How to Format Block Quotes in APA Style
APA Block Quote Requirements
In APA 7th edition, you must format any direct quotation of 40 words or more as a block quote. This technique involves moving the text to a new line, indenting the entire passage, and adjusting the placement of your citation. Follow these steps to ensure your long quotes meet academic standards.
Step 1: Verify the word count
Before formatting, confirm the quote contains at least 40 words. APA style distinguishes between short quotes (fewer than 40 words) and long quotes (40+ words). Short quotes remain in-line with your paragraph and require quotation marks. Long quotes must be pulled out into a distinct block. If your quote is 39 words, keep it in the paragraph; if it is 40, start a block.
Step 2: Create a new line and indent
Start the block quote on a new line. Do not use quotation marks to enclose the block. Instead, indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin. This is the same distance as a standard paragraph indent. If the block quote spans multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of the second and subsequent paragraphs an additional 0.5 inches (1 inch total from the margin).
Step 3: Maintain double-spacing
Apply double-spacing to the entire block quote. Students often mistakenly single-space block quotes to save room, but APA 7th edition requires consistent double-spacing throughout the document. Do not add extra blank lines before or after the block quote to separate it from your own prose.
Step 4: Position the citation
Place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark. This is a reversal of standard in-text citation rules. For a block quote, the period ends the sentence, followed by a space and the parentheses containing the author, year, and page number (e.g., Smith, 2023, p. 42). If you cited the author in the narrative leading into the quote, only the page number is required in the final parentheses.
APA Block Quote Example
Here is how a properly formatted block quote appears in a student paper: ` Researchers have noted significant changes in student behavior during the transition to remote learning:` ` The shift to digital platforms necessitated a complete overhaul of traditional study habits. Students reported higher levels of fatigue and a decreased ability to focus during synchronous lectures. Despite these challenges, many found that the flexibility of recorded sessions allowed for better time management in the long run. (Miller, 2021, p. 115)` ` This suggests that while the initial transition was difficult, there were unforeseen benefits.`
Common Block Quote Mistakes
Avoid these frequent errors to maintain APA compliance:
- Using quotation marks: Do not use quotation marks around the block. The indentation itself signals that the text is a quote.
- Incorrect punctuation placement: Do not put the period after the citation. In block quotes, the period comes before the parentheses.
- Single spacing: Never single-space the block. It must match the double-spacing of your primary text.
- Floating quotes: Always introduce a block quote with your own words. Never start a paragraph with a block quote without a lead-in sentence.
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