There is often confusion as how to properly use quotations (long or short) versus how to use a paraphrase. To help gain better understanding on how to properly use quotes or paraphrases, we will use an example from the following outside source: Fawcett, T., & McCulloch, C. (2014). Pursuing a career in nursing research. Nursing Standard, 28(28), 54-58:
Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research will often have demonstrated an interest in the area during their time as nursing students, recognizing the importance of research in improving practice and patient outcomes. Developing a nursing career in research can be initiated through various routes. For nurses who may have only learned about research in their undergraduate course, encountering a clinical research nurse (CRN) in their daily work may increase their awareness of research in practice.
Step 1: Identify the information you wish to use.
Are you using any word-for-word excerpts from the outside source?
If so, you will need to cite your source as a quotation. On information on how to do this, continue to Step 2.
If not, you will need to cite your source as a paraphrase. On information on how to do this, continue to Step 5.
Step 2: Count the number of words you will borrow from the outside source.
Is it below 40 words?
If so, you will need to format your citation as a short quote. On information on how to do this, continue to Step 3.
If not, you will need to format your citation as a long, or block, quote. On information on how to do this, continue to Step 4.
Step 3: Formatting your short quote.
If you wish to use a continuous, word-for-word selection from an outside source, simply insert quotation marks around the borrowed information, and include a parenthetical in-text citation that includes author, date, and page information:
“Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research will often have demonstrated an interest in the area during their time as nursing students” (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56).
Notice that the end quote comes before the parenthetical in-text citation, and the period comes after the parenthetical in-text citation.
If you wish to use information that is not continuous or if you need to change or omit words, still include quotation marks and the parenthetical in-text citation, but be sure to alter your quotation accordingly:
- “Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research…[understand] the importance of research in improving practice and patient outcomes” (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56).
Notice that areas where sections or words are skipped, an ellipses (three periods, side-by-side: “…”) was inserted to note this. Where a word was changed, such as “recognizing” to “understand,” brackets (“[ ]”) were inserted to note this.
Step 4: Formatting your long, or block, quote.
If you wish to use a selection that is 40 words or more, you must format your quotation as a block quote. (See “APA In-Text Citation Basics.”) If you use a continuous, word-for-word selection from an outside source, include a parenthetical in-text citation that includes author, date, and page information.
Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research will often have demonstrated an interest in the area during their time as nursing students, recognizing the importance of research in improving practice and patient outcomes. Developing a nursing career in research can be initiated through various routes. For nurses who may have only learned about research in their undergraduate course, encountering a clinical research nurse (CRN) in their daily work may increase their awareness of research in practice. (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56)
Notice the period comes before the parenthetical in-text citation. Also, the entire quotation will be indented one-half inch from the left margin.
If you wish to use information that is not continuous or if you need to change or omit words, still format as a block quote and include the parenthetical in-text citation, but be sure to alter your quotation accordingly:
Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research…[understand] the importance of research in improving practice and patient outcomes. Developing a nursing career in research can be initiated through various routes. For nurses who may have only learned about research in their undergraduate course, encountering a clinical research nurse…may increase their awareness of research in practice. (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56)
Notice that areas where sections or words are skipped, an ellipses (three periods, side-by-side: “…”) was inserted to note this. Where a word was changed, such as “recognizing” to “understand,” brackets (“[ ]”) were inserted to note this.
IMPORTANT: Changing or omitting words is not considered a paraphrase. Failure to accurately cite a block quote versus a paraphrase is considered plagiarism.
Step 5: Formatting your paraphrase.
A paraphrase is a drastic rewording of an outside source. Since you are not using any exact wording from the outside source, quotation marks are not necessary. However, since you are still using ideas presented from the outside source, an in-text citation must be used to give this source its due credit.
Changing words or omitting parts of a quotation is not considered paraphrasing. We will the following example to demonstrate this:
Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research will often have demonstrated an interest in the area during their time as nursing students, recognizing the importance of research in improving practice and patient outcomes. Developing a nursing career in research can be initiated through various routes. For nurses who may have only learned about research in their undergraduate course, encountering a clinical research nurse (CRN) in their daily work may increase their awareness of research in practice.
The following WOULD NOT be considered an acceptable paraphrase, as most of the wording is the same as the original source. Instead, this would need to be formatted as a long, or block, quote:
Nurses who wish to pursue a career in research understand the importance of research in improving practice and patient care. Developing a career in nursing research can be achieved through various ways. For nurses who may have only learned about research in their undergraduate course, encountering a clinical research nurse in their daily work may increase their awareness of research in practice (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56).
The following WOULD be considered an acceptable paraphrase. None of the wording matches the original source, but the main idea remains intact:
There are many ways in which a nurse can pursue a career in research. Working alongside a CRN is a good way for a nurse to see nursing research in action and determine if this is an area they wish to pursue (Fawcett & McCulloch, 2014, p. 56).
The main idea of the outside source remains intact, but the wording has been customized by the writer.