Quotation Marks and Italics

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EXPLANATION AND EXAMPLE

QUOTATION MARKS

As a general rule, use quotation marks only when quoting text word for word from another source.


According to Schunk (2012), “People agree that learning is important, but they hold different views on the causes, processes, and consequences of learning” (p. 3).

Note: place the closing quotation mark before the parenthetical citation. If the citation appears before the direct quote, then the ending punctuation is placed within the closing quotation, like this:

According to Schunk (2012, p. 3), “People agree that learning is important, but they hold different views on the causes, processes, and consequences of learning.”

If the direct quote is 40 words or longer, then you will use a block quote, not quotation marks, like this.

​According to Schunk (2012, p. 3),

​People agree that learning is important, but they hold different views on the causes, processes, and consequences of learning. There is no one definition of learning that is universally accepted by theorists, researchers, and practitioners (Shuell, 1986). Although people disagree about the precise nature of learning, the following is a general definition of learning that is consistent with this book’s cognitive focus and that captures the criteria most educational professionals consider central to learning.

You can also use quotation marks to indicate words that you consider or want your reader to consider ironic, slang, or invented/coined. However, do so sparingly as this can diminish the academic tone of your paper.

A​​​nalysts consider this “normal” behavior.

Note: After placing the word or phrase in quotation marks the first time, you will write it without quotation marks thereafter.

You will also use quotation marks around the titles of an article or chapter if you mention that title in the text of your paper.

Wolf’s (1978) article, “Social Validity: The Case for Subjective Measurement or How Applied Behavior Analysis is Finding its Heart”​ identified…​

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ITALICS

Use italics for titles of periodicals, books, and movies.

Schunk’s (2012) book, Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective, pointed out several discrepancies in definitions of the word learning.

To identify the anchors, or definitions, of a scale. For example:

The scale ranged from 1 (do not agree) to 5 (strongly agree).

To indicate a letter, word, or phrase as a linguistic example:

The teacher focused on the letter A with the Kindergarten class.

In this lesson, we will distinguish between less and fewer.

To introduce a technical or key term.​

The term behavior refers to several characteristics in this paper.

The term analyst refers to a professional who practices EBT.​


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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

For more information about quotation marks and italics in APA Style, see pages 91-92 and 104-106 of the Pub​lication Manual, Sixth Edition (4.07 and 4.08 Quotation Marks and 4.21 Italics). ​​​

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES