should you start of an essay with a quote

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How To Start An Essay With A Quote | Key Principles And Rules

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Starting an essay is never easy because the beginning sets the tone for the rest of the assignment. You need to invent an interesting and academic opening to motivate readers to learn more about your paper. But how is it possible to create a powerful beginning without being a professional writer?

We understand your worries, and every day hundreds of students ask us how to start an essay with a quote.That is why we decided to create a comprehensive article to answer all of your questions.

How to Start a Paper With a Quote

It doesn’t matter whether you are assigned with a research paper or an essay: every academic document should have an engaging introduction to motivate readers and make them want to know more. It is an important stage of any writing process, so neglecting it may result in a lower grade and a weaker paper.

Is there a winning strategy for beginning a paper with a quote?Actually, there is. Remember that your writing’s main goal is to convey your thoughts to the audience and persuade it to agree with your arguments. That is why an effective beginning should include the following points:

• Introduce the discussed subject clearly.  The audience needs to know what the essay will be about;
• Explain the main point . There are different ways how you can do it. For example, by introducing a thesis statement or asking a question and suggesting an answer afterward. It is possible to include a combination of both.
• Is it possible to start an essay with a quote?  Yes, surely! Actually, it is one of the most popular and effective instruments when trying to hook the audience. Your goal is to make the readers understand why they should read further, so don’t forget about the following tips:
• Always include a hook.  It will motivate the public to read the paper till the last line. A hook persuades the audience that the paper is worth reading;
• Provide clear data to orient the audience.  Usually, this information acts as an overview of the paper and answers the main questions such as Who, What, Where, and Why.

As you see, there are many things to bear in mind when beginning an essay. They may seem difficult at first, but we guarantee that the task won’t be as challenging with time and practice as it is now.

Effective Quote at the Beginning of the Essay

Essays can be rather time and energy-consuming. That is why many students fail. However, if you approach the process correctly, you will be able to succeed. First of all, break the process into several stages and approach each stage without thinking about the general picture. Thus, you will be more relaxed and confident and will be able to take one step at a time.

We recommend starting the process by choosing a good topic. The best approach is to choose an issue you are genuinely interested in. Write down all the ideas and then narrow the list to a few options. Research them and pick the topic which has more information and evidence.

The next important step is to create an outline, which will help to sort and organize ideas and build correct links between arguments. Are you ready to find out how to start an essay with a quote example? Then let’s get started!

The Most Effective Tips

Writing an essay introduction is real art because it involves lots of steps and requires your full devotion and creativity. Let us discuss several tricks to help you get started.

• Plan everything beforehand.  Above, we have discussed why it is so important to start with an outline. It is a map of your future work, which helps to avoid writer’s blocks, stick to a common structure, and ensure the paper’s smooth flow. Brainstorm main ideas and write down the main arguments concerning these topics. Don’t worry; you will have a chance to return to your introduction and rewrite it if the direction of your paper changes. Don’t forget that your introduction should include a thesis. It’s not the same as the quote but should relate to it.
• Never use cliché quotes. First of all, your classmates might also use them as well. Secondly, the readers may think that you were too lazy to find a unique and interesting quote;
• Explain the relationship between the topic and the quote;
• Choose a relatable quote. A saying that the audience will easily understand;
• The saying should fit the general tone and flow of the paper;
• Always refer to the quote by applying the requirements of a particular citation style.
• The tips above will help you choose a great quote and insert it organically into the text, not depending on the paper type. Remember that your essay’s beginning should always be clear and engaging, and the quote you will find will significantly contribute to success.
• Devote enough time to body paragraphs and conclusion.  Even though these guidelines concern the beginning of an essay, we couldn’t neglect other parts of the paper. The structure of body paragraphs is common, not depending on the essay type. First of all, you should write a topic sentence with the key argument. Then, add supporting evidence and back it with your findings. The number of body paragraphs depends on the number of arguments. A common essay is usually 5 paragraphs long (introduction, 3 main paragraphs, and conclusion).

Finally, you should write a powerful conclusion. Here you should review the essay’s main aspects and write up to 6-7 sentences that would remind the readers why the topic is important and what makes your arguments strong. When the conclusion is written, it’s time to read it aloud, check the structure, flow, and fix all the mistakes. If you have any doubts, ask someone to read the paper and offer changes.

As you see, it may not be easy to write an essay, especially if you want to start it with a strong quote or another interesting hook. However, the tips above will surely help you to succeed.

How to Start an Essay With a Quote Example

If you decide to use a saying in an essay, it is important to insert it correctly and to help readers understand why you have included it. Don’t just insert the quote and leave the audience questioning. Plus, you should explain how the quote links to the main question and argument of your paper. For example,

‘The greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’-Nelson Mandela .

This was the phrase my grandfather used to tell me every single day. I was too young to understand its deep meaning, but everything changed on a cold October evening when I got in a car accident and had to collect myself in pieces. From that day, I couldn’t do sports, play outdoors with my dog, or even have a pleasant walk with my girlfriend without experiencing severe pain. That is when I remembered that life is about rising after falling. And since that day, I found myself.

Things to Remember

Some scholars think that starting an assignment with a quote is very easy, and there’s nothing difficult about understanding how to do that. However, you should take lots of things into account, and the result might not be as good as you have planned at the beginning.

One of the biggest challenges is that starting texts with a quote is a rather popular tool, so most quotes have already been used. We recommend sticking to quotes of not so well-known people. Thus, the phrase will be fresh, and you won’t have to worry that your classmates will use the same saying.

That is why the search may take hours or even days. There’s nothing worse than starting an essay with a quote that has been used millions of times before you. Secondly, you will need to double-check the chosen quote to make sure that it is rendered correctly. To do so, you should use several sources and compare.

Need Professional Help? Contact Us!

In this article, we have discussed how to begin an academic assignment with a quote and how a solid introduction should look like. As you see, the process might be quite challenging and take lots of your time.

Fortunately, there are many sources with good quotes, so you only need to choose the right topic and understand how a good, academic, and relevant phrase should look like.

It often happens that students don’t have enough time for the task or don’t know where to find an appropriate quote. That is when our experts can help. They have been writing essays for years and know how to begin them with quotes, anecdotes, facts, and other engaging sentences.

The complexity of the future paper is not important because our experts hold academic degrees and are experienced in various subjects. Our essay editing service is there 24/7 to support and guide you, so send us a message any time, and we will answer the request immediately. Enjoy yourself while we will work on a paper you can be proud of.

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques

This post was co-written by me (Ethan) and Luci Jones (Brown University, CO ‘23).

How to start a college essay TABLE OF CONTENTS

The full hemingway, the mini hemingway, the philosophical question, the confession, the trailer thesis, the fascinating concept, the random personal fun fact, the shocking image.

In anything you do, there’s a special, pivotal moment. 

I don’t mean the moment when inspiration strikes or the last brushstroke is painted or the audience oohs and ahs over the final product. The point in time we’re talking about here is the Moment When You Do The Darn Thing (DTDT for short). It’s when you get off the couch, stop binging Netflix , and take action. It’s when you put pencil to paper, fingers to keyboard, or *insert whatever other analogy feels applicable here.* 

For many, getting started is the hardest part of anything. And that’s understandable. First, because it turns whatever you’re doing into a reality, which raises the stakes. Second, because where you start can easily dictate the quality of where you end up.

College essays have their own special brand of DTDT. Knowing how to begin a college essay is daunting. It can be hard to write an engaging, authentic opener. But without an interesting hook, you risk getting lost in a vast sea of applications. To this end, we’ve put together some techniques about how to start a college essay to make your DTDT moment a little smoother and a little less stressful.

I say “probably” because I’m about to share a few overused techniques that I don’t recommend. Having said that, it is possible to pull them off—they’re just really hard to do well.

The Overly Grand Ambiguous Statement: From a distance, it might seem nice to talk about why all of humankind has felt some type of way for as long as history has existed. (Examples: “Many great thinkers have existed in our nation’s history” or “The key to a successful endeavor is perseverance.”) But these kinds of overly generalized or impersonal grand statements get lost easily in the crowd because they don’t tell the reader much about you. And without a connection to you, there’s not much reason for them to continue reading.

Going Meta: As cool as it may seem to demonstrate to your audience that you are aware of how you’re writing your essay in the moment you’re writing it, it’s less cool to college admissions officers who read meta stuff like that all the time. There are other, more subtle ways to demonstrate self-awareness in your intro rather than to open your essay with some variation of, “I stare at the blank screen...” or, worse, “When I was asked to write this personal statement, at first I wasn’t sure how to begin.”  Note that the meta essay can sometimes work (you’ll see a couple examples below), but has a higher degree of difficulty.

The Quote: While quoting famous people who have said something cool in the past may seem like an appealing way to start your essay, remember that colleges want to hear YOUR thoughts. Don’t use the words of another person to stand in for your own opinions or insights. You have cool things to say. It may just take a little while to discover what those things are.

The Too-Obvious Thesis That Spoils the Ending of the Movie (i.e. Your Essay): What if Avengers: Infinity War had opened with a voiceover from the director saying, “This is a film about how Thanos collects all the infinity stones and destroys half the population.” (Aaaaaand this is your too-late spoiler alert. Sorry. But don’t worry, they go back in time and undo it in Endgame . Oh, also spoiler.) That would’ve sucked. That’s what it feels like, though, if you start your essay with something like, “I want to be a veterinarian because I care about animals and the environment.” I read a sentence like that and I go, “Cool, thanks, now I can save myself the three minutes it would’ve taken to read the essay. Thank you, next.” While you may want to have that sentence in mind so you know what you’re trying to get across (this is called a logline), just don’t give away the whole thing. Instead, start your essay with something to pique our interest. How? We’re about to share 9 ways. 

Want to read a few more college essay tips? Check out this huge list from admissions experts. 

9 WAYS TO START A COLLEGE ESSAY:

An image-based description that focuses on a particular moment and doesn’t explain much—at least not right away. This technique lets dialogue, actions, or details speak for themselves.

(Note that there are many other authors that do this — it’s part of great writing — but my little brother suggested Hemingway and I kinda’ liked the sound of it.)

Example: 

Every Saturday morning, I’d awaken to the smell of crushed garlic and piquant pepper. I would stumble into the kitchen to find my grandma squatting over a large silver bowl, mixing fat lips of fresh cabbages with garlic, salt, and red pepper.

Why It Works: In this intro, the author paints a very visceral picture of waking up in the morning to the smell of her grandmother’s traditional Korean cooking. Through the careful word choice (“piquant pepper,” “fat lips of fresh cabbages,” etc.), we get a sense that something important is happening, even if we don’t know what it is yet. But this one can be difficult to pull off if you don’t help the reader understand why you’ve described what you’ve described. Read the rest of the essay here .

Which brings us to...

An image-based description, perhaps 1-3 sentences in length, that focuses on a particular moment and then follows up with a sentence that explains, comments on, or somehow provides context for what is being described.

Take a look at how this can happen by just adding one sentence to the example above (see bolded line below):

Every Saturday morning, I’d awaken to the smell of crushed garlic and piquant pepper. I would stumble into the kitchen to find my grandma squatting over a large silver bowl, mixing fat lips of fresh cabbages with garlic, salt, and red pepper. That was how the delectable Korean dish, kimchi, was born every weekend at my home.  

Why it Works: This single sentence hints at some of the author’s core values—culture, ritual, family—without giving too much away about where the essay is headed. Like any good intro, this one creates more questions that answers. (Read the rest of the essay here .)

Another example:

They covered the precious mahogany coffin with a brown amalgam of rocks, decomposed organisms, and weeds. It was my turn to take the shovel, but I felt too ashamed to dutifully send her off when I had not properly said goodbye. I refused to throw dirt on her. I refused to let go of my grandmother, to accept a death I had not seen coming, to believe that an illness could not only interrupt, but steal a beloved life.

Why It Works: The author drops us right into the middle of something we know nothing about, yet it invites us to care. How? The specifics. The details she notices and the resistance she’s feeling help to put us in her shoes. This means we don’t just feel sympathy, we feel empathy . And that empathetic connection heightens the stakes for us by raising questions: How did her grandmother die? Why can’t the author let her go? Why is she angry? (Spoiler: It turns out she’s more angry at herself than anyone else. Read the rest of the essay here .)

The author begins with information that creates certain expectations about them before taking us in a surprising direction. 

Growing up, my world was basketball. My summers were spent between the two solid black lines. My skin was consistently tan in splotches and ridden with random scratches. My wardrobe consisted mainly of track shorts, Nike shoes, and tournament t-shirts. Gatorade and Fun Dip were my pre-game snacks. The cacophony of rowdy crowds, ref whistles, squeaky shoes, and scoreboard buzzers was a familiar sound. I was the team captain of almost every team I played on—familiar with the Xs and Os of plays, commander of the court, and the coach’s right hand girl. But that was only me on the surface. Deep down I was an East-Asian influenced bibliophile and a Young Adult fiction writer.

Why It Works: We’re introduced to the author as a basketball superstar, the queen of the court, a sports fanatic—and at this point the reader may even be making assumptions about this author’s identity based on her initial description of herself. However, in one sentence, the writer takes us in a completely unexpected direction. This plays with audience expectations and demonstrates that she has a good degree of self awareness about the layers of her identity. After having our expectations thrown for a loop, we can’t help but wonder more about who exactly this person is (and if you want to know like I did, read the rest of this essay here ).

Another example: 

I am on Oxford Academy’s Speech and Debate Team, in both the Parliamentary Debate division and the Lincoln-Douglass debate division. I write screenplays, short stories, and opinionated blogs and am a regular contributor to my school literary magazine, The Gluestick. I have accumulated over 300 community service hours that includes work at homeless shelters, libraries, and special education youth camps. I have been evaluated by the College Board and have placed within the top percentile. But I am not any of these things. I am not a test score, nor a debater, nor a writer. I am an anti-nihilist punk rock philosopher. And I became so when I realized three things:

Why It Works: He basically tears up his (impressive) resume in the first few sentences and says, “That’s not me! Here’s the real me…” and as a result we wonder, “How does one become an anti-nihilist punk rock philosopher? And what are the three things??” (Read the rest here .)

Ask a question that you won’t (and probably can’t) answer in your essay. This gives you a chance to show how your brilliant brain works, plus keeps us hooked as you explore possible answers/solutions. 

Does every life matter? Because it seems like certain lives matter more than others, especially when it comes to money.

Why it Works: It raises a complex, interesting question and poses a controversial idea: that we treat some lives as though they matter more than others. We wonder: “Is that true? Could it be? Say more…” Heads-up: This one can veer into the “Overly Grand Ambiguous Statement” opening if you’re not careful. Click here to read the rest of the essay mentioned above, which by the way took him a long time to refine—as this approach is not easy to pull off.

Begin by admitting something you might be judged (or judge yourself) for. 

Example:  

I have been pooped on many times. I mean this in the most literal sense possible. I have been pooped on by pigeons and possums, house finches and hawks, egrets and eastern grays. (Read the rest here .)

Why it Works: Shows vulnerability, but also in many cases intrigues us to learn more. 

Here is a secret that no one in my family knows: I shot my brother when I was six. Luckily, it was a BB gun. But to this day, my older brother Jonathan does not know who shot him. And I have finally promised myself to confess this eleven year old secret to him after I write this essay.

Why It Works: This is a super vulnerable to admit and raises all sorts of questions for us: Why did he shoot his brother? Why hasn’t he confessed it to him? What will his brother say once he tells him? (Fun fact: This essay actually breaks the “don’t start with a quote” rule. Here’s the rest if you wanna’ read it.)

A contextualizing 1-2-sentences (often at the end of the first paragraph) to ground the essay by giving us a sneak peek at what’s to come in the essay—but that do NOT give away the ending.

Example (I’ve marked it in bold below at the end of the first paragraph): 

Six years ago, a scrawny twelve year old kid took his first steps into Home Depot: the epitome of manliness. As he marched through the wood section, his eyes scrolled past the options. Red Oak? No, too ubiquitous. Pine? No, too banal. Mahogany? Perfect, it would nicely complement his walls. As days went on, the final product was almost ready. 91 degree angles had been perfected to 90. Drawer slides had been lubricated ten times over. Finally, the masterpiece was finished, and the little boy couldn’t help but smile. A scrawny 12-year-old kid had become a scrawny 12-year-old man. This desk I sit at has not only seen me through the last six years, but its story and the story of the objects I keep on it provide a foundation for my future pursuits.

Why It Works: As we read the first few sentences of this paragraph we might wonder, “Where is this going?” But this sentence sets us at ease and—again, without giving too much away—gives us a sense of what’s to come. We know that we’re going to learn about the author and his future through the objects on his desk. Great! It also signals to the reader “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. I’m still aware of the task at hand.” 

Begin with a concept that’s unusual, paradoxical, and/or marked a turning point in your thinking. This is often followed up with context explaining where the concept came from and why the author is considering it. 

Crayfish can turn their red blood cells into precursor neuronal cells, I read in shock. The scientific paper, published in Cell 2014, outlined the process where crayfish could regenerate lost eyestalks or olfactory (smell and odor) nerves with their blood – they could see and smell again! It seemed unfair from an evolutionary standpoint. Humans, who were so much larger than a 7-ounce crayfish, couldn’t use their abundant blood to fix their brain damage.

Why It Works: This opening signals to the reader that the author is: a) someone who has read quite a bit, b) curious, and c) knows, as I like to say, “some stuff about some stuff.” In this case, she knows some science stuff.

Do you know some stuff about some stuff? If so, a little geeky language can help signal this to the reader. Don’t overdo it, though, or it can seem showy.

FYI: I see this more often at the start of great essays than personal statements, as this can often lead to an essay that’s more heady/intellectual and less vulnerable/personal. A variation on this that’s a bit more personal is the...

Begin with a strange fact about yourself to grab our attention. Then go on to say why it’s meaningful. Example: 

I subscribe to what the New York Times dubs “the most welcomed piece of daily e-mail in cyberspace.” Cat pictures? Kardashian updates? Nope: A Word A Day.

(Read the rest here .)

Why It Works: It pulls us in by making us think, “Oh, that’s cool!” and then wondering, “Okay, where is this going?”

Grab our attention with an incredibly specific and arresting image or sentence. Then tell us why it matters.

Smeared blood, shredded feathers. Clearly, the bird was dead. But wait, the slight fluctuation of its chest, the slow blinking of its shiny black eyes. No, it was alive.

Why It Works: This style subtly highlights the writing talent of the author without drawing attention away from the content of the story. In this example, the staccatoed sentence fragments convey a sense of halting anxiety and also mimic the movement of the bird’s chest as it struggles to breathe. All sorts of questions come up: What happened to the bird? What will the author do? (Read the rest of the essay here .)

February 2011– My brothers and I were showing off our soccer dribbling skills in my grandfather’s yard when we heard gunshots and screaming in the distance. We paused and listened, confused by sounds we had only ever heard on the news or in movies. My mother rushed out of the house and ordered us inside. The Arab Spring had come to Bahrain.  

(Read the rest of the essay here .)

Bowing down to the porcelain god, I emptied the contents of my stomach. Foaming at the mouth, I was ready to pass out. My body couldn’t stop shaking as I gasped for air, and the room started spinning. (Read the rest of the essay here .)

There are, of course, many more kinds of openings—and I’ll add to this post as I discover new ones. 

We get it, writing a standout introduction is easier said than done. Hopefully though, after seeing some examples of dynamic and thoughtful intros that used our techniques, you’re inspired to brainstorm some of your own . You’ve got this. DTDT has never looked so good.

Have a great college essay opening or a new type of opening you’d like to suggest? Share it in the comments below!

This post was co-written by me (Ethan) and Luci Jones (Brown University, CO ‘23).  Luci took my How to Write a Personal Statement course last year. The essay that she produced was so good and her writing was so beautiful, I’ve asked her to help me co-write this blog post with me, create a few techniques for writing a great introduction, and analyze why they work so well.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, starting my college essay with a quote - yay or nay.

Ok peeps, here's where I'm at: I found this perfect quote that really captures the vibe of what I want to write about in my college essay, and honestly, it kinda inspired the whole thing. Should I kick off my essay with this quote? Will it make me seem more insightful, or is it coming off as kinda unoriginal since I saw lots of people say it’s overdone? Thoughts?

Hello there! I totally get where you're coming from, as my own kid had a similar dilemma when they were applying. If the quote genuinely inspires you and sets the stage for your unique story, it can work. But it's vital to make sure that your essay says more about you than the person you're quoting. A compelling essay often includes personal reflections, experiences, and growth. If you choose to start with a quote, make sure that it seamlessly integrates into your narrative. Think about how it relates directly to your own journey. For example, my child started their essay with a short, famous phrase that jumpstarted a discussion on their personal experiences with creative problem-solving. It wasn't just a quote plopped into the intro for flair—it was a meaningful anchor for their story. Ultimately, it's about making sure your essay remains heartfelt and authentically yours. Don’t let the quote do the heavy lifting—your insights and voice should be the brightest stars. If the quote amplifies your message and serves as a succinct springboard into your tale, it can be a wonderful addition!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

A Guide to Using Quotations in Essays

Quotations Add Credibility to a Persuasive Essay

• Love Quotes
• Great Lines from Movies and Television
• Quotations For Holidays
• Best Sellers
• Classic Literature
• Plays & Drama
• Shakespeare
• Short Stories
• Children's Books
• M.B.A, Human Resource Development and Management, Narsee Monjee Institution of Management Studies
• B.S., University of Mumbai, Commerce, Accounting, and Finance

If you want to make an impact on your reader, you can draw on the potency of quotations. The  effective use of quotations  augments the power of your arguments and makes your essays more interesting.

But there is a need for caution! Are you convinced that the quotation you have chosen is helping your essay and not hurting it? Here are some factors to consider to ensure that you are doing the right thing.

What Is This Quotation Doing in This Essay?

Let us begin at the beginning. You have a chosen a quotation for your essay. But, why that specific quotation?

A good quotation should do one or more of the following:

• Make an opening impact on the reader
• Build credibility for your essay
• Make the essay more interesting
• Close the essay with a point to ponder upon

If the quotation does not meet a few of these objectives, then it is of little value. Merely stuffing a quotation into your essay can do more harm than good.

Your Essay Is Your Mouthpiece

Should the quotation speak for the essay or should the essay speak for the quotation? Quotations should add impact to the essay and not steal the show. If your quotation has more punch than your essay, then something is seriously wrong. Your essay should be able to stand on its own legs; the quotation should merely make this stand stronger.

How Many Quotations Should You Use in Your Essay?

Using too many quotations is like having several people shouting on your behalf. This will drown out your voice. Refrain from overcrowding your essay with words of wisdom from famous people. You own the essay, so make sure that you are heard.

Don't Make It Look Like You Plagiarized

There are some rules and standards when using quotations in an essay. The most important one is that you should not give the impression of being the author of the quotation. That would amount to plagiarism . Here are a set of rules to clearly distinguish your writing from the quotation:

• You may describe the quotation in your own words before using it. In this case, you should use a colon (:) to indicate the beginning of the quotation. Then begin the quotation with a quotation mark ("). After you have completed the quotation, close it with a quotation mark ("). Here is an example: Sir Winston Churchill made a witty remark on the attitude of a pessimist: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
• The sentence in which the quotation is embedded might not explicitly describe the quotation, but merely introduce it. In such a case, do away with the colon. Simply use the quotation marks . Here is an example: Sir Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
• As far as possible, you should mention the author and the source of the quotation. For instance: In Shakespeare ’s play "As You Like It," Touchstone says to Audrey in the Forest of Arden, "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." (Act V, Scene I).
• Ensure that the source of your quotation is authentic. Also, verify the author of your quotation. You can do so by looking up the quotation on authoritative websites. For formal writing, do not rely on just one website.

Blend Quotations In

An essay can seem quite jarring if the quotation does not blend in. The quotation should naturally fit into your essay. No one is interested in reading quotation-stuffed essays.

Here are some good tips on blending in your quotations:

• You can begin your essay with a quotation that sets off the basic idea of the essay. This can have a lasting impact on your reader. In the introductory paragraph of your essay, you can comment on the quotation if you like. In any case, do ensure that the relevance of the quotation is communicated well.
• Your choice of phrases and adjectives can significantly boost the impact of the quotation in your essay. Do not use monotonous phrases like: "George Washington once said...." If your essay is written for the appropriate context, consider using emphatic expressions like: "George Washington rocked the nation by saying...."

Using Long Quotations

It is usually better to have short and crisp quotations in your essay. Generally, long quotations must be used sparingly as they tend to weigh down the reader. However, there are times when your essay has more impact with a longer quotation.

If you have decided to use a long quotation, consider paraphrasing , as it usually works better. But, there is a downside to paraphrasing too. Instead of paraphrasing, if you use a direct quotation , you will avoid misrepresentation. The decision to use a long quotation is not trivial. It is your judgment call.

If you are convinced that a particular long quotation is more effective, be sure to format and punctuate it correctly.   Long quotations should be set off as block quotations . The format of block quotations should follow the guidelines that you might have been provided. If there are no specific guidelines, you can follow the usual standard—if a quotation is more than three lines long, you set it off as a block quote. Blocking implies indenting it about half an inch on the left.

Usually, a brief introduction to a long quotation is warranted. In other cases, you might need to provide a complete analysis of the quotation. In this case, it is best to begin with the quotation and follow it with the analysis, rather than the other way around.

Using Cute Quotes or Poetry

Some students choose a cute quotation first and then try to plug it into their essay. As a consequence, such quotations usually drag the reader away from the essay.

Quoting a verse from a poem, however, can add a lot of charm to your essay. I have come across writing that acquires a romantic edge merely by including a poetic quotation. If you are quoting from poetry, keep in mind that a small extract of a poem, say about two lines long, requires the use of slash marks (/) to indicate line breaks. Here is an example:

Charles Lamb has aptly described a child as "A child's a plaything for an hour;/ Its pretty tricks we try / For that or for a longer space; / Then tire, and lay it by." (1-4)

If you use a single line extract of a poem, punctuate it like any other short quotation without the slashes. Quotation marks are required at the beginning and at the end of the extract. However, if your quotation is more than three lines of poetry, I would suggest that you treat it like you would have treated a long quotation from prose. In this case, you should use the block quote format.

Does Your Reader Understand the Quotation?

Perhaps the most important question you must ask yourself when using a quotation is: "Do readers understand the quotation and its relevance to my essay ?"

If the reader is re-reading a quotation, just to understand it, then you are in trouble. So when you choose a quotation for your essay, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this too convoluted for my reader?
• Does this match the tastes of my audience ?
• Is the grammar and vocabulary in this quotation understandable?
• How to Use Block Quotations in Writing
• Definition and Examples of Direct Quotations
• Definition and Examples of Quotation in English Grammar
• How to Use Shakespeare Quotes
• Guidelines for Using Quotation Marks Correctly
• What Is an Indentation?
• Practice in Using Quotation Marks Correctly
• How To Write an Essay
• Difference Between "Quote" and "Quotation": What Is the Right Word?
• The Five Steps of Writing an Essay
• What Is a Blockquote?
• 501 Topic Suggestions for Writing Essays and Speeches
• Writing a Descriptive Essay
• How and When to Paraphrase Quotations
• Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay

The writer of the academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence. The beginning of the essay is a crucial first step in this process. In order to engage readers and establish your authority, the beginning of your essay has to accomplish certain business. Your beginning should introduce the essay, focus it, and orient readers.

Introduce the Essay.  The beginning lets your readers know what the essay is about, the  topic . The essay's topic does not exist in a vacuum, however; part of letting readers know what your essay is about means establishing the essay's  context , the frame within which you will approach your topic. For instance, in an essay about the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech, the context may be a particular legal theory about the speech right; it may be historical information concerning the writing of the amendment; it may be a contemporary dispute over flag burning; or it may be a question raised by the text itself. The point here is that, in establishing the essay's context, you are also limiting your topic. That is, you are framing an approach to your topic that necessarily eliminates other approaches. Thus, when you determine your context, you simultaneously narrow your topic and take a big step toward focusing your essay. Here's an example.

The paragraph goes on. But as you can see, Chopin's novel (the topic) is introduced in the context of the critical and moral controversy its publication engendered.

Focus the Essay.  Beyond introducing your topic, your beginning must also let readers know what the central issue is. What question or problem will you be thinking about? You can pose a question that will lead to your idea (in which case, your idea will be the answer to your question), or you can make a thesis statement. Or you can do both: you can ask a question and immediately suggest the answer that your essay will argue. Here's an example from an essay about Memorial Hall.

The fullness of your idea will not emerge until your conclusion, but your beginning must clearly indicate the direction your idea will take, must set your essay on that road. And whether you focus your essay by posing a question, stating a thesis, or combining these approaches, by the end of your beginning, readers should know what you're writing about, and  why —and why they might want to read on.

Orient Readers.  Orienting readers, locating them in your discussion, means providing information and explanations wherever necessary for your readers' understanding. Orienting is important throughout your essay, but it is crucial in the beginning. Readers who don't have the information they need to follow your discussion will get lost and quit reading. (Your teachers, of course, will trudge on.) Supplying the necessary information to orient your readers may be as simple as answering the journalist's questions of who, what, where, when, how, and why. It may mean providing a brief overview of events or a summary of the text you'll be analyzing. If the source text is brief, such as the First Amendment, you might just quote it. If the text is well known, your summary, for most audiences, won't need to be more than an identifying phrase or two:

Often, however, you will want to summarize your source more fully so that readers can follow your analysis of it.

Questions of Length and Order.  How long should the beginning be? The length should be proportionate to the length and complexity of the whole essay. For instance, if you're writing a five-page essay analyzing a single text, your beginning should be brief, no more than one or two paragraphs. On the other hand, it may take a couple of pages to set up a ten-page essay.

Does the business of the beginning have to be addressed in a particular order? No, but the order should be logical. Usually, for instance, the question or statement that focuses the essay comes at the end of the beginning, where it serves as the jumping-off point for the middle, or main body, of the essay. Topic and context are often intertwined, but the context may be established before the particular topic is introduced. In other words, the order in which you accomplish the business of the beginning is flexible and should be determined by your purpose.

Opening Strategies.  There is still the further question of how to start. What makes a good opening? You can start with specific facts and information, a keynote quotation, a question, an anecdote, or an image. But whatever sort of opening you choose, it should be directly related to your focus. A snappy quotation that doesn't help establish the context for your essay or that later plays no part in your thinking will only mislead readers and blur your focus. Be as direct and specific as you can be. This means you should avoid two types of openings:

• The history-of-the-world (or long-distance) opening, which aims to establish a context for the essay by getting a long running start: "Ever since the dawn of civilized life, societies have struggled to reconcile the need for change with the need for order." What are we talking about here, political revolution or a new brand of soft drink? Get to it.
• The funnel opening (a variation on the same theme), which starts with something broad and general and "funnels" its way down to a specific topic. If your essay is an argument about state-mandated prayer in public schools, don't start by generalizing about religion; start with the specific topic at hand.

Remember.  After working your way through the whole draft, testing your thinking against the evidence, perhaps changing direction or modifying the idea you started with, go back to your beginning and make sure it still provides a clear focus for the essay. Then clarify and sharpen your focus as needed. Clear, direct beginnings rarely present themselves ready-made; they must be written, and rewritten, into the sort of sharp-eyed clarity that engages readers and establishes your authority.

Copyright 1999, Patricia Kain, for the Writing Center at Harvard University

Guide: How to Start an Essay with a Quote

A quote is a specific text written in a written assignment with an accurate construction of words to argue your point of view or explain some theory. Most often, people use the statements of famous people – both past centuries and present. Such passages from authoritative people contain a lot of life experience, useful information, wisdom, and knowledge. All these statements can be applied to any written work, provided that you quote correctly. A quote is a powerful tool for writing essays because many readers believe such statements, and your text automatically becomes reliable. Therefore, every student should know how to start an essay with a quote.

Useful Tips for Starting Essay with Quotes

Have you thought about starting the text with a quote in an original way, but you don’t know what to start with first? Put the alarm aside and heed the advice of the experts:

• Choose statements that support your goal. Once you start looking for quotes, decide what purpose you want to achieve. The goals can be as follows: to inspire the reader, to prove their point of view, to alert the reader not to share certain actions, to call for action, to tell how to solve a particular problem, to motivate, to amuse. Choose only those quotes that will successfully convey the meaning of the composition;
• Get to know your target audience. When choosing a quote, you must understand who it is intended for. Therefore, find out who your readers are. For example, if you discuss some scientific topic, then, accordingly, only scientists who have been working in this field for a long time will understand it. Don’t choose too trivial or hard-to-read quotes. Look for the intriguing ones. We understand that not everyone knows how to define their target audience, so we will give you a few tips: find out the age of potential readers, find out the gender and make up the percentage, find out the interests, find out how readers understand the topic;
• Choose a quote that will support your point. Having a quote, explain how it relates to the topic or how it supports the thesis, argument, problem, and situation. This stage is essential because if you write a statement that does not help your point in any way, then it will look ridiculous. The essay should unite one topic, and it is not worth taking individual phrases out of context;
• Indicate the source. When writing an essay that contains quotations, be sure to add a link or note where the quote was taken from. If you don’t tag the author, you could be accused of plagiarism. Regarding formatting, it all depends on the citation style. Sometimes you need to include the specific book pages, paragraphs, or even phrases you are quoting. Sometimes just the name of the source and the year of publication is enough. If you are writing an article for a large audience, then be sure to consider the concept of plagiarism. Academic institutions take this very seriously, so you have no margin for error.

Key Points to Consider When Choosing a Quote

If you have decided that you want to write a text and insert a quote initially, we recommend that you pay attention not to the person who wrote the phrase but to the essence of the statement. We want to convey to you that it is not necessary to turn to famous personalities to quote them. Your goal is to convey your thoughts using other statements successfully. If you use a not very well-known quote, you do not risk being unoriginal and repeating the text’s structure after previous writers.

Sometimes readers want to see the story behind the writing of sayings. That is, to find out under what circumstances such a thought occurred to a person. By writing a little background story, you can help readers find out what obstacles people faced when formulating statements or how they felt the statements. Describing the story behind the creation of a quote should be dynamic and effective. This is especially true of those statements related to life and vivid events, extraordinary disputes, strange phenomena. No one will remember a boring story.

Let us warn you right away that it can take a long time to find suitable quotes, so please be patient and strong. However, to simplify finding quotes, we have prepared some good methods that you can put into practice. We recommend starting your search for a quote in the relevant books. Certain editions have been publishing books for a long time that contain quotations in various directions, starting from scientists and ending with art critics. The list of quotes is arranged in alphabetical order. You do not need to study the statements for a long time since experts have already done this before you and have divided the topics into categories. The experts did it for you. We also recommend using Internet search engines. However, you must be clear about your search terms. You can adjust the publication date yourself and keywords – it is the most flexible tool. The last method, which is particularly effective, is selecting appropriate sources that contain known passages.

Pros And Cons Start Essay With Quote

If you want to start your text with a quote, you should know both the positives and the disadvantages.

• With a quote, you can create your own writing style. Sometimes quotes contain a lot of meaning. After reading the statements, people will have different emotions, and from the first words, your text will respond in the reader’s memory. We believe that this is the most successful hook for which the reader will remember you;
• With a quote, you will grab attention. Strong and meaningful quotes are an excellent technique to grab the reader’s attention. We recommend writing quotes that are shocking, humorous, controversial, or revealing deep truths for maximum impact. We assure you that you can smoothly redirect the reader to the article’s primary content with this technique, where you will continue the topic. Also, by applying a quote, there is a chance that people will read your text to the end;
• Thanks to the quote, your text will become more authoritative. If your essays include Newton, Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci’s statements, people will respect your text. That is, no one will challenge your words, which are also confirmed by other authoritative people.
• Quotations are often perceived as cliché. Usually, if the quote is strong, meaningful, then it will only benefit the writer. However, if you use quotes, you will not add some shocking data or numbers because your introduction will be filled with difficult information. That is, if you use a quotation, then you need to develop your thought further and not grab onto other data that is well known;
• Finding compelling and containing quotes can be time-consuming. When composing a quote, the student is forbidden to change its words since it is already inaccurate. Accordingly, if some words do not suit you, you need to look for other quotes, leading to a loss of time.
• Quotes are very often similar to culmination. If you find a fascinating quote that fits perfectly into the article’s context, then it’s better to keep it to the end. At the beginning of the article, you will provide the owl with an opinion on the topic. Then in the central part, you will prove your beliefs based on the statements of scientists, historians, art historians, etc. If you understand that quotation is best suited as an element of argumentation, then it is best to leave it for the climax, but you cannot insert a quotation at the beginning of the text.

FAQ About How To Start An Essay With A Quote

Is it okay to start an essay with a quote?

You can, of course, start your essay with a quote. A persuasive and robust quote can grab the reader’s attention.

How do you write a quote at the beginning of an essay?

To correctly quote the beginning of the text, you must adhere to the citation rules. The main citation styles are MLA, APA, ASA . All the citation rules are described in detail in the manuals.

How do you start a college essay with a quote?

If you’re writing an essay for college, we recommend that you pick a quote that fits your direction. If you are a future doctor, then find the statements of a doctor who is known throughout the world.

How do you start an essay with a quote in MLA format?

MLA is excellent for the humanities. In the MLA format, the reference to the author of the quotation in the document itself is brief and clear so that the reader can easily find him in the bibliography. The source of information is indicated in parentheses in the “author-page” format.

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How to Start a College Essay With a Quote

Just as a good movie, novel or advertisement with a catchy start makes you want to continue watching or reading, good essays grab the audience's attention at the beginning. The best essays often open with a hook, an idea that draws the reader in and generates interest about the topic. An appropriate quotation, properly connected to your topic and cited, makes a strong hook for a college essay.

Choose a Quote That Fits Your Purpose

Any quotation must clearly relate to your topic, including a quote used as an introductory hook. A quote seemingly unrelated to your point distracts your readers rather than drawing them in. Choose a quote that fits the tone and focus of the essay.

For instance, a humorous quote does not set up a paper on slavery well. Similarly, a quote about how attitudes about gender have changed through history likely creates too broad of an introduction for a paper about one specific feminist author's life. Select something interesting rather than quoting a dictionary definition, for instance.

Consider Your Audience

Choose a quote your readers can understand and relate to. If you choose a quote readers have never heard, the hook will likely have less impact.

For a general audience, a quote from a pop culture celebrity or popular program makes a good choice. For more specific audiences, select a source fitting the reader.

For example, a paper written for gamers could use a quote from a game designer like Steve Jackson while one aimed at artists might quote from a painter like Paul Gauguin.

Connect to Your Point

Avoid tacking a quote on at the start of your paper just so you can say you have one. Instead, explain the relationship of the quote to your paper's topic, giving relevance and value to the quote.

For a paper explaining how to train a dog, a quote from a famous dog trainer like Cesar Millan should be followed up with a comment about how this quote emphasizes that no dog's behavioral problems mean obedience is beyond reach, connecting the quote to the paper's point.

Acknowledge the Source

All quotes need proper acknowledgment to explain where you got your information and maintain your credibility. If the speaker is important, give that person's name in a signal phrase.

Add information about the source if needed for context, such as, "As Ancient Greek historian Herodotus said ... "

Then follow proper documentation format so your reader can find the source. For papers that use Modern Language Association (MLA) format, give the author along with a page number for print sources. An online MLA quote looks like this:

Mark Twain once wrote, "Human nature is all alike."

For American Psychological Association (APA) style papers, include the date and either a page or paragraph number for direct quotes, like this example:

Mark Twain (1940) once wrote, "Human nature is all alike" (p. 265).

• California State University Northridge: Attention Grabbers: Opening and Closing Gambits for Writing
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Quotations
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Introductions
• Purdue University: MLA Formatting Quotations
• Twain Quotes: Human Nature
• Purdue University: In-Text Citations: The Basics

Kristie Sweet has been writing professionally since 1982, most recently publishing for various websites on topics like health and wellness, and education. She holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado.

How to Start an Essay With a Quote With Examples

22 December 2023

last updated

Students must prepare outstanding essays to meet their academic expectations. Basically, the way that learners introduce their work plays a crucial role in determining the grades they achieve. In this case, direct quotes provide an appropriate way that learners can present their work. Then, successful essayists must rely on proper guidelines when using quotes in their work. Also, this guide on how to start an essay with a quote provides practical steps that one must follow. In turn, students should avoid using clichés by obtaining unique quotes from credible scholarly sources. Besides, authors should provide the context for quotes, which helps readers to understand their importance in academic essays. Further on, successful scholars focus on ensuring that direct quotes relate to a thesis statement. Moreover, essayists should provide correct in-text citations, following the MLA 8, APA 7, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian referencing formats. Finally, students should follow the necessary guidelines when using block quotes to avoid unnecessary plagiarism cases.

General Guidelines for Starting an Essay With a Quote

Academic essays are practical tools that learners use to communicate specific ideas. Basically, the essay’s introduction determines if the targeted audience reads through the entire work. For example, there are different methods that writers can use to begin an essay to impress targeted readers. In this case, using a quote is one of the ways that scholars apply when beginning their essays. Such quotes, attention grabbers, capture the reader’s mind. Also, one may use quotes made by famous leaders, politicians, academicians, or individuals they know. In turn, one must introduce all forms of quotes effectively to enhance clarity in a research paper .

Types of Quotes

One can use various types of quotes to begin an essay. Basically, the most common examples of quotations include paraphrase, summary, or direct quotes. Firstly, paraphrases refer to reworded statements that bear the same meaning as original phrases. In this case, writers ensure that facts remain intact. Secondly, a summary gives a brief account of the main points in the initial quote. Thirdly, a direct quote contains all the spoken words. In turn, students copy and paste direct quotes without altering any expression. Hence, authors must use these three forms effectively to avoid interfering with the original citation’s actual meaning.

Using a Quote as a Hook

Quotations, at the beginning of an essay, act as a hook. For instance, outstanding writers use appropriate quotes and phrases to capture the reader’s attention. Basically, the approach prevents readers from getting bored when reading through academic essays. In practice, a hook refers to one or two sentences in an article that helps readers decide if they will understand the content. Moreover, a prudent author must make an appropriate decision when selecting necessary phrases to include in the introduction by considering the rules on how to start an essay with a quote. In turn, quotes must lure the audience into reading the entire work. Hence, quotes used to start an essay must act as a hook by capturing the reader’s attention.

Starting an Essay With a Perfect Quote

1. qualities of a suitable quote.

Quotations record the exact language used by a different person in writing or speech. For example, writers should make wise decisions when selecting correct quotes for their essays. Basically, appropriate quotes enhance the essay’s meaning. In this case, students must select a quote that relates to the central theme and the chosen topic. Also, making the right selection prevents a possible distraction when reading an essay. Hence, one should select a quote related to the chosen subject to avoid potential distractions when reading written papers.

A. Memorable Quotes

Memorable quotes are suitable for use in academic papers. For example, authors should find short and unforgettable quotes that relate to the topic in question. In this case, the strategy attracts the reader’s attention and interest. Besides, the audience can recall a specific quote when reading the content. In turn, the approach ensures that readers relate the content to the opening quote. Therefore, one should choose a memorable quote to capture the reader’s attention.

B. Clear and Short Quotes

Clear and short quotes play a crucial role in promoting the essay’s quality. For instance, the writer should select comprehensible quotes. The choice prevents possible interference with the intended meaning of details provided to support arguments. In practice, short quotes play a crucial role in enhancing the quote’s clarity. Readers can grasp the meaning of short quotes with a lot of ease. Long quotes may distract the intended conception of basic ideas. Therefore, readers should identify concise and comprehensible quotes that relate to the topic directly.

C. Credible Quotes

Credible quotes help prudent writers to start their essays. For instance, students should obtain quotes from reliable sources . Basically, one should provide definitive evidence concerning quotes used in starting an essay. In practice, one should identify a particular person who spoke quoted words to avoid plagiarism. Also, the most appropriate strategy is to obtain a quote from an acceptable academic source. Then, an outstanding writer should quote experts, artistic and historical figures, and prominent political leaders. In turn, the approach elevates the content’s quality since notable individuals provide reliable details in their speeches. Moreover, credible quotes enhance the essay’s authority on a particular topic. Therefore, outstanding essays begin with accurate quotes.

2. The Essay’s Context

The essay’s context determines quotes that students choose when starting an essay. Basically, prudent writers do not rely on quotes to tell their stories. Instead, they provide a context that allows readers to understand used quotations. For example, one should provide a setting that reveals the basic scene for when, where, and under what circumstances an excerpt appears. Moreover, writers should explain when a prominent person spoke quoted words and their intended meaning. Hence, scholars should provide the context for quotes used at the beginning of an essay.

3. Incorporating Quotes

Writers should take the necessary caution when starting an essay with a quote to avoid misguiding the targeted audience. Basically, students should identify a person who spoke quoted words. For example, this approach helps readers to determine where a quotation begins. In this case, prudent writers avoid ordinary quote attributions like “he or she said” to enhance their work quality. Instead, one should use alternative verbs to introduce a specific quote in the introduction. Hence, some of the verbs that students should use are:

Scholars should use different verbs to show a high ingenuity level in presenting quotes. For instance, one should apply specific verbs accordingly to avoid monotony when reading academic essays. In this case, the practical choice of introducing verbs makes one’s work outstanding. Hence, learners should select appropriate verbs to submit selected quotes.

A. Significance of Quotes

Students should explain the significance of used quotations. Basically, after inserting quotes, writers should explain their context and attribution. In this case, readers require an adequate assessment of the quote’s importance in a paper. Then, this approach helps readers to understand the significance of quotes in strengthening essays. Besides, a satisfactory explanation enhances the clarity and comprehensibility of the content presented. In turn, it shows the writer’s ingenuity in presenting facts that provides an adequate account of the topic. Therefore, one should give a clear description of the quotation’s significance.

B. Connecting Quotes

Authors should not leave quotes as independent sentences. For instance, one should avoid leaving quotes as stand-alone sentences, even after providing the context. For example, a stand-alone quote disrupts the flow of ideas in an academic paper. In practice, one should incorporate in-text citations in a way that enhances the fluency of ideas. Basically, the process ensures that readers can understand how various concepts connect throughout an essay structure . Hence, writers should not leave quotes as independent clauses in the essay’s body to avoid possible interruptions.

Avoiding a Cliché When Starting an Essay With a Quote

Prudent students avoid using clichés when including quotes in their essays. Basically, a cliché refers to a famous quotation similarly used by many individuals. For example, popular phrases tend to bore and distract readers. In most cases, readers come across popular phrases in various essays and articles. Moreover, clichés make such readers feel that authors do not carry out adequate research before writing. In turn, using popular phrases as opening statements may motivate readers to consider essays as substandard texts. Hence, a writer must avoid using clichés as opening statements in written pieces.

Outstanding essays begin with a phrase that hooks readers. Basically, opening statements should grab the reader’s attention and satisfy their interest. In this case, students should ensure that opening quotes follow a format that creates a desire to read essays. For example, quotes must involve a question, a surprise, or an exciting concept. Then, one should not assume that the entire work is a reliable essay. Instead, writers should identify a quote that gets readers to the main point of the article with a good attention grabber. Besides, the strategy ensures that the intended audience goes through the entire essay. Hence, an outstanding writer uses a phrase that hooks the reader’s attention.

2. Uniqueness

Exceptional essays contain unique opening statements. For instance, students must identify a unique phrase to introduce their subjects. Basically, adequate research enables authors to identify outstanding quotes that relate to their essay topics . Moreover, scholars must find credible sources and essays related to essay topics before choosing appropriate quotes. In turn, useful research enables one to determine if a selected passage is unique or a cliché. Besides, one may rely on peers to choose an appropriate quote for starting an essay. Hence, adequate research helps one to identify an exceptional quote to introduce a written piece.

3. Using Different Types of Quotes

Writers should use different types of quotes to make introductions appear exceptional. For instance, one may use a question, descriptive words, or a statement that enhances curiosity. Basically, a question motivates readers to think about the topic and read the entire essay. Then, descriptive words create an image in the reader’s mind that connects to the whole purpose of writing. Besides, writers should use quotes that make readers curious to know the whole story. In turn, these three forms of quotes make an essay look outstanding to readers. Hence, one must consider using different types of quotes when introducing pieces.

4. Considering Readers

Prudent writers consider their target audience when selecting necessary quotes. For instance, one must ensure that the audience understands quotes used in introducing an essay. Basically, students should examine the intended audience and understand their interests. In this case, a good example is when scholars decide to write an essay with a quote on real democracy in the United States. Then, writers should use a quote from a famous politician in the United States. Besides, such citations must relate to democracy. In turn, using a quote from a religious leader, a poet, or an ordinary citizen may not suit the targeted audience because readers may have a specific political interest. Hence, authors must consider the audience’s needs when selecting an appropriate quote for starting an essay.  

Making a Quote Relevant When Starting an Essay

Quotes used in a paper must relate to the essay’s topic. Basically, prudent writers rely on effective planning strategies to ensure that they obtain necessary quotes for their articles. In this case, adequate background research enables essayists to identify the most effective quotes to enhance the quality of their work. Moreover, the approach allows writers to compare various quotes and identify the one that supports their essays effectively. Hence, one must rely on adequate preparation to ensure that quotes relate to compositions.

Peer Review

Peer review is a crucial process in ensuring that quotes relate to the essay’s topic. For example, essayists should consider giving their colleagues their pieces to read and give critiques. Basically, the process helps them to identify common flaws in written articles. Then, one of the mistakes that peers can help determine is the absence of a relevant quote in an essay. In turn, authors should ensure that readers understand the meaning and importance of quotes in their work. Hence, peer review is an essential process in ensuring that quotes relate to the content presented.

MLA 8, APA 7, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian: Formatting a Quote Correctly in Starting an Essay

Learning institutions require students to follow specific guidelines when preparing their essays. Basically, the most common forms include MLA 8, APA 7, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian styles. In turn, these formatting styles rely on different quoting rules. In this case, students must provide accurate in-text citations for each quote used in an essay. Hence, possible guidelines that one should follow when quoting are:

1. Formatting a Quote in MLA 8

Essayists should provide adequate details when starting an essay with a quote. As a rule, the MLA referencing style requires giving the author’s name and the page containing the quote. Sometimes, writers may obtain a quote from a website. In such cases, in-text citations should include paragraph numbers. Moreover, one should use a space to separate the author and the page or paragraph number in quotations. Hence, citation schemes that one should use for quotes in MLA 8 are:

• MLA 8 parenthetical citation – One should use “(Author Page)” for quotes obtained from scholarly sources and “(Author Paragraph No.)” for phrases obtained from a website. In this case, the phrase “par.,” followed by a period, should precede the actual number of the paragraph containing the quote.
• Actual parenthetical citation example for a quote in MLA 8 – President Kennedy argued that “in a time of domestic crisis, men of goodwill and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics” (Iodice 3).
• Narrative citations in MLA 8 – Students should use the phrase “According to…,” to introduce a quote. In this case, page or paragraph numbers should appear in brackets at the end of the sentence containing the citation.
• An actual example of a narrative citation for a direct quote in MLA 8 – According to Iodice, President Kennedy stated that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free” (3).  

2. Formatting a Quote in APA 7

Students should identify the source’s author, publication date of the source containing the quote, and its page or paragraph number from where it is copied and pasted. Basically, the APA referencing style requires essayists to obtain quotes from credible sources. In this case, writers must identify academic sources providing quotes. Also, an actual in-text citation should contain the author’s name, publication year, and page or paragraph number. In turn, one should separate these three details with a comma. Hence, guidelines that a scholar should follow when formatting quotes in APA 7 are:

• APA 7 parenthetical citations scheme – In-text citations should appear as (Author, Year, p. or para. No).
• Actual example of a quote cited in APA 7 – President Kennedy stated that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect all who wish to be free” to show the primary objective of the federal leadership (Iodice, 2017, p. 3).
• APA 7 narrative citations – Students should use the phrase “According to…,” to introduce a quote.
• An actual example of a narrative citation for a quote in APA 7 – According to Iodice (2017), President Kennedy stated that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free” (p. 3).  

3. Formatting a Quote in Harvard

Essayists should avoid all forms of plagiarism when providing quotes in Harvard. As a rule, in-text citations should identify the author and publication date. In this case, authors should give the page number containing the quote. Hence, examples that one should follow when formatting quotes in Harvard style are:

• Harvard parenthetical citations scheme – In-text citations should appear as (Author Year, page or paragraph number).
• Actual example for a quote in Harvard – President Kennedy specified that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect all who wish to be free” to show the primary objective of the federal leadership (Iodice 2017, p. 3).
• Harvard narrative citations for a quote – Essayists should use the phrase “According to…,” to introduce a quote.
• An actual example of a narrative citation for a quote in Harvard – According to Iodice (2017), President Kennedy stated that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free” (p. 3).  

4. Formatting a Quote in Chicago/Turabian

Writers should provide in-text citations as footnotes. In this case, each quote should have a footnote callout. Besides, one should give the page number containing the quote. Hence, an example of an in-text citation for a quote in Chicago/Turabian is:

• A quote that has a footnote callout in Chicago/Turabian – President Kennedy stated that “we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free.” 1
• A footnote example for a quote in Chicago/Turabian, which corresponds to this callout – 1. Emilio Iodice, “The Courage to Lead: The Leadership Legacies of American Presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Theodore Roosevelt,” Journal of Values-Based Leadership 10, no. 1 (January 2017), 3. https://doi.org/10.22543/0733.101.1176.

Using “They Say, I Say” Format When Starting an Essay With a Quote

Academic writing requires presenting sources and ideas effectively to readers. For example, “they say, I say” forms allow one to enter into a conversation about ideas between the content, reader, and sources. Also, this style reflects the writer’s level of critical thinking. In turn, the set-up helps essayists to organize ideas in relationship to the main theme. Hence, some templates for starting an essay with a quote that one can use are:

• President Kennedy stated that “…” . On the other hand, President Roosevelt believed that “…” .
• Author X contradicts himself in stating that. At the same time, he argues that “…” . In turn, he also implies that “…” .
• I agree that “…” .
• She argues that … , and I agree with her statement because “…” .
• I have always believed that “…” .
• As the prominent philosopher X puts it, “…” .

Using Block Quotes When Starting an Essay

Writers may decide to use block quotes for starting their essays. Basically, specific referencing styles have different rules for including block quotes. Hence, citation guidelines that essayists can use to format their quotes are:

1. Citing Block Quotes in MLA 8:

One should place a quotation, which is more than four lines, as a free-standing block. As a rule, students should omit curved quotation marks in MLA 8. In this case, quotes should start at 0.5 inches from the left margin. Moreover, parenthetical citations should appear at the end of the quote, after the closing punctuation marks.

2. Citing Block Quotes in APA 7

Block quotes in APA 7th edition contain more than forty words. Basically, writers should omit double quotation marks and indent quotes at 0.5 inches from the left margin. In turn, parenthetical citations, which contain page numbers, should follow closing punctuation marks.

3. Citing Block Quotes in Harvard

Long quotes in Harvard referencing should contain between forty and fifty words. In this case, block quotes should begin on a separate line after a colon. Besides, one should indent essays at 0.5 inches from the left margin. Finally, parenthetical citations should follow closing punctuation marks in block quotes.

4. Citing Block Quotes in Chicago/Turabian

Blockquotes in Chicago/Turabian contain five or more lines. As a rule, one should indent quotations at 0.5 inches from the left margin. Basically, scholars should offset block quotations by using different or smaller fonts used in the rest body sections. In turn, a sentence preceding a long quote should identify the source and the author. Besides, it should end with a colon. As a result, writers should include the page containing the citation, inside rounded brackets.

Connecting a Particular Quote to a Thesis Statement

Quotes play an instrumental role in enhancing the credibility and validity of arguments presented in essays. In this case, suitable quotes show that arguments depend on facts. Besides, quotes make academic essay writing appear more professional and thoughtful. However, students make the following mistakes that lower their essay’s quality:

• Writers drop their quotes without considering their significance in supporting written pieces. In this case, successful authors should avoid this mistake by selecting quotes that relate to the essay’s topic.
• Scholars fail to support quotes by using their words. In turn, outstanding writers should avoid this mistake by introducing citations with their words. As a result, the strategy helps to link a particular quote to other details provided in an essay.
• Authors fail to show the connection between their quotes and a thesis statement . Basically, a copied and pasted quote must be related to a thesis statement. In turn, prudent essayists ensure that their quotes support central arguments in academic essays. 

Summing Up on How to Start an Essay With a Quote

Learning institutions require scholars to write essays to meet the necessary academic requirements. Basically, the way in which learners introduce their work plays a crucial role in determining the grades they achieve. In this case, direct quotes provide an appropriate way that authors can present in their works. However, an essayist must rely on proper guidelines on how to start an essay with a quote. Hence, some tips that one must remember when using quotes are:

• avoid using clichés for quotations;
• use unique and credible quotes;
• provide the context for the quote;
• ensure that a quote relates to a thesis statement;
• include correct in-text citations, following the rules of MLA 8, APA 7, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian formats where applicable;
• follow the necessary guidelines when using block quotes.

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How to Quote in an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Have you ever found yourself staring at a perfect quote, unsure of how to incorporate it into your essay? Quoting effectively is a skill that every student should master, as it adds credibility and depth to your arguments. However, it can be a daunting task to navigate the intricacies of quoting in an essay.

Fear not! In this blog post, we will guide you through the art of quoting, providing you with practical tips and examples to help you seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing.

The Importance of Quoting in an Essay

Quoting plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of your essay. It serves two main purposes: establishing credibility and adding depth to your arguments. By incorporating quotes from reputable sources , you demonstrate that your ideas are supported by experts in the field. This helps to build trust with your readers and strengthens your overall argument.

Additionally, quoting allows you to provide evidence and examples that support your claims. It adds weight to your arguments by showcasing the thoughts and opinions of others who have studied the topic extensively. This not only adds depth to your essay but also helps to validate your own ideas.

To effectively use quotes in your essay, consider the following tips:

1. Choose quotes from credible sources: Ensure that the quotes you include are from reputable experts, scholars, or well-known publications.

2. Integrate quotes seamlessly: Avoid simply dropping quotes into your essay without any context. Instead, introduce the quote, provide a brief explanation, and then analyze its significance in relation to your argument.

3. Use quotes to support your own ideas: Quotes should be used to enhance and strengthen your own arguments, not replace them. Use quotes strategically to provide evidence and examples that support your claims.

4. Provide proper citation: Always include proper citation for any quotes you use. This not only gives credit to the original source but also helps your readers to locate the information if they wish to explore it further.

Different Types of Quotes

When it comes to incorporating quotes into your writing, it’s important to understand the different types and how to use them effectively. Let’s explore three common types of quotes: direct quotes, indirect quotes, and block quotes.

Direct quotes

These are exact words or phrases taken directly from a source and enclosed in quotation marks. They provide the reader with the original wording and are useful when you want to emphasize a specific point or capture the author’s unique expression.

Here is a good example from the economist article ‘The Economics of Thinness’ :

Today the perfect body is the “weasel bod”, says one Los Angelena, who is surrounded by women seeking physical perfection. 

Indirect quotes

Also known as paraphrasing , indirect quotes involve rephrasing someone else’s words in your own writing. They convey the same meaning as the original quote but are not enclosed in quotation marks. Indirect quotes are useful when you want to summarize or restate information from a source while maintaining your own voice.

In addition, they help you avoid over-reliance on quotes and demonstrate your understanding of the material. This is why you should only be quoting the most impactful sentences or phrases and give preferance to paraphrasing in all the other cases.

Here is a good example from the article exploring the relation between beauty standarts and women’s socio-economic mobility that quotes the research we have just mentioned:

The economist recently investigated the correlation between thinness and wealth – particularly for women – and the findings are rather striking. ‘The Economics of Thinness’  sheds light on the alarming correlation between body weight and financial prosperity. The study highlights that thinner women, on average, earn more than their heavier counterparts.

Block quotes

Block quotes are used when you want to include a longer quote of four or more lines. They are indented from the main text and do not require quotation marks. Block quotes are typically used to highlight significant passages or when the exact wording is crucial.

For example, if you were analyzing a poem, you might include a block quote from a poem to showcase the poet’s use of imagery and symbolism. Block quotes from a book or an article are only suitable in longer research papers or a thesis and should not be used in college essays.

How to Incorporate Quotes into Your Writing

When incorporating a quote into an essay, it is important to use signal phrases or introductory clauses to introduce the quote. These phrases serve as a way to smoothly integrate the quote into the text and provide context for the reader. Some common signal phrases include “according to,” “as stated by,” “in the words of,” and “as noted by.”

Additionally, introductory clauses can be used to introduce a quote, such as “In his/her article, [author name] argues that…” or “As [author name] explains,…” It is important to choose a signal phrase or introductory clause that fits the tone and style of the essay, while also accurately reflecting the source of the quote.

50 signal phrases to introduce a quote download PDF

Punctuating quotes correctly is crucial for maintaining clarity and accuracy in your writing. Remember to place quotation marks at the beginning and end of the quote, and use appropriate punctuation within the quote itself. For instance, if the quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point, include it within the quotation marks. If the quote is a complete sentence, place the punctuation inside the quotation marks as well.

Analyzing and Explaining Quotes

Analyzing and explaining quotes is a crucial step in any academic writing . It helps provide context, analyze the significance, and link them to your thesis statement . Here are some tips to effectively accomplish this:

1. Provide context and analysis:

• Introduce the quote by briefly explaining the background or the source;
• Analyze the quote by breaking it down and examining its key elements;
• Discuss the implications or interpretations of the quote within the context of your topic.

2. Explain the significance of quotes:

• Highlight why the quote is important in supporting your argument or providing evidence;
• Discuss how the quote contributes to the overall understanding of your topic.

3. Link quotes to your thesis statement:

• Clearly state how the quote supports or relates to your thesis statement,
• Connect the ideas presented in the quote to the main argument of your paper,
• Show how the quote strengthens your position or helps you make a persuasive case.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

When it comes to quoting, the important question in not only how to quote in an essay, but also how much to quote. Here are three key pitfalls to avoid:

1. Overusing quotes: While incorporating quotes from reputable sources can enhance your arguments, it is important not to rely too heavily on them. Instead, strive for a balance between your own analysis and supporting evidence from experts. Quote only the most relevant and impactful sentence to strengthen your point.

2. Misquoting or misinterpreting sources: Accuracy is paramount when citing sources. Misquoting or misinterpreting can lead to misinformation and weaken your argument. Always double-check your quotes and ensure they align with the original context.

3. Failing to cite properly: Proper citation is essential to acknowledge the work of others and avoid plagiarism . Failing to cite can result in severe consequences, including academic penalties. Familiarize yourself with the appropriate citation style for your discipline and consistently apply it throughout your writing.

Final Thoughts

Quoting is an essential tool in essay writing. It helps to establish credibility and adds depth to your arguments. By incorporating quotes from reputable sources, you can enhance the quality of your essay and provide evidence to support your claims. Remember to choose quotes wisely, integrate them seamlessly, and provide proper citation to ensure the effectiveness of your essay.

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How to Use a Quote in an Essay

Table of Contents

MLA in-text citation how-to

You can take a quote from different sources of information, such as books, magazines, websites or printed journals. Using quotes in an essay serves three goals:

• Present additional evidence to support your point of view or oppose a claim or idea;
• Help a reader better understand a topic under analysis;
• Strengthen your argumentation on a topic using another writer’s eloquence.

Since quotes are mostly used in Humanities, you’ll have to follow MLA citation referencing guidelines. The Modern Language Association citation manual implies two types of quotes – short and long.

• Short quote – Is less than 4 lines of typed text and can be embedded directly into a sentence;
• Long quote – Is more than 4 lines of typed text and requires a separate content block in an essay without quotation marks.

Writing college essays, the recommendation is to use short quotes.

Parenthetical citation

Referring to the works of other authors in-text is done using a parenthetical citation . Such a method implies the author-page style of quoting. For example:

When it comes to writing, King suggests: “Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” (5)

Given the MLA in-text citation already contains King’s last name, you shouldn’t mention it in the parenthesis. If the author’s name isn’t mentioned in-text, it has to be specified in a parenthetical citation.

When it comes to writing, there’s a quote I like the most: “Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” (King 5)

According to MLA guidelines, at the end of the essay, there has to be the Works Cited page . It contains the full reference featuring author’s full name, the full title of the source, the volume, the issue number, the date of publishing, and the URL (if the source was found online). Here’s an example of the full referencing in the Works Cited:

King, Larry L. “The Collection of Best Works.” Oxford University Press, vol. 2, no. 3, Jan.-Feb. 2017, http://www.prowritersdigest.com/editor-blogs/inspirational-quotes/72-of-the-best-quotes-about-writing.

How to start an essay with a quote?

Starting an essay with a quote is a matter of controversy. Experts in the pro camp suggest that a quote at the beginning of an essay helps make a powerful statement right from the start. Moreover, an interesting, captivating quote grabs the reader’s attention right from the start.

Experts from the against camp suggest that when you begin an essay with a quote, you miss on the opportunity to present your own take on the subject matter. In their opinion, when writing the introduction, you have to rely only on your words. Whereas quotes are most useful in the main body, serving as an additional argumentation. In conclusion, a quote can be placed, too.

How to use quotes in the middle of an essay?

Main Body is the place you’re meant to state a quote or two, depending on the length of a paper. A standard 5-paragraph essay will imply you to use 2-3 quotes in the main body. More quotes aren’t necessary for such a short assignment. Two quotes in the main body will do just fine.

In the main body paragraph, a quote is placed in the middle of the passage . First, you introduce a focal sentence of a paragraph highlighting your point of view regarding a topic. After that, you provide the evidence data and argumentation, among which is a relevant quote. And finally, you smoothly transit to the next body paragraph or the conclusion. Here’re three examples of how to present a quote in one of the main body paragraphs.

Accurate integration of a citation in a text is key. Or the whole passage will sound off.

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice. “Those (…) who know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

College essay quotes have to be naturally embedded in a text .

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice: “Those (…) who know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

There’s also the way to write an essay with quotes in the smoothest way possible.

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice. They simply “know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

See how organically a quote is inserted in a sentence? That’s the best-case scenario of using a quote in a sentence.

How to end an essay with a quote?

Sometimes, ending an essay with a quote is better than merely restating your thesis statement. Citations can be taken from both primary and secondary sources. Good quotes to end an essay might be of your course professor’s. According to essay writing websites , quotations taken from the words of subject authorities and thought leaders will do great, too.

A quote ending an essay helps meet 5 objectives:

• Provide a solid closure to your essay;
• Fortify your point of view;
• Give one final argument in favor of your thesis statement;
• Establish your authority on a topic;
• Helps your essay stand out.

Having a quotation at the end of an essay gives a good chance to score an “A”.

15 tips for using quotations in an essay

• Look up quotes in academic sources in the first place;
• Rely on the printed matter rather than internet sources;
• Avoid citing information from Wikipedia;
• Give context to every quotation you use;
• Always use quotation marks to avoid plagiarism-related troubles;
• Explain why the quote you’re about to use in a text is important;
• Seek to integrate quotes smoothly in a sentence for the best effect;
• Each quotation has to be attributed to the original source using parenthesis;
• Gather 10-15 quotes relevant to your topic and then sift through 5 quotes that will serve you best;
• Use the exact wording, punctuation, capitalization and sentence structure as in the original;
• Watch your punctuation when using quotes in a sentence;
• Avoid misquotations, as it’s a sign of a careless attitude towards the assignment;
• Use an ellipsis (…) to withdraw a part of a quote you don’t actually need;
• Try to use short quotes rather than long;
• Avoid quoting quotes, as it’s where students make mistakes most often.

5 motivational quotes for essay writing

Inspiration is a staple in every great writer’s routine. As a student, you might find drawing inspiration a bit too difficult. Here’re a couple of inspiring essay motivation quotes to help you break through the writer’s block. Or you can buy argumentative essay if doing the task yourself isn’t an option.

“I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me.”

“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.”

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is … the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

“Making people believe the unbelievable is no trick; it’s work . … Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.”

“To defend what you’ve written is a sign that you are alive.”

Many times life catches us off balance. Lots of written homework. Tight schedule. Sudden illness. Personal matters. Writer’s block. An instructor returned the essay for revisions. At the moments like these, it’s always a good idea to have someone to cover your back. GradeMiners can always write you a new essay, rewrite an existing draft, perform an ending an essay with a quote, or proofread your text for mistakes, typos, as well as correct the use of quotations. Let us know if you need anything, and we’ll help you out!

How to Write an Essay: A Complete Guide

Sample Essay on conflict

90 Topic Ideas For Research Paper On Feminism

How to Start an Essay With a Quote?

The introduction of your essay to a large extent determines its success. The introduction is the first thing that your readers see, and it should motivate your audience to read the whole essay. Given the importance of the introduction, there’s no surprise that many students consider this section of the essay especially difficult to write. The introduction should begin with an attention-grabbing hook. Depending on the type of essay and your objectives, you may start the introduction with an anecdote, interesting fact, a story from your life, etc.

One of the most common types of hooks is a quote, as it is one of the most effective ways to grab reader's attention right away. Although quotes are overused by students as hooks in essays, a properly selected relevant quote can help you grab your readers’ attention and establish a context for the introduction. If you want to use quotes in your essay effectively, you should avoid some common mistakes and know how to weave the quote into the rest of the essay introduction . In this article, we will consider some tips that will help you start your essay with a quote.

How to Choose the Right Quote

When choosing a quote for your introduction, the main thing is not to prioritize the author’s authority over the meaning of the quote. There’s no need to include a quote from a famous person if it isn’t directly related to the content of your essay. You don’t want to feature popular quotes that could be used by thousands of other students, and you must make sure that the content of the quote perfectly resonates with the unique subject of your essay and your thesis statement.

You should also make sure that your readers will understand the quote. Start with a quote that isn't too complex. You may briefly explain its context and background so that your readers can understand what the author meant and in what circumstances these words were written or said. Choosing the right quote for your essay may take some time. The good news is that there are many books with collections of quotes categorized by topics or authors. You may also highlight passages that can be used as quotes when reading your sources.

Tips on Starting an Essay With a Quote

• Avoid clichés

You may feel tempted to use a quote that you’ve read and heard many times. If a quote is very popular and overused, it may still be relevant, but the best solution is to avoid such quotes because they will just bore your readers. Clichés will make your readers think that you were just too lazy to find anything they’ve never heard before. Make sure that the chosen quote actually contributes to the meaning of your essay and look up its context so that you can be sure that it fits the context of your essay.

• Introduce the quote properly

A quote won’t make your introduction better if it’s unrelated to the rest of the introduction and isn’t supported by some brief elaboration. Introduce your quote to connect it to the rest of the content. For example, you can include a preview of the quote, paraphrasing it or providing your personal opinion on it, and then provide the quote itself. You may also use a quote as a predicate, with the author being the subject of the sentence. However, if a quote is self-explanatory, you may also start the essay with the quote and then attribute it to the source.

• Attribute the quote properly

First, you must make sure that the person you quote actually said the quote. Not all sources are trustworthy, and if you see a quote on the internet, you should double-check its authenticity. There are many websites, including Brainyquote and Pinterest, where you can find many quotes that are attributed to the wrong people or simply fake. Always use reliable academic sources so that your reputation and credibility won’t be damaged if someone spots a mistake. 

• Avoid long quotes

You may encounter long quotes that can perfectly illustrate your point while also containing some unnecessary or irrelevant information. In this case, the worst solution would be to provide the quote in its entirety and then explain what exactly you wanted to say by including it. Instead, you can use ellipses (…) and include only the necessary part. Keep in mind that you should only use such an approach if you’re 100% sure that the chosen quote is used in the right context. Don’t use ellipses to change the meaning of quotes so that they will fit your agenda.

• Pay attention to punctuation

All direct quotes should be written within quotation marks. Otherwise, quotes might be considered plagiarism. When you paraphrase somebody, you shouldn’t include quotation marks but you still must attribute the content to the original source. A full stop, exclamation mark, or question mark at the end of the sentence should be placed inside the quotation marks. Capitalize a quote only if you write it at the beginning of a sentence.

Should You Begin an Essay With a Quote?

Using quotes at the beginning of your essay has certain advantages and disadvantages.

• Quotes can help you set the right tone of your paper, getting an emotional response from your readers and motivating them to read more.
• Quotes are great attention-grabbers. A controversial, humorous, or shocking quote from a well-known personality can help you immediately capture your audience’s attention, which is a reason why quotes are often used as hooks.
• Quotes also enable you to increase your credibility by using the authority of the original source. If you show that well-known experts support your opinion, it will be difficult for readers to argue against it.
• Using quotes in the introduction of your paper is one of the most common approaches so it won’t make your essay more original.
• Finding a perfectly relevant quote that matches the context of your essay writing may take a lot of time.
• If you decide to include a strong quote at the very beginning of your paper, you should make sure that it won’t be the most interesting and intense part of your essay.

Wrapping Up

Quotes are often used at the beginning of an essay to create a strong hook and establish the right context or tone. A good quote can be very beneficial for your introduction but you should know how to use quotes properly. We hope that our tips will help you avoid common mistakes and use quotes to your advantage.

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How to Use Quotations and Citations in an Essay

Table of contents

• 1.1 Direct Introduction
• 1.2 Signal Phrases
• 1.3 Contextualization
• 1.4 Setting the Scene
• 1.5 Contrasting Views
• 1.6 Interjecting Commentary
• 1.7 Question or Challenge
• 2 Maintain the Flow of Your Writing While Using Quotations
• 3 Proper Use of Punctuation with Quotations
• 4 Impact of Formatting Quotations
• 5.3 Chicago
• 6.1 Start a Quote With an Active Verb
• 6.2 Use a Descriptive Verb
• 6.3 Select Proper Quotations
• 6.4 Don’t Overuse Quotes
• 6.5 Try to Paraphrase Long Quotes
• 7.1 Using a Quote as a Hook: When and Why?
• 8 Fine-Tuning Your Quotation Skills

Obviously, when we write an academic essay, we can’t create new information or take it from the air. In most cases, or always, there are sources for our thoughts. Therefore, we need to reference them. However, we may also want to quote this source directly in our work. And that’s when the need for correct quotation comes in.

Quotations play a pivotal role in essays, serving as a key technique for integrating information from external sources.

This article will guide you through several aspects of using quotations effectively:

• understanding quotation significance,
• mastering the art of accurate quoting,
• how to identify the original source from which the quotation was derived
• correct punctuation in quotes, and discerning the variations among different citation styles.

7 Strategies for a Smooth Transition into Quotations

Quotations are extremely vital in the academic environment. The quote in the essay is like a unique ingredient in your favorite meal. However, simply putting them in is insufficient. You must do things in such a manner that everything flows smoothly. There are a few ways to start a quote. Let’s have a look at some of them:

Direct Introduction

When you put quotes in an essay , simply state the source and introduce it directly. For example, you could say, “Eckhart Tolle, in ‘The Power of Now,’ said: ‘You create a good future by creating a good present.'”

Signal Phrases

Use signal phrases to attribute the quote to its source: “According to,” “As [author] argues,” or “In the words of.” For instance: “According to Shakespeare, ‘All the world’s a stage.'”

Contextualization

Give a little background before you embed a quote. “In the context of environmental sustainability, Jane Goodall states, ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.'”

Setting the Scene

Sometimes, you want to create a picture before dropping the embedded quotation. Set the stage for the quote by describing the situation or background. For instance: “As the sun dipped below the horizon, reflecting hues of orange and pink, she whispered, ‘It’s moments like these that stay with us forever.'”

Contrasting Views

This is like presenting a contrasting viewpoint or argument. You could say, “While some argue for the benefits of technology in education, Neil Postman contends, ‘Education is suffering from… the intrusion of industrialism.'”

Interjecting Commentary

Provide a remark or analysis before or after it. For instance: “In the face of adversity, Winston Churchill’s famous words resonate: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue those counts.'”

Question or Challenge

Ask a question before dropping the quote to create curiosity or stimulate thought: “What role does technology play in shaping our society? Marshall McLuhan sheds light on this with his statement, ‘The medium is the message.'”

Thus, using quotes isn’t just about putting them in. It’s about introducing them in a way that fits smoothly into your writing. By using the correct ways to embed quotes, they will not interrupt the flow of your writing. If you need more information on the subject, we have an idea. PapersOwl’s essay assistance is an excellent option to go deeper into the subject without losing your academic mind.

Maintain the Flow of Your Writing While Using Quotations

Incorporating quotes into your work should feel easy.

• Introduce the one you quote, and use signal phrases for smooth transitions.
• Mix your comments with the cited content.
• Use strategic punctuation (colons, semicolons, or ellipses) and insert quotes in an essay.
• Establish the reliability of the source.

This guarantees that your thoughts blend effortlessly with the quoted insights. Indeed, quotes should not make your life harder. It’s vice versa ─ they must help you upgrade your work.

Proper Use of Punctuation with Quotations

Punctuation with quotations is a crucial aspect. We use quotation marks to integrate quotes into an essay, which look like these “”. If you use punctuation incorrectly, it may cause some grammatical trouble. However, these rules are easy to remember.

• Period outside of quotes is a common mistake you can see. However, in American English, commas and periods typically go inside quotation marks. Colons and semicolons go outside.
• Question marks and exclamation points vary based on context. Use a question mark or an exclamation point within the closing quotation marks if the punctuation is related to the citation itself. If the punctuation applies to the entire sentence, place it outside the closing quotation marks to end a quote in an essay.

✏️ Example of a quote in an essay:

• She said, “Hello.”
• He said, “I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.”
• Marco asked, “Do you need this pen?”.

There are also single quotation marks, which can be confusing. In American English, they are exclusively used for adding a quote within a quote:

✏️ “One of my students always said, ‘Quotations are confusing,’” our professor said.

Impact of Formatting Quotations

Formatting quotations can enhance the overall visual appeal of your essay. One creative technique involves using block quotations for longer passages. This distinguishes the quoted material. Additionally, it provides a visual break, drawing attention to the content’s significance. It’s a great way to end a paragraph with a quote.

Consider employing formatting elements such as italics or bold text for emphasis. Additionally, experiment with indentation and spacing to get a neat and organized appearance.

Let’s compare two quotes in essays. The examples will aid in understanding the impact of formatting.

• In J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Dumbledore imparts wisdom, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
• In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Dumbledore says, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends”.

The first quote looks more appealing and draws the reader’s attention to itself. Meanwhile, the second one has punctuation mistakes and may be lost in the text.

An effective tool for presenting information is to set up a quote in an essay. Besides, it can visually engage your readers.

Mastering Various Citation Styles with Finesse

In PapersOwl, we have already covered the citation rules topic. However, we would like to talk about it here since it can assist us in explaining a quote in an essay usage.

It is essential to mention the same author’s sources wherever possible. References serve as direct indicators for whatever information you are employing. Citing sources shows readers that a piece of information in your work is not your own.

The most popular citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago.

In APA format for the paper , we cite the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses.

According to recent studies, sleep patterns significantly impact cognitive function (Johnson, 2020).

For citing while writing an essay in MLA style , we indicate the author’s name and page number, e.g., (Jones 45).

The novel explores themes of identity and self-discovery (Doe 72).

In Chicago style, citations can be either footnotes or endnotes. A full citation is added to the bibliography.

The economic implications of globalization are vast and multifaceted.¹

¹Smith, John. Globalization and Its Effects. Chicago: University Press, 2018.

Citation can sometimes be confusing. Not in the modern world, though. Now, you can check your references and citations in the citation generator online. It will help you write an outstanding essay with flawless quotes and citations.

Tips on Embedding Quotations in an Essay

You should also understand how to incorporate a quote into an essay naturally. You can not just put a paragraph from the book you’d read. Here are some tips:

Start a Quote With an Active Verb

To use quotes in an essay seamlessly, begin with an active verb. Use them to enhance subtlety and successfully communicate the speaker’s tone.

Use a Descriptive Verb

Incorporate descriptive verbs to increase the impact of your quotations. These verbs provide depth to your quotations and fill your story with context.

Select Proper Quotations

Add quotes in an essay that are relevant to your topic and give useful information. Moreover, make sure your quotes are brief and clearly support your views. Make relevance, trustworthiness, and clarity your top priorities.

Don’t Overuse Quotes

When you overuse quotes, it is a sign to your teacher that you don’t know how to paraphrase well. How many quotes per paragraph you should use depends on your work length. We recommend using one quote for every five paragraphs. The perfect approximate amount looks like this:

• 2 quotes for a 1500-word paper;
• 3 quotes for a 2000-word paper;
• 4 quotes for a 3000-word paper.

Try to Paraphrase Long Quotes

When dealing with lengthy quotes, try paraphrasing them for more concise integration. This ensures that you understand how to write quotes in an essay and explain them in your own words. At the same time, be careful not to change the meaning of the quote!

How to Start an Essay with a Quote

To start a paper with a quote, you must choose one that brings up the proper tone of your paper. The quotation source must be credible and fit your essay context. Finally, each phrase you pick must support your assertion while demonstrating your case proficiency. All of that’s important because the purpose of quotes is to make a good hook for essay and grab the attention of your target audience, which happens via knowledge and trust.

Using a Quote as a Hook: When and Why?

When crafting any type of paper, it’s crucial to use quotes that are not only attention-grabbing but also relevant to your topic. Many great essay examples written by PapersOwl specialists are proof of that. These experts know how to make quotes a powerful tool to engage readers. Taking into consideration their experience, we provide you with examples of when you could use one:

• When introducing a new topic or a newly found case: A good quotation will show relevance in such situations. It will gain people’s attention while showcasing new topics and establishing their importance.
• If you are in the writing process of a historical essay: In such situations, any quotation from any case-related historical figure may provide context and spark interest in readers.
• Personal experience: For such essays, quotations not only can grab one’s audience but serve as proof of your experience with this case. They show your perspective and give a deeper nuance when writing arguments, which affects those reading your paper.
• To support written arguments’ main point: It’s an outstanding way to start by hooking all readers up while backing up your claims.
• When challenging their beliefs: This is perfect for argumentative essays where you have to challenge their commonly held view. Such quotations engage with people and make them think and be eager to read more.

Using a quote relevant to your case is necessary, so always ensure you use a proper one that creates parallels between all sections. If you don’t see a proper connection, you can seek help from experts who edit essay theses. Many professional editors at PapersOwl can easily edit your text flow and create an effective introductory paragraph by providing reworded statements or better quotations. Additionally, they may help check all relevant sources for credibility, see if they deeply relate to your topic, and if they support your claims or bring controversy.

Fine-Tuning Your Quotation Skills

In summary, quotations are an important addition to your accurate academic essay . Using quotes in essays can improve your work. They also help you understand more about the subject of your paper. Thanks to this guide, it will be easy to embed a quote of any type into your academic work.

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How to Put a Quote in an Essay

Last Updated: November 28, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . 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. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,638,395 times.

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 good quote , 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.

Sample Quotes

Incorporating a Short Quote

• For instance, let's say this is the quote you want to use: "The brown leaves symbolize the death of their relationship, while the green buds suggest new opportunities will soon unfold."
• If you just type that sentence into your essay and put quotes around it, your reader will be disoriented. Instead, you could incorporate it into a sentence like this: "The imagery in the story mirrors what's happening in Lia's love life, as 'The brown leaves symbolize the death of their relationship, while the green buds suggest new opportunities will soon unfold.'"

• "Critic Alex Li says, 'The frequent references to the color blue are used to suggest that the family is struggling to cope with the loss of their matriarch.'"
• "According to McKinney’s research, 'Adults who do yoga at least three times a week have lower blood pressure, better sleeping patterns, and fewer everyday frustrations.'"
• "Based on several recent studies, people are more likely to sit on the park benches when they're shaded by trees."

• You still need to use quotation marks even if you're only quoting a few words.
• If you're in doubt, it's best to be cautious and use quotes.

• For example, let’s say you used the quote, “According to McKinney’s research, ‘Adults who do yoga at least three times a week have lower blood pressure, better sleeping patterns, and fewer everyday frustrations.’” Your commentary might read, “This shows that yoga can have a positive impact on people’s health, so incorporating it into the workplace can help improve employee health outcomes. Since yoga makes employees healthier, they’ll likely have reduced insurance costs.”

• When you use a paraphrase, you still need to provide commentary that links the paraphrased material back to your thesis and ideas.

Using a Long Quote

• The reader will recognize that the material is a direct quote because it's set off from the rest of the text. That's why you don't need to use quotation marks. However, you will include your citation at the bottom.

• "In The Things They Carried , the items carried by soldiers in the Vietnam war are used to both characterize them and burden the readers with the weight they are carrying: The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water." (O'Brien 2)

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.

• Your block quote will use the same spacing as the rest of your paper, which will likely be double-spacing.

• For example, “According to Li, “Rosa is the first sister to pick a rose because she’s the only one who’s begun to move on after their mother’s death” might become “According to Li, “Rosa is the first sister to pick a rose because she’s … begun to move on after their mother’s death.”
• Don’t eliminate words to change the meaning of the original text. For instance, it’s not appropriate to use an ellipsis to change “plants did not grow faster when exposed to poetry” to “plants did … grow faster when exposed to poetry.”

• For example, let’s say you want to use the quote, “All of them experienced a more relaxed, calmer disposition after doing yoga for 6 months.” This doesn’t tell the reader who you’re talking about. You could use brackets to say, “All of [the teachers in the study] experienced a more relaxed, calmer disposition after doing yoga for 6 months.”
• However, if you know the study is talking about teachers, you couldn’t use brackets to say, “All of [society experiences] a more relaxed, calmer disposition after doing yoga for 6 months.”

• If you don't explain your quote well, then it's not helping your ideas. You can't expect the reader to connect the quote back to your thesis for you.

• For instance, you may prefer to use a long block quote to present a passage from a literary work that demonstrates the author's style. However, let's say you were using a journal article to provide a critic's perspective on an author's work. You may not need to directly quote an entire paragraph word-for-word to get their point across. Instead, use a paraphrase.

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.

Citing Your Quote

• An MLA citation will look like this: (Lopez 24)
• For sources with multiple authors, separate their names with the word “and:” (Anderson and Smith 55-56) or (Taylor, Gomez, and Austin 89)
• If you use the author’s name in your lead-in to the quote, you just need to provide the year in parentheses: According to Luz Lopez, “the green grass symbolizes a fresh start for Lia (24).”

• An APA citation for a direct quote looks like this: (Ronan, 2019, p. 10)
• If you’re citing multiple authors, separate their names with the word “and:” (Cruz, Hanks, and Simmons, 2019, p. 85)
• If you incorporated the author’s name into your lead-in, you can just give the year and page number: Based on Ronan’s (2019, p. 10) analysis, “coffee breaks improve productivity.”

• For instance, a Chicago Style citation will look like this: (Alexander 2019, 125)
• If you’re quoting a source with multiple authors, separate them with the word “and:” (Pattinson, Stewart, and Green 2019, 175)
• If you already incorporated the author’s name into your quote, then you can just provide the year and page number: According to Alexander, “the smell of roses increases feelings of happiness” (2019, 125).

• For MLA, you'd cite an article like this: Lopez, Luz. "A Fresh Blossom: Imagery in 'Her Darkest Sunshine.'" Journal of Stories , vol. 2, no. 5, 2019, p. 15-22. [17] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source
• In APA, you'd cite an article like this: Lopez, Luz. (2019). A Fresh Blossom: Imagery in "Her Darkest Sunshine." Journal of Stories , 2(5), 15-22. [18] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source
• For Chicago Style, your article citation would look like this: Lopez, Luz. "A Fresh Blossom: Imagery in 'Her Darkest Sunshine.'" Journal of Stories 2 no. 4 (2019): 15-22. [19] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source

Selecting a Quote

Tip: Quotes are most effective when the original language of the person or text you’re quoting is worth repeating word-for-word.

• If you’re struggling to explain the quote or link it back to your argument, then it’s likely not a good idea to include it in your essay.

• Paraphrases and summaries work just like a direct quote, except that you don’t need to put quotation marks around them because you’re using your own words to restate ideas. However, you still need to cite the sources you used.

Community Q&A

• Always cite your quotes properly. If you don't, it is considered plagiarism. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://www.ursinus.edu/live/files/1160-integrating-quotespdf
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-incorporate-quotes-.html
• ↑ https://helpfulprofessor.com/quotes/
• ↑ https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/using-sources/quotations/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_quotations.html
• ↑ https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/apaquickguide/intext
• ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_articles_in_periodicals.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/periodicals.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/quotations/

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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. For more tips from our English co-author, like how to omit words from a quote, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Is it acceptable to begin an essay with a block quotation?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

Yes, an essay may start with a block quotation. The quotation should be important to your discussion and referred to in your prose. This distinguishes it from an epigraph, which is ornamental in nature.

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Can you Start an Essay with a Quote? Guide How to

an Essay with A Quote?

Students must produce outstanding essays to reach their academic expectations. What you should note is that the strategy or method you use to introduce your essay plays an imperative role in determining your essay score.

How you start your essay will tell the reader whether they should continue reading it or not. It sets the tone for the entire essay. It acts as the first impression you give to the readers about the essay.  

Need Help with your Homework or Essays?

Importance of good essay starters.

In our guide on the steps to write good essays , we explained that having a good introduction is key to capturing the attention of the reader. In this section, we will give reasons why this is important.

Good essay starters can arouse the curiosity or interest of the reader to continue reading your paper to the end. The importance of good essay starters includes:

1. Attention-grabbing

Attention-grabbing can be regarded as the greatest importance of good essay starters.

This is because all other reasons for having a good essay starter trickle down to one thing: attention-grabbing. 

When you have written an essay, and you submit it to your instructor for grading, you should be aware that they have to read the entire essay to determine your score.

Furthermore, the instructor has also to read your classmates’ essays so that they can grade their essays.

What this means is that your instructor is busy, and you should give them a good reason to read your essay in its entirety. 

Imagine you are required to write an essay to win a prize or earn a scholarship to your dream university.

Many students will submit their essays in the hope of being considered, and the essay graders will have a lot of work. 

From the two examples, it is apparent that your essay needs to stand out from the start.

The best way to make it stand out is to have a good essay starter that instantly grabs the attention of the reader. Once their attention is grabbed, they will be forced to read the entire essay and award you good grades. 

2. Passing New or Interesting Information to Readers

Apart from grabbing the attention of the readers, good essay starters can also be used to pass new or interesting information to the readers.

The new or interesting information can be facts or even fun facts concerning your topic that will make the reader want to know more through reading your entire essay. Facts can include statistics like, “Did you know that 90% of all dolphins…”

As noted, your instructor will be very busy because he/she will be reading several essays from your classmates. Because of the need to standardize the evaluation process, your class will have to write essays on related topics.

As such, your instructor will already know what to expect, and he/she will treat your essay like any other. To make your essay stand out, start your essay with something interesting that will challenge the instructor to concentrate on your essay more.

3. Creating Awareness Concerning the Subject Matter or Topic

This depends on the topic of your essay. If your essay challenges social, political, economic, or environmental issues, you can start your essay with a statement that creates awareness.

For example, you can start by stating, “Youths in inner cities engage in gang violence because of high unemployment rate”. The reader will want to know why this is the case and therefore, continue reading the essay. 

Can you Start an Essay with a Quote?

The answer to this question is dependent on the type of essay you are writing. It can also depend on the expertise of the writer, especially his or her ability to incorporate quotes in a paragraph.

You can start an essay with a quote if it is within the context of the topic you are writing about or if it is necessary to reinforce the argument you are presenting in the essay. If the quote forms the thesis or the claim you are arguing in the essay. Also, a quote is an attention grabber and captures the attention of the readers’ minds.

In addition, using a quote is among the most creative strategies used to start an essay that distinguishes you from the rest.

Such quotes can come from politicians, famous leaders, academicians, or influential individuals known by readers.

The quotes should be introduced effectively to add value and clarity to your essay.

There are various types of quotes that can be used to begin an essay.

The commonly used forms of quotations include a summary of the original text, paraphrasing, or direct quotes.

When starting your essay using a summary, ensure that you provide a brief account of the major points.

Concerning paraphrases, ensure that the facts are similar to the original text, even if you have reworded the statements. Direct quotes should contain the exact words as the original text enclosed with quotation marks (“…”). 

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How to Start an Essay with A Quote

It should be noted that you can start an essay using either short quotes or long quotes. Below are tips on how to start an essay with a short quote.

1. Direct Incorporation of Short Quotes into A Sentence

Short quotes are those that do not exceed four typed lines.

If you use a short quote, copy-paste it directly into your introductory paragraph.

Make sure to enclose the short quote using quotation marks.

Then, use your words to explain the significance of the quote to the topic and the reader.

2. Incorporate Lead-Ins to Introduce Quotes

Lead-ins offer the context of the quote to the reader. The reader will know that you are presenting support or evidence and where the evidence comes from. You can use the author’s name as a lead-in, for example, “According to Mathew King…” You can also use other lead-ins like “Based on recent studies…”

3. Enclose the Direct Quote Using Quotation Marks

Anytime you directly quote another source, make sure you put them in quotation marks to show your readers that the quote does not belong to you.

When you incorporate quotation marks and an in-text citation of the source of the quote, you can directly utilize another person’s ideas or intellectual property without plagiarizing. 

4. Give a Commentary after the Quote

When you provide a quote without a commentary, you have done nothing. This is because it does not fit the context of the paper or topic, and the readers cannot connect it to the topic.

Therefore, a commentary is very important to analyze the quote and link it to your claims and topic. You can use such commentary to build on a paragraph. Read our guide on how to start a paragraph in an essay and see how this fits well when writing.

5. Paraphrase or Summary

If you have paraphrased or summarized a quote, you do not need to enclose the text with quotation marks. All you need to do is put an in-text citation after the statement to show that the ideas belong to another writer. 

Tips on How to Use Quotes in an Essay

1. Introduce The Quote’s Author

Every time you use a quote in any part of your essay, make sure that you first introduce the author of the quote to show the readers that the content does not belong to you. 

2. State The Quote

The second tip is to state the quote after you have introduced the author.

The quote is directly copied from the source; hence, it should be enclosed using quotation marks. At the end of the quote, make sure that you cite the source using your preferred academic format. 

3. Summarize The Quote

After you have stated the quote, summarize it if it is not easily understandable. However, if the quote is straightforward, there is no need for a summary. You should skip this stage and move to the analysis stage. 

4. Analyze The Quote

This is where you break the quote into its significant bits so that you can get the actual meaning. The different parts of the quote may give different meanings but create a singular meaning when brought together.

5. State The Relevance of the Quote to The Argument 

Finally, ensure that you have stated the relevance of the quote to your essay’s arguments. You must connect the quote to the central argument so that it can add value to your paper. 

Considerations when starting an Essay with a Quote

When using a quote to begin an essay, it’s important to follow a few guidelines:

• Relevance: Choose a quote that directly relates to the topic of your essay and helps to establish the context or theme of your discussion.
• Attribution: Always provide proper attribution for the quote, including the name of the author or speaker and the source of the quote (e.g., book, article, speech).
• Integration: Introduce the quote in a way that seamlessly connects it to your own writing and provides context for the reader. Avoid simply dropping the quote into the essay without any explanation or analysis.
• Explanation: After presenting the quote, take the time to explain its significance and relevance to your argument or topic. Analyze the quote and discuss how it relates to the themes or ideas you will explore in the essay.
• Transition: Use the quote as a springboard to transition into your own discussion or analysis. Make it clear how the quote sets the stage for the points you will be making in the rest of the essay.

Overall, starting an essay with a quote can be an effective way to grab the reader’s attention and provide a compelling introduction to your topic. Just be sure to choose a quote that adds value to your essay and supports your argument or analysis in a meaningful way.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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