Yes, direct quotations can appear in a literature review when they serve analysis; keep them brief, integrate with your prose, and cite with style-specific rules.
A literature review synthesizes sources to build context, show debates, and frame your angle. Quotes can help, but the backbone is your own commentary. Use quotations to spotlight a definition, a contested claim, or a line that you will unpack. Most of the time, short paraphrase and summary carry the flow, while a few targeted lines in quotation marks add precision.
When A Direct Line Helps More Than Paraphrase
Readers come to a review for synthesis, not a collage of clipped passages. So quote sparingly and with a reason. Typical reasons include pin-pointing the exact wording of a term of art, preserving striking phrasing that you will critique, or capturing a data point or claim that hinges on the specific wording. In all cases, comment on the line right away so the quote never stands alone.
| Move | Use It When | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | Meaning rests on precise wording or a pithy line you will unpack. | Introduce with a signal phrase and give a citation. |
| Paraphrase | You want the idea, not the sentence form. | Recast fully in your voice; still cite the source. |
| Summarize | You need the gist of a longer section or several studies. | Keep it short and link it to your theme. |
Using Quotations In The Literature Review Section
This heading reflects the common search phrase while keeping the wording natural. The goal is to show judgment about when a direct line earns its space. In fields that center on textual analysis, quotations appear more often. In empirical fields, you may quote a definition or a standards paragraph and paraphrase the rest. Either way, the quote supports your voice instead of replacing it.
Keep Quotes Short And Tethered To Your Point
Short bits tend to work best. One to three lines is plenty for most reviews. Longer blocks can bog down the page and hide your analysis. If a longer passage is needed, set it as a block only when your style guide calls for it, then step in right after to explain the take-away. Avoid stringing quotes back-to-back; weave, don’t stack.
Cite Correctly For Your Style
Every style has simple rules for quotations. In APA, include author, year, and a locator such as a page number for a direct quote; if no pages exist, use a paragraph number or heading label. The APA Style site has a clear note on page and paragraph advice that you can check under the section on direct quotations. In MLA, integrate the quote with an in-text citation keyed to your Works Cited list and follow the line-length rule for block layout.
For nuts-and-bolts help, see the APA page on page numbers in quotations and Purdue OWL’s guide to writing a literature review. These explain the locator details and the synthesis mindset that reviewers expect.
How Many Quotations Are Too Many?
There is no fixed quota. A good test is to skim a draft and check who is doing the talking. If the page reads like a chain of borrowed lines, scale back. Aim for a ratio where your voice leads every paragraph and quoted material pops up only when exact wording adds value. Many programs also set page-level guidance; match that local norm.
Signal Phrases That Keep You In Charge
Lead quoted material with a signal so the reader knows why it is here. Use verbs that fit your stance and keep the structure tight. A few reliable patterns appear below; mix them so the prose doesn’t feel repetitive.
Simple Introductions
Smith notes, Jones reports, Patel writes. These plain leads work for neutral facts. Follow with a brief gloss so the line doesn’t hang in the air.
Evaluative Setups
Lopez challenges, Chen cautions, Rivera clarifies. These leads flag your stance and create a smooth lane into your analysis after the quote.
Formatting Rules That Prevent Distraction
Follow your style guide for punctuation, capitalization inside quotes, and alterations. Brackets signal small changes, ellipses mark trims. Keep edits minimal so you preserve the source’s meaning. Place commas and periods where your chosen style requires and match the exact spelling from the original text.
Block Quotes: When Layout Changes
Some styles switch to a block layout for longer passages. In APA, prose quotes of forty words or more switch to a block, while shorter lines stay in running text. MLA uses block layout for passages of four lines of prose or three lines of verse. In both cases, no quotation marks frame the block; the layout carries the signal.
| Style | Trigger | Core Format |
|---|---|---|
| APA | Prose of 40+ words | Start on a new line, indent, no quotation marks; citation after the period. |
| MLA | Four lines of prose or three lines of verse | Start on a new line, indent, no quotation marks; punctuation before the parenthetical. |
| Chicago | Five lines or 100+ words (common practice) | New line, indent, often single-spaced; follow the manual in use. |
Quoting Definitions, Models, And Measures
Many reviews need to anchor a term, a model step, or a survey item. Here, a short quote can avoid drift. Quote the core phrase and then paraphrase the rest so the reader gets both accuracy and flow. If you present a scale item or specific wording from an instrument, keep the line intact and include the locator that helps a reader find the original.
When A Quote Strengthens Synthesis
Use a direct line to set up a contrast between schools of thought, to show a pivot point in a debate, or to display a claim that you will test later. The quote is the evidence; the next sentence gives your read and links it to your map of the field.
When Paraphrase Serves You Better
When several sources point to the same pattern, paraphrase the pattern and cite them together. This keeps the review smooth and shows judgment. Save quotes for lines that speak for a stance or a definition that would lose force if you rewrote it.
Common Missteps To Avoid
Do not drop a quotation into a paragraph without a lead or a follow-up. Do not change loaded words in a way that shifts the author’s meaning. Do not use a quote where a paraphrase would read cleaner. Do not pad with long blocks to hit a page target. Each borrowed line earns its slot by moving your argument forward.
Plagiarism Risks Tied To Poor Quotation Use
Quoting without a locator in styles that expect one is a common slip. So is patchwriting, where the sentence sticks too close to the source even when quotation marks are absent. When in doubt, quote and cite, or step back and rewrite fully in your own wording with a citation. Your references list and your in-text markers should match.
A Simple Workflow For Integrating Quotes
Step one: draft your paragraph in your own words. Step two: ask whether a short line from a source would sharpen a point. Step three: choose a signal phrase and integrate the quote. Step four: add the citation with the locator your style calls for. Step five: comment on the line so your voice leads. Step six: during edits, trim any quote that feels ornamental.
Discipline Norms And Instructor Expectations
Norms vary across fields and venues. In humanities reviews, lines from primary and secondary sources appear more often. In social science and STEM reviews, quotation shows up mainly for definitions and measures, while synthesis runs on paraphrase. Course rubrics and journal scopes set the bar; match those first.
Quick Templates You Can Copy
Use these plug-and-play lines to keep control of the prose. Tweak the verbs to match your stance and keep your syntax tight.
Neutral Setup
As Author (Year) notes, “quoted text” (p. xx).
Contrast Setup
While Author A (Year) stresses “quoted text” (p. xx), Author B (Year) points to a different mechanism.
Method Or Measure Setup
The survey used by Author (Year) lists the item “quoted text” (p. xx), which this review treats as part of the broader construct under study.
Editing Checklist Before You Submit
Scan for stacked quotations. Add a signal phrase where a line sits cold. Check that every quote has a matching entry in your reference list. Confirm that each locator follows your style. Turn long passages into blocks only when your style calls for it. Cut decorative quotes that do not earn their keep. Keep your voice in the driver’s seat from start to end.
Ethical Use And Fair Representation
Accuracy matters when borrowing an author’s words. Quote the line as printed, including punctuation and capitalization. If you need to insert a word for flow, bracket it. If you need to trim, use ellipses where the cut occurs. Do not change loaded terms, and do not recast tone. If the source uses a term that is dated or biased, you can name that in your commentary while keeping the wording intact.
Avoid Over-Reliance On One Source
A review that leans on long quotes from a single article feels narrow. Spread your citations across the field. When several writers share a similar claim, synthesize them as a group in your own words and reserve quotation for a line that marks a clear difference in method, scope, or definition.
Revision Moves That Tighten Your Draft
Trim redundancies. Sharpen your signal phrases. If the quoted line breaks the rhythm, paraphrase or trim. Check punctuation in and around the quotation.