When writing a quote within a quote within a quote, it’s essential to use the correct punctuation and formatting. Here’s how to do it:
Suppose you’re writing a passage that contains a quote from a source that itself includes a quote. In that case, you must indicate which quotation marks belong to which quotation.
For example, suppose you’re writing a research paper that quotes an author who is discussing a passage from another author’s work. In that case, you would use single quotation marks (‘ ‘) to indicate the quote within a quote, and double quotation marks (” “) to indicate the overall quote.
Here’s an example:
According to Smith (2021), “In his essay, Jones writes, ‘The author’s use of metaphor creates a vivid image that is both striking and memorable'” (p. 25).
In this example, the overall quote is “In his essay, Jones writes, ‘The author’s use of metaphor creates a vivid image that is both striking and memorable.'” The quote within the quote is “The author’s use of metaphor creates a vivid image that is both striking and memorable,” which is enclosed in single quotation marks. The page number is given in parentheses after the overall quote.
Suppose you need to include another quote within the quote within a quote. In that case, you would use double quotation marks (” “) to indicate the second quote and single quotation marks (‘ ‘) to indicate the quote within that quote.
For example:
According to Johnson (2022), “Smith writes, ‘Jones quotes Shakespeare’s ‘To be or not to be’ in his essay, arguing that it expresses the existential dilemma of modern society'” (p. 10).
In this example, the overall quote is “Smith writes, ‘Jones quotes Shakespeare’s ‘To be or not to be’ in his essay, arguing that it expresses the existential dilemma of modern society.'” The first quote within the quote is ‘Jones quotes Shakespeare’s ‘To be or not to be’ in his essay, arguing that it expresses the existential dilemma of modern society,’ which is enclosed in single quotation marks. The second quote, “To be or not to be,” is enclosed in double quotation marks.
It’s essential to use clear and concise language when quoting sources and to give credit to the original authors of the ideas or words you’re using. When using quotes within quotes, make sure to follow the proper formatting guidelines to ensure clarity and accuracy.
