Rules for the use of quotes

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COMA 360 - DMH
ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINES
Rules for the use of quotes

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COMA 360 - DMH
1. If a single sentence is quoted
directly, attribution usually
follows the quotation.

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COMA 360 - DMH
“The prices will continue to
escalate,” he said.

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COMA 360 - DMH
2. If multiple sentences are quoted
directly, attribution normally
follows the first sentence.

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COMA 360 - DMH
NOTE HOW CONFUSING THIS IS . . .
“School district boundary lines do not have to
be changed. Many of the building principals
are merely afraid that their teachers will have
to work harder if enrollments at their schools
increase. The whole proposal is the self-
serving idea of a handful of principals,” said
school board member Ben Johnson.

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COMA 360 - DMH
3. When speakers change, new
attribution should be placed
before the first quoted
sentence.

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COMA 360 - DMH
NOTE HOW CONFUSING THIS IS . . .
“We must raise tuition to generate funds to
pay adjunct professors so we can open up
new course sections,” said Susanne Graham,
a member of the Board of Regents. “It’s the
only way we can meet the needs of our
students.”
“An increase in tuition is the last thing students
need,” said senior class President Lisa Kelly.

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COMA 360 - DMH
THE CHANGE OF SPEAKERS
SHOULD BE NOTED FIRST
We must raise tuition to generate funds to pay
adjunct professors so we can open up new
course sections,” said Susanne Graham, a
member of the board of regents. “Ifs the only
way we can meet the needs of our students.”
Senior class President Lisa Kelly said, “An
increase in tuition is the last thing students
need.”

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COMA 360 - DMH
A TRANSITION SENTENCE LETS
READERS KNOW WHEN SPEAKERS
CHANGE
“We must raise tuition to generate funds to
pay adjunct professors so we can open up
new course sections,” said Susanne
Graham, a member of the board of regents.
“It’s the only way we can meet the needs of
our students.”
Senior class President Lisa Kelly saw it
differently.
“An increase in tuition is the last thing
students need,” she said.

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COMA 360 - DMH
4. Attribution can precede a
multiple-sentence direct
quotation.

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COMA 360 - DMH
Council member John P. Jones said, “We
expect to ratify the new budget at our next
meeting.We think we have worked out all the
problems. It has been a difficult four weeks.”

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COMA 360 - DMH
5. Attribution to the same
speaker should not be used
more than once in a quotation.

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COMA 360 - DMH
AVOID THIS CONSTRUCTION . . .
“We expect to ratify the new budget at our
next meeting,” council member John P. Jones
said. “We think we have worked out all the
problems,” he noted. “It has been a difficult
four weeks,” he observed.

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COMA 360 - DMH
IN CONCLUSION . . .
Correct use of attribution
 Enhances clarity
 Enhances credibility
 Creates lively writing