1. Lead-ins and Signal Phrases
Using Direct Quotations

2. What are Lead-Ins?
Lead-ins, also called signal phrases and tag lines, introduce direct quotations in a research paper.
They can appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the direct quotation from an outside source.
They are generally set off with a comma or commas depending upon their location in the sentence.

3. Parenthetical/In-text Citations
These citations indicate the source of the direct quotation.
They appear inside parentheses at the end of the borrowed material.
They include the source’s author’s last name and page number(s).
If there is no author, then they use the article title inside quotation marks and the page number(s).

4. Parnethetical/In-Text Citations (cont’d.)
Place a period after the last parenthesis to indicate the end of the sentence.
The exception to this punctuation placement is in the longer block indented quotation in which the period is placed BEFORE the parentheses.

5. Samples of Lead-ins According to Jane Doe, “. . .” (#).
In the words of researcher Jane Doe,
“. . .” (#).
As biologist Jane Doe puts it, “. . .” (#).
Jane Doe points out that “. . .” (#)
# = page number(s) on which the source material can be found

6. 2. Samples of Lead-ins
Jane Doe, well-known scientist, argues that “. . .” (#).
Jane Doe, a professor at X University, admits that “. . .” (#).
Jane Doe has concluded that “. . .” (#).
Jane Doe reports that “. . .” (#).
Jane Doe writes that “. . .” (#).

7. 3. Samples of Lead-ins Jane Doe stated in an interview that
“. . .” (#).
“. . .,” remarks Jane Doe, “. . .” (#).
“. . .,” claims attorney Jane Doe (#).
Jane Doe offers an intriguing argument for this view: “. . .” (#).

8. Block indented quotations
Jane Doe’s conclusions are somewhat questionable. Consider, for example, the following passage:
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah blah blah.
(23-24)

9. Some Exceptions For INTERNET SOURCES
It is not necessary to list any page numbers for electronic sources including databases and web pages.
Use only the author’s last name or article title inside quotation marks.

10. CREDITS Prepared for ENG 101, ENG 102, and ENG 109
Sarah Dye, Professor
March 2004