happy incident in my life essay

Free Essays

My Most Memorable Incident In My Life

Sorry, but downloading text is forbidden on this website. if you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. please, specify your valid email address.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Thank you! How about make it original at only $13.90/page?

Let us edit it for you at only $13.90 to make it 100% original!

We always remember such events. Well, this memorable incident of mine happened when I was in high school. So it went like this, my friend Nicole’s birthday is nearly approaching. So, she decided to treat us on her birthday. And she only invited her ten top friends, including me.

Luckily, her parents would give some money for addition on her birthday treat.So, we were like so happy because it was the first time she will treat us on her birthday. Then right, her birthday comes. Our meeting place was at the school bench around 10 o’clock in the morning.

We’re so excited that time, so no one came late. But then, we stayed a little bit longer in the school because we are waiting for a jeepney to drive us to the mall. And when we’re already in the jeepney, we were so noisy then that the driver can really be so annoyed to us because of our loud voices. Finally, we have already arrived at the mall at 11 o’clock in the morning.First thing we realized was that, we are already hungry.

And right, Nicole suggested us to eat first but we are so confused on which restaurant we want to go and eat. It takes time when we finally decide what restaurant we shall go. The incident happened in that restaurant, it goes like this. We seated in the front part of the restaurant because it’s facing the butterfly garden which gives a nice view to people who are passing and eating by. Apparently, we’re looking at the menu for us to pick some delicious food we wanted to eat.

Then, Nicole by herself went to the counter, paid the bills and took the order for us. Meanwhile, my best friend Liezl and I realized that Nicole can’t take all of our orders alone so we went to the counter and saw this one tray with full of drinks. Nicole left the tray to us and Liezl carried the tray and I’m just assisting her to avoid sliding of the drinks. So when we reached in our seats, we’re about to put down the drinks but it all suddenly slide and glide down on the ground.

The costumers looked at us and obviously, we caught their attention.We were like at lost that time that all of us ran and went to the butterfly garden and leave the drinks on the ground like we don’t know what just happened. Liezl and I feel so embarrassed that can’t even face everybody because on what we’ve done or even go in to the restaurant because of what happened. But then, we say sorry to Nicole for doing things so reckless.

Then Nicole ordered drinks again for us and we went back in our seats and eat quietly. The birthday treat of Nicole was just too memorable for me that until now is still written on my memory and won’t ever forget that embarrassing moment or incident in my life.

On any given day I could do anything I wanted because I…

n unforgettable place is my late grandmother’s bungalow. It seems to lounge…

Many people have memorable experiences throughout their lifetime, ranging from the celebration…

o Life Essays Pro Life Essays abortion argumentative persuasive

On Sunday, November 13, 1988, I made my first parachute landing from…

The curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark…

Essay Question: Does the novel end on an optimistic note? Explain why….

The bookstore is accessible on our website under Quick Links. From the…

As the trains were trapped inside the Eurotunnel for over 15 hours,…

When I was a child I was always told about how strong…

On May 1, 1960, two weeks prior to the UnitedStates-Soviet Summit in…

The work of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is extremely important because…

Hi! We can edit and customize this paper for you. Just send your request for getting no plagiarism essay

HAVEN’T FOUND YOUR TOPIC?

Let us write it for you!

My Most Memorable Incident In My Life Essay Example

Pages: 3 (557 words)
Published: February 15, 2017
Type: Essay

Everybody has one or the other memorable incident of his or her life. This particular incident takes such a serious turn that it is long remembered in later life. Some incidents of day to day life influence our character and future course of life. We always remember such events. Well, this memorable incident of mine happened when I was in high school. So it went like this, my friend Nicole’s birthday is nearly approaching. So, she decided to treat us on her birthday. And she only invited her ten top friends, including me. Luckily, her parents would give some money for addition on her birthday treat.

So, we were like so happy because it was the first time she will treat us on her birthday. Then right, her birth

day comes. Our meeting place was at the school bench around 10 o’clock in the morning. We’re so excited that time, so no one came late. But then, we stayed a little bit longer in the school because we are waiting for a jeepney to drive us to the mall. And when we’re already in the jeepney, we were so noisy then that the driver can really be so annoyed to us because of our loud voices. Finally, we have already arrived at the mall at 11 o’clock in the morning.

First thing we realized was that, we are already hungry. And right, Nicole suggested us to eat first but we are so confused on which restaurant we want to go and eat. It takes time when we finally decide what restaurant we shall go. The incident happened in that restaurant, it goe

like this. We seated in the front part of the restaurant because it’s facing the butterfly garden which gives a nice view to people who are passing and eating by. Apparently, we’re looking at the menu for us to pick some delicious food we wanted to eat.

We were like at lost that time that all of us ran and went to the butterfly garden and leave the drinks on the ground like we don’t know what just happened. Liezl and I feel so embarrassed that can’t even face everybody because on what we’ve done or even go in to the restaurant because of what happened. But then, we say sorry to Nicole for doing things so reckless. Then Nicole ordered drinks again for us and we went back in our seats and eat quietly. The birthday treat of Nicole was just too memorable for me that until now is still written on my memory and won’t ever forget that embarrassing moment or incident in my

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time Example Essay Example
Describe An Incident In Your Life That Essay Example
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time Argumentative Essay Example
Particular incidents or emergencies in a health or social care setting Essay Example
Jane Eyre, The red room incident Essay Example
Incident on a journey By Thom Gunn Essay Example
The To Analyse A Critical Incident From Essay Example
Ubaldo appeals suspension from Tulo incident Essay Example
The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Nighttime Essay Example
Case Incident - “Working at ThinkLink” Essay Example
Curious Incident of the dog in the night time Essay Example
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time Essay Example
Two incidents that established my early inclination towards the study of medicine Essay Example
How do the poets in 'Half-Caste' and 'Unrelated Incidents' Essay Example
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time Analysis Essay Example
Accident essays
Awareness essays
Benefits of Volunteering essays
Challenges essays
Childhood Memories essays
Decision essays
Driving essays
Event essays
Excellence essays
Expectations essays
Failure essays
Farewell essays
Flight essays
Gift essays
Growing Up essays
Ignorance essays
Improve essays
Incident essays
Knowledge essays
Luck essays
Memories essays
Mistake essays
Obstacles essays
Overcoming Challenges essays
Party essays
Peace Corps essays
Personal Experience essays
Problems essays
Sacrifices essays
Struggle essays
Success essays
Trust essays
Vacation essays
Visit essays
Volunteering essays

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards.

Enter your topic/question
Receive an explanation
Ask one question at a time
Enter a specific assignment topic
Aim at least 500 characters
a topic sentence that states the main or controlling idea
supporting sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
evidence from your reading or an example from the subject area that supports your point
analysis of the implication/significance/impact of the evidence finished off with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.

Unfortunately copying the content is not possible

Tell us your email address and we’ll send this sample there..

By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions .

Share full article

Supported by

Mentor texts

Telling Short, Memorable Stories From Your Life: ‘My Secret Pepsi Plot’

An invitation to students to tell a meaningful story in a limited number of words, with an example from The Times’s Lives column to help.

By Katherine Schulten

Our new Mentor Text series spotlights writing from The Times that students can learn from and emulate.

This entry, like several others we are publishing, focuses on an essay from The Times’s long-running Lives column to consider skills prized in narrative writing. We are starting with this genre to help support students participating in our 2020 Personal Narrative Essay Contest .

Our Personal Narrative Essay Contest is inspired by The New York Times’s Lives column, which ran from 1996 to 2017 and featured “short, powerful stories about meaningful life experiences .”

The editor of the column once posted some advice on “How to Write a Lives Essay” to guide those who submitted to the column annually. Much of that advice applies to our contest as well.

For example, several points boil down to reminders to keep it simple, including tips like:

Don’t try to fit your whole life into one “Lives.”

Don’t try to tell the whole story.

Tell a small story — an evocative, particular moment.

Better to start from something very simple that you think is interesting (an incident, a person) and expand upon it, rather than a large idea that you then have to fit into a short essay. For example, start with “the day the Santa Claus in the mall asked me on a date” rather than “the state of affairs that is dating in an older age bracket.”

This advice is similar to advice often given to high school seniors writing college essays : You have only 650 words to show admissions officers something important, interesting or memorable about who you are and what matters to you. A list of awards you’ve won won’t do it, but an engaging story about making brownies with your stepbrother just might.

As you’ll see when you read the texts below, none of them try to tell the whole story of a life, but, instead, illuminate an important aspect of it through focus on one event or moment. Yet that one focus ripples out, and says so much more.

Before You Read

Use the sentence starter below to write for a few minutes about whatever comes to mind. You will return to this writing in the “Now Try This” section.

A moment I’ll never forget from my childhood is …

Mentor Text: ‘ My Secret Pepsi Plot ,’ a 2014 Essay From the Lives Column, by Boris Fishman

This essay describes a memory from when the writer was 10 years old and his family had just immigrated from the Soviet Union to Brooklyn. “In the Soviet Union, we were secretly wealthy, but we arrived in Brooklyn as paupers,” he writes.

Somehow, his family ends up with 24 Pepsi-Colas in their refrigerator. The story of what happens next is Mr. Fishman’s short, powerful story:

Around this time I learned that American supermarkets gave back 5 cents for every returned empty. (Some states, like Michigan, its very name like a granite monument, gave you 10 cents.) I decided I would return those cans and give the money to my parents. My secret — a surprise.

Read the essay, focusing on how Mr. Fishman anchors the whole story in this one goal he had at age 10 — to return the Pepsi cans and get money for them.

As you read, you might trace the structure of the story. What does each paragraph do? What does each add to the telling of this small story?

Then, consider these questions:

How do the first two paragraphs set the stage for the story and give some necessary background?

How does telling this story allow the writer to show readers a particular time and place through the eyes of a new immigrant?

How does he pull you into the action, minute by minute, in the three paragraphs that begin “On Saturday afternoon …”?

How is money a theme throughout, in both stated and implied ways? What other ideas recur?

What is the role of the last paragraph?

Now Try This: Find Your Own Short, Powerful Stories

Look back at the writing you did before reading the mentor text. What is strongest about it? Could it become a short essay like the one you just read? If so, what would you need to do to shape it?

What other small stories — or “evocative, particular moments” — from your life might make wonderful short essays?

In a 2010 lesson plan, “ Going Beyond Cliché: How to Write a Great College Essay ,” we suggest students first make a timeline of their lives, or of one period in their lives, brainstorming at least 20 events, big and small, that were significant to them for any reason.

You might try that, or you can brainstorm answers to this list of prompts — or both:

-A time I took a risk: -A time I learned something about myself: -A memory from childhood I think about often: -Something that happened to me that still makes me laugh: -Something very few people know about me: -Something I regret: -A time when I felt rejected: -Something I am really proud of: -Something that changed the way I think or look at the world: -How I am different from most people I know: -Some of my fears: -A time I felt truly satisfied: -A time I failed at something: -An object I own that tells a lot about me:

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you might try to free-write for 10 minutes or so, asking yourself as you go: What was most interesting or memorable about this? What images come to mind when you think about this topic? Do you picture a person, a scene, a place? Do you hear a conversation or a bit of music? Do you smell, taste or feel something?

Finally, if you are still stuck, we have a list of prompts from our site that can inspire narrative writing . Take a look and see if any of them spark ideas for you.

More Mentor Texts for Telling Short, Memorable Stories

While the entire Lives column is devoted to “short, powerful stories,” the pieces we chose below are especially student-friendly in terms of both their subject matter and the way the writers focus on “an evocative, particular moment.” Below each title, an excerpt from the piece.

“ How Ramen Got Me Through Adolescence ,” a 2014 Lives essay, by Veronique Greenwood

When I was in fifth grade, I developed an intense dislike of eating around other people. The cafeteria was a place of foul odors, gelatinous spills, horrific mixtures of chocolate pudding, fruit cocktail and ketchup consumed on dares, and I found myself fasting from breakfast, at about 6 in the morning, until 3:35, when I walked home through the woods from the bus stop. Each step up our hill, a narrow ridge in rural California, I fantasized about the big bowl of ramen I would make myself when I reached the top.

“ Charmed ," a 2015 Lives essay, by Laila Lalami

‘‘Wait,’’ I said. From my pocket I pulled out a brown suede pouch bearing the name of a little jeweler in Rabat, the kind of place you send your friends to and say, tell him I sent you. In the pouch was a necklace with a silver khamsa — a charm in the shape of an open palm.

“ Montana Soccer-Mom Moment ,” a 2010 essay from the Lives column, by Laura Munson

I live in northwest Montana, and I have a teenager, and my teenager plays sports. That means a lot of driving — over-the-Rocky-Mountains-and-back-in-one-day kind of driving. I think about Meriwether Lewis every time I cross the Continental Divide, usually with sleeping soccer players wearing headphones in the back of my Suburban. I want to say, “Can you imagine everything depending on your horse and your ability to dream of an ocean past the mountains?” But it isn’t worth the eye-rolling.

“ All the Single Ladies ," a 2014 essay from the Lives column, by Jen Doll

“Single ladies to the dance floor!” came the cry, a masculine voice urging us forward. Wedding guests parted, creating a narrow path for the train of unmarried women to parade through in their finery. But we single ladies no longer looked so fine as we had that morning. We were worn and tired, sweat beading down our necks, sand crunching unpleasantly in our shoes, which were wearing raw the backs of our heels. We should have been lying down in cool rooms elsewhere, but the wedding was not over. We were 28. We knew what was next.

“ Working the Reunion ,” a 2008 essay from the Lives column, by ZZ Packer

My residential college always hosted the 45th reunion, one of the most well attended, I suppose because you just might not be around for the 50th. To my eyes, these guys were the picture of old money. Although they may have mastered physics or appraised the sharp beauty of “King Lear” in school, at reunions they reminisced about football glories and practical jokes. I sometimes felt less like a Yale co-ed who happened to be black than a black waitress who happened to be bringing them an extra fork. But after their dinner we reunion workers would drink up all the leftover bottles of wine while cleaning the dining hall.

A Memorable Day in My Life [100, 120, 150, 200-250 Words]

A Memorable Day in My Life: W all have at least one memorable day in our life. In this article, you are going to learn how to write a paragraph or an essay on ‘a most memorable day in my life’. Here you’ll get to read 4 paragraphs on this topic (100, 120, 150, 200-250 Words). These paragraphs will be helpful for the students from class 1 to class 12. So, let’s begin.

Table of Contents

A Memorable Day in My Life: 100 Words

During the summer vacation, I visited Mussoorie with my parents. I had never been to Mussoorie before. So it was a new experience for me. Everywhere there was a great hustle and bustle. The weather was very pleasant. Mussoorie is Rightly called the ‘Queen of Hills’. It transports one into a heaven of joy.

My parents took me to Lal Tibba, the highest point in Mussoorie. Lal Tibba provides a mesmerizing view of Himalayan mountain peaks. I was mesmerized to see beautiful scenery and high mountains. We also visited Happy Valley, Kempty Falls and Mussoorie lake. Visiting Mussoorie was the most memorable incident in my life.

Memorable Day of My Life: 120 Words

Last month, our school arranged a trip to the Taj Mahal, Agra. The beauty of the Taj Mahal seemed to have no parallel. It is made of white marble on the bank of the river Yamuna. The garden in front of it has tall cypress trees, colourful flowers, and rows of mountains. Many precious gems and stones are seen set on the tomb.

I found in the Taj Mahal the artistic and cultural heritage of India. Every stone of this building tells the story of the true love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. The white marble structure unrolled before me a new world of beauty. It is, indeed, matchless in beauty and grandeur. That’s why it is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. I was greatly charmed by its beauty. I felt breathless for a white. It was undoubtedly the most memorable day of my life.

Most Memorable Day of My Life: 150 Words

A memorable incident is an incident which leaves an everlasting impression on our minds. The most memorable incident of my life is when I got an opportunity to exhibit my talent on stage in front of a huge audience. I always dreamt of becoming a singer. As a kid, I used my toothbrush as the mike and treated my dolls as my audience.

I was enrolled in a vocal training course in an eminent singer’s singing class and from there, based on my performance I was selected to display my skills at the Zee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Initially, I was a bit nervous, but got over it soon when I heard the tune. My performance was well received and the audience acclaimed me with their applauds and kept yelling “once more”. The incident made me feel on top of the world.

Also Read: My School Paragraph in English

Memorable Day of My Life Essay: 200-250 Words

A moment which is sweet lasts long in our memory. I distinctly remember the day. My H. S. examination was over and I was having a relaxed time. One day, after spending the afternoon with my friends, I returned home.

My parents were waiting for me. Sister also came running. She was carrying a big envelope in her hand. They all seemed to be very excited and their faces bore reflections of animated joy. My sister shouted that there was a good news for me in the envelope and she would not tell unless she got a heavy bakshis.

After much cajoling, I could get the letter. Lo and behold! It was the admission letter from the I.I.T, Kharagpur. My joy then knew no bounds, I did quite well in the joint entrance examination. But to get selected finally in the highly competitive all-India test was something none could be sure of. In fact, I was a little tense to know the result.

Parents blessed me for my success. Neighbours also came. They all congratulated me again and again. I was lost in golden dreams. At last, I was going to join an institution of international fame! It was the happiest and most memorable day in my life because my future career got a definite direction that day. But that happy day taught me a lesson, too. I made up my mind to work hard in order to be successful in my career.

Read More: 1. Paragraph on My Best Friend 2. Paragraph on Discipline in English 3. Paragraph on Early Rising

Paragraph on APJ Abdul Kalam [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]

Paragraph on My Family in English [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]

Paragraph on My Likes and Dislikes | 100, 200, 400 Words

Paragraph on Mother Teresa in English [100, 150, 200 Words]

4 thoughts on “a memorable day in my life [100, 120, 150, 200-250 words]”.

My favourite Store is like Restaurant

Easy limit is good

good essay love it

The Most Unforgettable Moment in My Life Short Essay For Students and Children

Table of Contents

The Most Unforgettable Moment in My Life

The most memorable moments of my life.

Everyone’s life is full of memorable moments. Some moments are quite unforgettable. There have been many unforgettable moments in my life. I would like to mention one of them.

Please enable JavaScript

The most unforgettable moment in my life is when one day I was travelling from Jammu to Dehli by train. I was in the first class, so only a few passengers were there with me. At a specific station, all of them got off. I was now in the compartment absolutely alone.

After a moment, a clever lady walked into the compartment and sat next to me. She had an ingenious scheme to rob me. She told me she would report to the railway police that I had robbed her if I did not hand over all the money I had to her. I was totally and utterly perplexed when I heard this horrible voice. I made a plan to save myself from that lady’s wicked plan. Therefore, I pretended to be a deaf and a dumb fellow and asked her to write what she wanted to say on a piece of paper. She wrote her request happily on the piece of paper and handed it over to me. I changed my seat to pick up a piece of writing. The railway policeman came and asked what the matter was. As smart as she was, the women burst into admissions, so she said I had robbed her of a thousand rupees. He seemed to believe in her false story at first, but when I gave the piece of writing to the police, she turned pale. She was caught red-handed, so I saved myself from her evil scheme.

Have something to say Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from Smart English Notes

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — An Unforgettable Experience In My Life

An Unforgettable Experience in My Life

Categories: Death Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 719 |

Published: Sep 19, 2019

Words: 719 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited

Barry, M. (2010). The death of a loved one: A primer for grieving. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 48(11), 12-15.
Davis, C. G., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Larson, J. (1998). Making sense of loss and benefiting from the experience: Two construals of meaning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(2), 561-574.
Goss, K., & Gilbert, P. (2002). Bereavement following traumatic death: A conceptual analysis and review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 15(3), 181-191.
Holland, J. M., Currier, J. M., & Neimeyer, R. A. (2006). Meaning reconstruction in the first two years of bereavement: The role of sense-making and benefit-finding. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 53(3), 175-191.
Kübler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying. Macmillan.
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Davis, C. G. (1999). "Thanks for sharing that": Ruminators and their social support networks. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(4), 801-814.
Parkes, C. M. (2015). Bereavement: Studies of grief in adult life. Routledge.
Schut, H., & Stroebe, M. S. (2005). Interventions to enhance adaptation to bereavement. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 8(S1), S140-S147.
Stroebe, M. S., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. The Lancet, 370(9603), 1960-1973.
Thompson, L. W., Gallagher, D., & Breckenridge, J. N. (1989). Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies for depressed elders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57(3), 403-407.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

Expert in: Nursing & Health Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

7 pages / 3125 words

5 pages / 2232 words

2 pages / 694 words

7 pages / 3269 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

An Unforgettable Experience in My Life Essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Personal Experience

My experience with the Pennsville Soccer Association has helped me become a more sociable person. I have always been extremely shy, ever since I was a kid. I can remember starting soccer at four years old and not really wanting [...]

A motto is a guiding principle to someone’s life, or a short saying that they go by. Some people may have many mottos they go by. However, I have three most important mottos that I believe in. Which are “Talk is cheap, until you [...]

Ancona, R. (2018). Latino/a art activism: Engaging culture and change. University of Texas Press.Ayala, K. J., & Medina, C. (Eds.). (2017). Latino art and culture in the United States: The Mexican-American experience. [...]

March 25th, 2016, remains etched in my memory as a day that irrevocably altered the course of my life. It was a pivotal moment, one that ushered in an extraordinary opportunity to embark on an unparalleled journey of education [...]

I have spent almost four years of my life in the University of the Philippines Diliman. Typically, applying for internship gives you the liberty to get out of your comfort zone and explore the working world outside college. In [...]

In crafting this leadership application essay, I am prompted to reflect on the formative experiences that have shaped my leadership abilities and underscore my aspiration to serve as a peer leader. As the oldest boy among four [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Practice Test
Useful Tips – Tricks
Full Writing Review
General Writing Task
Writing Task 1
Writing Task 2
Writing Exercises
Writing Sample – Topics
Writing Vocabulary
Speaking Vocabulary
Intro Question
Speaking Part 1
Speaking Part 2
Speaking Part 2 – Audio
Speaking Part 3
IELTS Books
Recent Exams
IELTS Vocabulary
Essay from Examiners
IELTS Ideas

IELTS App - For Mobile

Ready for the IELTS exam with our IELTS app. Over 2 million downloads

Popular Last 24h

Ielts speaking part 1: topic travelling, describe a ﬁlm that made you laugh, [pdf] grammar for ielts writing by david s. wills, in many countries，today there are many highly qualified graduates without employment., writing task 2: children are often told they can achieve anything if they try hard enough, [ebook] collins for ielts – reading, writing, listening, speaking and vocabulary, describe a teenager you know.

IELTS Test/Skills FAQs
IELTS Scoring in Detail
Forecast Speaking – 2023
List IELTS Speaking Part 3
List IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Writing 2023 – Actual Test

Our Telegram

Join our community for IELTS preparation and share and download materials.

The information on this site is for informational purposes only. IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, or IDP Education Australia.

Latest Articles

Ielts speaking part 3: topic teamwork, writing task 2: problem and solution, writing task 2: government| health care vs tax-payers, writing task 1: languages learned by two genders, most popular, describe a person whom you met for the ﬁrst time and made you happy, topic: experience is the best teacher, describe something difﬁcult you would like to succeed in doing.

EssayBanyan.com – Collections of Essay for Students of all Class in English

Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life

We all have some happy moments in our life that becomes an everlasting memory for us. It may be the time spent with our loved ones, pets, some brave deed like saving anyone’s life, etc. It may differ from person to person. If I have to narrate about the happiest moment of my life it would not be easy for me. I have many happy moments in my life and therefore it is very difficult for me to remember any one of them that is the happiest one.

Short and Long Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life in English

10 lines essay on happiest moment in my life (100 – 120 words).

1) The happier moments in our lives make a lasting impression on us.

2) The happiest moment in my life was when I was in class 5 th .

3) It was the time of the annual fest of our school.

4) My friends encouraged me to participate in a speech competition.

5) I was very nervous and thought that I will lose.

6) I tried my best and surprisingly got the first position.

7) All the teachers, students, and my parents clapped for me.

8) It was really happiest moment in my life when I received the first prize.

9) Everyone appreciated me and I felt proud.

10) The happiness in my parents’ eyes was the happiest moment of my life.

Short Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life – 250 Words

Introduction

Every past event becomes a memory in our mind. It is because of these memories we can think about the things that have taken place in the past. There are some moments in our life that we wish not to lose ever. These are the happiest or the special moments of life that give us eternal joy.

The joy of having the happy moments in life

We all wish for different things in our life. When our dreams turn into reality it become the happiest moment of life for many of us. Being successful in getting what we desire brings great joy in our life. There might be many happy moments in the life of an individual but the happiest moment is one that is most pleasing for us. It is not necessary that the happiest moment would have been experienced by every one of us. Therefore, we must try to search for happiness from small-small things in our life. This will help in making our lives happier and healthier.

Happiest moment cherishes us throughout the life

The happy moments are the reason for bringing joy in our life. We always desire that life should be paused when happy moments are there and this time would never go. This is not possible in reality but we can feel cherished after remembering the same. There is a smile on our faces whenever we recall the happiest moment of our life. The memory of the happiest moment can also help us in relieving depression or sad moments of life.

Our life is full of happy and sad moments. The happy moments helps us in getting relaxed from the sorrow of sad moments in our life. Happiness helps in adding light of hope to our lives.

We have tried and have detailed about my happiest moment of life in form of a long essay. We hope it would be quite interesting for you to remember the happiest moment of your life and pen it down on paper. The long essay might help you in getting an idea of writing an essay on this topic.

Long Essay on Happiest Moment of My Life (950 Words)

There are moments in everyone’s life that cherish our body and mind. These moments become the happy moments of our life. Have you ever thought that why these happy events become moments? The answer is very simple that they are everlasting in our memories. We become happy by remembering those moments and might remember those moments throughout our life.

What are Happy Moments?

Happiness and sadness are the two phases of life. Everyone in this world has to experience both phases in their life. Happiness is an emotion that makes us feel good and cherished. There are some moments in our life that provide us immense happiness. We wish that these moments would be long-lasting and never end. It is always noticed that sadness does not long forever and is always followed by happiness. It can be well stated by the proverb “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Happy moments are those that fill us with joy. They are not provided by anyone but are created by us.

My Happiest Moment in Life

I find happiness in very small-small things of my life but these are some moments in my life that bring a smile to my face when I remember them. I can say that they are the happiest moments of my life. I will be telling you about one of the happiest moments of my life. I feel very nice to enumerate this moment of my life.

I was studying in class 10th at that time. It was announced in our school that there is a district-level competition of quiz and poster presentations. It will be involving several schools’ participation. The notices regarding the participation of students in the competition were distributed in every class. I was very excited to take part in the poster presentation. I enrolled my name for the competition.

Process of selection for the competition – The team that had to represent our school for different competitions was to be selected in the school itself. The first barrier was the selection in school. I was very happy when I got selected for the school team that had to represent our school in the district competition. The presentation has to be given in a group and therefore the final team had been finalized. There were four members in the team including me.
Pre-Preparation for the competition – Every team member presented their innovative ideas on the topic and lastly after summing up those ideas I prepared the poster. We had prepared three posters on the topic. We made a lot of effort to make our presentation the best one.
The day of the competition – finally the competition day arrived and we were a little nervous too. We have been taken to the destination of the competition by school bus. The teachers were also accompanying us. We performed our best and delivered the presentation beautifully. I was the group leader and therefore I was more nervous about the results. It was about the reputation of my school. Finally, the competition was over and the results of the competition were declared. It was started by announcing the third prize winner.

My heart started sinking down. Finally, I could not believe it when it was announced that our school has bagged the first prize. We were dancing with joy. I was very happy to make my school proud. Moreover, I was happy because the idea of the presentation was my own. The overwhelming joy of that moment cannot be expressed in words.

Award distribution event – The winning participants have been invited the next day with the whole family for prize distribution and dinner. This was more exciting for me. I went to the destined place and I along with my team was awarded by the District magistrate. It felt very nice to hear the name of my school at the first position. I handed over the trophy to my vice principal. My parents were very happy for me. We had dinner and enjoyed that evening beautifully with my family and group members. Later I and my team members were praised by the whole faculty of the school including the principal. This news and pictures of the winning teams were also published in the newspaper.

My father was very happy for me and therefore he promised a tour in summer vacations as a reward for winning. We had enjoyed that moment very beautifully. I feel very happy whenever I remember that moment in school.

How can we make our Life Enriched with Happy Moments?

Everybody in this world craves happiness. We cannot buy happiness but can gain it in the small things we do in our life. One such moment might become the happiest moment of our life. Happiness is something that we experience in doing different things in our life. It is created from the inside. The state of being happy lies in the positivity of our minds. When we accept the reality we enjoy the things granted to us. This brings happiness to our lives. This particularly means that we have to learn to live our life. This will induce hundreds of happy moments and make our life a beautiful experience.

It was one of the happiest moments in my life that thrills and cherishes me from inside whenever comes to my mind. I was very happy to bring glory to my school. Moreover, I got rewarded for what I have wished and made my parents happy. I try to forget all my problems by remembering the happy moments of my life. This helps in making me more confident and optimistic to face different types of situations in my life.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . Happiness is connected with the state of mind.

Ans . The bright colors like yellow, orange, pink and red.

Ans . The secret of happiness lies in loving everything around us and living every moment of our life.

Ans . Yoga helps in reducing our stress, anger, anxiety and thus makes us happier.

Essay on digital india, cashless india essay, essay on child is father of the man, essay on causes, effects and prevention of corona virus, essay on dr. sarvepalli radhakrishnan, durga puja essay, essay on summer vacation, essay on my plans for summer vacation, essay on holiday.

Essay on Memorable Day of My Life

500 Words Essay On Memorable Day of My Life

We have different types of days in our lives, some are ordinary while some are special. There are some days that get etched in our memories forever. Likewise, I also have a memorable day of my life that is very dear to me. The memories of this day are engraved in my heart and will remain so forever.

My Birthday- Memorable Day of My Life

My tenth birthday is the most memorable day of my life. It is a day I can never forget and I consider it to be the best birthday yet. The day started just like any other normal day. However, as it kept progressing, a lot of exciting things began to happen.

I woke up very early on my birthday because I had to dress up in casual clothes for school . The day before, all my candies were ready that I would distribute in the classroom.

My mother prepared my favourite breakfast and gave me a big chocolate bar for lunch as well. I went to school and the whole class sang for me and congratulated me. It was the turn to distribute sweets.

My best friend and I went to all the teachers to distribute toffees and we had a great time there. Moreover, it was an incredible feeling. My friends were all singing for me and eager to come to my birthday party later in the evening.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

My Birthday Party

The birthday at my school was memorable but the birthday party at my home made the day even more memorable. Also, my mother invited all my friends from school and the colony to the party.

I received so many presents and we played a lot of games. We played games like musical chairs, tag, egg-and-spoon races, and more. There were so many songs playing so everyone did a special dance too.

The highlight of my birthday party was definitely my huge birthday cake. As I love superheroes, my mother got the cake customized with the superhero theme. It was very tasty too and in my favourite flavour.

I spent a lot of time with my family and friends that day. Everyone liked the return gifts as well and went home with a big smile on their faces.

Conclusion of Essay on Memorable Day of My Life

Therefore, my tenth birthday is the most memorable day of my life. It has given me so many happy memories that will remain with me forever. That day makes me feel blessed and lucky to have all those things in my life.

FAQ on Essay on Memorable Day of My Life

Question 1: What is the meaning of a memorable day?

Answer 1: When we say memorable, we refer to something that we cannot forget easily or something that left us excited. A memorable day is a day that one can recall easily as it is engraved in the memory.

Question 2: What can be an example of a memorable day?

Answer 2: Some people consider their birthday to be the most memorable day. While some consider it a family trip too. Similarly, some people may find their school picnic or fete to be the most memorable day.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Incident That Changed My Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

The day everything changed.

One sunny afternoon, I was out cycling when a dog ran onto the road. Swerving to avoid it, I fell and hurt my leg badly. This accident made me stay in bed for a month.

Learning and Growing

During that time, I read many books and discovered a love for stories. I also learned to appreciate the small things, like the warmth of sunlight or a phone call from a friend.

Because of this incident, I decided to start writing. I wanted to create stories that could make others feel less alone and more hopeful, just as those books did for me.

250 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

One sunny afternoon, my life took a surprising turn. I was at the park, playing soccer with friends, when I noticed an old man sitting alone on a bench. He looked sad and forgotten. After the game, I felt a strong urge to talk to him. That decision marked a new chapter in my life.

A New Friend

I learned that the man’s name was Mr. Wilson. He told me stories of his youth and his love for painting. Mr. Wilson had no family nearby and felt very lonely. I was moved by his stories and decided to visit him every week. We became good friends, and I helped him with groceries and listened to his tales.

Lessons Learned

Through Mr. Wilson, I learned the value of kindness and the joy of giving time to others. He taught me that everyone has a story worth listening to and that sometimes the simplest act of kindness can brighten someone’s life.

A Changed Perspective

Meeting Mr. Wilson changed my outlook on life. I became more compassionate and started volunteering at a local community center. The happiness I saw in Mr. Wilson’s eyes whenever I visited him was the greatest reward. That chance encounter at the park showed me that one small gesture can make a big difference. It was an incident that transformed who I am and how I see the world.

500 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

Life is like a river, always flowing and changing its course when least expected. I learned this lesson when an incident changed the direction of my life completely. It was an ordinary Saturday morning, and I was on my way to the local library. Little did I know that this walk would lead me to an experience that would transform my life.

A Surprising Encounter

As I was walking, I noticed a small, scared kitten hiding under a bush. Its eyes were wide with fear, and it was meowing softly. Without thinking much, I approached the kitten and gently picked it up. I looked around for its mother or any sign of where it came from, but there was none. I realized this little creature was alone and needed help. So, I decided to take it home, at least until I could find it a safe place to live.

A New Responsibility

Bringing the kitten home meant I had to learn how to take care of it. I named her Whiskers, and as days passed, I grew attached to her. I learned about feeding schedules, the importance of play, and regular visits to the vet. Whiskers became my responsibility, and I took that role seriously. This experience taught me about commitment and the joy of caring for another living being.

Taking care of Whiskers made me more responsible and empathetic. I started understanding the value of life, no matter how small. I also became more organized, as I had to balance my schoolwork with my new duties as a pet owner. My friends noticed the change in me, and I felt proud of the person I was becoming.

Sharing the Joy

I began to share my story with friends and classmates. Many were inspired by how a simple act of kindness could lead to such a positive change. My teachers also praised my actions and used my experience as an example in class to encourage others to be kind and responsible.

A Lasting Impact

The day I found Whiskers was the day my life took a new turn. I became more caring, responsible, and aware of the needs of others. This incident showed me that even a small gesture can have a big impact. It changed how I saw the world and how I interacted with it. I learned that life can be unpredictable, but it is these surprises that shape us and help us grow.

In conclusion, the incident with Whishers, the kitten, was a turning point in my life. It taught me valuable lessons and helped me develop into a better individual. It’s amazing how life can throw unexpected events our way, and it’s up to us to make the best of them. This experience will stay with me forever, reminding me of the day everything changed.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Experience During Covid-19 Pandemic
Essay on Income Inequality
Essay on Independence And Individuality

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

essay quotations words

How to use Quotes in an Essay in 7 Simple Steps

A quote can be an effective and powerful literary tool in an essay, but it needs to be done well. To use quotes in an essay, you need to make sure your quotes are short, backed up with explanations, and used rarely. The best essays use a maximum of 2 quotes for every 1500 words.

Rules for using quotes in essays:

Avoid Long Quotes.
Quotes should be less than 1 sentence long.
Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples.
Use Max. 2 Quotes for 1500 words.
Use page numbers when Citing Quotes.
Don’t Italicize Quotes.
Avoid quotes inside quotes.

Once you have mastered these quotation writing rules you’ll be on your way to growing your marks in your next paper.

How to use Quotes in an Essay

1. avoid long quotes.

There’s a simple rule to follow here: don’t use a quote that is longer than one line. In fact, four word quotes are usually best.

Long quotes in essays are red flags for teachers. It doesn’t matter if it is an amazing quote. Many, many teachers don’t like long quotes, so it’s best to avoid them.

Too many students provide quotes that take up half of a paragraph. This will lose you marks – big time.

If you follow my perfect paragraph formula , you know that most paragraphs should be about six sentences long, which comes out to about six or seven typed lines on paper. That means that your quote will be a maximum of one-sixth (1/6) of your paragraph. This leaves plenty of space for discussion in your own words.

One reason teachers don’t like long quotes is that they suck up your word count. It can start to look like you didn’t have enough to say, so you inserted quotes to pad out your essay. Even if this is only your teacher’s perception, it’s something that you need to be aware of.

Here’s an example of over-use of quotes in paragraphs:

Avoid Quotes that are Too Long

Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults. “Many adult Americans believe that hard work and drive are important factors on economic mobility. When statistics show that roughly 42% of children born into the bottom level of the income distribution will likely stay there (Isaacs, 2007), this Is a consequence of structural and social barriers.” (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761). Therefore poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

This student made the fatal mistake of having the quote overtake the paragraph.

Simply put, don’t use a quote that is longer than one line long. Ever. It’s just too risky.

Personally, I like to use a 4-word quote in my essays. Four-word quotes are long enough to constitute an actual quote but short enough that I have to think about how I will fit that quote around my own writing. This forces me to write quotations that both show:

I have read the original source, but also:
I know how to paraphrase

2. Do not use a Quote to that takes up a full Sentence, Starts a Sentence, or Ends a Paragraph

These are three common but fatal mistakes.

Essay quotes that start sentences or end paragraphs make you appear passive.

If you use a quotation in an essay to start a sentence or end a paragraph, your teacher automatically thinks that your quote is replacing analysis, rather than supporting it.

You should instead start the sentence that contains the quote with your own writing. This makes it appear that you have an active voice .

Similarly, you should end a paragraph with your own analysis, not a quote.

Let’s look at some examples of quotes that start sentences and end paragraphs. These examples are poor examples of using quotes:

Avoid Quotes that Start Sentences The theorist Louis Malaguzzi was the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. “Children have the ability to learn through play and exploration. Play helps children to learn about their surroundings” (Malaguzzi, 1949, p. 10). Play is better than learning through repetition of drills or reading. Play is good for all children.

Avoid Quotes that End Paragraphs Before Judith Butler gender was seen as being a binary linked to sex, men were masculine and women were feminine. Butler came up with this new idea that gender is just something society has made up over time. “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990, p. 136).

Both these quotes are from essays that were shared with me by colleagues. My colleagues marked these students down for these quotes because of the quotes:

took up full sentences;
started sentences; and
were used to end paragraphs.

It didn’t appear as if the students were analyzing the quotes. Instead, the quotes were doing the talking for the students.

There are some easy strategies to use in order to make it appear that you are actively discussing and analyzing quotes.

One is that you should make sure the essay sentences with quotes in them don’t start with the quote . Here are some examples of how we can change the quotes:

Example 1: Start Quote Sentences with an Active Voice The theorist Louis Malaguzzi was the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. According to Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10), “children have the ability to learn through play and exploration.” Here, Malaguzzi is highlighting how to play is linked to finding things out about the world. Play is important for children to develop. Play is better than learning through repetition of drills or reading. Play is good for all children.

Here, the sentence with the quote was amended so that the student has an active voice. They start the sentence with According to Malaguzzi, ….

Similarly, in the second example, we can also insert an active voice by ensuring that our quote sentence does not start with a quote:

Example 2: Start Quote Sentences with an Active Voice In 1990, Judith Butler revolutionized Feminist understandings of gender by arguing that “gender is a fluid concept” (p. 136). Before Butler’s 1990 book Gender Trouble , gender was seen as being a binary linked to sex. Men were masculine and women were feminine. Butler came up with this new idea that gender is just something society has made up over time.

In this example, the quote is not at the start of a sentence or end of a paragraph – tick!

How to Start Sentences containing Quotes using an Active Voice

According to Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10), “…”
Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10) argues that “…”
In 1949, Malaguzzi (p. 10) highlighted that “…”
The argument of Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10) that “…” provides compelling insight into the issue.

3. Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples

Earlier on, I stated that one key reason to use quotes in essays is so that you can analyze them.

Quotes shouldn’t stand alone as explanations. Quotes should be there to be analyzed, not to do the analysis.

Let’s look again at the quote used in Point 1:

Example: A Quote that is Too Long Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults. “Many adult Americans believe that hard work and drive are important factors in economic mobility. When statistics show that roughly 42% of children born into the bottom level of the income distribution will likely stay there (Isaacs, 2007), this Is a consequence of structural and social barriers.” (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761). Therefore poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

This student has included the facts, figures, citations and key details in the quote. Essentially, this student has been lazy. They failed to paraphrase.

Instead, this student could have selected the most striking phrase from the quote and kept it. Then, the rest should be paraphrased. The most striking phrase in this quote was “[poverty] is a consequence of structural and social barriers.” (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761).

So, take that one key phrase, then paraphrase the rest:

Example: Paraphrasing Long Quotes Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults. In their analysis, Mistry et al. (2016) highlight that there is a misconception in American society that hard work is enough to escape poverty. Instead, they argue, there is evidence that over 40% of people born in poverty remain in poverty. For Mistry et al. (2016, p. 761), this data shows that poverty is not a matter of being lazy alone, but more importantly “a consequence of structural and social barriers.” This implies that poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

To recap, quotes shouldn’t do the talking for you . Provide a brief quote in your essay, and then show you understand it with surrounding explanation and analysis.

4. Know how many Quotes to use in an Essay

There’s a simple rule for how many quotes should be in an essay.

Here’s a good rule to follow: one quote for every five paragraphs. A paragraph is usually 150 words long, so you’re looking at one quote in every 750 words, maximum .

To extrapolate that out, you’ll want a maximum of about:

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

That’s the maximum , not a target. There’s no harm in writing a paper that has absolutely zero quotes in it, so long as it’s still clear that you’ve closely read and paraphrased your readings.

The reason you don’t want to use more quotes than this in your essay is that teachers want to see you saying things in your own words. When you over-use quotes, it is a sign to your teacher that you don’t know how to paraphrase well.

5. Always use page numbers when Citing Quotes in Essays

One biggest problem with quotes are that many students don’t know how to cite quotes in essays.

Nearly every referencing format requires you to include a page number in your citation. This includes the three most common referencing formats: Harvard, APA, and MLA. All of them require you to provide page numbers with quotes.

Citing a Quote in Chicago Style – Include Page Numbers

Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 1990).
Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 1990, 136).

Citing a Quote in APA and Harvard Styles – Include Page Numbers

Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990).
Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990, p. 136).

Citing a Quote in MLA Style – Include Page Numbers

Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler).
Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 136).

Including a page number in your quotation makes a huge difference when a marker is trying to determine how high your grade should be.

This is especially true when you’re already up in the higher marks range. These little editing points can mean the difference between placing first in the class and third. Don’t underestimate the importance of attention to detail.

6. Don’t Italicize Quotes

For some reason, students love to use italics for quotes. This is wrong in absolutely every major referencing format, yet it happens all the time.

I don’t know where this started, but please don’t do it. It looks sloppy, and teachers notice. A nice, clean, well-formatted essay should not contain these minor but not insignificant errors. If you want to be a top student, you need to pay attention to minor details.

7. Avoid quotes inside quotes

Have you ever found a great quote and thought, “I want to quote that quote!” Quoting a quote is a tempting thing to do, but not worth your while.

I’ll often see students write something like this:

Poor Quotation Example: Quotes Inside Quotes Rousseau “favored a civil religion because it would be more tolerant of diversity than Christianity. Indeed ‘no state has ever been founded without religion as its base’ (Rousseau, 1913: 180).” (Durkheim, 1947, p. 19).

Here, there are quotes on top of quotes. The student has quoted Durkheim quoting Rousseau. This quote has become a complete mess and hard to read. The minute something’s hard to read, it loses marks.

Here are two solutions:

Cite the original source. If you really want the Rousseau quote, just cite Rousseau. Stop messing around with quotes on top of quotes.
Learn the ‘as cited in’ method. Frankly, that method’s too complicated to discuss here. But if you google it, you’ll be able to teach yourself.

When Should I use Quotes in Essays?

1. to highlight an important statement.

One main reason to use quotes in essays is to emphasize a famous statement by a top thinker in your field.

The statement must be important. It can’t be just any random comment.

Here are some examples of when to use quotes in essays to emphasize the words of top thinkers:

The words of Stephen Hawking go a long way in Physics ;
The words of JK Rowling go a long way in Creative Writing ;
The words of Michel Foucault go a long way in Cultural Studies ;
The words of Jean Piaget go a long way in Education Studies .

2. To analyze an Important Statement.

Another reason to use quotes in essays is when you want to analyze a statement by a specific author. This author might not be famous, but they might have said something that requires unpacking and analyzing. You can provide a quote, then unpack it by explaining your interpretation of it in the following sentences.

Quotes usually need an explanation and example. You can unpack the quote by asking:

What did they mean,
Why is it relevant, and
Why did they say this?

You want to always follow up quotes by top thinkers or specific authors with discussion and analysis.

Quotes should be accompanied by:

Explanations of the quote;
Analysis of the ideas presented in the quote; or
Real-world examples that show you understand what the quote means.

Remember: A quote should be a stimulus for a discussion, not a replacement for discussion.

What Bad Quotes Look Like

Many teachers I have worked with don’t like when students use quotes in essays. In fact, some teachers absolutely hate essay quotes. The teachers I have met tend to hate these sorts of quotes:

When you use too many quotes.
When you use the wrong citation format.
When you don’t provide follow-up explanations of quotes.
When you used quotes because you don’t know how to paraphrase .

Be a minimalist when it comes to using quotes. Here are the seven approaches I recommend for using quotes in essays:

Avoid Long Quotes in Essays
Do not use a Quote that takes up a full Sentence, Starts a Sentence, or Ends a Paragraph
Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples
Use a Maximum of 2 Quotes for every 1500 words
Always use page numbers when Citing Quotes in Essays
Don’t Italicize Quotes
Avoid quotes inside quotes

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

Knowledge Base
Working with sources
How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

Published on April 15, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Jack Caulfield. Revised on May 31, 2023.

Quoting means copying a passage of someone else’s words and crediting the source. To quote a source, you must ensure:

The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks or formatted as a block quote
The original author is correctly cited
The text is identical to the original

The exact format of a quote depends on its length and on which citation style you are using. Quoting and citing correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism which is easy to detect with a good plagiarism checker .

How to cite a quote in apa, mla and chicago, introducing quotes, quotes within quotes, shortening or altering a quote, block quotes, when should i use quotes, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about quoting sources.

Every time you quote, you must cite the source correctly . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style you’re using. Three of the most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Citing a quote in APA Style

To cite a direct quote in APA , you must include the author’s last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas . If the quote appears on a single page, use “p.”; if it spans a page range, use “pp.”

An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in parentheses after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

Punctuation marks such as periods and commas are placed after the citation, not within the quotation marks .

Evolution is a gradual process that “can act only by very short and slow steps” (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) .
Darwin (1859) explains that evolution “can act only by very short and slow steps” (p. 510) .

Complete guide to APA

Citing a quote in mla style.

An MLA in-text citation includes only the author’s last name and a page number. As in APA, it can be parenthetical or narrative, and a period (or other punctuation mark) appears after the citation.

Evolution is a gradual process that “can act only by very short and slow steps” (Darwin 510) .
Darwin explains that evolution “can act only by very short and slow steps” (510) .

Complete guide to MLA

Citing a quote in chicago style.

Chicago style uses Chicago footnotes to cite sources. A note, indicated by a superscript number placed directly after the quote, specifies the author, title, and page number—or sometimes fuller information .

Unlike with parenthetical citations, in this style, the period or other punctuation mark should appear within the quotation marks, followed by the footnote number.

Complete guide to Chicago style

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing - try for free!

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

Try for free

Make sure you integrate quotes properly into your text by introducing them in your own words, showing the reader why you’re including the quote and providing any context necessary to understand it. Don’t present quotations as stand-alone sentences.

There are three main strategies you can use to introduce quotes in a grammatically correct way:

Add an introductory sentence
Use an introductory signal phrase
Integrate the quote into your own sentence

The following examples use APA Style citations, but these strategies can be used in all styles.

Introductory sentence

Introduce the quote with a full sentence ending in a colon . Don’t use a colon if the text before the quote isn’t a full sentence.

If you name the author in your sentence, you may use present-tense verbs , such as “states,” “argues,” “explains,” “writes,” or “reports,” to describe the content of the quote.

In Denmark, a recent poll shows that: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
In Denmark, a recent poll shows that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
Levring (2018) reports that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (p. 3).

Introductory signal phrase

You can also use a signal phrase that mentions the author or source, but doesn’t form a full sentence. In this case, you follow the phrase with a comma instead of a colon.

According to a recent poll, “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
As Levring (2018) explains, “A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” (p. 3).

Integrated into your own sentence

To quote a phrase that doesn’t form a full sentence, you can also integrate it as part of your sentence, without any extra punctuation .

A recent poll suggests that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
Levring (2018) reports that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (p. 3).

When you quote text that itself contains another quote, this is called a nested quotation or a quote within a quote. It may occur, for example, when quoting dialogue from a novel.

To distinguish this quote from the surrounding quote, you enclose it in single (instead of double) quotation marks (even if this involves changing the punctuation from the original text). Make sure to close both sets of quotation marks at the appropriate moments.

Note that if you only quote the nested quotation itself, and not the surrounding text, you can just use double quotation marks.

Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “ “ Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, ” he told me, “ just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ” ” (Fitzgerald 1).
Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ” (Fitzgerald 1).
Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’” (Fitzgerald 1).
Carraway begins by quoting his father’s invocation to “remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1).

Note: When the quoted text in the source comes from another source, it’s best to just find that original source in order to quote it directly. If you can’t find the original source, you can instead cite it indirectly .

Often, incorporating a quote smoothly into your text requires you to make some changes to the original text. It’s fine to do this, as long as you clearly mark the changes you’ve made to the quote.

Shortening a quote

If some parts of a passage are redundant or irrelevant, you can shorten the quote by removing words, phrases, or sentences and replacing them with an ellipsis (…). Put a space before and after the ellipsis.

Be careful that removing the words doesn’t change the meaning. The ellipsis indicates that some text has been removed, but the shortened quote should still accurately represent the author’s point.

Altering a quote

You can add or replace words in a quote when necessary. This might be because the original text doesn’t fit grammatically with your sentence (e.g., it’s in a different verb tense), or because extra information is needed to clarify the quote’s meaning.

Use brackets to distinguish words that you have added from words that were present in the original text.

The Latin term “ sic ” is used to indicate a (factual or grammatical) mistake in a quotation. It shows the reader that the mistake is from the quoted material, not a typo of your own.

In some cases, it can be useful to italicize part of a quotation to add emphasis, showing the reader that this is the key part to pay attention to. Use the phrase “emphasis added” to show that the italics were not part of the original text.

You usually don’t need to use brackets to indicate minor changes to punctuation or capitalization made to ensure the quote fits the style of your text.

If you quote more than a few lines from a source, you must format it as a block quote . Instead of using quotation marks, you set the quote on a new line and indent it so that it forms a separate block of text.

Block quotes are cited just like regular quotes, except that if the quote ends with a period, the citation appears after the period.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. (16)

Avoid relying too heavily on quotes in academic writing . To integrate a source , it’s often best to paraphrase , which means putting the passage in your own words. This helps you integrate information smoothly and keeps your own voice dominant.

However, there are some situations in which quoting is more appropriate.

When focusing on language

If you want to comment on how the author uses language (for example, in literary analysis ), it’s necessary to quote so that the reader can see the exact passage you are referring to.

When giving evidence

To convince the reader of your argument, interpretation or position on a topic, it’s often helpful to include quotes that support your point. Quotes from primary sources (for example, interview transcripts or historical documents) are especially credible as evidence.

When presenting an author’s position or definition

When you’re referring to secondary sources such as scholarly books and journal articles, try to put others’ ideas in your own words when possible.

But if a passage does a great job at expressing, explaining, or defining something, and it would be very difficult to paraphrase without changing the meaning or losing the weakening the idea’s impact, it’s worth quoting directly.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

ChatGPT vs human editor
ChatGPT citations
Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
Using ChatGPT for your studies
What is ChatGPT?
Chicago style
Paraphrasing
Critical thinking

Plagiarism

Types of plagiarism
Self-plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism
Academic integrity
Consequences of plagiarism
Common knowledge

A quote is an exact copy of someone else’s words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.

In academic writing , there are three main situations where quoting is the best choice:

To analyze the author’s language (e.g., in a literary analysis essay )
To give evidence from primary sources
To accurately present a precise definition or argument

Don’t overuse quotes; your own voice should be dominant. If you just want to provide information from a source, it’s usually better to paraphrase or summarize .

Every time you quote a source , you must include a correctly formatted in-text citation . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style .

For example, a direct quote in APA is cited like this: “This is a quote” (Streefkerk, 2020, p. 5).

Every in-text citation should also correspond to a full reference at the end of your paper.

A block quote is a long quote formatted as a separate “block” of text. Instead of using quotation marks , you place the quote on a new line, and indent the entire quote to mark it apart from your own words.

The rules for when to apply block quote formatting depend on the citation style:

APA block quotes are 40 words or longer.
MLA block quotes are more than 4 lines of prose or 3 lines of poetry.
Chicago block quotes are longer than 100 words.

If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarizes other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA and Chicago both recommend retaining the citations as part of the quote. However, MLA recommends omitting citations within a quote:

APA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic (Jones, 2015; Sill, 2019; Paulson, 2020) shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).
MLA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).

Footnote or endnote numbers that appear within quoted text should be omitted in all styles.

If you want to cite an indirect source (one you’ve only seen quoted in another source), either locate the original source or use the phrase “as cited in” in your citation.

In scientific subjects, the information itself is more important than how it was expressed, so quoting should generally be kept to a minimum. In the arts and humanities, however, well-chosen quotes are often essential to a good paper.

In social sciences, it varies. If your research is mainly quantitative , you won’t include many quotes, but if it’s more qualitative , you may need to quote from the data you collected .

As a general guideline, quotes should take up no more than 5–10% of your paper. If in doubt, check with your instructor or supervisor how much quoting is appropriate in your field.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & Caulfield, J. (2023, May 31). How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-quote/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to block quote | length, format and examples, how to paraphrase | step-by-step guide & examples, how to avoid plagiarism | tips on citing sources, unlimited academic ai-proofreading.

✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

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
How and When to Paraphrase Quotations
Write an Attention-Grabbing Opening Sentence for an Essay
Development in Composition: Building an Essay
Compose a Narrative Essay or Personal Statement
What an Essay Is and How to Write One

Using Literary Quotations

Use the guidelines below to learn how to use literary quotations.

Download this Handout PDF

Introduction

When you’re asked to write a paper analyzing a work of literature, your instructor probably expects you to incorporate quotations from that literary text into your analysis. But how do you do this well? What kind of quotations do you use? How do you seamlessly weave together your ideas with someone else’s words?

On this page we clarify the purpose of using literary quotations in literary analysis papers by exploring why quotations are important to use in your writing and then explaining how to do this. We provide general guidelines and specific suggestions about blending your prose and quoted material as well as information about formatting logistics and various rules for handling outside text.

Although this material is focused on integrating your ideas with quotations from novels, poems, and plays into literary analysis papers, in some genres this advice is equally applicable to incorporating quotations from scholarly essays, reports, or even original research into your work.

For further information, check out our Quoting and Paraphrasing resource, or you may wish to see when the Writing Center is offering its next introductory workshop about the genre of literary analysis. Additionally, our Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis offers wonderful insight into how you can read a piece of literature in order to analyze it.

Why should I use literary quotations?

Within a literary analysis, your purpose is to develop an argument about what the author of the text is doing—how the text “works.” You use quotations to support this argument. This involves selecting, presenting, and discussing material from the text in order to “prove” your point—to make your case—in much the same way a lawyer brings evidence before a jury.

Quoting for any other purpose is counterproductive. Don’t quote to “tell the story” or otherwise convey basic information about the text; most of the time within this genre you can assume your reader knows the text. And don’t quote just for the sake of quoting or to fill up space.

How do I use literary quotations?

General guidelines.

The following paragraph is from a student’s analysis of the relationship between two characters in Woolf’s To the Lighthouse . Notice how statements expressing the writer’s ideas and observations are verified with evidence from the novel in both summarized and quoted form.

We learn about Mrs. Ramsey’s personality by observing her feelings about other characters. For example, Mrs. Ramsey has mixed feelings toward Mr. Tansley, but her feelings seem to grow more positive over time as she comes to know him better. At first Mrs. Ramsey finds Mr. Tansley annoying, as shown especially when he mentions that no one is going to the lighthouse (7). But rather than hating him, she feels pity: “she pitied men always as if they lacked something . . .” (85). Then later, during the gathering, pity turns to empathy as she realizes that Mr. Tansley must feel inferior. He must know, Mrs. Ramsey thinks, that “no woman would look at him with Paul Rayley in the room” (104). Finally, by the end of the dinner scene, she feels some attraction to Mr. Tansley and also a new respect: “She liked his laugh . . . She liked his awkwardness. There was a lot in that man after all” (110). In observing this evolution in her attitude, we learn more about Mrs. Ramsey than we do about Mr. Tansley. The change in Mrs. Ramsey’s attitude is not used by Woolf to show that Mrs. Ramsey is fickle or confused; rather it is used to show her capacity for understanding both the frailty and complexity of human beings. This is a central characteristic of Mrs. Ramsey’s personality.

Your ideas + textual evidence + discussion

Notice that this paragraph includes three basic kinds of materials: (a) statements expressing the student’s own ideas about the relationship Woolf is creating; (b) data or evidence from the text in summarized, paraphrased, and quoted form; and (c) discussion of how the data support the writer’s interpretation. All the quotations are used in accordance with the writer’s purpose, i.e., to show how the development of Mrs. Ramsey’s feelings indicates something about her personality.

Textual evidence options

Quoting is only one of several ways to present textual material as evidence. You can also refer to textual data, summarize, and paraphrase. You will often want merely to refer or point to passages (as in the third sentence in the above example paragraph) that contribute to your argument. In other cases, you will want to paraphrase, i.e., “translate” the original into your own words, again instead of quoting. Summarize or paraphrase when it is not so much the language of the text that justifies your position, but the substance or content.

Quoting selectively

Similarly, after you have decided that you want to quote material, quote only the portions of the text specifically relevant to your point . Think of the text in terms of units—words, phrases, sentences, and groups of sentences (paragraphs, stanzas)—and use only the units you need. If it is particular words or phrases that “prove” your point, you do not need to quote the full sentences they appear in; rather, incorporate the words and phrases into your own sentences that focus on your own ideas.

Blending your prose and quoted material

It is permissible to quote an entire sentence (between two sentences of your own), but in general you should avoid this method of bringing textual material into your discussion. Instead, use one of the following patterns:

An introducing phrase or orienter plus the quotation:

In Blake’s poem “The Tyger,” it is creation, not a hypothetical creator, that is supremely awesome. [ argument sentence ]. The speaker asks, “What immortal hand or eye / Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” [ data sentence; orienter before quote ]
Gatsby is not to be regarded as a personal failure. [ argument sentence ] “Gatsby turned out all right at the end” (2), according to Nick. [ data sentence; orienter after quote ]
“Our baby was a boy,” Shukumar tells his wife in the conclusion of Lahiri’s “A Temporary Matter” (22). [ data sentence; orienter after quote ] This admission is a death knell, tolling the end of their failing marriage. [ argument sentence ]

An assertion of your own and a colon plus the quotation:

In the midst of discussing the fate of the Abame tribe, Uchendu presents his own theory: “There is no story that is not true” (141).
Fitzgerald gives Nick a muted tribute to the hero: “Gatsby turned out all right at the end” (2).
Within Othello , Cassio represents not only a political but also a personal threat to Iago: “He hath a daily beauty in his life / That makes me ugly . . .” (5.1.19-20).

An assertion of your own with quoted material worked in:

For Nick, who remarks that Gatsby “turned out all right” (2), the hero deserves respect but perhaps does not inspire great admiration.
Satan’s motion is many things; he “strides” through the air (55), arrives like a “rattling” cloud (56), and later explodes—“wandering,” “hovering and blazing” like a fire (270).
Walking through Geraldine’s house, Pecola “wanted to see everything slowly, slowly” in order to fully appreciate its comparative order and opulence (Morrison 89).

Maintaining clarity and readability

Introduce a quotation either by indicating what it is intended to show, by naming its source, or by doing both. For non-narrative poetry, it’s customary to attribute quotations to “the speaker”; for a story with a narrator, to “the narrator.” For plays, novels, and other works with characters, identify characters as you quote them.

Do not use two quotations in a row without intervening text of your own. You should always be contextualizing all of your outside material with your own ideas, and if you let quotes build up without a break, readers will lose track of your argument.

Using the correct verb tense is a tricky issue. It’s customary in literary analysis to use the present tense; this is because it is at the present time that you (and your reader) are looking at the text. But events in a narrative or drama take place in a time sequence. You will often need to use a past tense to refer to events that took place before the moment you are presently discussing. Consider this example:

When he hears Cordelia’s answer, King Lear seems surprised, but not dumbfounded. He advises her to “mend [her] speech a little.” He had expected her to praise him the most; but compared to her sisters’, her remarks seem almost insulting (1.1.95).

Formatting logistics and guidelines

If for the sake of brevity you wish to omit material from a quoted passage, use ellipsis points (three spaced periods) to indicate the omission. Notice how in the paragraph about To the Lighthouse , above, the writer quoted only those portions of the original sentences that related to the point of the analysis.

When quoting, you may alter grammatical forms such as the tense of a verb or the person of a pronoun so that the quotation conforms grammatically to your own prose; indicate these alterations by placing square brackets around the changed form. In the quotation about King Lear at the end of the previous section, “her” replaces the “your” of the original so that the quote fits the point of view of the paper (third person).

Reproduce the spelling, capitalization, and internal punctuation of the original exactly. Of the following sentences presenting D. H. Lawrence’s maxim, “Books are not life,” the first is not acceptable in some style systems.

For Lawrence, “books are not life.” [ UNACCEPTABLE ]
For Lawrence, “[b]ooks are not life.” [ acceptable but awkward ]
Lawrence wrote, “Books are not life.” [ acceptable ]
“Books,” Lawrence wrote, “are not life.” [ acceptable ]
For Lawrence, books “are not life.” [ acceptable ]

Punctuation

You may alter the closing punctuation of a quotation in order to incorporate it into a sentence of your own. For example:

“Books are not life,” Lawrence emphasized.

Commas and periods go inside the closing quotation marks; the other punctuation marks go outside. For example:

Lawrence insisted that books “are not life”; however, he wrote exultantly about the power of the novel.
Why does Lawrence need to point out that “Books are not life”?

When quoting lines of poetry up to three lines long (which are not indented), separate one line of poetry from another with a slash mark with a space on either side (see examples from Blake’s “The Tyger” and Shakespeare’s Othello above).

Indentation

Prose or verse quotations less than four lines long are not indented. For quotations of this length, use the patterns described above.

“Longer” quotations should be formatted according to the expectations of a block quote. This unit of text should be positioned one half inch from the left margin, and opening and closing quotation marks are not used. The MLA Handbook , 8 th edition (2016) recommends that indented quotations be double-spaced, but many instructors prefer them single-spaced. The meaning of “longer” varies slightly from one style system to another, but a general rule is to indent quotations that are more than two (or three) lines of verse or four lines of prose.

If you’re quoting a series of dialogue dialogue between characters in a play, indent these lines and place the speaker’s name before the speech quoted. For example:

CAESAR: Et tu, Brute! Then, fall, Caesar! CINNA: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! (3.1.77-78)

Documentation

Follow your course instructor’s guidelines for documenting sources. If your instructor hasn’t told you which system to use to document sources, ask.

The documentation style used in this handout is that presented in the MLA Handbook , 8 th edition (2016), the most common citation style for literary analysis papers. The Writing Center has information about the rules of documentation within the most common systems .

Works Cited

Achebe, Chinau. Things Fall Apart . 1959. Anchor Books, 1994.

Blake, William. “The Tyger.” Poets.org , American Academy of Poets, https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/tyger. Accessed 1 July 2018.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . 1925. The Scribner Library, 1953.

Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A Temporary Matter.” Interpreter of Maladies , Mariner Books, 1999, pp. 1-22.

Lawrence, David Herbert. “Why the Novel Matters.” Study of Thomas Hardy and Other Essays , edited by Bruce Steele, Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 191-8.

Milton, John. Paradise Lost . Printed for John Bumpus, 1821. Google Books , https://books.google.com/books?id=pO4MAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. Accessed 1 July 2018.

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye . 1970. Plume, 1993.

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Wordsworth Editions, pp. 582-610.

–. King Lear. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare . Wordsworth Editions, pp. 885-923.

–. Othello, the Moor of Venice. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare . Wordsworth Editions, pp. 818-57.

Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse . 1927. Harcourt, 1981.

Academic and Professional Writing

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Analysis Papers

Reading Poetry

A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis

Play Reviews

Writing a Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts

Incorporating Interview Data

Grant Proposals

Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics

Additional Resources for Grants and Proposal Writing

Job Materials and Application Essays

Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs

Before you begin: useful tips for writing your essay
Guided brainstorming exercises
Get more help with your essay
Frequently Asked Questions

Resume Writing Tips

CV Writing Tips

Cover Letters

Business Letters

Proposals and Dissertations

Resources for Proposal Writers

Resources for Dissertators

Research Papers

Planning and Writing Research Papers

Quoting and Paraphrasing

Writing Annotated Bibliographies

Creating Poster Presentations

Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

Thank-You Notes

Advice for Students Writing Thank-You Notes to Donors

Reading for a Review

Critical Reviews

Writing a Review of Literature

Scientific Reports

Scientific Report Format

Sample Lab Assignment

Writing for the Web

Writing an Effective Blog Post

Writing for Social Media: A Guide for Academics

PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
Browse Articles
Learn Something New
Quizzes Hot
This Or That Game New
Train Your Brain
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Education and Communications
College University and Postgraduate
Academic Writing

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 2,634,434 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

Step 1 Incorporate short direct quotes into a sentence.

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

Step 1 Introduce a long direct quote, then set it off in a block.

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.

Step 2 Write an introductory lead-in to tell the reader what the quote is about.

"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.

Step 3 Indent the block quote by .5 inches (1.3 cm) from the left margin.

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

Step 4 Use an ellipsis to omit a word or words from a direct quote.

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.”

Step 5 Put brackets around words you need to add to a quote for clarification.

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.”

Step 6 Provide commentary after a quote to explain how it supports your ideas.

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.

Step 7 Paraphrase the quote to condense it to 1 or 2 sentences, if you can.

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.”

Step 3 Use the author’s last name, date, and page number for Chicago Style.

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

Step 1 Select a quote that backs up the argument you’re making.

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

Step 2 Make sure the quote is something you can analyze.

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.

Step 3 Avoid using too many direct quotes in your paper.

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

↑ 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/

About This Article

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Reader Success Stories

Bobby Hilltop

May 26, 2017

Did this article help you?

Sarah Okyere

Mar 29, 2019

May 19, 2019

Feb 6, 2017

Sari Ningsih

Mar 28, 2016

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

Writing Home
Writing Advice Home

Using Quotations

Printable PDF Version
Fair-Use Policy

How much should I quote?

The focus of your essay should be on your understanding of the topic. If you include too much quotation in your essay, you will crowd out your own ideas. Consider quoting a passage from one of your sources if any of the following conditions holds:

The language of the passage is particularly elegant or powerful or memorable.
You wish to confirm the credibility of your argument by enlisting the support of an authority on your topic.
The passage is worthy of further analysis.
You wish to argue with someone else’s position in considerable detail.

Condition 3 is especially useful in essays for literature courses.

If an argument or a factual account from one of your sources is particularly relevant to your paper but does not deserve to be quoted verbatim, consider

paraphrasing the passage if you wish to convey the points in the passage at roughly the same level of detail as in the original
summarizing the relevant passage if you wish to sketch only the most essential points in the passage

Note that most scientific writing relies on summary rather than quotation. The same is true of writing in those social sciences—such as experimental psychology—that rely on controlled studies and emphasize quantifiable results. (Almost all of the examples in this handout follow the MLA system of citation, which is widely used in the humanities and in those social sciences with a less quantitative approach.)

Visit our handout on paraphrase and summary .

Why is it important to identify my sources?

Quotations come from somewhere, and your reader will want to know where. Don’t just parachute quotations into your essay without providing at least some indication of who your source is. Letting your reader know exactly which authorities you rely on is an advantage: it shows that you have done your research and that you are well acquainted with the literature on your topic.

In the following passage, the parenthetical reference to the author does not adequately identify the source:

The ancient Greeks never saw a need to justify wars that were waged outside the walls of the city state. “Hence we must turn to Roman antiquity to find the first justification of war, together with the first notion that there are just and unjust wars” (Arendt 12). Yet the Roman conception of a just war differs sharply from more modern conceptions.

When you are making decisions about how to integrate quotations into your essay, you might imagine that you are reading the essay out loud to an audience. You would not read the parenthetical note. Without some sort of introduction, your audience would not even know that the statement about Roman antiquity was a quotation, let alone where the quotation came from.

How do I introduce a short quotation?

The following offers just one way of introducing the above quotation:

The ancient Greeks never saw a need to justify wars that were waged outside the walls of the city state. As Hannah Arendt points out in On Revolution , “we must turn to Roman antiquity to find the first justification of war, together with the first notion that there are just and unjust wars” (12). Yet the Roman conception of a just war differs sharply from more modern conceptions.

Since the quotation is relatively short, the brief introduction works.

You could, however, strengthen your analysis by demonstrating the significance of the passage within your own argument. Introducing your quotation with a full sentence would help you assert greater control over the material:

The ancient Greeks never saw a need to justify wars that were waged outside the walls of the city state. In On Revolution , Hannah Arendt points to the role the Romans played in laying the foundation for later thinking about the ethics of waging war: “we must turn to Roman antiquity to find the first justification of war, together with the first notion that there are just and unjust wars” (12). Yet the Roman conception of a just war differs sharply from more modern conceptions.

In these two examples, observe the forms of punctuation used to introduce the quotations. When you introduce a quotation with a full sentence, you should always place a colon at the end of the introductory sentence. When you introduce a quotation with an incomplete sentence, you usually place a comma after the introductory phrase. However, it has become grammatically acceptable to use a colon rather than a comma:

Arendt writes: “we must turn to Roman antiquity to find the first justification of war . . .”

If you are blending the quotation into your own sentence using the conjuction that , do not use any punctuation at all:

Arendt writes that “we must turn to Roman antiquity to find the first justification of war . . .”

If you are not sure whether to punctuate your introduction to a quotation, mentally remove the quotation marks, and ask yourself whether any punctuation is still required.

Finally, note that you can deviate from the common pattern of introduction followed by quotation. Weaving the phrases of others into your own prose offers a stylistically compelling way of maintaining control over your source material. Moreover, the technique of weaving can help you to produce a tighter argument. The following condenses twelve lines from Arendt’s essay to fewer than two:

What Arendt refers to as the “well-known realities of power politics” began to lose their moral legitimacy when the First World War unleashed “the horribly destructive” forces of warfare “under conditions of modern technology” (13).

What verbs and phrases can I use to introduce my quotations?

Familiarize yourself with the various verbs commonly used to introduce quotations. Here is a partial list:

argues writes points out concludes comments notes maintains suggests insists observes counters asserts states claims demonstrates says explains reveals

Each verb has its own nuance. Make sure that the nuance matches your specific aims in introducing the quotation.

There are other ways to begin quotations. Here are three common phrasings:

In the words of X , . . .

According to X , . . .

In X ‘s view, . . .

Vary the way you introduce quotations to avoid sounding monotonous. But never sacrifice precision of phrasing for the sake of variety.

Visit the U of T Writing Website’s page on verbs for referring to sources .

How do I introduce a long quotation?

If your quotation is lengthy, you should almost always introduce it with a full sentence that helps capture how it fits into your argument. If your quotation is longer than four lines, do not place it in quotation marks. Instead, set it off as a block quotation :

Although Dickens never shied away from the political controversies of his time, he never, in Orwell’s view, identified himself with any political program:

The truth is that Dickens’ criticism of society is almost exclusively moral. Hence his lack of any constructive suggestion anywhere in his work. He attacks the law, parliamentary government, the educational system and so forth, without ever clearly suggesting what he would put in their places. Of course it is not necessarily the business of a novelist, or a satirist, to make constructive suggestions, but the point is that Dickens’ attitude is at bottom not even destructive. . . . For in reality his target is not so much society as human nature. (416)

The full-sentence introduction to a block quotation helps demonstrate your grasp of the source material, and it adds analytical depth to your essay. But the introduction alone is not enough. Long quotations almost invariably need to be followed by extended analysis. Never allow the quotation to do your work for you. Usually you will want to keep the quotation and your analysis together in the same paragraph. Hence it is a good idea to avoid ending a paragraph with a quotation. But if your analysis is lengthy, you may want to break it into several paragraphs, beginning afresh after the quotation.

Once in a while you can reverse the pattern of quotation followed by analysis. A felicitously worded or an authoritative quotation can, on occasion, nicely clinch an argument.

There is some flexibility in the rule that block quotations are for passages of four lines or more: a shorter passage can be represented as a block quotation if it is important enough to stand on its own. For example, when you are quoting two or more lines of poetry , you will probably want to display the verse as it appears on the page:

In the opening heroic couplet of The Rape of the Lock , Pope establishes the unheroic nature of the poem’s subject matter:

What dire offense from amorous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things. (1-2)

If you choose to integrate verse into your own sentence, then use a slash surrounded by spaces to indicate line breaks:

In Eliot’s The Waste Land , the symbols of a mythic past lie buried in “A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, / And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief” (22-23).

How do I let my reader know I’ve altered my sources?

If you need to alter your quotations in any way, be sure to indicate just how you have done so. If you remove text, then replace the missing text with an ellipsis —three periods surrounded by spaces:

In The Mirror and the Lamp , Abrams comments that the “diversity of aesthetic theories . . . makes the task of the historian a very difficult one” (5).

If the omitted text occurs between sentences, then put a space after the period at the end of sentence, and follow that by an ellipsis. In all, there will be four periods. (See Orwell on Dickens, above.)

Many people overuse ellipses at the beginning and end of quotations. Use an ellipsis in either place only when your reader might otherwise mistake an incomplete sentence for a complete one:

Abraham Lincoln begins “The Gettysburg Address” with a reminder of the act upon which the United States was founded: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation . . .” (1).

Do not use an ellipsis if you are merely borrowing a phrase from the original:

In “The Gettysburg Address” Abraham Lincoln reminds his listeners of the principles that had inspired the creation of “a new nation” (1).

If you need to alter or replace text from the original, enclose the added text within square brackets . You may, for example, need to alter text to ensure that pronouns agree with their antecedents. Do not write,

Gertrude asks her son Hamlet to “cast your nighted colour off” (1.2.68).

Square brackets allow you to absorb Gertrude’s words into your own statement:

Gertrude asks her son Hamlet to “cast [his] nighted colour off” (1.2.68).

Alternatively, you can include Gertrude’s original phrasing in its entirety as long as the introduction to the quotation is not fully integrated with the quotation. The introduction can be an independent clause:

Gertrude implores her son Hamlet to stop mourning the death of his father: “cast your nighted colour off” (I.ii.68).

Or it can be an incomplete sentence:

Gertrude implores her son Hamlet, “cast your nighted colour off” (1.2.68).

How is punctuation affected by quotation?

You must preserve the punctuation of a quoted passage, or else you must enclose in square brackets any punctuation marks that are your own.

There is, however, one important exception to this rule. You are free to alter the punctuation just before a closing quotation mark. You may need to do so to ensure that your sentences are fully grammatical. Do not worry about how the original sentence needs to be punctuated before that quotation mark; think about how your sentence needs to be punctuated. Note, for example, that if you are using the MLA system of referencing, a sentence always ends after the parenthetical reference. Do not also include a period before closing the quotation mark, even if there is a period there in the original. For example, do not write,

According to Schama, Louis XVI remained calm during his trial: “The Terror had no power to frighten an old man of seventy-two.” (822).

The period before the closing quotation mark must go:

According to Schama, Louis XVI remained calm during his trial: “The Terror had no power to frighten an old man of seventy-two” (822).

However, if you are using footnotes, the period remains inside the quotation mark, while the footnote number goes outside:

According to Schama, Louis XVI remained calm during his trial: “The Terror had no power to frighten an old man of seventy-two.” 1

In Canada and the United States, commas and periods never go outside a quotation mark. They are always absorbed as part of the quotation, whether they belong to you or to the author you are quoting:

“I am a man / more sinned against than sinning,” Lear pronounces in Act 3, Scene 2 (59-60).

However, stronger forms of punctuation such as question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotation if they belong to the author, and outside if they do not:

Bewildered, Lear asks the fool, “Who is it that can tell me who I am?” (1.4.227).

Why is Lear so rash as to let his “two daughters’ dowers digest the third” (1.1.127)?

Finally, use single quotation marks for all quotations within quotations:

When Elizabeth reveals that her younger sister has eloped, Darcy drops his customary reserve: “‘I am grieved, indeed,’ cried Darcy, ‘grieved—shocked'” (Austen 295).

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Formatting Quotations

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:

school Campus Bookshelves
menu_book Bookshelves
perm_media Learning Objects
login Login
how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
hub Instructor Commons
Download Page (PDF)
Download Full Book (PDF)
Periodic Table
Physics Constants
Scientific Calculator
Reference & Cite
Tools expand_more
Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

7.1: An Overview of Quotations

Last updated
Save as PDF
Page ID 12078
Katelyn Burton

KATELYN BURTON

One of the most important skills you can develop as a student is the ability to use outside sources correctly and smoothly. Academic knowledge builds on the knowledge of others. When we cite others through our quotations and paraphrases, we start with ideas established by others and build upon them to develop our own ideas.

Specifically, this section will offer answers to these questions:

1. What is a quotation?

2.When should I quote?

3. How long should a quotation be?

4.What is a paraphrase?

5.When should I paraphrase?

6. What is effective paraphrasing?

7. When does paraphrasing become plagiarism?

8. How do I use signal phrases to introduce quotations and paraphrases?

9. How do I make a quotation work with the grammar of my own sentence?

10. How do I make a quotation work with the grammar of my own sentence if I am not quoting a complete sentence?

11.What punctuation should I use with quotations?

12. What is plagiarism?

13.Why should I cite?

14.How can I avoid plagiarism?

15.What is common knowledge?

16.What is MLA?

17.How do I format references?

18.What do I do if my source differs from the basic pattern for a reference?

19.How do I format in-text citations?

1.WHAT IS A QUOTATION?

A quotation is one way you may make use of a source to support and illustrate points in your essay. A quotation is made up of exact words from the source, and you must be careful to let your reader know that these words were not originally yours. To indicate your reliance on exact words from a source, either place the borrowed words between quotation marks or if the quotation is four lines or more, use indentation to create a block quotation.

Once you have determined that you want to use a quotation, the following strategies will help you smoothly fit quotations into your writing. We will discuss these strategies in more detail later in this chapter.

Signal phrases help you integrate quoted material into your essay.
Quotations must be made to work within the grammar of your sentences, whether you are quoting phrases or complete sentences.
Quotations must be properly punctuated.
Quotations must contain a citation.

2.WHEN SHOULD I QUOTE?

Quote when the exact wording is necessary to make your point. For example, if you were analyzing the style choices in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, you would quote because it would be important to illustrate the unforgettable language or to use exact wording in a discussion of word choice and sentence structure. You would also quote if the exact wording captures information, tone, or emotion that would be lost if the source were reworded. Use quotations to assist with conciseness if it would take you longer to relate the information if you were to put it into your own words. Finally, if you cannot reword the information yourself and retain its meaning, you should quote it.

Source : It has begun. It is awful—continuous and earthquaking.

Quoting to preserve emotion : One nurse described an exchange between the two sides as “awful—continuous and earthquaking” (Burton 120).

3.HOW LONG SHOULD A QUOTATION BE?

Quote only as many words as necessary to capture the information, tone, or expression from the original work for the new context that you are providing. Lengthy quotations actually can backfire on a writer because key words from the source may be hidden among less important words. In addition, your own words will be crowded out. Never quote a paragraph when a sentence will do; never quote a sentence when a phrase will do; never quote a phrase when a word will do.

Quoting everything : One nurse described an artillery exchange between the two sides. She wrote, “It has begun. It is awful—continuous and earthquaking” (Burton 120).

Quoting key words : One nurse described an artillery exchange between the two sides as “awful—continuous and earthquaking” (Burton 120).

4.WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE?

A paraphrase preserves information from a source but does not preserve its exact wording. A paraphrase uses vocabulary and sentence structure that is largely different from the language in the original. A paraphrase may preserve specialized vocabulary shared by everyone in a field or discipline; otherwise, the writer paraphrasing a source starts fresh, creating new sentences that repurpose the information in the source so that the information plays a supportive role its new location.

5.WHEN SHOULD I PARAPHRASE?

Paraphrase when information from a source can help you explain or illustrate a point you are making in your own essay, but when the exact wording of the source is not crucial.

Source : The war against piracy cannot be won without mapping and dividing the tasks at hand. I divide this map into two parts: that which anyone can do now, and that which requires the help of lawmakers.

Paraphrase : Researchers argue that legislators will need to address the problem but that other people can get involved as well (Lessig 563).

If you were analyzing Lessig’s style, you might want to quote his map metaphor; however, if you were focusing on his opinions about the need to reform copyright law, a paraphrase would be appropriate.

6.WHAT IS EFFECTIVE PARAPHRASING?

Effective paraphrasing repurposes the information from a source so that the information plays a supportive role in its new location. This repurposing requires a writer to rely on her own sentence structure and vocabulary. She creates her own sentences and chooses her own words so the source’s information will fit into the context of her own ideas and contribute to the development of her thesis.

Source : Citizens of this generation witnessed the first concerted attempt to disseminate knowledge about disease prevention and health promotion, downplaying or omitting altogether information about disease treatment.

Effective Paraphrase : Murphy pointed out that in the first half of the nineteenth century, people worked hard to spread information about how to prevent disease but did not emphasize how to treat diseases (415).

7.WHEN DOES PARAPHRASING BECOME PLAGIARISM?

A paraphrase should use vocabulary and sentence structure different from the source’s vocabulary and sentence structure. Potential plagiarism occurs when a writer goes through a sentence from a source and inserts synonyms without rewriting the sentence as a whole.

Potential plagiarism : People of this period observed the first organized effort to share information about preventing disease and promoting health, deemphasizing or skipping completely information about treating diseases (Murphy 141).

The sentence structure of the bad paraphrase is identical to the sentence structure of the source, matching it almost word for word. The writer has provided an in-text citation pointing to Murphy as the source of the information, but she is, in fact, plagiarizing because she hasn’t written her own sentence.

8.HOW DO I USE SIGNAL PHRASES TO INTRODUCE QUOTATIONS AND PARAPHRASES?

Use signal phrases that mention your source to help your reader distinguish between the source and your own ideas. Do not drop quotes into your paper with no setup or explanation. This is your paper and your arguments must be supported; this includes showing how the quote or paraphrase connects to and proves your ideas. A signal verb introduces the quote that is coming and indicates your stance towards the material.

Figure 7.2 Some Sample Signal Verbs

Use different verbs of expression to avoid being monotonous but also because some verbs are better for setting up the point you are making. For example, to stress weakness in a source’s argument, you might choose to write that your source admits or concedes a point.

Paraphrase with signal phrase:

As the author points out, quotations are great, but sometimes paraphrases are better (DeVries 3).

Quotation with signal phrase:

In her diary, the nurse lamented that “one of the most stabbing things in this war is seeing the lines of empty motor ambulances going up to bring down the wrecks who at this moment are sound and fit” (Burton 413).

Some signal phrases do not make use of verbs but rely on signal phrases like according to or in the opinion of or in the words of .

9.HOW DO I MAKE A QUOTATION WORK WITH THE GRAMMAR OF MY OWN SENTENCE?

Each quotation should be an element inside one of your own sentences and should not stand alone.

Example of an incorrect placement of quotation:

The author wrote about conditions for nurses during World War I. “One of the most stabbing things in this war is seeing the lines of empty motor ambulances going up to bring down the wrecks who at this moment are sound and fit” (Burton 441).

Notice that the quotation stands alone. It is not an element within one of your own sentences. Some beginning writers might try to correct the problem by changing the period after “World War II” to a comma. However, that simply tacks one sentence to the end of another and creates a punctuation error. Instead, each quotation must work within the grammar of one of your sentences.

One way to make a quotation work with sentence grammar is to place it after a verb of expression.

The author states, “One of the most stabbing things in this war is seeing the lines of empty motor ambulances going up to bring down the wrecks who at this moment are sound and fit” (Burton 498).

10.HOW DO I MAKE A QUOTATION WORK WITH THE GRAMMAR OF MY OWN SENTENCE IF I AM NOT QUOTING A COMPLETE SENTENCE?

A quoted phrase can play any number of roles in the grammar of a sentence: verb, subject or object, adjective or adverb. Look at the example below and pretend that there are no quotation marks. Would the sentence still be grammatical? Yes. That shows that the quoted material works with the grammar of the sentence.

The nurse makes the ambulances sound like tow trucks going to retrieve demolished vehicles when she writes that it was horrible to watch “empty motor ambulances going up to bring down the wrecks” of men (Burton 72).

To integrate a quotation into a sentence, omitting words from the source is acceptable if you follow two rules: use ellipses (…) to signal the omission and avoid distorting the source’s meaning. It is also acceptable to adjust capitalization and grammar provided that you follow two rules: use brackets [ ] to signal the change and, again, avoid distorting the source’s meaning.

Lessig argues against the position that “[f]ile sharing threatens… the ability of creators to earn a fair return from their creativity” (Lessig 203).

When he wrote his book, nearly everyone in the music industry felt that “[f]ile sharing threaten[ed]…the ability of creators to earn a fair return from their creativity” (Lessig 203).

11.WHAT PUNCTUATION SHOULD I USE WITH QUOTATIONS?

Place quotation marks at the start and the end of direct quotations unless the quotation is long enough to justify the use of the block quotation format (four lines or more).

The in-text, or parenthetical, citation shows your reader where your quotation or paraphrase ends. In-text citations are inserted after the final quotation marks. An in-text citation is not found in the words that you are quoting; it is something you create to identify the source for your readers.

If the quotation immediately follows a verb capturing the act of expression, place a comma after the verb:

As the author wrote, “A free culture has been our past, but it will only be our future if we change the path we are on right now” (Lessig 287).

Under limited circumstances, a colon (:) can be used to introduce a quotation. The quotation must re-identify or restate a phrase or idea that immediately precedes the colon.

Lessig reached a radical conclusion about copyrighted material: “It should become free if it is not worth $1 to you” (251).

12.WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?

Plagiarism is using someone else’s work without giving him or her credit. “Work” includes text, ideas, images, videos, and audio. In the academic world, you must follow these rules:

When you use the exact words, you must use quotation marks and provide a citation.
When you put the information into your own words, you must provide a citation.
When you use an image, audio, or video created by someone else, you must provide a citation.

Plagiarism could happen with a sentence, a paragraph, or even just a word! For example, Stephen Colbert, of the television show The Colbert Report, made up the word “truthiness,” meaning something that sounds like it should be true. If you say in a paper something has a ring of “truthiness,” you should cite Colbert. If someone else’s words catch your interest, you should cite them.

Figure 7.3 Colbert in May 2009

Key Takeaways

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Penalties can range from failing the assignment to failing the course to being expelled. See the VWCC Student Policies ( https://tinyurl.com/ycoznkku ) webpage for more information about academic misconduct and penalties.

Writing at Work

Plagiarism isn’t just a problem in the academic world. There are many examples of people who plagiarized at work and faced severe consequences. Jonah Lehrer ( https://tinyurl.com/yb2ah7me ), an author and staff writer for The New Yorker , fabricated quotes and copied previous work for his book Imagine . Once his plagiarism was revealed, his book was removed from bookstores and he was forced to resign from his job.

13.WHY SHOULD I CITE?

Whenever you use sources, it is important that you document them completely and accurately. You make your work more useful to your reader through complete and careful documentation, so you should think of documentation as essential rather than as an “add on” tacked on at the last minute.

When asked why you should cite your sources, many students reply, “So you don’t get accused of plagiarizing.” It is true that you must provide citations crediting others’ work so as to avoid plagiarism, but scholars use citations for many other (and more important!) reasons:

To make your arguments more credible. You want to use the very best evidence to support your claims. For example, if you are citing a statistic about a disease, you should be sure to use a credible, reputable source like the World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control (CDC). When you tell your reader the statistic comes from such a source, she will know to trust it– and thereby trust your argument more.
To show you’ve done your homework. You want to make it clear to your audience that you’ve researched your subject, tried hard to inform yourself, and know what you are talking about. As you dive deeper into your research, you will probably find certain authors are experts on the topic and are mentioned in most of the articles and books. You should read these experts’ works and incorporate them into your paper.
To build a foundation for your paper. Great breakthroughs in scholarship are accomplished by building on the earlier, groundbreaking work of others. For example, Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation would not have been possible without Johannes Kepler’s law of planetary motion. What articles, books, and texts, inspired you to create your argument? You are not the first person to ever consider this issue. You want to provide references to the works which led to your thesis.
To allow your readers to find the sources for themselves. Someone interested in your topic may be inspired to read some of the sources you used to write your paper. The citation within the paper tells readers what part of your argument is addressed by a particular source, and the full citation in the bibliography provides the information needed to track down that original research.

Citing sources doesn’t just save you from plagiarizing, it also adds credibility to your arguments, helps you build a strong foundation for your work, and helps your readers locate more information about your topic.

14.HOW CAN I AVOID PLAGIARISM?

Don’t procrastinate . Students who rush make careless mistakes, such as forgetting to include a particular citation or not having all the information needed for documentation. Students under pressure may also make poor choices, such as not documenting sources and hoping the professor won’t notice. Your professor will notice.

Take careful notes . You need to be very clear in your notes whether you are writing down word-for-word what you found somewhere else, or if you are jotting down your own idea. You should take down all the information you will need to create your citations.

Cite your sources. Whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or share an unusual fact, tell your reader where the information came from.

Document at the same time you draft . As you begin drafting, prepare a correctly formatted Works Cited page that captures the information also needed for in-text citations. Insert citations into your paper as you are writing it. If you cite-as-you-go, you won’t consume time looking up information all over again at the end, and you make it less likely that you will misidentify or omit necessary documentation.

Get comfortable with the required citation style . The most commonly used citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago/Turabian. While they share many similarities, they also have differing requirements about what and when to cite. In English, we use MLA style. See section number 16 for more information about MLA citations.

Figure 7.5 Citations

Ask your professor . If you’re not sure about citing something, check with your instructor. Learning when to cite, how to lead-in to sources, and how to integrate them into your sentence structures and ideas takes place over time and with feedback.

Don’t put off creating your citations until the last minute. Cite as you go and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it along the way.

15.WHAT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE?

Common knowledge is information that is accepted and known so widely you do not need to cite it:

Common sayings or cliches . Examples: Curiosity killed the cat. Ignorance is bliss.
Facts that can be easily verified . As you are conducting your research on a topic, you will see the same facts repeated over and over. Example: You are writing a paper on presidential elections, and you want to mention that Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980. Although you might not have known this fact before your research, you have seen it multiple times and no one ever argues about it.
Facts that you can safely assume your readers know . Examples: Richmond is the capital of Virginia. The North won the U.S. Civil War. Fish breathe using gills.

Not all facts are common knowledge. You will still need to cite:

Facts that surprise you or your reader . Example: Michelangelo was shorter than average (Hughes and Elam 4).
Facts that include statistics or other numbers . Example: As of June 2009, forty-two states had laws that explicitly ban gay marriage, and six states have legalized it (U.S. Department of Labor).
If you use the exact words of another writer, even if the content could be considered common knowledge . Example: Lincoln’s first campaign dates to “1832, when he ran as a Whig for the Illinois state legislature from the town of New Salem and lost” (Lincoln 451).

Common knowledge can be course-specific. For example, the number of bones in the leg could be considered common knowledge in an athletic training course. However, if you are using that fact in an English paper, you cannot assume your professor would have that knowledge, and you would need to cite it.

Deciding if something is common knowledge is tricky and can vary depending on your course and your topic. When in doubt, ask your professor for advice.

16.WHAT IS MLA?

Different fields prefer different methods of documenting the use of sources. In English, the citation style is called MLA, from the initials of the Modern Language Association. When it comes to documentation, learn to notice and apply the particular style that you are asked to use. Brown Library has online citation guides ( http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/citations ) for several styles.

Citations aren’t just for research papers and schoolwork. Any time you use outside sources, including in a speech or PowerPoint presentation, you should cite your sources. When you give credit to others, your work is strengthened!

17.HOW DO I FORMAT REFERENCES?

References record bibliographic information about sources that have been cited in the text. The necessary information is author, title, and details about publication (when the source was published and who published it). The order of the information and the punctuation, abbreviation, and spacing conventions may differ depending on the documentation style, but the purpose of the references will be the same: to allow a reader to easily track down your sources.

Basic MLA style reference for a book :

Author(s). Title of the Book. Publisher,Date.

Burton, Katelyn. The Best Librarian in the World .Oxford Press,2016.

Basic MLA style reference for a journal article :

Author(s).“Title of the Article.” Title of the Journal, Volume number,Issue number.Date,including month or season if you have it,Page numbers. Database Title , URL/Link to the article.

Burton, Katelyn.“Librarians Are Amazing.” Library Journal, vol. 22,no. 3.Spring 2016,pp. 7-28. JSTOR ,www.jstor.org/61245.

Basic MLA style reference for a webpage :

Author(s).“Title of the Webpage.” Title of the Website, Date, including day and month if you have it,URL/Link to the webpage .

Burton, Katelyn.“Tips for Citing Sources.” Brown Library Website ,14 June 2016,http://http://www.virginiawestern.edu/library/index.php.

18.WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY SOURCE DIFFERS FROM THE BASIC PATTERN FOR A REFERENCE?

The basic pattern is easy to recognize, but it is impossible to memorize all the variations for different sources. Some sources are available online; some sources are audiovisual instead of print; some sources have translators and editors. These and other details find their way into references. Learn to consult resources that illustrate some of the variations, and then ask yourself which examples seem closest to the source you are trying to document. Creating helpful references for your readers requires attention to both the basic pattern and to details, as well as problem-solving skills and creativity.

19.HOW DO I FORMAT IN-TEXT CITATIONS?

In-text citation s point readers toward a source that a writer is using in her own article or essay. They are placed inside your paragraphs, a position that explains why they are called “in-text.” In-text citations are also called parenthetical citations because information identifying the source will be placed inside parentheses (). A writer using MLA style will provide the following in-text information for her readers:

Author’s last name or the name of the organization that created the source, unless it is previously mentioned in the text.
Page number if available

Example: In the first half of the nineteenth, century people worked hard to spread information about how to prevent disease but did not emphasize how to treat diseases (Murphy 141).

Different fields require different citation styles. In English, we use rules developed by the MLA.
Don’t panic when it comes to learning MLA. Just find an example that closely matches your source and use the pattern to help you decide what to do.
Librarians and Writing Center ( http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/writingcenter ) Consultants can help you figure out how to cite a source that doesn’t match the common examples.

Additional Links

Annotated MLA Sample Paper , ( https://tinyurl.com/qzv2afu ) Purdue Online Writing Lab

Citation InfoGuide , ( http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/citations ) Brown Library

MLA Examples ,( https://tinyurl.com/ycanqqzx ) VCU Writes!, Virginia Commonwealth University

Exploring Academic Integrity (tinyurl.com/ya3ckaxs), Indiana University Libraries

Public Domain Content

Image Credits

Figure 7.1 “ Citation Needed, ”futuratlas.com, Wikimedia, CC-BY 2.0.

Figure 7.2 “Some Sample Signal Verbs,”Kalyca Schultz, Virginia Western Community College, CC-0.

Figure 7.3 “ Colbert in May 2009 ,” David Shankbone, Wikimedia, CC-BY 2.0.

Figure 7.4 “Jonah Lehrer,” Viva Vivanista, flickr, CC-BY-2.0.

Figure 7.5, “ Citations ,”Fixedandfrailing, flickr, CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Suggested Ways to Introduce Quotations

To introduce a quote in an essay, don't forget to include author's last name and page number (MLA) or author, date, and page number (APA) in your citation. Shown below are some possible ways to introduce quotations. The examples use MLA format.

Use A Full Sentence Followed by A Colon To Introduce A Quotation

The setting emphasizes deception: "Nothing is as it appears" (Smith 1).
Piercy ends the poem on an ironic note: "To every woman a happy ending" (25).

Begin A Sentence with Your Own Words, Then Complete It with Quoted Words

Note that in the second example below, a slash with a space on either side ( / ) marks a line break in the original poem.

Hamlet's task is to avenge a "foul and most unnatural murder" (Shakespeare 925).
The speaker is mystified by her sleeping baby, whose "moth-breath / flickers among the flat pink roses" (Plath 17).

Use An Introductory Phrase Naming The Source, Followed By A Comma to Quote A Critic or Researcher

Note that the first letter after the quotation marks should be upper case. According to MLA guidelines, if you change the case of a letter from the original, you must indicate this with brackets. APA format doesn't require brackets.

According to Smith, "[W]riting is fun" (215).
In Smith's words, " . . .
In Smith's view, " . . .

Use A Descriptive Verb, Followed by A Comma To Introduce A Critic's Words

Avoid using says unless the words were originally spoken aloud, for instance, during an interview.

Smith states, "This book is terrific" (102).
Smith remarks, " . . .
Smith writes, " . . .
Smith notes, " . . .
Smith comments, " . . .
Smith observes, " . . .
Smith concludes, " . . .
Smith reports, " . . .
Smith maintains, " . . .
Smith adds, " . . .

Don't Follow It with A Comma If Your Lead into The Quotation Ends in That or As

The first letter of the quotation should be lower case.

Smith points out that "millions of students would like to burn this book" (53).
Smith emphasizes that " . . .
Smith interprets the hand washing in MacBeth as "an attempt at absolution" (106).
Smith describes the novel as "a celebration of human experience" (233).

Other Writing Resources

Enhance your academic writing skills by exploring our additional writing resources that will help you craft compelling essays, research papers, and more.

Your New Chapter Starts Wherever You Are

The support you need and education you deserve, no matter where life leads.

because a future built by you is a future built for you.

Too many people have been made to feel that higher education isn’t a place for them— that it is someone else’s dream. But we change all that. With individualized attention and ongoing support, we help you write a new story for the future where you play the starring role.

Clerc Center | PK-12 & Outreach
KDES | PK-8th Grade School (D.C. Metro Area)
MSSD | 9th-12th Grade School (Nationwide)
Gallaudet University Regional Centers
Parent Advocacy App
K-12 ASL Content Standards
National Resources
Youth Programs
Academic Bowl
Battle Of The Books
National Literary Competition
Youth Debate Bowl
Bison Sports Camp
Discover College and Careers (DC²)
Financial Wizards
Immerse Into ASL
Alumni Relations
Alumni Association
Homecoming Weekend
Class Giving
Get Tickets / BisonPass
Sport Calendars
Cross Country
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
Indoor Track & Field
Cheerleading
Winter Cheerleading
Human Resources
Plan a Visit

Areas of Study
Accessible Human-Centered Computing
American Sign Language
Art and Media Design
Communication Studies
Data Science
Deaf Studies
Early Intervention Studies Graduate Programs
Educational Neuroscience
Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
Information Technology
International Development
Interpretation and Translation
Linguistics
Mathematics
Philosophy and Religion
Physical Education & Recreation
Public Affairs
Public Health
Sexuality and Gender Studies
Social Work
Theatre and Dance
World Languages and Cultures
B.A. in American Sign Language
B.A. in Art and Media Design
B.A. in Biology
B.A. in Communication Studies
B.A. in Communication Studies for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Deaf Studies
B.A. in Deaf Studies for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education
B.A. in Education with a Specialization in Elementary Education
B.A. in English
B.A. in Government
B.A. in Government with a Specialization in Law
B.A. in History
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Spanish
B.A. in International Studies
B.A. in Interpretation
B.A. in Mathematics
B.A. in Philosophy
B.A. in Psychology
B.A. in Psychology for Online Degree Completion Program
B.A. in Social Work (BSW)
B.A. in Sociology
B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology
B.A. in Theatre Arts: Production/Performance
B.A. or B.S. in Education with a Specialization in Secondary Education: Science, English, Mathematics or Social Studies
B.S in Risk Management and Insurance
B.S. in Accounting
B.S. in Biology
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Information Technology
B.S. in Mathematics
B.S. in Physical Education and Recreation
B.S. In Public Health
General Education
Honors Program
Peace Corps Prep program
Self-Directed Major
M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
M.A. in Counseling: School Counseling
M.A. in Deaf Education
M.A. in Deaf Education Studies
M.A. in Deaf Studies: Cultural Studies
M.A. in Deaf Studies: Language and Human Rights
M.A. in Early Childhood Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in Early Intervention Studies
M.A. in Elementary Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in International Development
M.A. in Interpretation: Combined Interpreting Practice and Research
M.A. in Interpretation: Interpreting Research
M.A. in Linguistics
M.A. in Secondary Education and Deaf Education
M.A. in Sign Language Education
M.S. in Accessible Human-Centered Computing
M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Au.D. in Audiology
Ed.D. in Transformational Leadership and Administration in Deaf Education
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Ph.D. in Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners
Ph.D. in Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
Ph.D. in Linguistics
Ph.D. in Translation and Interpreting Studies
Ph.D. Program in Educational Neuroscience (PEN)
Individual Courses and Training
Certificates
Certificate in Sexuality and Gender Studies
Educating Deaf Students with Disabilities (online, post-bachelor’s)
American Sign Language and English Bilingual Early Childhood Deaf Education: Birth to 5 (online, post-bachelor’s)
Peer Mentor Training (low-residency/hybrid, post-bachelor’s)
Early Intervention Studies Graduate Certificate
Online Degree Programs
ODCP Minor in Communication Studies
ODCP Minor in Deaf Studies
ODCP Minor in Psychology
ODCP Minor in Writing
Online Degree Program General Education Curriculum
University Capstone Honors for Online Degree Completion Program

Quick Links

PK-12 & Outreach
NSO Schedule

Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases

202.448-7036

Remember that you are required to cite your sources for paraphrases and direct quotes. For more information on MLA Style, APA style, Chicago Style, ASA Style, CSE Style, and I-Search Format, refer to our Gallaudet TIP Citations and References link.

Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases are basically three keys verbs:

Neutral Verbs( here )
Stronger Verbs( here )
Inference Verbs( here )

Neutral Verbs: When used to introduce a quote, the following verbs basically mean “says”

Examples of Neutral Verbs

The author says. The author notes. The author believes. The author observes. The author comments. The author relates. The author declares. The author remarks. The author discusses. The author reports. The author explains. The author reveals. The author expresses. The author states. The author mentions. The author acknowledges. The author suggests. The author thinks. The author points out. The author responds. The author shows. The author confirms.

Sample Sentences

Dr. Billow says that being exposed to television violence at a young age desensitizes children to violence in real life (author’s last name p.##).
As the author notes , “In an ideal classroom, both gifted children and learning disabled children should feel challenged” (p.##).
Burdow believes that being able to write using proper English grammar is an important skill (author’s last name p.##).
Dr. Patel observes that “most people tend to respond well to hypnotherapy” (p. ##).
We see this self doubt again in the second scene, when Agatha comments , “Oh, times like this I just don’t know whether I am right or wrong, good or bad” (p. ##).
Goeff then relates that his childhood was “the time he learned to live on less than bread alone” (p. ##).
The author declares , “All people, rich or poor, should pay the same taxes to the government” (p. ##).
Godfried remarks , “Ignorance is a skill learned by many of the greatest fools” (author’s last name p.##).
The article discusses the qualities of a good American housewife in the 1950s (author’s last name p.##).
After the war is over, the General reports that “It seemed a useless battle to fight even from the start” (p.##).
Danelli explains , “All mammals have hair” (p.##).
The author reveals his true feelings with his ironic remark that we should “just resort to cannibalism to defeat world hunger” (p. ##).
Forton expresses disapproval of the American welfare system (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
The author states that “More than fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce” (p. ##).
He also mentions , “Many children grow up feeling responsible for their parents’ mistakes” (p. ##).
Jones acknowledges that although the divorce rate is increasing, most young children still dream of getting married (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
The author suggests that we hone our English skills before venturing into the work force (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
The author thinks that the recent weather has been too hot (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Folsh points out that there were hundreds of people from varying backgrounds at the convention (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Julia Hertz responded to allegations that her company was aware of the faulty tires on their cars (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
His research shows that 7% of Americans suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Jostin’s research confirmed his earlier hypothesis: mice really are smarter than rats (author’s last, year, name p. ##).

Stronger Verbs: These verbs indicate that there is some kind of argument, and that the quote shows either support of or disagreement with one side of the argument.

Examples of Stronger Verbs The author agrees . . .The author rejects . The author argues . The author compares . (the two studies) The author asserts . The author admits . The author cautions . The author disputes . The author emphasizes . The author contends . The author insists . The author denies . The author maintains . The author refutes . The author claims . The author endorses .

Sample Sentences MLA Style

Despite criticism, Johnston agrees that smoking should be banned in all public places (author’s last name p.##).
The author argues that “subjecting non-smokers to toxic second-hand smoke is not only unfair, but a violation of their right to a safe environment” (p.##).
Vick asserts that “cigarette smoke is unpleasant, and dangerous” (p.##).
The author cautions that “people who subject themselves to smoky bars night after night could develop illnesses such as emphysema or lung cancer” (p.##).
Rosentrhaw emphasizes that “second-hand smoke can kill” (p.##).
Still, tobacco company executives insist that they “were not fully aware of the long term damages caused by smoking” when they launched their nationwide advertising campaign (author’s last name p.##).
Though bar owners disagree, Johnston maintains that banning smoking in all public places will not negatively affect bar business (author’s last name p.##).
Jefferson claims that banning smoking in public places will hurt America’s economy (author’s last name p.##).
Johnson refutes allegations that his personal finances have been in trouble for the past five years (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Whiley rejects the idea that the earth could have been formed by a massive explosion in space (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Lucci compares the house prices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Although they have stopped short of admitting that smoking causes cancer in humans, tobacco companies have admitted that “smoking causes cancer in laboratory rats” (p. ##).
For years, local residents have been disputing the plans to build a new highway right through the center of town (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Residents contend that the new highway will lower property values (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
The Department of Transportation denies claims that the new bridge will damage the fragile ecosystem of the Potomac River (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
Joley endorses the bridge, saying “our goal is to make this city more accessible to those who live outside of it” (p. ##).

Inference Verbs: These verbs indicate that there is some kind of argument, and that the quote shows either support of or disagreement with one side of the argument. Examples of Inference Verbs The author implies . The author suggests . The author thinks . Sample Sentences MLA Style

By calling them ignorant, the author implies that they were unschooled and narrow minded (author’s last name p.##).
Her preoccupation with her looks suggests that she is too superficial to make her a believable character (author’s last name p.##).
Based on his research, we can assume Hatfield thinks that our treatment of our environment has been careless (author’s last name p.##).

One phrase that is often used to introduce a quotation is: According to the author, . . .

According to the author, children with ADD have a shorter attention span than children without ADD (author’s last name, year, p. ##).

202-448-7036

At a Glance

Quick Facts
University Leadership
History & Traditions
Accreditation
Consumer Information
Our 10-Year Vision: The Gallaudet Promise
Annual Report of Achievements (ARA)
The Signing Ecosystem
Not Your Average University

Our Community

Library & Archives
Technology Support
Interpreting Requests
Ombuds Support
Health and Wellness Programs
Profile & Web Edits

Visit Gallaudet

Explore Our Campus
Virtual Tour
Maps & Directions
Shuttle Bus Schedule
Kellogg Conference Hotel
Welcome Center
National Deaf Life Museum
Apple Guide Maps

Engage Today

Work at Gallaudet / Clerc Center
Social Media Channels
University Wide Events
Sponsorship Requests
Data Requests
Media Inquiries
Gallaudet Today Magazine
Giving at Gallaudet
Financial Aid
Registrar’s Office
Residence Life & Housing
Safety & Security
Undergraduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions
University Communications
Clerc Center

Gallaudet University, chartered in 1864, is a private university for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Accessibility
Cookie Consent Notice
File a Report

800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Places on our 2024 summer school are filling fast. Don’t miss out. Enrol now to avoid disappointment

40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine and engineering .

Comments are closed.

Puzzle solutions for Friday, April 5, 2024

Note: Most subscribers have some, but not all, of the puzzles that correspond to the following set of solutions for their local newspaper.

USA TODAY crossword

Play the USA TODAY Crossword Puzzle .

Los Angeles Times crossword

Today’s crossword (mcmeel), daily commuter crossword.

Play the USA TODAY Sudoku Game .

Jumbles: ANNOY WITTY TIRADE SWATCH

Answer: These lemonade sellers chose a location thAt would allow them to − STAND IN THE WAY

(Distributed by Tribune Content Agency)

CRYPTOGRAPHY PUZZLES

Celebrity cipher.

"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: One is pushing down, the other is pulling up." − Booker T. Washington

(Distributed by Andrews McMeel)

Cryptoquote

WHEN A CLOWN MOVES INTO A PALACE, HE DOESN'T BECOME A KING. THE PALACE BECOMES A CIRCUS. − TURKISH PROVERB

(Distributed by King Features)

WHEN CENSORS ARE WITHDRAWING A CONTROVERSIAL TELEVISION AD, I'D SAY THEY'RE PULLING THE PLUG.

OTHER PUZZLES

CHINA CHILE HAITI KENYA ITALY

MIAMI, IMBIBE, EYEBROWS, SWORD, DORMANT

Scrabblegrams

7 little words, find the words.

Drought tolerant plants

(Distributed by Creators Syndicate)

Newsletters
Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out

That Viral Essay Wasn’t About Age Gaps. It Was About Marrying Rich.

But both tactics are flawed if you want to have any hope of becoming yourself..

Women are wisest, a viral essay in New York magazine’s the Cut argues , to maximize their most valuable cultural assets— youth and beauty—and marry older men when they’re still very young. Doing so, 27-year-old writer Grazie Sophia Christie writes, opens up a life of ease, and gets women off of a male-defined timeline that has our professional and reproductive lives crashing irreconcilably into each other. Sure, she says, there are concessions, like one’s freedom and entire independent identity. But those are small gives in comparison to a life in which a person has no adult responsibilities, including the responsibility to become oneself.

This is all framed as rational, perhaps even feminist advice, a way for women to quit playing by men’s rules and to reject exploitative capitalist demands—a choice the writer argues is the most obviously intelligent one. That other Harvard undergraduates did not busy themselves trying to attract wealthy or soon-to-be-wealthy men seems to flummox her (taking her “high breasts, most of my eggs, plausible deniability when it came to purity, a flush ponytail, a pep in my step that had yet to run out” to the Harvard Business School library, “I could not understand why my female classmates did not join me, given their intelligence”). But it’s nothing more than a recycling of some of the oldest advice around: For women to mold themselves around more-powerful men, to never grow into independent adults, and to find happiness in a state of perpetual pre-adolescence, submission, and dependence. These are odd choices for an aspiring writer (one wonders what, exactly, a girl who never wants to grow up and has no idea who she is beyond what a man has made her into could possibly have to write about). And it’s bad advice for most human beings, at least if what most human beings seek are meaningful and happy lives.

But this is not an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying older men. It is an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying rich men. Most of the purported upsides—a paid-for apartment, paid-for vacations, lives split between Miami and London—are less about her husband’s age than his wealth. Every 20-year-old in the country could decide to marry a thirtysomething and she wouldn’t suddenly be gifted an eternal vacation.

Which is part of what makes the framing of this as an age-gap essay both strange and revealing. The benefits the writer derives from her relationship come from her partner’s money. But the things she gives up are the result of both their profound financial inequality and her relative youth. Compared to her and her peers, she writes, her husband “struck me instead as so finished, formed.” By contrast, “At 20, I had felt daunted by the project of becoming my ideal self.” The idea of having to take responsibility for her own life was profoundly unappealing, as “adulthood seemed a series of exhausting obligations.” Tying herself to an older man gave her an out, a way to skip the work of becoming an adult by allowing a father-husband to mold her to his desires. “My husband isn’t my partner,” she writes. “He’s my mentor, my lover, and, only in certain contexts, my friend. I’ll never forget it, how he showed me around our first place like he was introducing me to myself: This is the wine you’ll drink, where you’ll keep your clothes, we vacation here, this is the other language we’ll speak, you’ll learn it, and I did.”

These, by the way, are the things she says are benefits of marrying older.

The downsides are many, including a basic inability to express a full range of human emotion (“I live in an apartment whose rent he pays and that constrains the freedom with which I can ever be angry with him”) and an understanding that she owes back, in some other form, what he materially provides (the most revealing line in the essay may be when she claims that “when someone says they feel unappreciated, what they really mean is you’re in debt to them”). It is clear that part of what she has paid in exchange for a paid-for life is a total lack of any sense of self, and a tacit agreement not to pursue one. “If he ever betrayed me and I had to move on, I would survive,” she writes, “but would find in my humor, preferences, the way I make coffee or the bed nothing that he did not teach, change, mold, recompose, stamp with his initials.”

Reading Christie’s essay, I thought of another one: Joan Didion’s on self-respect , in which Didion argues that “character—the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.” If we lack self-respect, “we are peculiarly in thrall to everyone we see, curiously determined to live out—since our self-image is untenable—their false notions of us.” Self-respect may not make life effortless and easy. But it means that whenever “we eventually lie down alone in that notoriously un- comfortable bed, the one we make ourselves,” at least we can fall asleep.

It can feel catty to publicly criticize another woman’s romantic choices, and doing so inevitably opens one up to accusations of jealousy or pettiness. But the stories we tell about marriage, love, partnership, and gender matter, especially when they’re told in major culture-shaping magazines. And it’s equally as condescending to say that women’s choices are off-limits for critique, especially when those choices are shared as universal advice, and especially when they neatly dovetail with resurgent conservative efforts to make women’s lives smaller and less independent. “Marry rich” is, as labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards put it in Bloomberg, essentially the Republican plan for mothers. The model of marriage as a hierarchy with a breadwinning man on top and a younger, dependent, submissive woman meeting his needs and those of their children is not exactly a fresh or groundbreaking ideal. It’s a model that kept women trapped and miserable for centuries.

It’s also one that profoundly stunted women’s intellectual and personal growth. In her essay for the Cut, Christie seems to believe that a life of ease will abet a life freed up for creative endeavors, and happiness. But there’s little evidence that having material abundance and little adversity actually makes people happy, let alone more creatively generativ e . Having one’s basic material needs met does seem to be a prerequisite for happiness. But a meaningful life requires some sense of self, an ability to look outward rather than inward, and the intellectual and experiential layers that come with facing hardship and surmounting it.

A good and happy life is not a life in which all is easy. A good and happy life (and here I am borrowing from centuries of philosophers and scholars) is one characterized by the pursuit of meaning and knowledge, by deep connections with and service to other people (and not just to your husband and children), and by the kind of rich self-knowledge and satisfaction that comes from owning one’s choices, taking responsibility for one’s life, and doing the difficult and endless work of growing into a fully-formed person—and then evolving again. Handing everything about one’s life over to an authority figure, from the big decisions to the minute details, may seem like a path to ease for those who cannot stomach the obligations and opportunities of their own freedom. It’s really an intellectual and emotional dead end.

And what kind of man seeks out a marriage like this, in which his only job is to provide, but very much is owed? What kind of man desires, as the writer cast herself, a raw lump of clay to be molded to simply fill in whatever cracks in his life needed filling? And if the transaction is money and guidance in exchange for youth, beauty, and pliability, what happens when the young, beautiful, and pliable party inevitably ages and perhaps feels her backbone begin to harden? What happens if she has children?

The thing about using youth and beauty as a currency is that those assets depreciate pretty rapidly. There is a nearly endless supply of young and beautiful women, with more added each year. There are smaller numbers of wealthy older men, and the pool winnows down even further if one presumes, as Christie does, that many of these men want to date and marry compliant twentysomethings. If youth and beauty are what you’re exchanging for a man’s resources, you’d better make sure there’s something else there—like the basic ability to provide for yourself, or at the very least a sense of self—to back that exchange up.

It is hard to be an adult woman; it’s hard to be an adult, period. And many women in our era of unfinished feminism no doubt find plenty to envy about a life in which they don’t have to work tirelessly to barely make ends meet, don’t have to manage the needs of both children and man-children, could simply be taken care of for once. This may also explain some of the social media fascination with Trad Wives and stay-at-home girlfriends (some of that fascination is also, I suspect, simply a sexual submission fetish , but that’s another column). Fantasies of leisure reflect a real need for it, and American women would be far better off—happier, freer—if time and resources were not so often so constrained, and doled out so inequitably.

But the way out is not actually found in submission, and certainly not in electing to be carried by a man who could choose to drop you at any time. That’s not a life of ease. It’s a life of perpetual insecurity, knowing your spouse believes your value is decreasing by the day while his—an actual dollar figure—rises. A life in which one simply allows another adult to do all the deciding for them is a stunted life, one of profound smallness—even if the vacations are nice.

Required fields are marked *. How to use quotes in an essay: (1) Avoid Long Quotes, (2) Quotes should be less than 1 sentence long, (3) Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples, (4) Use Max. 2 Quotes for 1500 words, (5) Use page numbers when Citing Quotes, (6) Don't Italicize Quotes, (7) Avoid quotes inside quotes.

Format quotations of 40 words or more as block quotations: Do not use quotation marks to enclose a block quotation. Start a block quotation on a new line and indent the whole block 0.5 in. from the left margin. Double-space the entire block quotation. Do not add extra space before or after it.

For example, suppose you were writing an essay about the differences between the lives of male and female slaves in the U.S. South. One of your most provocative sources is a narrative written by a former slave, Harriet Jacobs. ... Set up a block quotation with your own words followed by a colon. Indent. You normally indent 4-5 spaces for the ...

Citing a quote in APA Style. To cite a direct quote in APA, you must include the author's last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas. If the quote appears on a single page, use "p."; if it spans a page range, use "pp.". An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative.

Words to Introduce Quotations. You may use direct quotations objectively to introduce an author, or you can spice it up and introduce the quotation with a more explanatory word meant to describe your opinions about the author in question. A more expressive word, used correctly, can add emphasis and meaning to a paper.

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 ...

Within a literary analysis, your purpose is to develop an argument about what the author of the text is doing—how the text "works.". You use quotations to support this argument. This involves selecting, presenting, and discussing material from the text in order to "prove" your point—to make your case—in much the same way a lawyer ...

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).". 2. Include the author's last name, the year, and the page number for APA format. Write the author's name, then put a comma.

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. Practice summarizing the essay found here, using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps: Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas. Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.

Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

Quoting means using the exact words of another person in your work. When you use quotations, you must always use quotation marks ("….") to show that these words belong to someone else. When you write a paraphrase or use a quotation, you must include citations to stay honest with your academic work. After we practice paraphrasing and ...

When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the

on direct quotations of the text, while papers in the social sciences may have more paraphrasing, data, and statistics than quotations. 1. Discussing specific arguments or ideas. Sometimes, in order to have a clear, accurate discussion of the ideas of others, you need to quote those ideas word for word.

For more information on MLA Style, APA style, Chicago Style, ASA Style, CSE Style, and I-Search Format, refer to our Gallaudet TIP Citations and References link. Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases are basically three keys verbs: Neutral Verbs: When used to introduce a quote, the following verbs basically mean "says".

4. That is to say. Usage: "That is" and "that is to say" can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: "Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.". 5. To that end. Usage: Use "to that end" or "to this end" in a similar way to "in order to" or "so".

quotation. it's important to make sure you use the exact words from the original text. In most literature essays, it's better to use shorter quotations in a precise way rather than write out ...

Updated on May 10, 2023 Grammar. Quotation marks around single words can occasionally be used for emphasis, but only when quoting a word or term someone else used. Usually, this implies that the author doesn't agree with the use of the term. He said he was "working"; it looked to me like he was procrastinating.

1. "The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.". - Toni Morrison. 2. "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.". - William Wordsworth. 3. "The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.".

Good sentence starters to establish cause and effect. It's common to use two different sentences to discuss a cause-and-effect relationship, as in something making something else happen. Sentence starters can make this relationship clear and show which sentence is the cause and which is the effect. As a result . . .

Abruptly switching topics in essays can be jarring; however, transition words can smooth the change for the convenience of the reader.Moreover, you can use essay transition words to start a paragraph, sentence, or clause more naturally.Additionally, essay transition words can connect new information to the previous statement so you don't have to say everything at once.

(Distributed by Andrews McMeel) Cryptoquote. WHEN A CLOWN MOVES INTO A PALACE, HE DOESN'T BECOME A KING. THE PALACE BECOMES A CIRCUS. − TURKISH PROVERB

The Image Bank/Getty Images. Women are wisest, a viral essay in New York magazine's the Cut argues, to maximize their most valuable cultural assets— youth and beauty—and marry older men when ...

Useful Links
Advertise with us
Institutions' Profiles
Spoken English

ENGLISH ESSAY CLASS 6

A memorable incident.

Today was the most memorable incident of my life. It was apparently dangerous as well as funny. It probably would have cost me my life. It all began when I went for a short vacation to my grandfather's house in a village. The village was situated in the South twenty four parganas of West Bengal. I loved going to my grandfather's house because of the calm and tranquil environment. The scenery and landscape is also very beautiful. There is a lot of greenery all around, especially the green fields where I love going to spend my time. I have a number of friends here as well. We have great fun together. One day an incident occurred in my life that I will never forget all my life! I was walking through one of the fields when I noticed something lying curled on the ground at some distance. The texture, colour and physical features of the object seemed in all aspects to be a snake. Moreover, it was lying in my path. I felt myself getting nervous and afraid. I became white with fear! I stood still for a moment not knowing what to do. I was apprehensive that the snake would turn around and bite me. I slowly moved backwards and ran to call my grandfather and some elders. When I told them my story, they immediately came with me. To my surprise, the object or the so-called snake was still lying in the same position. It had not moved an inch. My grandfather and some of the village elders went close to the object and suddenly there were loud peals of laughter. My grandfather heartily laughing told me that it was not a snake but a whiplash that was lying on the ground. He lifted it up and gave it to me. I took the whiplash in my hand and felt so stupid. Then I observed some of my friends having a hearty laugh. Later I learnt that my friends had planned to surprise me by keeping the whiplash on the field next to dusk. They had intended making me 'an April fool'. It was the 1st April 2012.

Essay Category

General Essay Topics
Back to your Class

Find your Way

Our Services
Privacy Policy
Advertise with Us
Service Providers

Help & Support

Testimonials
Essay Requests / Newsletter
+91 94333 31596
Arked Infotech 8J Ananda Palit Road Kolkata 700014
Request an Essay
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Contact Page

Skip to main content
Skip to secondary menu
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

Study Today

Largest Compilation of Structured Essays and Exams

An Embarrassing Moment in My Life Essay

February 21, 2018 by Study Mentor 1 Comment

Everyone faces some or the other type of embarrassment in their lives. While some are easy to digest, some that hit your mind hard every time.

When you are idle and not doing any work, you may be reminded of it. If you happened to meet the person who was in the situation when you felt embarrassed, you would get the same feeling again.

I also have experienced these sorts of embarrassing moments.

Actually, embarrassing moments could be easily recalled, it may even bring a smile on your face at times.

We wouldn’t expect ourselves to be part of embarrassing situations. When we are put under such situations, we really don’t know how to find a way out.

Though there are many embarrassing moments in my life I could only share a few of them below.

My first most embarrassing moment was when I was 10 years old, one day I was playing with my friends and I had an urge to attend to nature’s call. I steadily ignored my body’s warning signs.

I continued playing with my friends. In the meantime, everyone gathered in a group near a motor cycle (bike). On the pillion seat of the bike there is a provision of a tucked net.

It is generally used for holding some stuff. I started playing with it pretending to be holding it ,stretching it, etc. All of a sudden, the owner of bike came from nowhere.

All my friends started running and I was standing there all alone. He held my hands tightly and started scolding me for what I was doing with his bike.

He started blaming me for playing with his possession. He inquired why I was scratching his bike’s seat with my nail. As I was playing with the net, I clarified my stand.

Surely enough, I was unable to speak anything more to save myself. I got scared and then I peed then and there. All were looking at me.

The uncle released my hand and I ran towards my house crying loudly. My grandmother asked me worriedly.

I answered her that I fell into a puddle of muddy water. I asked her to give me clothes to change. That night was very hard indeed!

This experience may create a laughing sensation with readers. To me, it was very shameful, given I was a ten year old girl at that time!

The second experience was when I was in my high school. I was a student of biology. Everyone at class used to call me a doctor. This was quite a good thing for me.

It made me happy that everyone was calling me a doctor. One fine day I was getting down the stairs from my biology class. Normally, I used to jump on the stairs routinely.

On that day too, I repeated the same act. Some of the well known boys of our school were standing there. As I jumped, I lost my control and got smashed on the floor.

I fell down from 5th stair and hit the ground floor. Everyone out there just started laughing at me. Some came to help me.

To avoid any further embarrassment, I too started laughing. Later when I came home, I felt so humiliated that I didn’t attend school for 2 days.

The third experience was due to my overconfidence. I unnecessarily caught everyone’s attention for all the wrong reasons.

Last year my uncle bought me a new bike – Activa (Scooty). After taking riding lessons, I was very excited to ride my scooty. When my students left for home, I took the keys and went down to start the bike.

Half way through, I saw one of my students standing. I began flaunting my new scooty. He greeted me and soon after that, I lost control over my scooty. Instead of applying brakes, I accelerated it and got hit with a washer man.

By god’s grace I just hit his chair and not him. There was no big loss to him. My scooty got damaged and I got hurt badly. That day, I got embarrassed in front of my students.

My fourth embarrassing experience till date is a very sad moment. Our 11th class had just begun. I had also joined a coaching centre.

I had a lot of friends there too! One fine day, a guy approached me seeking good friendship with me. I smartly agreed.

Slowly we started talking. We chatted for long hours over phone, late night chats became common. At the coaching class too, our talks grew and I totally fell for him.

One day I proposed to him. In response, he said he needs some time to think over. He assured to maintain confidentiality of the matter.

I trusted him blindly. To my fate, the next day when I arrived at the institute, all his friends were smiling at me fishily. I tried to ignore them. After a few days I was in for a bigger shock.

I saw one of my friends holding his hands and learnt that they were actually in a relationship, I felt so unwanted and upset. I called him. I pleaded with him for keeping me in darkness.

Without speaking any further, I cut the call abruptly. Then he called me again and apologized. I accepted his apology. I trusted him not to tell anyone about my proposal but that wasn’t true.

His girlfriend asked me if I had ever proposed to her guy, to which I said a yes and left the scene. After a few days I came to know that he had spilled the beans right from the first day among all his friends.

This incident happened around 2 years ago. Now I have moved on and leading a happy life.

And the last embarrassing moment in my life was the last day of school. As Diwali vacations were going to start, I brought some crackers from home.

I wished to light them in school. The school authorities weren’t going to agree to this. So, I quietly went upstairs and lit one of the crackers.

I was caught red handed by one of my teachers. She scolded me in front of the whole class. She said it was not expected from me. That day luck wasn’t in my favor and I really felt bad and embarrassed.

Some embarrassing moments are lessons to us. We shouldn’t worry what people think about us.

We should move on from bad situations. One bad incident cannot erase our entire life. Every person comes into your life as a lesson.

Reader Interactions

January 8, 2021 at 7:31 pm

I like the stories. Yhe only issue is that they have laughed at you for, in my opinion, no reason. I must say that I wouldn’t have laughed if I was there. Well, no one knows how I could have reacted, especially as a 15 year old, but still you have my support!

Top Trending Essays in March 2021

Essay on Pollution
Essay on my School
Summer Season
My favourite teacher
World heritage day quotes
my family speech
importance of trees essay
autobiography of a pen
honesty is the best policy essay
essay on building a great india
my favourite book essay
essay on caa
my favourite player
autobiography of a river
farewell speech for class 10 by class 9
essay my favourite teacher 200 words
internet influence on kids essay
my favourite cartoon character

Brilliantly

Content & links.

Verified by Sur.ly

Essay for Students

Essay for Class 1 to 5 Students

Scholarships for Students

Class 1 Students Scholarship
Class 2 Students Scholarship
Class 3 Students Scholarship
Class 4 Students Scholarship
Class 5 students Scholarship
Class 6 Students Scholarship
Class 7 students Scholarship
Class 8 Students Scholarship
Class 9 Students Scholarship
Class 10 Students Scholarship
Class 11 Students Scholarship
Class 12 Students Scholarship

STAY CONNECTED

About Study Today
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions

Scholarships

Apj Abdul Kalam Scholarship
Ashirwad Scholarship
Bihar Scholarship
Canara Bank Scholarship
Colgate Scholarship
Dr Ambedkar Scholarship
E District Scholarship
Epass Karnataka Scholarship
Fair And Lovely Scholarship
Floridas John Mckay Scholarship
Inspire Scholarship
Jio Scholarship
Karnataka Minority Scholarship
Lic Scholarship
Maulana Azad Scholarship
Medhavi Scholarship
Minority Scholarship
Moma Scholarship
Mp Scholarship
Muslim Minority Scholarship
Nsp Scholarship
Oasis Scholarship
Obc Scholarship
Odisha Scholarship
Pfms Scholarship
Post Matric Scholarship
Pre Matric Scholarship
Prerana Scholarship
Prime Minister Scholarship
Rajasthan Scholarship
Santoor Scholarship
Sitaram Jindal Scholarship
Ssp Scholarship
Swami Vivekananda Scholarship
Ts Epass Scholarship
Up Scholarship
Vidhyasaarathi Scholarship
Wbmdfc Scholarship
West Bengal Minority Scholarship
Click Here Now!!

Mobile Number

Have you Burn Crackers this Diwali ? Yes No

Sample details

Views: 3,342

A Sad Incident In My Life Narrative Essay

The student recounts a sad incident that happened during a family picnic to a waterfall in Tempter Park Rang. They were excited to be at the waterfall for the first time and after swimming for an hour, they ate some food prepared by their mother. However, their enjoyment was cut short when they saw a crowd of people gathered around a large black plastic bag emitting a foul smell. A brave man opened the bag with a stick, revealing a dead body inside. The police were informed and took the body away for investigation. The incident was scary and sad, and the student concludes that they will never go on a picnic by the waterfall again.

A sad incident happened in my life, I will never forget that day. Last holiday, my family and I went to picnic by the waterfall that place in Tempter Park, Rang. I was happy because this was the first time picnic by the waterfall. Before going to the waterfall, we packed our tasty food and drinks. After packing our things, we went to the waterfall by my father’s car. After 30 minutes, we reached our destination. We saw white water flowing down from the waterfall. It was so beautiful until I can hardly breath. We put our things under a shady tree.

There were many people in that day because it was a holiday. After wearing our swimming suit, my sister and I jumped into the cold water. We were shivering because the water was as cold as ice. Our mum and dad were hearing the radio while reading some newspapers. After swimming for an hour, we felt hungry and tired. We went to our mat to eat the food that prepared by our mother. The food was nice but suddenly, we saw many people crowded at a spot of a waterfall. Hence, we went to the spot to have a looked at it. There was a big black lactic bag and it has a very stinky smell coming out of it.

A guy that is as brave as a lion went to open the plastic bag with a stick. When he opened the bag, there is a dead body inside. Everybody was stunned to see that. Our parents quickly inform the police. After some minutes, the police came to the spot. The police took the dead body back for investigation. I hope the police will investigate this case as quick as possible. After this incident, don’t dare to go picnic by the waterfall ever again. This is the saddest and scariest incident in my life, will never forget it.

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/a-sad-incident-in-my-life-essay/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

Armenian Genocide
Stereotypes
Locus of control
Volunteering
Determination
Life Changing Experience
Values of Life

Check more samples on your topics

Sad history of the colorado river.

The history of the Colorado river shows how man can make use of his natural resources in order to progress and make an otherwise unlivable area livable. However, it also shows how man can terribly abuse such natural resources to a point of creating ruin both for nature and himself. In the report, the “inhospitable

To be blue refers to a mood of being sad or depressed

To be blue refers to a mood of being sad or depressed. The blues in music and poetry are reinterpretations of this mood by musicians and writers into an art form. Baldwin and Hooker are right when they declare that the blues are universal in that the mood or the emotion of melancholy is

Daisy and Tom and the Sad Clown by Rosie Alison

The flaming red headed clown was strutting down the hot steamy pavement on a scorching hot afternoon. He looked sadly down at his giant left shoe realizing he had a problem. Boob was upset because the sole of his left shoe was slowly breaking away. Not knowing what to do, Boob went to the old

Summary of Just Leave Me Alone: a Sad End to Whistleblowing

Weightlessness are the one who reveal wrongdoings within an organization to the public or to those who hold positions of authority Weightlessness would exposing wrongdoings of the corporation and protects those who are in the corporation. Indirectly, it encourages and promotes accountability and transparency that lead to achieve good corporate governance. Weightlessness effectively could detect

Do Woman Show More Empathy by Sharing Sad Post on Social Media

Social Media

Abstract The relationship between social media and empathy has not been explored extensively. Research on the expression of emotion and the association with empathy displayed on social media websites have been minimally explored. This study sought to support findings that posting online leads to expressions of empathy (Rosen, 2012) and a positive relationship exists between conversing

Sad Love Story: My Love and Broken Heart

Love stories

Life can be very cruel when you aren’t expecting it. Have you ever been so immersed in a specific situation to the point you thought nothing could ever beat it? Everyone usually does, and to this, I am no exception. We as humans are not perfect despite our intent to be. I thought I had

An Incident That Changed the Cousre of My Life

An Incident that has changed the course of Your Life Everyone has many incidents in their life, some small, some big and some even life changing!! Incidents go on taking place in our life but some change the course of our life, in a good or also in a bad way. I was 11yrs old;

Narrative “An Unforgettable Day” Narrative Essay

Short Story

Storytelling

An Unforgettable Day 16 years have passed since my mother, a 37 year old woman, left her five poor children behind. Death brutally took her away from our world in a motorcycle accident which happened in Vietnam. I, her second daughter, was the only person to witness her sudden fatality and was helpless to do

Personal Narrative – Facing My Fear Narrative Essay

Despite being 17 years old, I still have an apprehension of dangling my feet over the edge of the bed in darkness. The notion of hands with hairy knuckles grabbing my ankles and pulling me into a terrifying abyss always lingers in my thoughts. Although I don't consciously consider this when my foot ventures beyond

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

IMAGES

Essay on Happy Incident in My Life
Memorable Incident Of My Life Paragraph
Describe An Incident In Your Life That Essay Example
Happy moment in my life Free Essay Example
Free Incident That Changed My Life Essay Examples And Topic Ideas
write an essay on "Unforgettable moment in my Life"/a day you never

VIDEO

English Grade 5
unaku kutha theriyatha 😡😡 #shorts #youtubeshorts #trending #sad #dude_guna
essay on An unforgettable event in my life
Memorable Day in My Life l Most memorable Day in my life essay in english l A most memorable Day
indha vali irukee 😥😥 #shorts #trending #youtubeshorts #sad
A Memorable Day in My Life Essay for 4,5/5th Class/Write an essay on a memorable day in my life

COMMENTS

Essay on Happy Incident in My Life
The Enduring Happiness. The unexpected encounter with Alex was indeed a happy incident that brought lasting joy and growth in my life. It reinforced the belief that happiness can be found in the most unexpected places and that every encounter has the potential to transform our lives in unimaginable ways. In conclusion, life's beauty lies in ...
Essay on Incident of My Life
The Incident. My high school was a melting pot of different cultures, races, and socio-economic backgrounds. Amidst this diversity, I found myself struggling to fit in. I was a shy, introverted teenager trying to navigate the complexities of adolescence. The incident that changed my life took place during a school-wide debate competition.
My Most Memorable Incident In My Life Free Essay Example from StudyTiger
My Most Memorable Incident In My Life. A+. Pages: 2 Words: 541. Download: .pdf, .docx, .epub, .txt. Subject: Life, Personal life. University/College: University of California. Type of paper: Essay. Everybody has one or the other memorable incident of his or her life. This particular incident takes such a serious turn that it is long remembered ...
My Most Memorable Incident In My Life Essay Example
Some incidents of day to day life influence our character and future course of life. We always remember such events. Well, this memorable incident of mine happened when I was in high school. So it went like this, my friend Nicole's birthday is nearly approaching. So, she decided to treat us on her birthday.
Memorable Incident Essay
A narrative essay about the memorable incident should be like a demo-version film for the readers. Let it be played on the inner side of their eyelids, creating a "diving-in" experience, like they see their own memories. Evidently, the essay example you have just read is quite realistic and engaging.
Telling Short, Memorable Stories From Your Life: 'My Secret Pepsi Plot
This essay describes a memory from when the writer was 10 years old and his family had just immigrated from the Soviet Union to Brooklyn. "In the Soviet Union, we were secretly wealthy, but we ...
Essay on An Incident That Changed My Life
Conclusion. This incident was a turning point in my life. It taught me that our perspective shapes our reality. I learned to embrace life with all its ups and downs, understanding that the power to overcome challenges lies within me. John, the homeless man with an indomitable spirit, changed my life in ways I could never have imagined.
A Memorable Day in My Life [100, 120, 150, 200-250 Words]
Memorable Day of My Life Essay: 200-250 Words. A moment which is sweet lasts long in our memory. I distinctly remember the day. My H. S. examination was over and I was having a relaxed time. One day, after spending the afternoon with my friends, I returned home. My parents were waiting for me. Sister also came running.
An Event That Changed My Life Essay
An Event That Changed My Life Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. Life is like a roller coaster ride with several ups and downs, bad and good incidents, and happy and sad phases.
The Most Unforgettable Moment in My Life Short Essay For Students and
I would like to mention one of them. The most unforgettable moment in my life is when one day I was travelling from Jammu to Dehli by train. I was in the first class, so only a few passengers were there with me. At a specific station, all of them got off. I was now in the compartment absolutely alone. After a moment, a clever lady walked into ...
An Unforgettable Experience in My Life
In every individual's life, there is an unforgettable experience to write an essay on. Whether it is positive or negative, it may vary on the situation, but it is something that will be remembered forever. In particular, an event I will never forget is the day that my grandfather passed away. I vividly remember the emotions I felt and the ...
Narrative Essay on Incident That Changed My Life
This incident changed my perception of young teenage Indigenous girls' attitudes regarding pregnancy and motherhood. Critical reflection on this particular incident brought me the insight that, as healthcare workers, our assumptions and clinical judgments without realizing or understanding the situation can be inaccurate in many circumstances.
Talk about the happiest situation in your life
Talk about the happiest situation in your life. You should say: Sample. Happy and sad moments are part of life. I have experienced many happy moments in my life, but here I would like to talk about the happiest situation in my life, so far. I can never forget my 17th birthday, when I received a surprise party and a laptop from my parents.
Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life
10 Lines Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life (100 - 120 Words) 1) The happier moments in our lives make a lasting impression on us. 2) The happiest moment in my life was when I was in class 5 th. 3) It was the time of the annual fest of our school. 4) My friends encouraged me to participate in a speech competition.
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life for Students
500 Words Essay On Memorable Day of My Life. We have different types of days in our lives, some are ordinary while some are special. There are some days that get etched in our memories forever. Likewise, I also have a memorable day of my life that is very dear to me. The memories of this day are engraved in my heart and will remain so forever.
The Day My Life Changed: A Road Trip Odyssey
Download. Essay, Pages 7 (1623 words) Views. 3458. On the sunny morning of June 28th, 2012, my life took an unexpected turn. What started as an ordinary road trip with friends to a concert in Las Cruces, New Mexico, turned into a journey that would redefine my perspective on life.
Essay on Incident That Changed My Life
The day I found Whiskers was the day my life took a new turn. I became more caring, responsible, and aware of the needs of others. This incident showed me that even a small gesture can have a big impact. It changed how I saw the world and how I interacted with it. I learned that life can be unpredictable, but it is these surprises that shape us ...
essay about happy incident in my life
Essay on Happy Incident in My Life. Students are often asked to write an essay on Happy Incident in My Life in their schools and colleges. And if you're also looking for the sam
A Memorable Incident Essay English School Students
Fiction. Today was the most memorable incident of my life. It was apparently dangerous as well as funny. It probably would have cost me my life. It all began when I went for a short vacation to my grandfather's house in a village. The village was situated in the South twenty four parganas of West Bengal. I loved going to my grandfather's house ...
Happy Event Of My Life Essay
Happy Event Of My Life Essay. 23. A happy event of your life. - When it happened. - Where it happened. - What it was. I can remember many happenings in my life and among them I would like to talk about the happy event that i still remember. When I got award for the student of the year in my college was the most happiest event of my life.
An Embarrassing Moment in My Life Essay
This incident happened around 2 years ago. Now I have moved on and leading a happy life. And the last embarrassing moment in my life was the last day of school. As Diwali vacations were going to start, I brought some crackers from home. I wished to light them in school. The school authorities weren't going to agree to this.
Narrative Essay about Something that Happened in Your Life
God knew I wasn't lying. As I close my eyes with my lost word God forgive me for all my sins. My body cold body was saying its goodbyes as well while my heart was crying out for forgiveness to God and my mother as I knew that everything had come to a stop even my life.
A Sad Incident In My Life Narrative Essay
A Sad Incident In My Life Narrative Essay. Read Summary. A sad incident happened in my life, I will never forget that day. Last holiday, my family and I went to picnic by the waterfall that place in Tempter Park, Rang. I was happy because this was the first time picnic by the waterfall. Before going to the waterfall, we packed our tasty food ...

My Most Memorable Incident In My Life

Thank you! How about make it original at only $13.90/page?

HAVEN’T FOUND YOUR TOPIC?

My Most Memorable Incident In My Life Essay Example

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Unfortunately copying the content is not possible

Telling Short, Memorable Stories From Your Life: ‘My Secret Pepsi Plot’

Before You Read

Mentor Text: ‘ My Secret Pepsi Plot ,’ a 2014 Essay From the Lives Column, by Boris Fishman

Now Try This: Find Your Own Short, Powerful Stories

More Mentor Texts for Telling Short, Memorable Stories

Related Questions for Any Short, Narrative Essay

A Memorable Day in My Life [100, 120, 150, 200-250 Words]

A Memorable Day in My Life: 100 Words

Memorable Day of My Life: 120 Words

Most Memorable Day of My Life: 150 Words

Memorable Day of My Life Essay: 200-250 Words

Related Posts

Paragraph on APJ Abdul Kalam [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]

Paragraph on My Family in English [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]

Paragraph on My Likes and Dislikes | 100, 200, 400 Words

Paragraph on Mother Teresa in English [100, 150, 200 Words]

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

The Most Unforgettable Moment in My Life Short Essay For Students and Children

The Most Unforgettable Moment in My Life

Have something to say Cancel reply

Discover more from Smart English Notes

An Unforgettable Experience in My Life

Works Cited

Cite this Essay

Related Essays

Still can’t find what you need?

Related Essays on Personal Experience

Related Topics

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

IELTS App - For Mobile

Popular Last 24h

Our Telegram

Latest Articles

Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life

Short and Long Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life in English

Short Essay on Happiest Moment in My Life – 250 Words

Long Essay on Happiest Moment of My Life (950 Words)

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Related Posts

500 Words Essay On Memorable Day of My Life

My Birthday- Memorable Day of My Life

My Birthday Party

Conclusion of Essay on Memorable Day of My Life

FAQ on Essay on Memorable Day of My Life

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Download the App

Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

100 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

Learning and Growing

250 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

A New Friend

Lessons Learned

A Changed Perspective

500 Words Essay on Incident That Changed My Life

A Surprising Encounter

A New Responsibility

Sharing the Joy

A Lasting Impact

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

essay quotations words

How to use Quotes in an Essay in 7 Simple Steps

How to use Quotes in an Essay

2. Do not use a Quote to that takes up a full Sentence, Starts a Sentence, or Ends a Paragraph

3. Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples

4. Know how many Quotes to use in an Essay

5. Always use page numbers when Citing Quotes in Essays

6. Don’t Italicize Quotes

7. Avoid quotes inside quotes

When Should I use Quotes in Essays?

2. To analyze an Important Statement.

What Bad Quotes Look Like

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Have a language expert improve your writing