Citing Quotes Within Quotes in MLA Format

When you are writing an academic paper or a research document, it can be quite common to quote someone who has also quoted another source. This practice has both benefits and challenges, especially when adhering to a specific citation style like MLA. This article will provide detailed guidance on how to correctly format and cite such quotations within quotes, ensuring compliance with MLA guidelines.

Introduction to MLA Citation in Citations

The Modern Language Association (MLA) is a widely recognized citation style used by scholars and academics in the humanities. MLA requires a precise and consistent format to cite sources, including quotes within quotes. This article aims to clarify the process and provide practical examples to guide students, researchers, and writers.

Basic MLA Citation Format

The fundamental structure of an MLA citation includes the following elements:

Author's last name, first name Title of the source Publisher's location: Publisher's name Date of publication Page numbers for in-text citations

This format is applied to the works cited page, with the author's name reversed for alphabetical order.

Quoting Someone Who Has Quoted Another Source

When you are quoting a person who has quoted another source, you follow a similar citation process but with an additional step to acknowledge the secondary source that contains the primary quote. Here's how you do it:

Step-by-Step Guide

Primary Source: First, you format the citation for the primary source as per MLA standards. For instance, if you are citing The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Little, Brown, 1925. Secondary Source: Next, when you quote from the secondary source, which contains the quote from The Great Gatsby, you would format it accordingly: Smith, John. Title of the Secondary Work. Publisher, Year of Publication. Page numbers where the quote is found.

Example of Citing Quotes Within Quotes

Suppose you are using a quote from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby as mentioned in a secondary source, Fitzgerald’s Influence on American Literature.

Primary Source - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby:

“I am góód nickérs” (Fitzgerald 123).

Secondary Source - John Smith, Fitzgerald’s Influence on American Literature:

Smith states: “Fitzgerald once said, ‘I am góód nickérs’ (quoting The Great Gatsby 123)” (Smith 45).

In the Works Cited page, the citation for the primary source would be:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Little, Brown, 1925.

And for the secondary source:

Smith, John. Fitzgerald’s Influence on American Literature. Publisher, Year of Publication.

In text, the citation would be enclosed within parentheses:

Smith (45) quotes Fitzgerald: “I am góód nickérs” (The Great Gatsby 123).

Key Points to Remember

Works Cited Page: Both sources should be listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name. Author's Name First: In parenthetical references and footnotes, only the last name of the author is used. Analytical Note: If using a footnote, the full bibliographic reference should be provided in the footnote. In-Text Citations: MLA typically uses the author’s last name for in-text citations. When quoting another source, it might be necessary to include both authors' names (Smith, Fitzgerald 45).

Conclusion

Properly citing quotes within quotes in MLA format is essential for academic integrity and clear communication. Whether you are writing a research paper, a thesis, or any other academic document, adherence to the MLA style guidelines ensures that your citations are accurate and understandable to your readers. By following this guide, you can ensure that your work is well-researched and properly cited.