When writing copy, quotes can be used to both strengthen and illustrate the points you are trying to make. Instead of making your case with ideas right out of the same voice, you can use other’s statements to help build your message.
1. When quoting a source for the first time, introduce them before the quote. Later on, you can spare the niceties.
Allan Iverson, who recently joined the team, said “None of the rumors are true.”
2. When quoting a longer statement, always add the attribution either at the beginning or in the middle. For shorter statements, attributing either in the beginning or end will do.
“I don’t know what to write,” she exclaimed. “My mind is drawing a blank.”
3. You can split short quotes for effect, although you’ll have to check whether it makes things work or just muddles a simple statement up.
“I’m confused,” Jay exclaimed, curling his brows,”by the whole ordeal.”
4. When quotes continue to a new paragraph, don’t add a closing quote to the previous paragraph but add an opening quote to the new one.
5. If the quoted statement is not a complete sentence, the punctuation should remain outside the quote mark. As much as possible, refrain from quoting more than one or two incomplete sentences in your copy.
A good number of non-professional writers are ill-trained in proper quoting techniques. To ensure the correctness of what you’ve done, make sure to run your copy through an English grammar software to check.
