HTML Quotations and References: How to Use blockquote, q, and cite Correctly
Note:
This page is part of the
Complete HTML Guide for Beginners.
Consult the main index for an overview of all topics.
Quotes and References
INTRODUCTION TO HTML TAGS FOR QUOTATIONS AND REFERENCES
When you quote someone else's words or ideas on your website, it's crucial to do it correctly, not just for
accuracy, but also to give clear meaning to your page's structure. HTML provides
specific tags to handle different types of quotations and references: <blockquote>
for long quotations set apart from the text, <q> for short quotations integrated into the text, and
<cite> to indicate the title of a work. Using them correctly helps browsers, search
engines, and assistive technologies (like screen readers) better interpret the content.
HOW TO USE THE <blockquote> TAG FOR LONG QUOTATIONS
The <blockquote> tag is used to enclose blocks of text that are extended quotations taken
from another source. Usually, these are quotations that span one or more paragraphs.
What it's for: It semantically isolates a long quotation from the rest of the content. Browsers, by
default, tend to display the text inside a <blockquote> with an
indented margin on both sides, visually distinguishing it from the surrounding text.
Syntax and Example:
<p>As a famous scientist said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.</p>
<p>One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These words emphasize the importance of curiosity in learning.</p>Here's how it will be displayed:
As a famous scientist said:
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.
These words emphasize the importance of curiosity in learning.
Note: It's good practice to place the text of the quotation inside
<p> tags (or other appropriate block-level elements) even within <blockquote> to
maintain a correct structure.
HOW TO USE THE <q> TAG FOR SHORT QUOTATIONS
The <q> tag (stands for "quote") is used to insert short quotations that integrate
directly within a paragraph or another sentence.
What it's for: It semantically indicates a short, inline quotation. The main feature is
that browsers, by default, automatically add quotation marks (usually double quotes “ ”)
around the text contained in the <q> tag. This saves you from having to add them
manually and ensures they are the appropriate quotation marks for the page language (although this depends
on the browser settings).
Syntax and Example:
<p>The proverb says <q>The early bird catches the worm</q>, but sometimes a little rest is necessary.</p>Here's how it will be displayed:
The proverb says The early bird catches the worm
, but sometimes a little rest is necessary.
Important: Do not use <q> just to put quotation marks around a word or
phrase if it's not a real quotation. Use <q> when you are actually quoting someone
else's words.
HOW TO USE THE <cite> TAG FOR REFERENCING WORKS
The <cite> tag has a very specific purpose: it is used to indicate the title of a work or
a source. This could be the title of a book, an article, a movie, a song, a website,
etc.
What it's for: It semantically identifies the title of a cited work. Browsers usually
display the text inside <cite> in italics, but the visual appearance is not its
main purpose. The purpose is to give specific meaning to that text: "this is the title of a work".
Syntax and Example:
<p>I found the book <cite>HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites</cite> very useful to get started.</p>
<p>My favorite movie is <cite>Back to the Future</cite>.</p>Here's how it will be displayed:
I found the book HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites very useful to get started.
My favorite movie is Back to the Future.
Common mistake: Do not use <cite> to enclose the author's name or the
quotation itself. <cite> is only for the title of the work.
COMBINING <blockquote> AND <cite> FOR QUOTATIONS WITH SOURCES
You can combine <blockquote> and <cite> to present a long quotation
while specifying its source in a semantically correct way. A common method, though not the only one, is to put the
reference to the work immediately after (or sometimes before) the quotation block.
Example:
<blockquote>
<p>It was a dark and stormy night...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>— From <cite>Paul Clifford</cite> by Edward Bulwer-Lytton</p>Here's how it will be displayed:
It was a dark and stormy night...
— From Paul Clifford by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
A more modern and semantically rich alternative, often used with the <figure> element,
allows for a more explicit association between the quotation and its source:
<figure>
<blockquote>
<p>Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Albert Einstein, quoted in <cite>Cosmic Religion with Other Opinions and Aphorisms</cite></figcaption>
</figure>Here's how it will be displayed:
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
In this example, <figure> groups the quotation (<blockquote>) and its
caption (<figcaption>), which also contains the reference to the work using
<cite>.
WHY USE THE CORRECT QUOTATION TAGS?
Using <blockquote>, <q>, and <cite> according to their
semantic purpose brings several advantages:
Semantic Clarity: You communicate the structure and meaning of your content precisely. You know that block is a long quotation, that phrase is a short quotation, and that is the title of a work.
Accessibility: Screen readers and other assistive technologies can better interpret
these tags and present information more appropriately to users with disabilities. For example, a
screen reader might announce "quote start" and "quote end" for a <blockquote> or
correctly read the quotation marks added by <q>.
Code Maintainability: Using the right tags makes the HTML code cleaner, more readable, and easier to maintain or modify in the future.
Potential SEO: Although the direct SEO impact of these specific tags might be limited, providing a semantically correct HTML structure is a positive signal for search engines, which try to understand page content as best as possible.
In conclusion, taking the time to use <blockquote>, <q>, and
<cite> correctly is a good practice that improves the overall quality of your HTML code
and the experience for all users.
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