You’ve found a lengthy passage from a source that perfectly supports your argument. But when you paste it into your paper, it breaks your formatting — and you’re not sure if you should use quotation marks, indent it, or single-space it.

Block quotes are formatted differently from regular quotations in APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own threshold for when a block quote is required, along with specific indentation, spacing, and citation rules. This guide compares all three styles side by side so you can format block quotes correctly every time.

Quick Reference Comparison

Element	APA 7th	MLA 9th	Chicago 17th
When to use	40 words or more	More than 4 lines of prose	5 lines or more (or 2+ paragraphs)
Indentation	0.5″ from left margin	0.5″ from left margin	0.5″ from left margin
Line spacing	Double-spaced	Double-spaced	Single-spaced
Quotation marks	None	None	None
Citation placement	After final punctuation	After final punctuation	After final punctuation (footnote or parenthetical)

APA 7th Edition Block Quotes

APA requires a block quote for any direct quotation of 40 words or more. Do not use quotation marks around a block quote — the indentation signals that it’s a quotation.

APA Formatting Rules

• Indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• Maintain double-spacing throughout the block.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark of the block quote.
• If the block quote contains multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of subsequent paragraphs an additional 0.5 inches.

Example:

Smith (2023) described the phenomenon in detail:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. (p. 78)

MLA 9th Edition Block Quotes

MLA requires a block quote for prose passages longer than four typed lines. Poetry requires a block quote for lines of verse longer than three lines.

MLA Formatting Rules

• Indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• Maintain double-spacing.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark.
• Introduce the block quote with a colon.

Chicago 17th Edition Block Quotes

Chicago requires a block quote for quotations of five lines or more (or two or more paragraphs). Chicago’s spacing rules differ from APA and MLA.

Chicago Formatting Rules

• Indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• Use single-spacing within the block quote (not double-spacing like APA and MLA).
• Add a blank line before and after the block quote to separate it from the main text.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Place the footnote number or parenthetical citation after the final punctuation.

Common Block Quote Mistakes

• Using quotation marks around a block quote — Block quotes never use quotation marks in any of the three styles. The indentation is the visual indicator.
• Wrong spacing for Chicago — Chicago block quotes are single-spaced, while APA and MLA use double-spacing. This is the most common Chicago error.
• Incorrect citation placement — In APA and MLA, the citation goes after the final punctuation, not before it (as with shorter quotes).
• Overusing block quotes — Block quotes should be used sparingly. Your paper should primarily consist of your own analysis, with block quotes reserved for passages where the original wording is essential.
• Forgetting the introductory sentence — Always introduce a block quote with your own words to explain its relevance, typically ending with a colon.

Let Formatly Perfect Your Quotations

Block quote formatting — indentation, spacing, quotation marks, and citation placement — is tedious to get right manually. Formatly applies the correct block quote formatting for APA, MLA, Chicago, and all supported styles automatically. Upload your document and format it in seconds.