Direct Quotations - Introduction
There may be an occasion when you wish to include within your work, an exact copy of the words that have been written or spoken by another person. This is known as a direct quotation.
Direct quotations are perfectly acceptable providing they are used appropriately, but please remember that it is considered bad practice to make excessive use of them. When used in excess, they can interrupt the flow of your own words, and, in any case, your tutor will expect the major part of your assignment to be in your own words.
The way in which you include a direct quotation in your text depends on whether it is considered a ‘short quotation or ‘long quotation’.