blockquote

A blockquote is a section of text that is set off from the main body to indicate that it is a quotation. Blockquotes are used for longer quotes or passages that require distinct formatting. The exact visual treatment varies by medium and style guide, but a blockquote is typically visually separated from surrounding text, often by indentation, margins, or a border, without requiring quotation marks in some styles.

In traditional typography, blockquotes are indented on both margins or offset with additional space. In many modern styles, the material inside a blockquote is presented without surrounding quotation marks and is attributed to the source in a citation or parenthetical reference. Short quotes may be integrated inline with quotation marks, while longer passages are kept as blocks to improve readability and to indicate their distinct status.

On the web, HTML uses the blockquote element to mark quoted material. The element may include a cite attribute or nested elements to reference the source. Nested blockquotes can indicate quotes within quotes. CSS can adjust margins, padding, borders, or background colors to emphasize the block. A related practice is the pull quote, a brief excerpt highlighted within the main text to draw attention.

Blockquotes serve to present sources, evidence, or notable diction while preserving the flow of the writer’s own text. They rely on citation norms of specific style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) for punctuation and attribution rules. Understanding the distinction between a quotation and a blockquote helps readers recognize external voices within a text.