Embedded Quotations

Embedded Quotations

By Margaret Juge

​What is an embedded quotation?

An embedded quotation is a quotation that is integrated into the author’s own words in order to improve sentence fluency and to state an argument more effectively.

​Why is it important to embed quotations?

Not only is an embedded quotation indicative of more sophisticated writing but it also allows the author to seamlessly integrate the evidence into their argument, making their writing more effective.

​Frankenstein

“A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their existence to me” (Shelley 40).

​Here is a quote we will work with today:

However, we won't use the whole quote, only the important snippet:

Snippet: “A new species would bless me as its creator and source” (40).

Original: “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their existence to me” (Shelley 40).

Open Ended

Why only use a snippet of a quotation rather than the whole quote?

There are 3 places to embed a quote: Beginning, Middle, and end of a sentence

Beginning of a sentence

“A new species would bless me as its creator and source,” fantasizes Victor, revealing that his motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic (40).

Middle of a sentence

Victor fantasizes that his “new species would bless [him] as its creator and source,” revealing that his motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic (40).

What are brackets and why do we use them?

A bracket [   ] is used to change a word (typically a pronoun) in an embedded quotation in order for there to be agreement between your sentence and the quote. This guarantees sentence fluency.

Multiple Select

Why did I use a bracket in this sentence?

Victor fantasizes that his “new species would bless [him] as its creator and source,” revealing that his motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic (40).

• Pronoun agreement

• Sentence fluency (make sentence flow better)

• First person isn't allowed in academic writing, even quotes

End of a sentence

Victor’s motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic, but rather founded in his desire that his new species would bless [him] as its creator and source…[owing] their existence to [him]” (40).

What is an ellipsis?

An ellipsis … (three dots, NOT four) allows you to delete a word or words from the original longer quote. NOTE: You do not need them at the beginning or end of a quote, even if you eliminate words.

Multiple Choice

Which example uses an ellipsis correctly?

• Victor's motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic, but rather founded in his desire that his "...new species would bless [him] as its creator and source" (40).

• Victor’s motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic, but rather founded in his desire that his "new species would bless [him] as its creator and source…[owing] their existence to [him]” (40).

• Victor's motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic, but rather founded in his desire that his "new creation would bless [him] as its creator and source..." (40).

• Victor's motive for creating a new species is not entirely altruistic, but rather founded in his desire that his "...new species would bless [him] as its creator and source..." (40).

Food for thought

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​2. An embedded quotation immediately connects your evidence to your argument, saving your reader the time it would take them to make that intellectual jump.

1. An embedded quotation is not the same as introducing your quote with "(s)he says/states/explains..."

Multiple Choice

Where does the in-text citation go in a sentence with an embedded quotation?

• Always immediately next to the quote, regardless of where the quote falls in the sentence

• Always at the end of the sentence next to the punctuation, regardless of where the quote falls in the sentence.

Multiple Select

Why are embedded quotations important for academic writing?

• Hides your evidence from the reader by integrating it

• Indicative of more sophisticated writing

• It's harder to do so it's better

• Seamlessly integrates your evidence into your argument

Open Ended

Now you try: Embed a snippet of this quote into your own sentence, making use of brackets and ellipsis if needed.

"I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me" (133).

Said by the monster in Frankenstein to Victor.