A signal phrase introduces a source used in a paper by providing the author's name and source title. It gives context to the source and helps establish the source's credibility. When using a quote, a signal phrase should name the author, give the source title in italics (for books) or quotation marks (for shorter works), and provide an in-text citation with the year and page number. Proper punctuation is needed when citations are included within sentences.

1. Signal Phrases

2. What is a signal phrase?
A signal phrase introduces a source you use in your
paper. You should use a signal phrase the first time in
your paper that you use a source.
It lets the reader know:
The name of the source
The author of the source

3. Why use a signal phrase?
A signal phrase gives your source context.
It helps your reader trust you.

4. How to use a signal phrase
This is a paragraph from Chapter 22 of Mosaics: Reading and Writing
Once you evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will help
establish your argument, you then need to learn how to seamlessly
integrate them into your paper. In other words, you need to
introduce them effectively while showing readers they are credible
and offer valuable evidence to back up your argument. Integrating
your sources into your argument will help your readers understand
the kind of information you are using. You also must show them
you are using credible sources and evidence based on fact.
Reference
Flachmann, K. (2014). Mosaics: Reading and writing essays (6th
ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

5. How to use a signal phrase
Let’s say you want to use the following quote in your paper.
Once you evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will
help establish your argument, you then need to learn how to
seamlessly integrate them into your paper. In other words, you
need to introduce them effectively while showing readers they are
credible and offer valuable evidence to back up your argument.
Integrating your sources into your argument will help your readers
understand the kind of information you are using. You also must
show them you are using credible sources and evidence based on
fact.
Reference
Flachmann, K. (2014). Mosaics: Reading and writing essays (6th
ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

6. How to use a signal phrase
Here is an example of a signal phrase.
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book
Mosaics: Reading and Writing Essays, “Once you
evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will
help establish your argument, you then need to learn
how to seamlessly integrate them into your paper”
(2013, p. 476).

7. Parts of a Signal Phrase
First, include the author’s full name.
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book
Mosaics: Reading and Writing Essays, “Once you evaluate
your sources and figure out which ones will help
establish your argument, you then need to learn how to
seamlessly integrate them into your paper” (2013, p.
476).

8. Parts of a Signal Phrase
Second , include the full name of the source. Remember to use italics
for long works like books and quotation marks around short works like
articles or chapters.
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book
Mosaics: Reading and Writing Essays, “Once you
evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will
help establish your argument, you then need to learn
how to seamlessly integrate them into your paper”
(2013, p. 476).

9. Parts of a Signal Phrase
Third, don’t forget your in-text citations. You don’t need to include the
author’s name in the citation because you already used it above. But
you still need to include the year of publication and page number of
quote.
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book
Mosaics: Reading and Writing Essays, “Once you
evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will
help establish your argument, you then need to learn
how to seamlessly integrate them into your paper”
(2013, p. 476).

10. In-Text Citations
Citation With Signal Phrase
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book Mosaics:
Reading and Writing Essays, “Once you evaluate your
sources and figure out which ones will help establish your
argument, you then need to learn how to seamlessly
integrate them into your paper” (2013, p. 476).
Citation Without Signal Phrase
“Once you evaluate your sources and figure out which ones
will help establish your argument, you then need to learn
how to seamlessly integrate them into your paper”
(Flachmann, 2013, p. 476).

11. Punctuating an In-Text Citation
Notice where your quotation marks and periods go when you are using intext citations.
Citation With Signal Phrase
According to author Kim Flachmann in her book Mosaics: Reading and Writing
Essays, “Once you evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will help
establish your argument, you then need to learn how to seamlessly integrate
them into your paper” (2013, p. 476).
Citation Without Signal Phrase
“Once you evaluate your sources and figure out which ones will help establish
your argument, you then need to learn how to seamlessly integrate them into
your paper” (Flachmann, 2013, p. 476).