You Heard of Block Quotes, But Did You Hear of Chicago Block Quotes?
Let's face it, citations can be a bigger drag than a weekend with your in-laws who judge your spice tolerance. But fear not, intrepid writer, for today we delve into the wacky world of Chicago block quotes, a formatting style so specific, it practically wears a monocle.
When Your Quote Deserves a Fancy Dress Party (But Without the Tiny Hats)
So, how do you know when your quote needs the block quote treatment, Chicago-style? Well, imagine your quote is like a guest at your dinner party.
- Small talker? In-text citation it is! A quick mention in the text with a page number after the author's name will do.
- Life of the party with a three-act monologue? Block quote time! Use this for quotes longer than four lines or overflowing with juicy details.
Here's the gist of how to make your block quote the belle of the formatting ball:
The Grand Chicago Block Quote Makeover: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Give it Some Space: Hit that enter key twice before and after your quote. Let the quote breathe, my friend!
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The Indentation Tango: Indent the entire block quote half an inch. Think of it as giving the quote its own little spotlight.
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Ditch the Drama (Quotation Marks, That Is): Chicago block quotes go commando. No quotation marks needed here.
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Single Spacing is the New Black: Unlike your high school essays, Chicago block quotes prefer to keep things tight with single spacing.
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The Citation Finale: Pop a footnote number at the end of the quote (like a tiny party favor). Then, in your footnotes section, you'll do the full Chicago citation dance (author, title, year, publisher, etc.).
But Wait, There's More!
- Feeling Fancy? If your quote has internal quotations, keep those quotation marks within the block quote. Like nesting dolls for punctuation!
- Editing Emergency? Made a typo in the quote? Insert a bracketed "[sic]" after the mistake to show it's not your goof. Like a tiny "Oops, not me!" sign.
Now, go forth and conquer those Chicago block quotes! Remember, formatting doesn't have to be a nightmare. With a little humor and these tips, you'll be a Chicago block quote pro in no time. Just don't tell your in-laws you aced it.
