Quoting from Sources—Helpful Hints and Examples (Gary Soto’s book)
Keep these guidelines in mind:
- Quote only when something is aptly said or where your ideas need authoritative support. Otherwise, use your own words and ideas that your research and discovery generated.
- Always try to keep quotations as short as possible.
MLA Works Cited Page entry for Gary Soto’s book:
Soto,
APA References Page entry for Gary Soto’s book:
Soto, G. (2000). The
effect of knut hamsun on a fresno boy.
How to end your sentence with a quotation:
Original in
Soto’s book:
“I also thought
it was my duty to tell her about Christ by saying a bed-time prayer” Soto 85).
Our
modified version (MLA Format):
Soto says
that as a parent he felt he had to tell his daughter “about Christ by saying a
bed-time prayer” Soto 85).
How to use ellipses
(three spaced dots) to omit words:
Original in
Soto’s book:
“Outside
on the street I mentioned that my favorite color was forest green and, your
hand tightening around my waist, you asked, “What color is that?” I tried to
describe it by saying that it was a color like a large forest seen close up”
(Soto 48-49).
Our
modified version (MLA Format):
“Outside
on the street I mentioned that my favorite color was forest green and . . . I
tried to describe it by saying that it was a color like a large forest seen
close up” (Soto 48-9).