The document provides guidance on using quotes and paraphrasing in academic writing. It advises that quotes should be used sparingly and only when the original words cannot be improved upon. When quoting, accurate formatting is important including using ellipses for omitted text. Both quotes and paraphrasing require citations, and summaries should capture the essence while being much shorter than the original text.

1.  Only quote when you can‟t say it any
better yourself.
 Or to use a person‟s words against him
or her
 Or if the original is of a complex, legal
nature
 Direct quotes should not exceed 1/5 of
your total paper.

2.  Be sure to quote accurately.
 Use ellipses when material is left out.
 Ellipses are three periods — with a space
before and after each one.
 Example: “Reading carefully . . . is not optional.”
 Ellipses are not necessary if it is obvious to your
reader that material has been left out.
 Example: Paul complained that the room was “too
hot.”

3.  The first time a person is quoted, the
quote must be preceded by an
introduction.
 An introduction contains important
information about the person being
quoted.
 Example:
 According to Mary Smith, director of pediatric
research at Harvard University Medical
Center, “SIDS can be prevented.”

4.  The second time a person is quoted, a
simple attribution will suffice.
 An attribution usually consists of a transition plus
the last name of the person being quoted.
 Some common attributions:
 According to Smith,
 Smith also points out . . . .
 Smith‟s findings indicate . . . .
 Smith says that . . . .

5.  Summaries contain just the most general
essence of what is in the original.
 Summaries are much shorter than the original.
 A sentence to summarize a paragraph.
 A paragraph to summarize a chapter
 Paraphrases go for the detail.
 Paraphrases are at least 2/3 as long as the original.

6.  Both forms must be in your own words.
 At least 80% your own words.
 No characteristic language of the original
 No strings of 3 or more words unchanged from the
original.
 Both forms require a citation
 Citations give credit for the use of others‟ ideas in
your paper.

7. Original: London made his shyness worse. To an
Irishman, Yeats said later, “England is fairyland,”
and in the late „eighties and „nineties it very nearly
was. Besides Madame Blavatsky and her
extraordinary converts, the world of letters boasted
individualists as remarkable as William Morris,
Henley, Wilde, and a host of others who gave
London under Victoria a literary atmosphere . . . .
Paraphrase: Yeats found his shyness only increased
in London. For an Irish artist, England was a
“fairyland.” Oscar Wilde, William Morris, Madame
Blavatsky and others contributed to London‟s
unique literary cachet (Ellmann 76).

8. Original: London made his shyness worse. To an
Irishman, Yeats said later, “England is fairyland,” and
in the late „eighties and „nineties it very nearly was.
Besides Madame Blavatsky and her extraordinary
converts, the world of letters boasted individualists as
remarkable as William Morris, Henley, Wilde, and a
host of others who gave London under Victoria a
literary atmosphere . . . .
Summary: Yeats‟ shyness increased in London, but at
the same time he found the literary atmosphere very
stimulating (Ellmann 76).