A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Modifying quotations - Permissible changes
Quotations
Part III. Style 20 spelling

Whenever you quote, you must record the exact wording, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the source, even if they do not follow the guidelines in this manual. When you incorporate the quotation, however, you may modify it to fit the syntax of the surrounding text or to focus on certain parts of it.

Note that disciplines have different standards for issues discussed in this section, such as modifying initial capital and lowercase letters and using ellipses for omissions. For papers in most disciplines, follow the general guidelines. For papers in literary studies and other fields concerned with close analysis of texts, follow the stricter guidelines given under some topics. If you are not sure which set to follow, consult your local guidelines or your instructor.

25.3.1 Permissible changes

SPELLING. If the original source contains an obvious typographic error, correct it without comment.

Original: These conclusions are not definate, but they are certainly suggestive.

Clayton admits that his conclusions are “not definite.”

If, however, such an error reveals something significant about the source or is relevant to your argument, preserve it in your quotation. Immediately following the error, insert the Latin word sic (“so”), italicized and enclosed in brackets, to identify it as the author's error. It is considered bad manners to call out errors just to embarrass a source.

Original: The average American does not know how to spell and cannot use a coma properly.

Russell exemplifies her own argument by claiming that the average American “cannot use a coma [sic] properly.”

When quoting from an older source or one that represents dialect with nonstandard spelling, preserve idiosyncrasies of spelling, and do not use sic. If you modernize or alter all of the spelling and punctuation for clarity, inform your readers in a note or preface.

CAPITALIZATION AND PUNCTUATION. In most disciplines, you may change the initial letter of a quoted passage from capital to lowercase or from lowercase to capital without noting the change. If you weave the quotation into the syntax of your sentence, begin it with a lowercase letter. Otherwise, begin it with a capital letter if it begins with a complete sentence, with a lowercase letter if it does not. You may also make similar changes when you use ellipses; see 25.3.2.

Original: As a result of these factors, the Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change.

Fernandez claims, “The Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change.”

Fernandez claims that “the Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change.”

Fernandez points out that “as a result of these factors, the Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change.”

“The Mexican people,” notes Fernandez, “were bound to benefit from the change.”

Depending on how you work the quotation in the text, you may also omit a final period or change it to a comma.

Fernandez notes that the Mexicans were “bound to benefit from the change” as a result of the factors he discusses.

“The Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change,” argues Fernandez.

In literary studies and other fields concerned with close analysis of texts, indicate any change in capitalization by putting the altered letter in brackets.

“[T]he Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change,” argues Fernandez.

Fernandez points out that “[a]s a result of these factors, the Mexican people were bound to benefit from the change.”

In any discipline, if you put double quotation marks around a passage that already includes double quotation marks, change the internal marks to single quotation marks for clarity (see 25.2.1). If the original passage ends with a semicolon or a colon, change it to a period or a comma to fit the structure of your sentence (see 21.11.2).

ITALICS. You may italicize for emphasis words that are not italicized in the original, but you must indicate the change with the notation italics mine or emphasis added, placed either in the quotation or in its citation. Within the quotation, add the notation in square brackets immediately after the italicized words. In a citation, add the notation after the page number, preceded by a semicolon (see also 16.3.5). If you add italics at two or more points in a quotation, use a note rather than a parenthetical comment. See also 22.2.2.

According to Schultz, “By the end of 2010, every democracy [emphasis added] will face the challenge of nuclear terrorism.”¹

Brown notes simply that the destruction of the tribes “had all happened in less than ten years” (271; italics mine).

INSERTIONS. If you need to insert a word or more of explanation, clarification, or correction into a quotation, enclose the insertion in brackets. If you find yourself making many such insertions, consider paraphrasing or weaving smaller quotations into your text instead.

As she observes, “These masters [Picasso, Braque, Matisse] rebelled against academic training.”

She observes that Picasso, Braque, and Matisse “rebelled against academic training.”

NOTES. If you quote a passage that includes a superscript note number but do not quote the note itself, you may omit the note number.