How You Integrate a Quote into an Essay Depends on Three Factors:


This article was co-authored by and by wikiHow staff writer, . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

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When citing yourself, in whichever style you are using, cite in-text citations to identify yourself as the author. On your Works Cited Page (MLA) or Reference List (APA), identify yourself as the author using the format for an unpublished paper (or published, if you have published it). Cite any indirect sources indicating yourself as the author. Whether it is APA, MLA, or any other style, be sure to follow the format that you are expected to utilize. Consult with your instructor to see if they have rules/policies about citing yourself without plagiarizing.

Using a direct quote in your essay is a great way to support your ideas with concrete evidence, which you need to support your thesis. To select a , look for a passage that supports your argument and is open to analysis. Then, incorporate that quote into your essay, and make sure you properly cite it based on the style guide you’re using.

Purdue OWL models how to cite an indirect source in MLA here.

Variation: When you're citing two or more paragraphs, you must use block quotes, even if the passage you want to quote is less than four lines long. You should indent the first line of each paragraph an extra quarter inch. Then, use ellipses (…) at the end of one paragraph to transition to the next.

The book I’ve been looking at is a big picture view of education. Now, this researcher has truck-loads of his own publications to cite, and he does refer to some which pretty well everyone in the field would also cite. But he doesn’t use the book as the place to mention each and every paper and book he’s ever written. And he cites lots of other people’s work in order to create the substantive evidence base he needs for the argument he is making, as well as to situate his work in the wider field. His book is a helpful example of how much self-citation is enough – there is sufficient to show contribution and agenda, to build on prior work. But there is not so much that it raises reader hackles, or suspicions about ego, manipulation of H indices and other self-serving strategies.

Tip: If you’re unsure about a quote, ask yourself, “Can I paraphrase this in more concise language and not lose any support for my argument?” If the answer is yes, a quote is not necessary.

Ever wondered if it’s okay to quote your own previous work in a new piece of writing? That’s what we call self-citation, and it’s pretty common in both academic and professional settings. Sometimes, you might need to refer to your earlier research or ideas to build upon them or to show how your understanding has evolved. However, it’s key to know how to do this correctly.


Embed the quote into a sentence, e.g.:

This work can include, among others, essays or dissertations completed in any of your degrees, conference and journal papers, , articles published in journals, blogs or other media.

How do i quote myself at the beginning of an essay

And the same process applies to more experienced researchers who are building a body of work. For example, I have over a long period of time – yes, now I’m self citing – been playing around with a particular social theory (Bourdieu) to see what his thinking tools can do as methodology. I’ve written some refereed papers and on the topic. Each of the publications stands alone, but together they are an ongoing project which explores the limits and potentials of a Bourdieusian methodological take on large and small scale social issues. It makes sense for me to refer, in any new Bourdieu papers, to this longer-term agenda – and to build on what I have established previously.

How to Put a Quote in an Essay (with Pictures)

Self-citation is necessary when expanding upon past ideas or correcting previous work. But here’s the twist: it’s super important to differentiate between simply citing your work and falling into self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism can happen if you reuse your old work without proper citation, making it seem like fresh content. So, let’s dive in and learn how to cite ourselves the right way!

Is it ever OK to cite your own work

To put a quote in an essay, incorporate it directly into a sentence if it's shorter than 4 typed lines. For example, you could write "According to researchers," and then insert the quote. If a quote is longer than 4 typed lines, set it off from the rest of the paragraph, and don't put quotes around it. After the quote, include an in-text citation so readers know where it's from. The right way to cite the quote will depend on whether you're using MLA, APA, or Chicago Style formatting.

How To Quote Yourself In A Research Paper by Gordon State College

If you find a circumstance in which you need to cite yourself, you will want to be sure to use the following reference entry format, referring to your coursework as an unpublished manuscript and giving the university name in your reference entry: