3 Block Quote Formatting Errors That Scream 'Copy-Paste'
Block quotes showcase other scholars' words—passages so important you want readers to see them exactly. Bad APA block quote format makes it look like you grabbed the text, pasted it in, and moved on without a second thought.
The rules for block quote format aren't complicated: 40 words triggers a block quote, indent 0.5 inches from the left margin, and put the citation after the period. But most students break at least one of these rules. Here's what "copy-paste" formatting looks like and how to fix it.
The 40-Word Rule
When to use a block quote: 40 words or more.
Under 40 words? Use inline quotation marks and keep it in your paragraph. At 40 words or more, the quote becomes a freestanding block.
Why this matters: Some students block-quote everything because they're unsure of the threshold. Others never use block quotes because they don't know how to format them. Both approaches signal uncertainty.
The fix: Count. If you're close to 40 words, count carefully. If you're writing in Word, select the quoted text and check the word count in the status bar.
Error 1: Adding Quotation Marks
The rule: Block quotes don't get quotation marks.
What professors see:
As Smith (2023) argued:
"The persistent gap between research findings and
classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation
requires fundamentally different approaches." (p. 47)
Why this is wrong: The indentation signals you're quoting. Quotation marks are redundant. When both are present, it looks like you don't understand that block quotes have different rules.
Correct format:
As Smith (2023) argued:
The persistent gap between research findings and
classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation
requires fundamentally different approaches. (p. 47)
No quotation marks. The indentation does that work.
Exception: If your block quote contains a quote-within-a-quote (the author you're quoting quoted someone else), use double quotation marks for that internal quote only.
Error 2: Wrong Indentation
The rule: Indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin. Right margin stays normal. No hanging indent.
Common mistakes:
Hanging indent (wrong):
The persistent gap between research findings and classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation requires fundamentally different approaches.
First line indented, rest flush left. This is for reference entries, not block quotes.
Both margins indented (wrong):
The entire quote appears in a narrower column, with both left and right margins pushed in. APA only requires left indentation.
Tab-based indent (unreliable):
Using the Tab key instead of paragraph formatting creates inconsistent spacing.
Correct format:
All lines indented exactly 0.5 inches from the left margin. Right margin normal. Set this using paragraph formatting, not tabs:
- In Word: Select text → Paragraph → Left indent: 0.5"
- Don't set First Line to anything—leave it at "None"
Error 3: Citation Placement
The rule: Citation comes AFTER the period, not before.
What professors see (wrong):
The persistent gap between research findings and
classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation
requires fundamentally different approaches (Smith, 2023, p. 47).
The citation is inside the sentence, before the period. This is correct for inline quotes but wrong for block quotes.
Correct format:
The persistent gap between research findings and
classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation
requires fundamentally different approaches. (Smith, 2023, p. 47)
Period ends the quote. Citation follows in parentheses. No period after the citation.
Why the difference? For inline quotes, the citation is part of your sentence. For block quotes, the quote is a separate element—the citation stands outside the quote's punctuation as a reference marker.
Bonus: Spacing Within Block Quotes
The rule: Block quotes are double-spaced, like everything else in your paper.
Some students single-space block quotes to "set them apart" visually. APA doesn't distinguish block quotes with spacing—it distinguishes them with indentation. Double-space everything.
Complete Example
Here's a properly formatted block quote in context:
Previous research has challenged the assumption that best practices translate directly across contexts. As Smith (2023) observed:
The persistent gap between research findings and classroom practice suggests that knowledge translation in education requires fundamentally different approaches than those used in clinical medicine. What works in a controlled research environment may face implementation barriers that researchers never anticipated. (p. 47)
This observation aligns with implementation science frameworks that emphasize contextual adaptation.
What makes this correct:
- Introduced with context
- No quotation marks
- Indented 0.5" from left margin
- Right margin normal
- Double-spaced
- Period ends the quote
- Citation follows the period
- No period after the citation
The Quick Checklist
Before submitting, check every block quote:
- ☐ 40+ words? (If under 40, use inline format)
- ☐ No quotation marks around the block?
- ☐ Indented 0.5" from left margin only?
- ☐ Double-spaced within the quote?
- ☐ Period ends the quote, citation follows?
- ☐ No period after the citation?
Format Block Quotes Automatically
StyleMyPaper identifies block quote errors throughout your paper—quotation marks that shouldn't be there, incorrect indentation, misplaced citations, single-spacing, and missing block formatting for long quotes. Upload your document and see your quotes the way your professor will.