How to Format Block Quotes in MLA Style
MLA Block Quote Requirements
In MLA style, format any prose quote exceeding four lines as a block quote. Start the quote on a new line, indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin, and maintain double-spacing. Omit quotation marks and place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark.
Step 1: Identify when to use a block format
Before formatting, verify that your quote meets the length requirements for a block format. For prose, the quote must occupy more than four lines of your typed essay. For poetry, use the block format if you are quoting more than three lines of verse. Using block formatting for shorter quotes is a common error that can disrupt the flow of your essay and may lead to point deductions for improper style adherence. Always prioritize paraphrasing unless the specific wording of a long passage is essential to your analysis.
Step 2: Introduce the quote with a colon
Introduce the block quote with a formal lead-in sentence that provides context for the reader. This introductory sentence should typically end with a colon, rather than a comma. The colon signals to the reader that a substantial piece of evidence is about to follow. Ensure the lead-in sentence is a complete thought that connects the upcoming quote to your thesis or the specific argument of the paragraph. Avoid simply dropping the quote into the text without a clear transition.
Step 3: Apply the 0.5-inch indentation
Start the quote on a new line. Highlight the entire quoted passage and use your word processor's ruler or paragraph settings to indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin. This is usually one hit of the 'Tab' key, but ensure the entire block moves together, not just the first line. The right margin should remain at the standard one inch. Do not use opening or closing quotation marks around the block; the physical indentation serves as the visual cue that the text is a direct quotation.
Step 4: Place the citation after the period
The punctuation rules for block quotes differ from standard in-text citations. In a block quote, you must place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark of the quote. For example, if the quote ends with a period, place the (Author Page) citation immediately after that period with one space in between. Do not place a second period after the citation. Ensure the citation includes the author's last name and the specific page number, assuming the author has not been mentioned in the lead-in sentence.
Example: MLA Prose Block Quote
In *The Great Gatsby*, Fitzgerald describes the decadent atmosphere of Gatsby's parties: The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other's names. Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word. (Fitzgerald 40) The next line of your essay begins at the original left margin without an indent, unless you are starting a new paragraph.
Common Block Quote Mistakes
Avoid these frequent errors when formatting long quotes:
- Including quotation marks: Do not use quotation marks around the block unless there is dialogue within the quoted text.
- Incorrect punctuation placement: Placing the period after the citation is a mistake. In block quotes, the period comes first.
- Single-spacing: Students often single-space block quotes to save room, but MLA requires double-spacing throughout the entire document.
- Extra margins: Only indent from the left side. Do not indent the right margin of a block quote.
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