Direct Quotation

A direct quotation reproduces a source's exact wording, enclosed in quotation marks or, for longer passages, set off as an indented block. It must match the original precisely, with any changes shown through ellipses or square brackets, and it requires a citation that usually includes a page or paragraph number. Quotation is appropriate when the original wording itself matters: a definition, a contested claim, a striking phrase, or participant speech in qualitative research.

In a thesis, quote sparingly and purposefully. Examiners expect your voice to carry the argument, with quotations used as evidence rather than as filler, and overquoting can suggest that you have assembled sources rather than analyzed them. Every quotation should be introduced, attributed, and followed by your own commentary explaining what it shows.