italicize quotes in research paper

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In-Text Citations: The Basics

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Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Reference citations in text are covered on pages 261-268 of the Publication Manual. What follows are some general guidelines for referring to the works of others in your essay.

Note:  On pages 117-118, the Publication Manual suggests that authors of research papers should use the past tense or present perfect tense for signal phrases that occur in the literature review and procedure descriptions (for example, Jones (1998)  found  or Jones (1998)  has found ...). Contexts other than traditionally-structured research writing may permit the simple present tense (for example, Jones (1998)  finds ).

APA Citation Basics

When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

If you are referring to an idea from another work but  NOT  directly quoting the material, or making reference to an entire book, article or other work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication and not the page number in your in-text reference.

On the other hand, if you are directly quoting or borrowing from another work, you should include the page number at the end of the parenthetical citation. Use the abbreviation “p.” (for one page) or “pp.” (for multiple pages) before listing the page number(s). Use an en dash for page ranges. For example, you might write (Jones, 1998, p. 199) or (Jones, 1998, pp. 199–201). This information is reiterated below.

Regardless of how they are referenced, all sources that are cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

In-text citation capitalization, quotes, and italics/underlining

• Always capitalize proper nouns, including author names and initials: D. Jones.
• If you refer to the title of a source within your paper, capitalize all words that are four letters long or greater within the title of a source:  Permanence and Change . Exceptions apply to short words that are verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs:  Writing New Media ,  There Is Nothing Left to Lose .

( Note:  in your References list, only the first word of a title will be capitalized:  Writing new media .)

• When capitalizing titles, capitalize both words in a hyphenated compound word:  Natural-Born Cyborgs .
• Capitalize the first word after a dash or colon: "Defining Film Rhetoric: The Case of Hitchcock's  Vertigo ."
• If the title of the work is italicized in your reference list, italicize it and use title case capitalization in the text:  The Closing of the American Mind ;  The Wizard of Oz ;  Friends .
• If the title of the work is not italicized in your reference list, use double quotation marks and title case capitalization (even though the reference list uses sentence case): "Multimedia Narration: Constructing Possible Worlds;" "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry."

Short quotations

If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and page number for the reference (preceded by "p." for a single page and “pp.” for a span of multiple pages, with the page numbers separated by an en dash).

You can introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author's last name followed by the date of publication in parentheses.

If you do not include the author’s name in the text of the sentence, place the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parentheses after the quotation.

Long quotations

Place direct quotations that are 40 words or longer in a free-standing block of typewritten lines and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin. Maintain double-spacing throughout, but do not add an extra blank line before or after it. The parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Because block quotation formatting is difficult for us to replicate in the OWL's content management system, we have simply provided a screenshot of a generic example below.

Formatting example for block quotations in APA 7 style.

Quotations from sources without pages

Direct quotations from sources that do not contain pages should not reference a page number. Instead, you may reference another logical identifying element: a paragraph, a chapter number, a section number, a table number, or something else. Older works (like religious texts) can also incorporate special location identifiers like verse numbers. In short: pick a substitute for page numbers that makes sense for your source.

Summary or paraphrase

If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference and may omit the page numbers. APA guidelines, however, do encourage including a page range for a summary or paraphrase when it will help the reader find the information in a longer work. 

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Other APA Guidelines: Italics

APA has specific guidelines for the use of italics. You can find them in APA 7, Section 6.22. As a general rule, use italics sparingly.

According to the manual, italics are appropriate for:

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is… In the show Friends , Rachel and Ross… The American Journal of Psychology includes…

The term zone of proximal development means.... Adolescents labeled high risk should...

Scores ranged from 0 ( never ) to 5 ( continuously )

Equus caballus

Italics are inappropriate for:

• mere emphasis
• foreign phrases common in English (et al., a posteriori, ex post facto)
• Greek letters (α)
• nonstatistical subscripts to statistical symbols (Fcrit)
• chemical terms (OH, LSD)
• words, phrases, or letters presented as linguistic examples (note that APA 6 recommended italicizing these linguistic examples but APA 7 recommends putting the terms in quotation marks instead)

Related Resources

Knowledge Check: Italics

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

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• Writing Tips

When to Use Italics in Your Writing

• 6-minute read
• 24th November 2019

Of all the typographic styles, italicization may look the most dynamic. Perhaps it’s the way the words slant to the right, as if striding confidently to a business meeting. Or perhaps we’re overthinking this. The point is that italics are a useful, versatile part of writing. But when should you use them?

Key occasions for using italics include:

• To emphasize something.
• For titles of standalone works, such as books and movies.
• For vehicle names, such as ships.
• To show that a word is borrowed from another language.
• For the Latin “scientific” names of plant and animal species.

Let’s take a look at each of these to see how they work in practice.

Italics for Emphasis

Like bold fonts or underlining, italics are often used for emphasis . This means we can use italics to stress or draw attention to a particular word or phrase:

Italicization is the best way to emphasize something.

Here, italicizing best shows that we feel strongly about italics.

Generally, italics are the standard form of emphasis in academic writing. This is because they look more formal than bold formatting . However, always check your style guide if your university or employer has one, since some organizations have different rules about emphasizing text.

Italics in Place of Quote Marks

It would be unusual to italicize a full quote rather than placing it in quote marks. However, some people do use italics to set single words apart in the same way you might with quotes. For example:

Quote Marks: The word “italic” comes from a Greek word meaning “Italy.”

Italics: The word italic comes from a Greek word meaning Italy .

As with emphasis, if you are using a style guide, you may want to check whether it allows this. Otherwise, though, italics can be helpful if using too many quote marks makes your writing look cluttered.

When to Use Italics for Titles

Another common use of italicization is for titles. Not your own headings – you can italicize these, but that’s a matter of stylistic preference – but the titles of published works, such as books. For instance, if we mentioned a work by Charles Dickens in an essay, we would write it like this:

Queen Victoria read The Old Curiosity Shop in 1841.

By using italics, we set the title text apart from the rest of the sentence.

It’s not just books that you should do this for. Typically, the same applies for any self-contained media product or publication (i.e., something published by itself rather than as part of a collection). This includes the titles of:

• Books and book-length poems
• Academic journals (i.e., the journal title itself, not individual article titles)
• Magazines and newspapers
• Movies, radio programs, and TV shows
• Plays and other stage shows
• Music albums and other published audio recordings
• Paintings, statues, and other works of art

Titles of shorter works, by comparison, are often placed in quotation marks . However, the rules for presenting titles do vary between style guides.

Italicizing Vehicle Names

You can use italics for the names of individual vehicles, such as a ship or space rocket. For instance, we would italicize the following vehicle names:

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The sailors boarded the HMS Belfast in silence.

The Titanic sank during her maiden voyage.

Here, we italicize Belfast and Titanic because they’re the proper names of specific ships. We do not italicize the initials preceding names of ships (e.g., HMS, RMS, USS). In addition, you should only italicize the names of individual vehicles. If you’re writing the name of a brand or make of a vehicle (e.g., Ford Escort or Boeing 747), by comparison, you don’t need italics.

Italicizing Non-English Words

Make sure to italicize any non-English words you use in English-language writing. This shows the reader that the word was borrowed from another language. For instance, we could say:

In Germany, this feeling is known as Waldeinsamkeit .

The exact rules for when to italicize foreign words may vary depending on the style guide you check. For instance, most style guides make exceptions for words that are now fairly common in English even if they are still loanwords, so you would not usually need to italicize terms like “raison d’être.”

If in doubt, though, you can always check a good dictionary (e.g., the OED or Webster’s). Assuming you can find the word in the dictionary, it should be widely used enough in English to write without italics.

Italicizing Species Names

Binomial nomenclature (i.e., the Latin names given to plant and animal species) is usually italicized. For example, we could say:

Nobody wants Amorphophallus titanum growing in their garden.

As above, you should also capitalize the first word (i.e., the genus) in scientific plant and animal names, but not the second term (i.e., the species).

Other Uses for Italics

There are occasions when you may want to use italics not covered above. In fact, italics are useful for most situations where you need to make some part of a text distinct. One example comes from creative writing, where some people use italics to indicate an unspoken thought. For instance, we could use italics to show a character’s inner monologue:

Jeff sat silently in the doctor’s office. It wasn’t his usual doctor, so he was already nervous before the needle appeared.

“Don’t worry,” said the doctor. “It won’t hurt.”

Easy for you to say, Jeff thought. It’s not you at the sharp end of that thing. But he kept this to himself, instead uttering a meek “OK.”

However you use italics, though, there are two main rules to follow:

• Try not to use italics for too many different reasons in a single document. For instance, if you are writing something with a lot of titles and foreign words, you may want to find a different way of formatting emphasis.
• If you use italicized text for any part of a document, apply it consistently. So, for instance, if you’re using italics for loanwords in one part of an essay, you’ll want to do the same throughout the document.

And if you need anyone to check your use of italics in a document, our editors are here to help. Just submit your work for proofreading today.

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When writing a paper, do I use italics for all titles?

Simply put: no .

APA's Publication Manual (2020) indicates that, in the body of your paper , you should use italics for the titles of:

• "books, reports, webpages, and other stand-alone works" (p. 170)
• periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers)

Beyond APA's specific examples, know that certain types of titles are almost always written in italics. 

A general rule of thumb is that within the text of a paper, italicize the title of complete works but put quotation marks around titles of parts within a complete work. 

The table below isn't comprehensive, but it's a good starting point

On an APA-style  reference page , the rules for titles are a little different.  In short, a title you would italicize within the body of a paper will also be italicized on a reference page.  However, a title you'd place in quotation marks within the body of the paper (such as the title of an article within a journal) will be written without italics and quotation marks on the references page.

Here are some examples:

Smith's (2001) research is fully described in the Journal of Higher Education.

Smith's (2001) article "College Admissions See Increase" was published in the Journal of Higher Education after his pivotal study on the admissions process.

Visit the APA Style's " Use of Italics " page to learn more!

• Reading and Writing
• Last Updated Jun 12, 2022
• Views 2146445
• Answered By Kate Anderson, Librarian

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Comments (8)

• Nice, quick, concise listing. Good format to save for quick reference by AlonzoQuixano on May 14, 2015
• Thank you so much for the information. It was so helpful and easily understandable. by mary woodard on Jun 29, 2015
• Is it the same for MLA writing? Thanks Sara, Librarian: Lesa, Rasmussen College doesn't teach or focus on MLA for students. But if you have specific MLA formatting questions, I recommend you take a look at the MLA FAQ website here: https://www.mla.org/MLA-Style/FAQ-about-MLA-Style by Lesa D.W on Dec 04, 2015
• What about the name of a community program, for example Friend's Read. Would you use quotations or italics? Sara, Librarian: Adriana, great question. for organization or program names in the text of a paper you don't need to use italics or quotation marks. Just capitalize the major words of the organization or program like you did above with Friend's Read. by Adriana on Apr 11, 2016
• Thank you for this posting. I am writing a paper on The Crucible and, surprisingly, I couldn't find on the wonderfully thorough Purdue Owl APA guide whether titles of plays are italicized or in quotes. by J.D. on Apr 18, 2016
• this was really helpful, thank you by natalie on Dec 11, 2016
• thank you so much, this is very helpful and easy to understand. by Mendryll on Jan 24, 2017
• Thank you! I am also wondering, do you capitalize only the first word of the title when using it in the text of your paper, like you are supposed to do in the references list? Or do you capitalize all the "important" words like usual? Sara, Librarian Reply: Ashley, within the text of your paper you should capitalize all the important words like you normally would. Thank you for your question! by Ashley on Dec 04, 2017

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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Journal Articles

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Journal article from library database with doi - one author, journal article from library database with doi - multiple authors, journal article from a website - one author.

Journal Article- No DOI

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

• APA 7th. ed. Journal Article Reference Checklist

If an item has no author, start the citation with the article title.

When an article has one to twenty authors, all authors' names are cited in the References List entry. When an article has twenty-one or more authors list the first nineteen authors followed by three spaced ellipse points (. . .) , and then the last author's name. Rules are different for in-text citations; please see the examples provided.

Cite author names in the order in which they appear on the source, not in alphabetical order (the first author is usually the person who contributed the most work to the publication).

Italicize titles of journals, magazines and newspapers. Do not italicize or use quotation marks for the titles of articles.

Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of the article title. If there is a colon in the article title, also capitalize the first letter of the first word after the colon.

If an item has no date, use the short form n.d. where you would normally put the date.

Volume and Issue Numbers

Italicize volume numbers but not issue numbers.

Retrieval Dates

Most articles will not need these in the citation. Only use them for online articles from places where content may change often, like a free website or a wiki.

Page Numbers

If an article doesn't appear on continuous pages, list all the page numbers the article is on, separated by commas. For example (4, 6, 12-14)

Library Database

Do not include the name of a database for works obtained from most academic research databases (e.g. APA PsycInfo, CINAHL) because works in these resources are widely available. Exceptions are Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ERIC, ProQuest Dissertations, and UpToDate.

Include the DOI (formatted as a URL: https://doi.org/...) if it is available. If you do not have a DOI, include a URL if the full text of the article is available online (not as part of a library database). If the full text is from a library database, do not include a DOI, URL, or database name.

In the Body of a Paper

Books, Journals, Reports, Webpages, etc.: When you refer to titles of a “stand-alone work,” as the APA calls them on their APA Style website, such as books, journals, reports, and webpages, you should italicize them. Capitalize words as you would for an article title in a reference, e.g., In the book Crying in H Mart: A memoir , author Michelle Zauner (2021) describes her biracial origin and its impact on her identity.

Article or Chapter: When you refer to the title of a part of a work, such as an article or a chapter, put quotation marks around the title and capitalize it as you would for a journal title in a reference, e.g., In the chapter “Where’s the Wine,” Zauner (2021) describes how she decided to become a musician.

The APA Sample Paper below has more information about formatting your paper.

• APA 7th ed. Sample Paper

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article: Subtitle if any. Name of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number), first page number-last page number. https://doi.org/doi number

Smith, K. F. (2022). The public and private dialogue about the American family on television: A second look. Journal of Media Communication, 50 (4), 79-110. https://doi.org/10.1152/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02864.x

Note: The DOI number is formatted as a URL: https://doi.org/10.1152/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02864.xIf

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Author's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Smith, 2000)

In-Text Quote:

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)

Example: (Smith, 2000, p. 80)

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given., & Last Name of Second Author, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article: Subtitle if any. Name of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number), first page number-last page number. https://doi.org/doi number

Note: Separate the authors' names by putting a comma between them. For the final author listed add an ampersand (&) after the comma and before the final author's last name.

Note: In the reference list invert all authors' names; give last names and initials for only up to and including 20 authors. When a source has 21 or more authors, include the first 19 authors’ names, then three ellipses (…), and add the last author’s name. Don't include an ampersand (&) between the ellipsis and final author.

Note : For works with three or more authors, the first in-text citation is shortened to include the first author's surname followed by "et al."

Reference List Examples

Two to 20 Authors

Case, T. A., Daristotle, Y. A., Hayek, S. L., Smith, R. R., & Raash, L. I. (2011). College students' social networking experiences on Facebook. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 3 (2), 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.010

21 or more authors

Kalnay, E., Kanamitsu, M., Kistler, R., Collins, W., Deaven, D., Gandin, L., Iredell, M., Saha, J., Mo, K. C., Ropelewski, C., Wang, J., Leetma, A., . . . Joseph, D. (1996). The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , 77 (3), 437-471. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)077<0437:TNYRP>2.0.CO;2

In-Text Citations

Two Authors/Editors

(Case & Daristotle, 2011)

Direct Quote: (Case & Daristotle, 2011, p. 57)

Three or more Authors/Editors

(Case et al., 2011)

Direct Quote: (Case et al., 2011, p. 57)

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article: Subtitle if any.  Name of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number if given). URL

Flachs, A. (2010). Food for thought: The social impact of community gardens in the Greater Cleveland Area.  Electronic Green Journal, 1 (30). http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6bh7j4z4

Example: (Flachs, 2010)

Example: (Flachs, 2010, Conclusion section, para. 3)

Note: In this example there were no visible page numbers or paragraph numbers; in this case you can cite the section heading and the number of the paragraph in that section to identify where your quote came from. If there are no page or paragraph numbers and no marked section, leave this information out.

Journal Article - No DOI

Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article: Subtitle if any.  Name of Journal, Volume Number (Issue Number), first page number-last page number. URL [if article is available online, not as part of a library database]

Full-Text Available Online (Not as Part of a Library Database):

Steinberg, M. P., & Lacoe, J. (2017). What do we know about school discipline reform? Assessing the alternatives to suspensions and expulsions.  Education Next, 17 (1), 44–52.  https://www.educationnext.org/what-do-we-know-about-school-discipline-reform-suspensions-expulsions/

Example: (Steinberg & Lacoe, 2017)

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page number)

Example: (Steinberg & Lacoe, 2017, p. 47)

Full-Text Available in Library Database:

Jungers, W. L. (2010). Biomechanics: Barefoot running strikes back.  Nature, 463 (2), 433-434.

Example: (Jungers, 2010)

Example: (Jungers, 2010, p. 433)

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When to Punctuate Titles in Italics or Quotes

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You may have wondered in the middle of typing up a research project : Do I italicize  a song title? What about a painting?​ Even the most experienced writers have a problem remembering the proper punctuation for certain types of titles. Books are italicized (or underlined) and articles are put in quotation marks. That's about as far as many people can remember.​

Many teachers require students to use Modern Language Association style for research papers and essays covering language arts, cultural studies, and the humanities . There is a trick to remembering how to treat titles in MLA style, and it works well enough that you can commit most types of titles to memory. It's the big and little trick.

Big Things vs. Little Things

Big things and things that can stand on their own, like books, are italicized. Little things that are dependent or that come as part of a group, like chapters, are put into quotation marks. Think of a CD or an album as a major (big) work that can be divided into smaller parts, or songs. The individual song names (small part) are punctuated with quotation marks .

For example:

• The Sweet Escape , by Gwen Stefani, includes the song "Wind It Up."

While this is not a perfect rule, it can be helpful for determining whether to italicize or surround an item in quotation marks when you have no resources at hand.

Furthermore, italicize or underline any published collection, like a book of poetry. Put the individual entry, like a poem, in quotation marks. However: a long, epic poem that is often published on its own would be treated like a book. The Odyssey is one example.

Punctuating Titles of Works of Art

Creating a work of art is an enormous task. For that reason, you can think of art as a big accomplishment. That might sound a bit corny, but it will help you remember. Individual works of art, like paintings and sculptures, are underlined or italicized:

• Michelangelo 's David
• The Last Supper

Note that a photograph—although not any less significant or important—is often much smaller than a work of created art, and is placed in quotation marks. Following are guidelines for punctuating titles according to MLA standards.

Titles and Names to Italicize

Works to put in italics include:

• A sculpture or statue
• A TV Series
• A cartoon series
• An encyclopedia
• A newspaper

Titles to Put Into Quotation Marks

When deciding how to handle smaller works, put quotation marks around:

• A short story
• A commercial
• An individual episode in a TV series (like "The Soup Nazi" on Seinfeld)
• A cartoon episode, like "Trouble With Dogs"
• A newspaper story

More Tips on Punctuating Titles

Some titles are merely capitalized and not given additional punctuation. These include:

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• How to Use Italics
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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Citation Basics / Do You Italicize Article Titles?

Do You Italicize Article Titles?

No, typically you don’t italicize article titles. Instead, you may enclose article titles in double quotation marks (MLA 9: “Article Title”) or simply use regular font without quotation marks (APA 7: Article title). The exact format for article titles depends on the style guide you’re using. Different academic disciplines use different style manuals that follow differing rules. However, generally, you do italicize the larger work of which the article is a part ( Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title ) . 

Let’s look at how MLA 9, APA 7, and Chicago styles handle title formatting for articles.

MLA 9 Style for Article Titles

Since journal, magazine, and newspaper articles are part of a larger standalone work, you use regular font (not italics) for article titles and double quotation marks in MLA 9 style.

Here is a template for a magazine article in MLA 9-style:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Magazine Title , Publication Month. Year, pp. #-# or URL.

Here is an MLA 9-style reference list entry example for a magazine article:

Parker, James. “An Ode to My Thesaurus.” The Atlantic , July-Aug. 2022, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/07/an-ode-to-my-thesaurus/638453/

Notice the regular font for the magazine article and the italics for the magazine title:

• Article title: “An Ode to My Thesaurus”
• Magazine title : The Atlantic

MLA 9’s style manual uses the term containers for larger standalone works. For example, a book is a container for a chapter. Here are more container examples:

• Container –> Item in container
• Album –> Song
• Book –> Chapter
• Journal –> Article
• Television show/series –> Episode
• Newspaper or Magazine Publication –> Interview

Standalone works or containers are italicized . That includes the titles of the following:

• Journal Titles
• Magazine Titles
• Newspaper Titles
• Photo/Image/Painting
• Television series
• Webpages/Websites

Works contained within a standalone work should be enclosed in double quotation marks. In the works-cited entry, these titles are placed before the container’s, or standalone work’s, title. Titles of works that are part of larger standalone works include the following:

• Book chapters
• Interviews in a magazine
• Journal articles
• Magazine article
• Newspaper article
• Short stories
• Song on an album
• Webpage/Website articles

APA 7 Style for Article Titles

Since journal, magazine, and newspaper articles are part of a larger standalone work, you use regular font (not italics) for article titles in APA style.

Here is a template for a journal article in APA 7-style:

Author Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Publication Year). Title of the journal article: Subtitle of article. Title of the Journal, VolumeNumber (IssueNumber), Page#-#. URL.

Here is an APA 7-style reference list entry example for a journal article:

Jacoby, W. G. (1994). Public attitudes toward government spending. American Journal of Political Science, 38 (2), 336-361. https://doi.org/10.2307/2111407

Notice the regular font for the journal article and the italics for the journal title:

• Article title: Public attitudes toward government spending.
• Journal title : American Journal of Political Science

In APA 7, you italicize titles of sources that stand alone. Standalone sources are not part of another work. Standalone works that you italicize in APA include:

• Journal Titles ( not journal articles)
• Magazine Title
• Music Album ( not a song on the album)
• Newspaper Title
• Podcast ( not a podcast episode)
• Television Series
• YouTube Video

Works that are just a part of another work, like a chapter in a book, are not italicized. Sources that are part of another work and in regular font in APA include:

• Edited Book Chapters
• Journal Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Podcast episodes
• Songs on an album
• Television episodes

Chicago Style (17th ed. notes-bibliography format)

Since journal, magazine, and newspaper articles are part of a larger standalone work, you use regular font (not italics) and quotation marks for article titles in Chicago style.

Here is a template for a newspaper article in Chicago-style:

• Author First Name Last Name, “Newspaper Article Title,”  Newspaper Title , Publication Month Day, Year, URL.

Bibliography:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Newspaper Article Title.” Newspaper Title , Publication Month Day, Year. URL.

Here are Chicago-style note and bibliography entry examples for a newspaper article:

• Emmett Lindner, “Keeping Up With Crypto,” New York Times , June 3, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/insider/keeping-up-with-crypto.html.

Lindner. Emmett. “Keeping Up With Crypto.” New York Times , June 3, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/03/insider/keeping-up-with-crypto.html.

Notice the regular font for the newspaper article and the italics for the newspaper title:

• Article title: “Keeping Up With Crypto”
• Newspaper title : New York Times

In Chicago style, you italicize titles of sources that stand alone. Standalone sources are not part of another work. Standalone works that you italicize in Chicago include:

Works that are just a part of another work, like a chapter in a book, are not italicized. Sources that are part of another work and in regular font in Chicago style include:

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• Page Numbers
• Reference Page
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• View APA Guide
• Bibliography
• Works Cited
• MLA 8 Updates
• View MLA Guide

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The article title does not appear in in-text citations. It appears only in the corresponding works-cited-list entry. To cite the article title in MLA style in your works cited list, you need to follow the format given in the below template. An example of an article written by a single author is given for your understanding.

Works cited list template and example

The title of the article is in plain text and title case; it is placed inside quotation marks. Follow the punctuation and formatting as given in the example.

Surname, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title , volume #, issue #, publication date, page range.

Etchells, Tim. “On the Skids: Some Years of Acting Animals.” Performance Research , vol. 5, no. 2, 2000, pp. 55–60.

The article title of a journal, newspaper, or magazine is never italicized in either APA or MLA style. In APA style, the article title is given in plain text and sentence case. In MLA style, the article title is written in title case and given in quotation marks.

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Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Knowing When To Underline Or Italicize: Your Go-To Guide

Updated: July 11, 2022

Published: May 27, 2021

Knowing when to underline or italicize can be confusing. But it doesn’t have to be! In this article, we’ll lay out all the basics, plus a few common difficulties that confuse many writers, so you’ll be an expert in no time.

At the end of the article, you’ll get the chance to practice your hand at some sample sentences, so you’ll be sure that you know the ins and outs of using italics and underlines.

Italics Vs Underline: Clarifying The Confusion

In the past (before computers and MLA handbooks), italics and underlines were used to emphasize certain words or titles within the text. It let the reader know what was important, or what was separate from the rest of the sentence. They were both used interchangeably, as long as they were consistent.

Now, with the ability to change formatting with the click of a button, italics are generally used to indicate titles, and only sometimes for emphasis. Meanwhile, underlining is mostly reserved to replace italics in handwritten papers. Manuals and guidebooks, such as the MLA handbook, are now widely used in large institutions or according to the country’s standards, so that specific writing conventions, grammar rules, and formatting styles have become uniform.

With that said, the general rule is that italics are used for titles of books, movies, TV and radio shows, magazines, works of art, and long poems. As mentioned before, underlining is a substitute for italics when writing titles by hand.

Proper formatting in an essay can be confusing for many students: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-blazer-holding-white-paper-3727468/

Titles of long works.

Titles that should be italicized are longer works. These include titles of books, movies, TV and radio shows, journals and magazines, and long poems. In the next section, we’ll see how these works differ from titles of shorter works which are put in quotations instead.

• The novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, was published in 1847 under the pen name of Currer Bell.
• The movie Home Alone , released in 1990, made a worldwide total of $476,684,675 in box office revenue.

Titles Of Smaller Works

The titles of smaller works are put in “quotations” in order to differentiate them from longer works. These smaller works include titles of chapters, short stories, TV or radio show episodes, articles, and short poems.

In the examples below, note how you can recognize the difference between the shorter works and larger works just by seeing how they are emphasized in the sentence. This makes it impossible to confuse the title of a chapter with the book that it belongs to, or the episode from its TV show.

• The chapter entitled “The Castaway” in Moby Dick describes the near-death experience of a character named Pip.
• Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” was originally published in a Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine.
• The pilot episode of Friends , which was released on September 22, 1994, is called “The One Where Monica Gets A Roommate.”

Punctuation In Titles: Common Confusions

Question marks.

Confusion can come up when a title includes a question mark or an exclamation mark in the title itself. For example, the book Who Has Seen the Wind? includes a question mark in it.

The way to deal with these titles is to italicize the question mark as well, just as it is above. By doing so, you can differentiate this title from an actual question, such as writing: Have you read Gone With the Wind ?

The same idea applies to exclamation marks — for example, the movie Mamma Mia! , which includes an exclamation mark in the title. Note the italicization, and the difference between writing Mamma Mia! , the movie, and writing: I can’t believe that you never watched The Parent Trap !

Commas and periods

The confusion of commas and periods when it comes to quotations is a debate between different handbooks and countries. According to the MLA (Modern Language Association) handbook, commas and periods are placed inside of quotation marks.

• “The Seinfeld Chronicles , ” the first episode of Seinfeld , had 15.4 million viewers in America.
• Among the short stories of James Joyce included in the collection Dubliners are “Araby , ” “The Sisters , ” and “The Encounter.”

Solidify your new skills by completing practice sentences: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-black-and-white-stripe-shirt-looking-at-white-printer-papers-on-the-wall-212286/

Let’s practice.

Try your hand at your new skills! Below are five sentences without any italics or quotations. Italicize the longer works and put the shorter works in quotations. If you get stuck, check back in the article, and you’ll be an expert in no time. Be sure to pay attention to tricky commas, periods, and question marks.

• The Lazy Controller, chapter two of Thinking Fast and Slow, talks about multitasking and its effect on thinking.
• The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story by Catherine Perkins Gilman, was originally published in The New England Magazine in January 1892.
• John Lennon’s album Imagine included favorites such as Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep?, and, of course, Imagine.
• The premiere episode of Family Matters is called The Mama Who Came To Dinner, and relays the drama of Carl’s mother coming to live with him.
• The short story Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway was first published in a magazine called Transition, and was only later published in his book Men Without Women.

Why Is Proper Indentation Important?

College essays  .

No matter what you study in college, most students write a lot of essays during their school years. While some degrees may put more of an emphasis on writing proper essays , most teachers and professors will expect a certain level of basic grammar and formatting knowledge. Before you even step foot into college, you’ll most likely be expected to write an application essay . It’s important to put your best foot forward, and small formatting rules can go a long way in making a good first impression.

Landing your dream job  

In addition to college essays, prospective employers and job positions will require and look for basic (or advanced, depending on the position) writing skills. Whether you think your dream job requires writing skills or not, writing is a part of everyday life and work, from emails and text messages, to presentations and reports. Having good writing skills will help you make a good first impression, land your dream job, and do your best work.

Proper writing is an important skill for any job: https://www.pexels.com/photo/writing-notes-idea-class-7103/

Having a successful career.

Though different students earn a degree for different reasons, many are hoping to work toward a successful career. In order to do this, the right preparation is key. Preparation may be earning a degree, gaining specific skills, or having the right guidance along the way.

University of the People prepares our students for successful careers by providing program advising , mentorship , and an emphasis on career development . We know that these extra details, much like formatting in an essay, make a big difference for the future success of our students. University of the People is a tuition-free online university that offers degree programs in business administration, computer science, health science, and education.

Wrapping Up

Now you know when to underline or italicize, and much more. To wrap up, italics should be used for the titles of longer works such as movies, books, and TV shows, and underlining for handwritten papers.

In addition, we hope you’ve learned the more tricky rules such as question marks and commas, and that you’ve given some thought to the importance of writing for your future education and success.

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Quotations or Italics for Research Papers?

When writing a research paper, it is important to understand the best way to use quotations or italics when citing sources. This article examines the different methods of incorporating quotes and italics into your academic work in order to ensure that you are following all formatting guidelines. The discussion covers considerations such as how long each quotation should be, whether there is an appropriate method for using multiple quotes in one sentence, and what factors may influence which form of citation should be used. Additionally, this article provides insight on various instances where one type of reference style might supersede another depending on individual circumstances within an argumentative essay or other formal documents.

I. Introduction to Research Papers and Quotation/Italics Usage

Ii. an overview of the rules for using quotations in research papers, iii. guidelines for incorporating italicized text into your paper, iv. considerations when choosing between quotes or italics for specific words, phrases, titles and expressions, v. what is necessary for proper citation when including material in a research paper, vi. the pros and cons of utilizing both forms of presentation within an academic essay, vii. conclusion: how should you choose between quotations or italics for your next research project.

Research papers are integral to academic writing. However, the style in which these papers should be formatted can sometimes be perplexing; from formatting titles and subtitles correctly, to using italics or quotation marks for emphasis – there is much to consider! Below we outline some key points that will help you write effective research papers.

• When citing a book title, magazine name or journal article use “quotation marks” . For example “The World of Literature”.
• Italics should be used when referencing longer works such as plays and films. e.g Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

Writing a research paper often involves quoting other sources in order to support an argument or illustrate a point. Quoting does not necessarily require the use of italicized text although it is important that quotes adhere strictly to their original context within the source material otherwise they may become misleading . Depending on your chosen citation style (e.g APA) different rules apply but all styles agree that direct quotations should appear inside either single or double quote marks whereas any words reproduced exactly from another author’s work must also have appropriate attribution.

The proper use of quotations in research papers is an important skill for any student to learn. Quotations must be used appropriately to make your paper interesting and provide evidence for the points you are making. It’s also essential that these quotes are properly attributed so as not to misrepresent or misquote another person’s words.

• Italicization: Research papers should include all foreign language phrases, titles of books, movies, magazines and other works which appear in italics when written out in full – with quotation marks around them if they appear within a sentence. However; articles, short stories, chapter titles and poems do not require italicization.
• Quoting: When quoting someone else’s work directly (word-for-word), it is necessary to enclose the quoted material inside double quotation marks (” “) and indicate where the quote comes from by including citations after each one. If a phrase is longer than four typed lines then it should be set apart from your text using block indentation without quotation marks but still providing citation information afterwards.

When it comes to incorporating italicized text into a paper, there are several key guidelines to keep in mind. Here are the most important:

• Research papers should be either quoted or italicized. It is generally accepted that research papers published within academic journals, books and other scholarly sources must always be written in quotation marks. For example: “This study found…” On the other hand, if you are citing an entire book or publication by its title then italics can be used instead; e.g., The Complete Guide to Writing Research Papers.
• Focus on clarity rather than consistency. Different style guides may dictate different methods of formatting text when writing a paper but ultimately your goal should be ensuring that your reader understands what they’re reading and not necessarily following every guideline religiously. So feel free to mix up how you write out certain words for maximum impact (e.g., bolding some keywords).

When faced with the choice of using italics or quotation marks for specific words, phrases, titles and expressions, it is important to consider several factors.

First and foremost is the type of work being referenced; certain works such as books should always be set in italics while others like articles or short stories may require quotation marks. Research papers are usually formatted according to a particular style guide, so if you’re unsure whether these should be quoted or italicized check which style guide your paper follows (APA typically recommends quotes). Additionally some publications may have their own preferences when it comes to punctuation that must also be taken into account.

The other aspect to bear in mind when deciding between quotes versus italics is context: even though a phrase might generally fall into one category (e.g., titles are traditionally placed within quote-marks), depending on how they appear within a sentence there could potentially be an argument for either case – ultimately authors need to decide which would look more appropriate given its surroundings! For example “Superheroes never die” can take on two completely different meanings depending on whether used as part of dialogue/direct speech ( quotes ) versus serving as an independent statement ( italicised ).

When constructing a research paper, it is of paramount importance to properly cite the material included within. Proper citation not only serves to protect against plagiarism and copyright infringement, but also helps readers understand the context of your work better.

Citing sources appropriately means including enough information for them to be accurately located by others. Depending on what type of source you are citing, this may include: author’s name; title (for books or articles); journal title (if applicable); publisher’s name; date published; URL; page number(s) cited from article/book etc. For websites specifically, it is necessary to provide both a link as well as an access date if available—this can help show that the website was still valid when you accessed it during your research process. In terms of formatting style, MLA and APA formats typically require that titles be italicized in all references while Chicago requires quotes around titles instead. Research papers should generally follow one format throughout so check with your instructor before beginning!

When constructing an academic essay, the writer must decide whether to use visual or written forms of presentation. Both have their own pros and cons that should be weighed in order for the best effect to be achieved.

Visuals : Visual representations like charts, graphs, tables and photographs can serve as powerful tools when trying to convey complex concepts. When done correctly they may provide a more immediate way of conveying ideas than words alone could offer; allowing readers to comprehend information quickly while also stimulating interest in further exploration.

On the other hand visuals can take up space on a page that would otherwise be used for text-based explanations. Furthermore research papers typically require full source citations regardless if one is using images or not. Therefore additional effort has to go into ensuring graphics are properly sourced so as not damage credibility with potential audiences.

• Time consuming sourcing process.
• Graphics will consume some available word count.

Written Content: : On its part textual content provides direct explanation which lends itself well towards describing theories, models or processes within research essays – along with making connections between sources cited throughout the paper’s body.. Careful editing allows maximum efficiency of communication by trimming unnecessary words so main points stand out clearly.

At times however it is easy to get lost amidst a sea of text when explanatory detail begins piling up without adequate breaks for reader consumption; leading either premature confusion or boredom depending on audience background knowledge levels surrounding issue being discussed.

• “Wordy” passages might confuse readers.

“Reading fatigue” sets in easier compared with visuals . .

When deciding between using quotations or italics for your next research project, it is important to consider a few factors. First, research papers are usually written in either MLA or APA style and these two formats have different guidelines on the use of quotes and italicization . For example, when quoting from sources in an MLA-style paper, quotation marks should be used around all quoted material while titles of works like books or movies should appear in italics. Conversely, if writing an APA-style paper then quotation marks are not required around source material but titles must still appear in italics.

• Italicizing certain words can also help emphasize their importance.
• In some cases there may be no clear distinction between whether something needs to be set apart by quotations or put into emphasis with Italics.

In such scenarios it may come down to personal preference as both options can effectively convey the point without becoming too distracting from the main content of your work. Ultimately though regardless of which method you choose for formatting text within your research projects proper citations must always accompany any borrowed ideas so readers know where those ideas originated from.

In conclusion, this article has explored the advantages and disadvantages of using either quotations or italics for research papers. It is important to remember that each style of formatting offers its own set of benefits and drawbacks; thus, it is up to the writer’s discretion as to which one should be used when formatting a particular paper. Ultimately, by understanding both options, authors can make informed decisions regarding how they choose to format their work in order to achieve the best results possible.

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You Want Italics Where? 14 Places The Chicago Manual of Style Asks for Italics

15 June, 2022

Italics are like fancy dress for words. Seeing a word in italics is like going into your local grocery store and seeing someone working there in a samurai costume. “Well,” you think, “ you’re certainly here to tell me something.”

There are quite a lot of places we want to dress up words with italics. For some of us, there are too darn many places. As The Chicago Manual of Style ( CMOS 17, 7.50) admonishes us, “Overused, italics quickly lose their force.” But if we follow a manual like CMOS , it does say that we have to use italics in quite a few places. Here’s an exhausting—but not entirely exhaustive—list of where to use (and not to use) italics.

• For emphasis. But, as CMOS 17, 7.50 admonishes, “only as an occasional adjunct to efficient sentence structure.” Some of us really like adding emphasis, but it’s a bit like laughing at your own jokes. You don’t need it if the words pack enough punch by themselves—which, generally, they should.  
• In place of underlining. But if you’re presenting transcriptions of handwritten letters, you may prefer to keep underlining as underlining—especially if there’s also double underlining, or if you want to add your own emphasis: “We wish you would come as soon as possible to retrieve your nasty little dog, which has destroyed all the rose bushes ” [italics added].  
• For titles of books, magazines, and albums (but not of short stories, songs, or poems—unless they’re book-length poems). Basically, if it’s a whole publication of its own that you can hold in your hand, it gets italics; if it’s just a part of one of those, it goes in quotes. However, if a play or novel is included in an anthology, it still gets italics. And, on the other hand, even if you’re holding in your hand the one-sided twelve-inch extended-play single of “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” by Kiss, it’s still not in italics, because it’s just one song, even if it does go on for almost eight minutes.
• Not for the periods or commas following those titles, in most instances. The following punctuation is not part of the title, after all. This is where the eagle-eyed editors really get their bragging rights. Don’t believe me? Just search “italicized period” on Twitter to find all the editors posting their wins. This principle also holds true when you’re using italics for emphasis: the punctuation is only italicized if it’s part of what’s emphasized (“Your mom is arriving tomorrow ?” “ Yup! ”).
• Not for words in those titles that would normally be in italics. Got that? Italics are like an on/off switch: if it’s already on, you have to turn it off to signify italics-within-italics, such as when a title uses a scientific name (see below about those): Winnie the Ursus arctos : A Child’s First Taxonomy Book . The exception is when a book title mentions another book’s title within it; then you use quotation marks: Fear and Loathing in Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason”.  
• For abbreviations of those titles. The Chicago Manual of Style is, for short, CMOS , not CMOS. Enough said.  
• For words taken from other languages. The counsel of CMOS 17, 7.53, is “Use italics for isolated words and phrases from another language unless they appear in Webster’s or another standard English-language dictionary.” But, they add, “If a word from another language becomes familiar through repeated use throughout a work, it need be italicized only on its first occurrence.” And on top of this, “This rule does not extend to proper nouns, which can generally appear in roman type (except for titles of books and the like).” The trick here is the question of how familiar the word is. Because the English language has stolen so much of its vocabulary from other languages, and because italics are so very self-conscious, if there’s any question whether italics are necessary, it’s safer not to use them, as the CMOS Shop Talk blog (But, per Chicago Style, we always italicize the Latin sic , as in “He said he was totally thicc [ sic ].”)  
• For words qua words. That means when you’re talking about the word itself as a word rather than using it for its meaning. For example, “Pulchritude is beauty, but the word pulchritude is rather ugly.”  
• For the names of ships. For example, “The USS Enterprise may have seemed to go where no one has gone before. However, the Ever Given tried the route never taken: a sharp right turn into the desert. It didn’t get far.”
• For certain scientific names. This includes genes ( BRCA1 ), the first three letters of enzyme names ( Bam HI), and genus and species of living things ( Cannabis sativa spontanea )—but not higher levels such as kingdom, phylum, class, order, or family (e.g., Cannabaceae). Sometimes the common name of something is also its scientific name—we seem to do this especially to things that could kill us, like Boa constrictor , Tyrannosaurus rex , and E. coli . In such cases, check your reference dictionary: if it allows a lower-case common use, you don’t need italics for that (“Have you seen my pet boa constrictor?”); otherwise, you do (“That man is an absolute E. coli ”).
• In various ways in legal citations. This includes titles of articles and chapters, certain formal legal terms, and names of cases in running text—but not in citations. If you’re working with legal citations, you should have a copy of The Bluebook . If you’re not, count your blessings.
• For certain mathematical constants and variables. You may run into a few of these in ordinary text, such as e = mc ² , or the p value of a study’s results and the n of its subjects. But, look, mathematical text doesn’t stop at italics. It veers off into a wide variety of different type faces. If you’re editing equations, you’ll know all about that already. If you’re not, keep walking, eyes forward, whistling a happy tune.
• For stage directions. If you’re editing plays, you probably know this, but if you’re editing a book that just happens to quote from, say, Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale , it behooves you to know that it’s to be set like this:

Well may I get aboard! This is the chase: I am gone for ever. Exit, pursued by a bear

• For rhyme schemes. CMOS singles these out for special mention. For instance, you would use abab to indicate a quatrain of alternating rhymes, like this:

Roses are prickly, Anthuriums are phallic; Chicago is stickly On matters italic.

An Easier Way to Check Italics

The list of rules and exceptions is daunting, and that’s just following one style manual. What if you then have to consider house styles and industry conventions or individual client preferences? And then there are all the situations where you shouldn’t use italics, such as terms that require italics only on first use and not using italics at the end of the sentence? Even for those with the sharpest eyes and memories, it’s hard to avoid tripping up.

Fortunately, there is technology out there that can help! PerfectIt for MS Word has a whole range of consistency checks, including italicization. Its regular checks include a list of common terms from Latin, French, and German that may or may not be italicized, depending on your style guide. It also has The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt built in. Turning on this feature adds to its regular italics check with hundreds of terms from Latin, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Japanese, and other languages that are likely to appear in an English-language context. They also include many representative instances where italics are required.

PerfectIt can’t reasonably check everything that’s in italics; literally everything you could italicize could be the name of some work or vessel: an epic poem titled too darn many , for instance, or a sailboat named Yup! But it covers quite a lot, and it teaches you the principles and reminds you to look for other similar instances.

Are you using PerfectIt yet? If not, download the free trial . If you are, make sure you have The Chicago Manual of Style upgrade—it’s available for all PerfectIt users with a subscription to CMOS .

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Prof. Bukofser - Biology 2024 Summer Research : How to Cite a Journal Article from a Database

• The Scientific Method
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Citing a Journal, Magazine or Newspaper Article from a Database

References:

References are listed on a separate page at the end of your paper in alphabetical order. The reference list provides information to identify and retrieve each work cited in the text.

The basic elements of a reference are the author, date, title, and source .

            Example:

Aprile, G. G., Di Salvatore, M., C, Mingo, A., & Carafa, A. M. (2010). Comparison of the suitability of two lichen species and one higher plant for monitoring airborne heavy metals.  Environmental Monitoring & Assessment ,  162 (1–4), 291–299. https://lib-proxy.sunywcc.edu:2590/10.1007/s10661-009-0796-x 

Authors’ names : Invert the authors’ names, providing last name, and initials. Use an ampersand before the final author’s name.

Example:  Aprile, G. G., Di Salvatore, M., C, Mingo, A., & Carafa, A. M.

Dates : The year of publication is written in parentheses. Ex. (2010). If the complete date is available, format as (2010, May 14)

Title : The title is written in sentence case.

Source : The source indicates where readers can retrieve the cited work and is italicized.

Environmental Monitoring & Assessment

Journal of Urban Ecology

Volume and issue numbers : The volume number of the article is italicized, and the issue number is in parentheses.

Example: 38 (1)

Source information : Do not include the database name or URL. However, if an article has a DOI (digital object identifier), include that at the end of the citation. A DOI is a string of numbers and letters that typically begins with the number 10.

Example: https://lib-proxy.sunywcc.edu:2590/10.1007/s10661-009-0796-x 

In-text citations : (parenthetical citations) are citations of original sources that appear in the text of your paper. Each work cited in the text must appear in the reference list.

In-text citations include the author(s) name and publication date in parentheses.

            Example: (Luna, 2020)

In narrative citations, this information is incorporated in the sentence.

Example: Aprile et al. (2010)

Direct quotes require page number:

Example: (Luna, 2020, p. 43)

In-text citation rules for number of authors

• One author (Luna, 2020)
• Two authors (Salas & D’Agostino, 2020)
• Three or more authors (Aprile et al., 2010)

Adapted from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7 th ed., 2020)

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How to Paraphrase Research Papers Effectively?

Paraphrasing in academic writing is essential for preserving the author’s unique voice, preventing plagiarism, and demonstrating a thorough grasp of the researched subject.

For PhD students and early career researchers, effectively paraphrasing research papers is crucial for engaging with existing literature, synthesizing ideas, and contributing to scholarly discussions.

This skill helps in simplifying complex concepts and placing available data within the context of their research.

Understanding the purpose and significance of paraphrasing, along with learning accurate and ethical techniques, is fundamental for producing high-quality academic work.

Table of Contents

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing the meaning of someone else’s words in your own words instead of quoting them directly. Both authors and editors utilize paraphrasing during the writing and proofreading process.

Effective paraphrasing allows you to:

• Save space and maintain focus in your study
• Simplify complex information for general readers
• Avoid plagiarism (including self-plagiarism) and incorporate your own voice into the paper

Example of Paraphrasing:

“In his 1989 paper, Robinson concluded that…” This should be followed by your own summary of Robinson’s findings without copying the original text verbatim.

Paraphrasing in research

Paraphrasing in research involves rewriting the original text in your own words while ensuring to include all relevant information. When directly quoting, it’s similar to copying and pasting the original words exactly as they are, including the word order. In research papers following specific formatting guidelines like APA, AMA, or MLA, quoted text should be marked with quotation marks and accompanied by in-text citations.

On the other hand, paraphrasing allows for the inclusion of key terms from the original text but requires using new language to convey the same meaning. It’s crucial not to copy the original work verbatim. When paraphrasing, you don’t need to use quotation marks, but you still need to cite the original source to give credit to the author and avoid plagiarism.

The Significance and Role of Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing involves rewording another person’s ideas or findings while preserving the original meaning.

In academic writing , it serves several vital purposes.

• Researchers use paraphrasing to integrate existing knowledge into their work, demonstrating comprehension of the topic and expanding on existing literature.
• It enables scholars to present information in their own words, adding unique value to the academic conversation and reflecting their thought processes.
• Effective paraphrasing helps avoid plagiarism , a serious ethical issue, by properly crediting sources even when not using their exact words.

Techniques for Effective Paraphrasing in Research Papers

To paraphrase a research paper effectively , researchers should adopt a systematic approach and deeply comprehend their sources before rephrasing them.

This involves identifying key ideas and arguments and conveying them clearly and accurately in their own words.

Here are three simple ways to ensure effective paraphrasing:

• Thoroughly Understand the Original Material: Researchers must carefully review and understand the original research paper. This includes identifying the main research question, critical arguments, supporting evidence, and overall structure. A comprehensive understanding helps in accurate and meaningful paraphrasing.
• Identify Core Concepts: It is essential to pinpoint the key ideas, findings, and arguments. These elements form the foundation for your paraphrased version, allowing you to convey the information effectively in your own words.
• Use Synonyms, Change Sentence Structure, and Simplify Complex Ideas: Effective paraphrasing requires using various linguistic strategies. For instance, using synonyms allows you to replace specific terms or phrases while accurately keeping their original meaning. Similarly, understanding sentence structures enables you to simplify complex sentences without changing their meaning. Furthermore, modifying the sentence structure, such as switching from active to passive voice or vice versa, helps researchers in creating effective paraphrases.

Importance of Proper Citations When Paraphrasing a Research Paper

Paraphrasing enables researchers to express ideas in their own words, but acknowledging the source of information is crucial to avoid plagiarism. Proper citations credit the original author and allow readers to trace the data back to its source. Researchers must diligently follow the required citation style , accurately referencing the original work when using paraphrased content.

Paraphrasing research papers effectively is a crucial skill for early career researchers to develop. By mastering paraphrasing, scholars can demonstrate their understanding of the literature, adapt it to their own writing style, and contribute to advancing resear

Paraphrasing the Original Text

Here are the steps to effectively paraphrase source material:

• Begin by thoroughly understanding the important aspects of the source material to grasp its meaning.
• Take notes and compile a list of key terms from the source material.
• Write a new paragraph without referring to the original text, incorporating only the key terms from your notes.
• Review your paraphrased version to ensure it captures the essential parts and intended meaning of the source material accurately.
• Clearly indicate where your paraphrased content begins and ends using in-text citations, even though you’ve rewritten the information in your own words.

Difference Between Paraphrasing and Quotation

How to paraphrase effectively to prevent plagiarism.

When paraphrasing, it’s essential to start by referencing the original author and then summarizing the relevant passage in your own words and style. This process ensures that the paraphrased content is distinct from the original text.

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

When to use paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing is recommended when you want to keep the core idea of a reference while changing its wording. It is particularly useful for:

• Reorganizing ideas
• Simplifying complex material
• Clarifying technical passages

However, it is crucial to cite the original sources to acknowledge the origin of the ideas or concepts.

Acknowledge the Original Author

Credit should be given to the original authors for the ideas in the paraphrased passage but avoid giving more credit than deserved.

Instead of saying authors “proved” something, it’s better to use a neutral statement such as, “Robinson’s 1989 paper strongly supports the proposed mechanism, since it reports that…”.

This phrasing is more accurate as scientific experiments support hypotheses rather than proving them.

Guidelines for Citing Paraphrased Text

The format of the citation will depend on the citation style you are using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Here’s a general guide:

• Include the Author’s Name: In most citation styles, include the author’s last name and the publication year.
• Provide the Page Number (if applicable): If paraphrasing from a specific page or section, include the page number (common in APA and MLA styles).
• Indicate that it is a Paraphrase: Clearly mention that you are presenting a paraphrase, not a direct quote.

Always refer to the specific guidelines of your citation style for accurate formatting.

While paraphrasing is useful, it should not dominate your work. Overuse can make your work seem derivative.

Paraphrases should clarify and support your arguments without overshadowing your original contributions.

A strong paper stands on its own, with paraphrased passages included to enhance understanding and context.

How to Properly Cite a Paraphrased Text

Once you have paraphrased your text, it is important to credit the original author. While paraphrasing is done consistently, the type of in-text citation will vary based on the citation style you are using. Below are examples for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.

APA In-Text Citation:

When paraphrasing in APA style, include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number.

Example: (Brouwer, 2019, p. 874)

MLA In-Text Citation:

For MLA style, provide the author’s last name and the page number without a comma.

Example: (Brouwer 874)

Chicago Footnote:

In Chicago style, use a footnote to provide full details of the source. The format includes the author’s name, title of the article, journal name, volume and issue number, year of publication, page number, and a DOI or URL if available.

Example: Susanne Brouwer, “The Auditory Foreign-Language Effect of Moral Decision Making in Highly Proficient Bilinguals,” Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 40, no. 10 (2019): 874. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2019.1585863 .

Misbah Rashid, an expert in Technology Management, holds an MBA and an MS in Information Systems and Technology Management. She has experience teaching marketing and technology in business at the university level.

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