Signal phrases let your reader know that you are quoting or summarizing from another source.
Examples:
In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, "..."
As Matt Sundeen has noted, "..."
Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that "..."
"...," writes Christine Haughtney.
"...," claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs.
from Bedford Handbook (583)
| acknowledges adds admits agrees argues asserts believes claims comments compares confirms contends declares denies disputes emphasizes |
endorses grants illustrates implies insists notes observes points out reasons refutes rejects reports responds suggests thinks writes |
Be sure to double check the citations once they have been renerated!
If there are no page numbers on the electronic source, use only the author name or the first main word of the title.
Format
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author).
Signal phrase, "quote" (Shortened Title).
Example
According to a study, "Twins reared apart report similar feelings" (Palfrey).
Quoting Sources
When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.
Paraphrasing & Summarizing Sources
When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.
Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.
Format
Signal phrase with author's name, "quote" (page).
Example
One researcher, Carol Gilligan, concludes that "women impose a distinctive construction on moral problems" (105).
One to Three Authors
Format
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author page).
Example
According to a study, "the poor and minorities were victims" (Frieden and Sagalyn 29).
Our text discusses the "ethical dilemmas in public relations" (Wilcox, Ault, and Agee 125).
More Than Three Authors
You may list all names or use only the first author's name followed by et al.
Format
Signal phrase, "quote" (Author et al. page).
Example
Our text discusses the "ethical dilemmas in public relations" (Wilcox et al. 125).
If the source has no named author, use the first main word in the title. If it is a very short title, you may use the whole thing.
You may also name the title in your text and provide the page number in parentheses.
Format
Signal phrase, "quote" (Shortened Title page).
Signal phrase with title, "quote" (page).
Example
Full Title: The Right to Die
One article states that, "A death row inmate may demand his execution for notoriety" (Right 135).
The Right to Die states that, "A death row inmate may demand his execution for notoriety" (135).