How do I format a quote of more than 40 words APA style?

Answered By: Kathryn Park

Last Updated: Dec 02, 2023 Views: 108738

APA requires that any quotation over 40 words be started on a new line, indented .5 inches from the margin, double spaced without quotation marks, essentially a block quote. Here's how:

Hit enter before the first word of the quote, and after the last word of the quote
Highlight the text
Right click and select paragraph
Under indentation change left to .5"
Under Line Spacing use the pull down menu to select Double.

Example:

Miele (1993) found the following:

The “placebo effect,” which had been verified in previous studies, disappeared when behaviors were studied in this

manner. Furthermore, the behaviors were never exhibited again [italics added], even when reel [sic] drugs were

administered. (p. 276)

See more about in text citations in the Cite APA Style guide.

Comments (12)

The instructions say to double-space, but the example displays single-spacing.

by Grammy on Aug 26, 2017
Hi Grammy. Always go by what your instructor wants.

by Kathryn Park on Sep 05, 2017
If quotations are exactly 40 words, should these be set as block quotes?

by John on Sep 22, 2017
No John, the bock quote is only required when the quotation exceeds 40 words.

by Kathryn Park on Sep 22, 2017
The next line after the long quotation, has to be a new paragraph, or has to continue without indenting, or any of those?

by Librarian in Puerto Rico on May 18, 2019
That's right Librarian in Puerto Rico. The long quote should be indented from the rest of the paper. After the quote, you resume the previous margin,

by Kathryn Park on May 20, 2019
i am sorry for asking, but we can put the english quotation in another language thesis right ?

by Ummi on Oct 31, 2019
Hi Ummi. Yes, you can put an English quotation on a paper even if the rest of the paper is written in a different language. It would no longer be a direct quote if it was translated.

However, it does depend to some extent on the content and even the reader. Does the person reading your paper need a translation? Does the content need to be a direct quote? If it is from a work of literature, a speech, and so on, it may need to be. If the content is from an article a paraphrase which could be in the same language as a paper might work better.

Hope that helped. Good luck on your paper!

by Kathryn Park on Oct 31, 2019
Does this apply to verbatim I got from interviewing participants?

by MM on Jun 28, 2020
Hello MM. Yes, it does.

by on Jun 29, 2020
how do i count the words do i include pronouns and the (of and or but.........)

by hania on Jul 25, 2020
Yes, hania count all words including pronouns.

by ask@com.libanswers.com on Jul 27, 2020