Q&A for How to Start an Essay With a Quote

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I have students put a quote by itself at the beginning of the paper. How should this be formatted in MLA?

Community Answer

If it's a free standing quote to begin the essay, you don't need to reference it through MLA format. Just put it in quotation marks, italicize it, and give credit to whoever said it.

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Question

Can we write two quotes in the essay?

Community Answer

It depends on the class and on the essay, your teacher would be better equipped to answer that one.

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Question

How do I cite the quote?

Community Answer

That will depend on what type of formatting you're using. If you're writing your essay using MLA formatting, there are numerous ways you could cite a quote, including putting the author's name and the relevant page number in parentheses behind the quote. For example, you could say, "According to some, dreams express 'profound aspects of personality' (Foulkes 184), though others disagree." For more specific examples, you can do some research on the citations of quotes for your specific formatting type.

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Question

Is starting an essay with a quotation as a hook catchy and interesting?

Community Answer

That depends on the person reading it or the topic. Some people may find it catchy and interesting. Meanwhile, others may not find it an irritating and hackneyed way to start an essay. Whatever you do, do not overdo it, especially not with too many quotes throughout.

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