional words helps quoted material helps quoted material

flow naturally and flow naturally and coherently into your coherently into your

paragraph. paragraph.

Example (transition is in red):

As her only child, he isAs her only child, he is “the “the apple of his mother’s eye” apple of his mother’s eye”

(161).(161).

When written properly, When written properly, the reader should not be the reader should not be able to hear where the able to hear where the quotation marks are quotation marks are when the sentence is when the sentence is

read aloud.read aloud.

A properly embedded A properly embedded quotation creates a quotation creates a seamless transition seamless transition

from the background from the background information to the information to the quoted material.quoted material.

A quote should A quote should never stand alone as never stand alone as

a sentence.a sentence.

Take a look at this quote:Take a look at this quote:

Because of his love for his Because of his love for his lady, Federigo lost all of lady, Federigo lost all of his fortune. “And with the his fortune. “And with the object of winning her love, object of winning her love, he rode at the ring, tilted, he rode at the ring, tilted, gave sumptuous banquets, gave sumptuous banquets, and distributed a large and distributed a large number of gifts, spending number of gifts, spending money without restraint money without restraint whatsoever” (162).whatsoever” (162).

The prior example does not The prior example does not make sense when read make sense when read

aloud. Nothing connects aloud. Nothing connects the first sentence to the the first sentence to the

quote. Remember, a quote quote. Remember, a quote should not stand alone as a should not stand alone as a

sentence. sentence.

Also, use Also, use present present tensetense when when

discussing literature.discussing literature.

Now take at look at the Now take at look at the new and improved quote:new and improved quote:

Because of his love Because of his love for his lady, for his lady, Federigo loses all of Federigo loses all of his fortune, his fortune, “spending money “spending money without restraint without restraint whatsoever” (162).whatsoever” (162).

Here’s a really icky Here’s a really icky example:example:

Federigo was devastated Federigo was devastated when he learned that he when he learned that he could not give the lady could not give the lady the one thing she the one thing she requested. “Federigo requested. “Federigo burst into tears in her burst into tears in her presence before long presence before long being able to utter a being able to utter a single word in reply” single word in reply” (164).(164).

Here’s the new and Here’s the new and improved embedded improved embedded

quote:quote:Devastated when he Devastated when he

learns that he can learns that he can not give the lady the not give the lady the one thing she one thing she requests, “Federigo requests, “Federigo [bursts] into tears in [bursts] into tears in her presence,” her presence,” unable to “utter a unable to “utter a single word in reply” single word in reply” (164).(164).

Look at this example of Look at this example of an (uggh) unembedded an (uggh) unembedded

quote:quote: The lady’s brothers do The lady’s brothers do not want her to marry not want her to marry Federigo, but the lady Federigo, but the lady says he is the only one says he is the only one she will marry. “But I she will marry. “But I would sooner have a would sooner have a gentleman without gentleman without riches, than riches riches, than riches without a gentleman” without a gentleman” (164).(164).

Now look at this (yeah) Now look at this (yeah) embedded quote. Notice the embedded quote. Notice the use of single quotation marks use of single quotation marks to note a quote inside a quote:to note a quote inside a quote:

The lady’s brothers The lady’s brothers do not want her to do not want her to marry Federigo, marry Federigo, but she “ ‘would but she “ ‘would sooner have a sooner have a gentleman without gentleman without riches, than riches riches, than riches without a without a gentleman’ ” (164).gentleman’ ” (164).

You may need to You may need to change words within change words within

your quote so that the your quote so that the sentence is sentence is

grammatically correct grammatically correct and is coherent.and is coherent.

When changing words in a When changing words in a sentence, indicate the sentence, indicate the

change by placing change by placing brackets [ ] around the brackets [ ] around the

change in the word or the change in the word or the changed word. changed word.

To omit words in To omit words in the middle of a the middle of a long quote, use long quote, use

ellipses (…)ellipses (…)

Look at this unembedded yucky Look at this unembedded yucky quote:quote:

She does not want to take She does not want to take advantage of Federigo. “At length advantage of Federigo. “At length her maternal instincts gained the her maternal instincts gained the upper hand, and she resolved, upper hand, and she resolved, come what may, to satisfy the come what may, to satisfy the child by going in person to child by going in person to Federigo to collect the bird, and Federigo to collect the bird, and bring it back to him” (162).bring it back to him” (162).

After using After using bracketsbrackets to change verbs to to change verbs to present tense, and present tense, and using using ellipsesellipses to to shorten the quote, shorten the quote, the embedded quote the embedded quote looks like this:looks like this:

Although she does not want Although she does not want to take advantage of to take advantage of Federigo, “her maternal Federigo, “her maternal instincts [gain] the upper instincts [gain] the upper hand, and she [resolves]… to hand, and she [resolves]… to [go] in person to Federigo to [go] in person to Federigo to collect the bird” (162).collect the bird” (162).

How to create a How to create a good transition good transition

into a quotation: into a quotation:

1) Give 1) Give background and background and context for all context for all

quoted material quoted material -- what is -- what is

happening, who happening, who is speaking. is speaking.

2) Only use the 2) Only use the most important most important

part of the part of the quote (for a quote (for a short paper, short paper, ideally less ideally less

than 10 words)than 10 words)

3) Read your 3) Read your sentence sentence

aloud--can you aloud--can you “hear” the “hear” the quotation quotation

marks? You marks? You shouldn’t.shouldn’t.

4) Change verb 4) Change verb tense if tense if

necessary, and necessary, and omit unnecessary omit unnecessary

words and words and phrases; use phrases; use ellipses and ellipses and brackets to brackets to

indicate your indicate your changes.changes.

5) Stay in 5) Stay in present tense.present tense.

6) Never have a 6) Never have a direct quote direct quote

standing by itself standing by itself as a sentence.as a sentence.