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A direct quote in APA 7th edition needs three things next to it: the author, the year and the page. This guide gives fill-in templates for the four shapes a quote takes (short or block, parenthetical or narrative), one filled example of each, and a rule for sources that have no page numbers. Every source in the examples is fictional, invented only to show the punctuation and spacing.
Edition: APA 7th edition (2020). The rules below follow the official APA In-Text Citation Checklist and two university-library APA 7 guides, from the University of Queensland Library and the Cambridge Education Library (full links in the Sources section, checked 2026-10-29). For MLA or Chicago, see the links in the last section.
How do I create an in-text citation for a quote in APA 7th edition?
Put the author’s surname, the year of publication and the page number with the quotation. In a parenthetical citation the order is (Author, year, p. 20); in a narrative citation the author and year come first, the quotation follows, and the page goes in brackets straight after it: Author (year) “quotation” (p. 20). The page element is what separates a quote from a paraphrase, where the APA paraphrase citation guide shows what to do instead. Both library guides add that the citation belongs in the same sentence as the quote.
Which of the four shapes do I need?
Two questions decide it. First, is the quote fewer than 40 words, or 40 words or more? Second, do you want the author’s name inside your sentence (narrative) or tucked into brackets (parenthetical)?
| Shape | Length | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Short, parenthetical | Under 40 words | Your sentence “quotation” (Author, year, p. 00). |
| Short, narrative | Under 40 words | Author (year) wrote that “quotation” (p. 00). |
| Block, parenthetical | 40 words or more | Introductory sentence. Then, on a new line, the indented quotation. (Author, year, p. 00) |
| Block, narrative | 40 words or more | Author (year) described the problem as follows: Then, on a new line, the indented quotation. (p. 00) |
The 40-word threshold, the double quotation marks for short quotes and the block format for longer ones all come from the APA In-Text Citation Checklist.
Short quote example (under 40 words)
A short quote stays inside your paragraph and is enclosed in double quotation marks. Fictional source: Marden, D. (2021). The quiet archive. Example Press.
Parenthetical
Annotations are most useful when they point back to their evidence, because “annotations that name their own sources are easier to audit than summaries that merely imply them” (Marden, 2021, p. 14).
Narrative
Marden (2021) argued that “annotations that name their own sources are easier to audit than summaries that merely imply them” (p. 14).
In the narrative form the year follows the author’s name straight away and only the page stays at the end, which is the pattern the Queensland guide shows as Smith (2003) has argued that “…” (p. 105).
Block quote example (40 words or more)
A quote of 40 words or more is set off as a freestanding block. It has no quotation marks, starts on a new line, is indented 0.5 in. from the left margin and is double-spaced like the rest of the paper. The citation goes after the final punctuation of the quote, not before it. Same fictional source:
Parenthetical
Marden’s account of reading logs makes the practical case plainly:
A reading log earns its value only when each entry records where an idea came from. Entries that capture a quotation without its page, or a paraphrase without its source, force the writer to retrace steps later, and that retracing is where attribution errors most often enter a draft. (Marden, 2021, p. 31)
Narrative
Marden (2021) made the practical case for reading logs:
A reading log earns its value only when each entry records where an idea came from. Entries that capture a quotation without its page, or a paraphrase without its source, force the writer to retrace steps later, and that retracing is where attribution errors most often enter a draft. (p. 31)
The APA student paper setup guide (linked in Sources) confirms that block quotations are double-spaced along with everything else, so no single-spacing shortcut applies.
What if the source has no page numbers?
Give another locator that lets a reader find the passage. The Queensland guide says to use a paragraph number, a heading or section name, or (for audiovisual works) a time stamp when there are no page numbers, and the Cambridge guide shows the “para.” form for online sources; the examples use a fictional author, Okafor.
| Source type | Locator to use | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Print or paginated PDF | Page | (Okafor, 2019, p. 105) |
| Passage over several pages | Page range | (Okafor, 2019, pp. 49-50) |
| Web page with numbered paragraphs, or no visible pages | Paragraph number with “para.” | (Okafor, 2019, para. 8) |
| Audio or video | Time stamp | (Okafor, 2019, 2:17) |
| Long web page with headings | Section heading, with paragraph number where available | (Okafor, 2019, Methods section) |
The Cambridge guide adds one warning: do not use page numbers from a printout of an online source, because they depend on the printer and not on the source.
Template and checklist
Before you finish a quotation, check each item:
- The quote is copied exactly, with the author, year and a locator (page, paragraph or time stamp) beside it.
- Under 40 words: double quotation marks, inside the paragraph.
- 40 words or more: block format, new line, 0.5 in. indent, no quotation marks, double-spaced.
- Block quote: citation placed after the final punctuation.
- The citation is in the same sentence as a short quote, parenthetical or narrative.
- The source appears in the reference list. Hanging-indent layout is covered in the APA hanging indent guide.
Common mistakes, side by side
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| (Marden, 2021) after a direct quote | Add the page: (Marden, 2021, p. 14) |
| Quotation marks around a 45-word block | Remove them and indent the block 0.5 in. |
| Block format for a 25-word quote | Run it into the paragraph with double quotation marks |
| Page numbers taken from a printed-out web page | Use paragraph number, section heading or the original pagination |
| Citation in a separate sentence from the quote | Move it into the sentence that contains the quote |
Count the words with your word processor’s selection counter; 39 words is a short quote and 40 is a block.
What is quoting?
Quoting means reproducing another writer’s exact words and attributing them. It differs from paraphrasing, which restates the idea in your own words and still needs a citation. Quote when the exact wording matters, for example a definition, a policy text or a claim you intend to analyse; otherwise paraphrase. For how quoting and paraphrasing fit into avoiding plagiarism, see quoting and citing sources correctly.
What are some good transition words for quotations?
APA does not prescribe wording, so this is a writing choice, not a style rule. Introduce a quote with a signal phrase that names the author and says what the quote does: “Marden (2021) argued that”, “As Marden (2021) noted,”, “According to Marden (2021),”. Follow the quote with a sentence in your own words that explains why you included it. Use “argued”, “noted” or “reported” to match what the source actually does; a verb that overstates the source misrepresents it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I cite a direct quote in APA 7?
Add author, year and page: (Author, year, p. 20), or Author (year) “quotation” (p. 20).
When does a quote become a block quote?
At 40 words or more. Shorter quotes stay in the paragraph in double quotation marks.
Do direct quotes always need a page number?
They need a locator. Use a page where there is one, otherwise a paragraph number, time stamp or section heading.
How are secondary sources and sources with no author handled?
See how to cite a secondary source in APA and how to cite in APA if there is no author.
Other styles
MLA and Chicago set quotations differently. For MLA, see MLA quotation format and MLA block quotes. The general idea behind all of these is a parenthetical citation that points to the reference list.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-29.
- American Psychological Association, APA Style In-Text Citation Checklist (7th ed.): https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/in-text-citation-checklist.pdf
- American Psychological Association, Student Paper Setup Guide (updated 2025-10-08): https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/student-paper-setup-guide.pdf
- University of Queensland Library, “APA 7th: Direct quotes” (last updated 20 Oct 2026): https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/apa7/direct-quotes
- Cambridge Faculty of Education Library, “APA 7th: Direct quotes” (last updated 20 Oct 2026): https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/educationreferencingAPA7th/directquotes
