Signal Phrases Signal Phrases —introduce quotations Signal phrases help readers move from your words to the words of a source without feeling a jolt. What you must do: provide clear signal phrases, usually including the author's name, to prepare readers for a quotation

DO NOT drop quotes! Dropped Quotation California law prevents the killing of mountain lions except for specific lions that have been proved to be a threat to humans or livestock. "Fish and Game is even blocked from keeping mountain lions from killing the endangered desert bighorn sheep" (Perry B4). The writer is assuming the reader will just figure out how the quotation applies to the preceding sentence.

Quotation with Signal Phrase California law prevents the killing of mountain lions except for specific lions that have been proved to be a threat to humans or livestock. Tony Perry points out that, ironically, "Fish and Game is even blocked from keeping mountain lions from killing the endangered desert bighorn sheep" (B4). The reader now understands that the quote is used to show irony in addition to who authored the idea.

Varying Signal Phrases To avoid monotony, try to vary both the language and the placement of your signal phrases. When your signal phrase includes a verb, choose one that is appropriate in the context. Is your source arguing a point, making an observation, reporting a fact, drawing a conclusion, refuting an argument, or stating a belief? By choosing the appropriate verb, you can make your source's stance clear.

Signal Phrase Practice Stinky example: His peers and colleagues hold him in high regard, "'They speak highly of his ability'" (502). Notice how this sentence is actually a COMMA SPLICE (When two independent clauses are connected by only a comma, they constitute a run-on sentence that is called a comma-splice. When you use a comma to connect two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so).) and the signal phrase does nothing more than paraphrase the quotation.

A possible revision: It is clear that the protagonist's colleagues hold him in high regard when all "'speak highly of his ability'" (502). The new signal phrase gives the reader an idea of the importance of the quotation. Quoting quoted material!

Stinky example: Jack Potter's bride broke the mold. "The bride was not pretty, nor was she very young" (211). This is a dropped quotation. (A "dropped quotation” refers to any rough patch in your prose where your words fail to smoothly and coherently introduce the quoted words.)

A possible revision Jack Potter's bride broke the mold because she "was not pretty, nor was she very young" (211). Notice how the writer choose only as much of the quotation as needed to make her point.

Stinky example Paragraph 15 says, "Chances to marry had come time after time, but she had turned her back on them all" (503). This signal phrase is boring and doesn't lead the reader to interpret the quotation in any particular way. The reference to the paragraph number is also unnecessary since the page number is given.

A possible revision The protagonist of the story illustrates this expectation because "Chances to marry had come time after time, but she had turned her back on them all" (503). The revision offers a much clearer idea to the reader what the importance of the quotation will be.

Verbs for Signal Phrases Author is neutral adds records commentsrelates describesreports explainssays illustratessees notesthinks observeswrites points out

Verbs for Signal Phrases Author infers or suggests analyzesproposes asksreveals assessesshows concludesspeculates considerssuggests findssupposes predicts

Verbs for Signal Phrases Author argues allegesdefends assertsdisagrees believesholds claimsinsists contendsmaintains declares

Author agrees acknowledgesconcedes admitsconfirms agreesgrants concurs Author is uneasy or disparaging belittlesdeprecates bemoansderides complainsdisputes condemnslaments deplores warns