Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz

We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book!

  • Home
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Member Login
    • About
    • Support
    • Legal Information
  • Resources
    • Free Stuff!
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Read Our Books
    • Who to hire
  • Sign Up Today!

How To Properly Quote A Book: Citing Quotes From A Book The Right Way

December 6, 2023 By Training Authors Leave a Comment Click here for FREE training for Christian writers

ShareTweet

How to properly quote a book? Moreover, citing a quote can be a mark of respect for the original author’s eloquent expression—adopting their words to enrich your own work. Furthermore, done with attention to proper attribution, it acknowledges the value of their contribution to your narrative. However, are you confident you’re doing it with the integrity it deserves?

How to properly quote a book – Key Takeaways

  • Understand the importance of accurate quoting
  • Learn the proper techniques for citation
  • Gain access to resources that streamline quoting practices

Understanding How to Accurately Attribute Quotations from Books

The Significance of Quoting with Precision

Respecting copyright and intellectual property, you enhance both the legal and ethical standing of your work. In addition, as you acknowledge others’ contributions, you also bolster the reliability of your own content. Moreover, a careful citation is more than a formality; it reinforces your commitment to academic honesty and the golden rule of treating others’ work as you would wish yours to be treated.

You strengthen your arguments when you incorporate authoritative voices from relevant literature. Furthermore, incorporating the insights of others shows you’ve engaged deeply with the topic and are presenting a well-considered perspective.

Citing A Book: Principles For Accurate Attribution

Choosing a Quotation Style

Select a citation style according to your field of study or the publication’s requirements. Whether it’s APA for the social sciences, MLA for humanities, or the Chicago style for a variety of purposes, each format has precise rules for quoting sources effectively.

APA Style Direct Quote Example:
“Here’s a direct quote” (Johnson, 2016, p. 52).

MLA Style Direct Quote Example:
“Here’s a direct quote” (Johnson 52).

Chicago Style Direct Quote Example:
“Here’s a direct quote” (Johnson, 2016, 52).

Formatting Quotes and Citations

Depending on the length and format of quotes use quotation marks for shorter excerpts or indented blocks for longer passages. Also, Remember to include relevant details like the author’s last name, publication year, and page numbers, as detailed by the citation style you’re using.

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

When you reword an author’s ideas in your own style, that’s paraphrasing. Similarly, summarizing condenses the main points into a brief overview. Both require citations, as the ideas originate from another person’s work.

Steering Clear of Quoting and Citation Errors

Remain vigilant about punctuation when quoting; periods and commas should be inside the quotation marks. In addition, accuracy in quoting demands that every comma, period, and citation appears in its rightful place to maintain readability and prevent miscommunication.

Maintain the integrity of quotes by verifying their sources before inclusion. Moreover, misattribution can undermine your credibility. Additionally, use digital tools like Google Books or Wikiquote to confirm quotations and attribute them correctly.

Always attribute quotes to avoid accidental plagiarism. Furthermore, using someone else’s words without proper credit can have serious consequences and impugn your integrity. Moreover, remember to employ a consistent format for in-text citations and full references in the bibliography to comply with academic standards.

Quoting from literature enriches your work, imbuing it with depth and authority. Therefore, follow these guidelines to cite with confidence and navigate the nuances of academic integrity with ease.

How to properly quote a book: Guides on Correctly Citing Literature (MLA and Chicago Style)

Recognized Styles:

  • Modern Language Association (MLA)
  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)

Notable Differences:

  • MLA primarily used for humanities.
  • APA preferred for sciences.
  • CMS suitable for broad range of subjects.

FAQs:

  • MLA or APA? Humanities often use MLA, while APA is for sciences.
  • CMS relevance? Offers flexibility across various subjects.

Formatting Essentials:

  • MLA: Author’s last name and first name. Book Title, Publisher, and Year Published.
  • APA: Author’s last nameand initials. (Year Published), Book Title, and Publisher.
  • CMS: Author’s last name and first name. Book Title, City of publication: Publisher, and Year Published.

How to properly quote a book: Suggested Literature

For Nonfiction Authors:

  • Navigating Common Errors in Drafting
  • Mastering Self-Review Techniques

Enhance Your Editing Skills:

  • Recognize and Fix Typical Writing Slip-ups
  • Implement Effective DIY Revision Strategies

How to properly quote a book: Common Inquiries Regarding Book Quotations

APA Style Book Quotation Formatting

When quoting from a book in APA style, include the author’s last name, publication year, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example, (Smith, 2020, p. 152).

Incorporating Book Quotes into Essays

To integrate a direct quote, introduce it with a signal phrase, such as “According to Smith (2020),” followed by the quotation and a parenthetical citation.

Citing Book Titles in Text

Italicize the title of the book within the essay text. Also, capitalize the major words of the title, for instance, The Great Gatsby.

Referencing Direct Quotes from Individuals in Scholarly Writing

For a direct quote from a person, include their name, the year, and the page number if available, and much like a book citation. Example: (Doe, 2021, p. 45).

In-Text Citation Example

When citing within the body of an essay, you might write, “It is noted that ‘the data reflects…’ (Smith, 2020, p. 152).”

Attributing Quotes from Books in Academic Work

To correctly attribute a quote from a book:

  • Introduce the quote with the author’s name
  • Include a citation after the quote
  • Add the full citation in the reference list at the end of your paper
StepDescription
IntroductionMention the author’s last name and the work’s year.
In-text CitationProvide the page number where the quote can be found.
Final ReferenceList complete book details in your work’s bibliography.

Resources for How to Properly Quote a Book

  • Modern Language Association (MLA)
  • American Psychological Association
  • Chicago Manual of Style
  • APA vs MLA – The Key Differences in Format and Citation

Recommended Reading

  • 5 Editing Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Nonfiction Book
  • 5 Steps to Self-Editing Your Writing

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on LinkedIn

Related Posts

  • Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
  • Calm, Cool & Collected in spite of my immediate circumstances
  • Top 5 Mistakes Writers Make When Self-Publishing an eBook
  • How to Host a LIVE Webinar with Google Hangouts, LeadPages, and Chatango
  • Author Spotlight: Linda Shenton Matchett
  • 7 Ways to Build Buzz for Your Book Without Hard-Selling – Instead BUBBLE!!
  • Teleseminar Basics for Authors PLUS 13 Promotion Tips and 11 Tools for Success
  • Filling the Gaps

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Well

About Training Authors

Join Our FREE Facebook Group: Kingdom Writers Community Group

Together, CJ and Shelley Hitz are passionate about equipping and empowering Christian writers of all genres to share their unique gifts with the world. This website is filled with spiritual encouragement as well as prayers to help you overcome the resistance you face as a writer. Your story matters! Our online community, Christian Book Academy, is where we help you write, self-publish and market your books. We invite you to join our community of Kingdom Writers! 

  
Get our FREE training for writers here and shop our tools and templates here.
 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!


Meet CJ and Shelley Hitz

We understand the struggle of wanting to write your book while also wondering if it will be good enough.

Since 2010, we have helped over 1,000 writers overcome self-doubt and become published authors.

Join our community of Kingdom writers.

Finish Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day! Join the Free 5-Day Challenge


You don’t need more time. You need a proven plan. In just 5 days, get 5 quick tips to finally finish your book.

Save My Spot — I’m Ready to Write

50+ Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024


Are you looking for a list of the must-have resources for Christian writers in 2024? If so, we’ve got a list we curated from nominations from writers like you. Enjoy!
Check out the list now.

Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Onto Paper


Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90-minutes! Finally feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get Started Now.

Move Forward in God’s Call to Write


Want to see God move in even greater ways through your writing?If so, get your copy of our book, Kingdom Writers here.

Subscribe to Our Podcast

author audience podcast
Subscribe to the Podcast:
 Apple Podcasts |    RSS

Connect With Us Online!

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel



Get Email Updates from the Blog

 Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe by Email

Take a Step of Faith and Finally Publish Your Book!



Join Christian Book Academy www.christianbookacademy.com

Contact Us | Legal Information | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms of Service



Copyright © 2025 Training Authors, a division of Body and Soul Publishing LLC - All Rights Reserved. Log in


Disclosure: Some of the links in the page above may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."