A block quote in Google Docs is a formatting style used to highlight longer quotes or excerpts by indenting them and sometimes changing font style or size. This makes important passages stand out and easy to identify.
Different Ways to Add a Block Quote in Google Docs
- Method 1: Add a Block Quote in Google Docs using the Indentation option
- Method 2: How to Add a Block Quote Using the Tab Key
- Method 3: How to Do a Block Quote in Google Docs- Quick Tips
- Method 4: How to Make A Block Quote in Google Docs as per Grammar Style in Google Docs
How to Do a Block Quote in Google Docs using the Indentation Option
Here is how you can manually format a piece of text in Google Docs to turn it into a block quote:
Step 1: Select the text
Select the text that you wish to turn into a block quote.

Step 2: Increase the indent
Go to the three dots in the menu bar and select the Increase Indent button to increase the indentation. Further, you can use Ctrl + ] (On Windows) or Cmd +] (on Mac).

Step 3: Change spacing
By default, the spacing is that is 1.15 but you can change that if needed. Go to the Format tab and Click on Line & paragraph spacing. Choose the desired spacing.

Step 4: Add quotation marks
Place the cursor at the beginning of the block quote and press the quotation(") key on the keyboard. Do the same for the end of the block quote.

Step 5: Italics the block quote
Select the block quote along with the quotation marks and click on the Italics button in the menu.

Step 6: Preview
Here you have your block quote:

How to Indent a Block Quote on Google Docs Using the Ruler
Note that the ruler might already be present on top of your page in Google Docs. If it is, then you can skip to step 2.
Step 1: Go to the show ruler option
Click on the View tab and go to the Show Ruler option.

Step 2: Select the text
Select the text that you wish to change into a Block quote.

Step 3: Drag the left indent marker
Hold and drag the left indent marker in the ruler to 0.5 inches to the right.

Step 4: Preview
Here is the result:

Note: That's it for setting the indentation. You can now follow the above steps from Step 3 to format the block quote further.
How to Add a Block Quote Using Tab Key
Using the tab key is the simplest method to add a block quote in Google Docs, once you set it up.
Step 1: Go to add left tab stop
Right-click the ruler and select the add left tab stop option.

Step 2: Drag the blue marker
You must see a blue triangle-shaped marker, pointing right. Drag it and drop it to 0.5 inches in the right direction.

Step 3: Select the text and press the tab
Select the text that you wish to turn into a block quote and click the Tab key on your keyboard.

Step 4: Preview Result
Here is the result:

Note: That's it for setting the indentation. You can now follow the above steps from Step 3 to format the block quote further.
How to Make A Block Quote in Google Docs as per Grammar Style in Google Docs
The above method of creating a block quote is well suited to creating a standard block quote. But if you are required to work according to a grammar style, then you must format the block quote as per the particular style guide.
Here are a few basic styles and their corresponding formatting rules:
MLA
- Add an introductory sentence that ends with a colon.
- Double-spacing.
- 0.5-inch indentation.
APA
- Quotation marks are not used.
- Started on a new line with the indentation of the whole block as 0.5 inches from left.
- Double-spacing.
- No extra spaces before or after the block quote.
- For paragraphs within a block quote, indent the first line of each para further 0.5 inches.
Chicago
- No quotation marks to be used
- single line spacing
- space before and after quotes
- 0.5 inches indentation