Direct quotations are the exact words of someone else woven into your writing. Whether it is a quote from a written piece or a speech, the use of direct quotations can spice up your written content, tie in what you are writing about to something specific or provide examples that strengthen a thought or idea. When used correctly and sparingly, direct quotes make an impression that strengthens your words. Direct quotes are always offset with quotation marks. (See the proper way to punctuate and present direct quotes toward the bottom of this article.) Below is an example of a direct quote:
Example: In the words of George Washington Carver, “When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”
Indirect quotes are paraphrases or summaries of the words of someone else worked into the text of your writing. Indirect quotations can add information that strengthens your content in many of the same ways as direct quotations. Essentially, indirect quotes carry the meaning of a speaker or writer’s original words without using the exact words. Indirect quotes are not offset by quotation marks. Below is an example of an indirect quote:
Example: George Washington Carver believed that the world takes notice when your everyday actions are done extraordinarily.(Paraphrase of the previous example of a direct quote.)
