Some punctuation marks at the end of a quotation may be changed to fit the syntax of the sentence in which the quotation appears,
as long as meaning is not changed
(e.g., it might alter meaning to change a period to a question mark, depending on how the sentence is written).
Can you change punctuation in a quote MLA?
No. As the MLA Handbook advises, “Unless indicated in square brackets or
parentheses, changes must not be made in the spelling, capitalization, or interior punctuation of the source
” (75).
Can you correct grammar in a quote?
When quoting text with a spelling or grammar error,
you should transcribe the error exactly in your own text
. However, also insert the term sic in italics directly after the mistake, and enclose it in brackets. … Johnson says of the experience, “It's made me reconsider the existence of extraterestials [sic].”
How do you fix typo in a quote?
If there's a typo in a quotation, you
use [sic] to show the reader that the error is in the original source
and that you're faithfully quoting it just as it appeared.
How do you correct a mistake in a quote?
- A quotation that includes an error may be distracting, so consider paraphrasing instead. …
- If any incorrect spelling, punctuation, or grammar in the source might confuse readers, insert the word “[sic],” italicized and in brackets, immediately after the error in the quotation.
How do you correct something in a quote?
When writers insert or alter words in a direct quotation,
square brackets—[ ]
—are placed around the change. The brackets, always used in pairs, enclose words intended to clarify meaning, provide a brief explanation, or to help integrate the quote into the writer's sentence.
How do you end a quote with sic?
Place the word
“sic” after the misspelled word
. If there are multiple misspelled words within one quote, place “sic” at the end of the phrase but within the quotation marks.
How do you indicate a spelling error?
If “incorrect spelling, grammar, or punctuation in the source might confuse readers,
insert the word ‘[sic]', italicized and bracketed, immediately after the error in the quotation
” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 274). For example, “they made they're [sic] lunches.”
What is a silent correction?
In less formal contexts, you can employ silent correction,
the strategy of simply editing the original material without comment
. Writers must used sound judgment, however, in minimizing the alterations and refraining from altering the meaning or intent of the original content.
What do brackets mean in a quote?
Parentheses. Brackets: In a paper, use brackets to
signify important information added to direct quotes
. The brackets tell the reader that the information is added to further explain the quote.
How do you cite a quote from a person?
When citing a direct quote by someone who is not the author of the source, you should introduce the person in your writing,
use double quotation marks for the quote
, rather than the usual single quotation marks for direct quotes by the author of the source, and add the page number within the bracketed citation, or, for …
How do I leave part of a quote?
Ellipsis points
are used to represent an omission from a direct quotation when it is cited by another writer. This series of three dots—with a space before, after, and between them ( . . . )—is inserted where a word, phrase, sentence (or more) is left out.
How do you insert a quote?
Rule 1: Complete sentence: “quotation.” (If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation,
use a colon (:) just before the quotation
.) Rule 2: Someone says, “quotation.” (If the word just before the quotation is a verb indicating someone uttering the quoted words, use a comma.
Can you use sic for punctuation?
The Latin adverb sic (“thus”, “just as”; in full: sic erat scriptum, “thus had it been written”) inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the
quoted matter has been transcribed
or translated exactly as found in the source text, complete with any erroneous, archaic, or otherwise nonstandard spelling, …
Is using sic rude?
Adding a “[sic]”
is even more distracting to the reader
, is a bit harsh towards the original authors (drawing attention to a trivial mistake they made), and may be read as intentionally disrespectful to them.
How do you use sic correctly?
Sic is usually found in brackets or parentheses, and it can also be italicized. If you want to quote someone or something in your work, and you notice the source material contains a spelling or grammatical error, you use sic
to denote the error by placing it right after the mistake
.
