Quoting poetry in essays can feel tricky, but it’s a crucial academic skill. Whether you’re writing a literature analysis, research paper, or citing a viral TikTok poem, the right format adds credibility to your work. And if you ever struggle with citations or need extra academic help, some students even choose to hire someone to write a paper for guidance
This guide explains MLA, APA, and Chicago styles step by step, with modern examples from social media and AI tools. You’ll also find FAQs and pro tips to avoid mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- MLA uses poet’s name + line numbers.
- APA uses author, year, and page/line numbers.
- Chicago relies on footnotes + bibliography.
- Short quotes (<4 lines) go in-text with slashes (/).
- Long quotes (4+ lines) require block formatting.
- Online sources (blogs, social media, AI tools) require platform, date, and URL.
Step-by-Step: How to Quote a Poem in MLA
Step 1: Use quotation marks for short quotes (1–3 lines). Add slashes (/) for line breaks.
Step 2: Use block formatting for 4+ lines (no quotation marks).
Step 3: Include poet’s last name + line numbers in citation.
Example (short quote):
In The Road Not Taken, Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could not travel both” (lines 1–2).
Example (long quote):
Emily Dickinson famously personifies Death in her poem:
Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality. (lines 1–4)
Step-by-Step: How to Quote a Poem in APA
Step 1: Include author’s last name, year, and line numbers.
Step 2: Use slashes for short quotes (≤3 lines).
Step 3: Use block quotes (no quotation marks) for 4+ lines.
Example (short quote):
(Brooks, 1960, lines 1–3)
References entry:
Hughes, L. (1994). The Negro Speaks of Rivers. In The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (pp. 23–24). Knopf.
Step-by-Step: How to Quote a Poem in Chicago
Step 1: Use superscript footnotes for in-text citations.
Step 2: Provide full citation in a footnote.
Step 3: Include the poem in the bibliography.
Footnote example:
- Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb,” in The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country (Viking, 2021), 4–7.
Bibliography example:
Gorman, Amanda. The Hill We Climb. Viking, 2021.
Quoting Poems from Online Sources
Poetry often lives online – blogs, Instagram posts, and TikTok videos are now common sources.
- Blog (MLA):
Smith, Jane. “Night in New York.” Poetry Journal, 2023, poetryjournal.com/night-in-new-york.
- Instagram (APA):
@poet_jay. (2024, May 2). [“i write in lowercase because the world feels heavy”] [Poem]. Instagram. https://instagram.com/p/xyz
- TikTok (Chicago):
@versesbyana. “Unfinished Love Poem.” TikTok video, March 3, 2025. https://tiktok.com/@versesbyana/video/123456.
Citing AI-Generated Poems
AI tools like ChatGPT or Bard can generate poems. Treat them as digital sources.
- Chicago style example:
ChatGPT. “Untitled poem on autumn.” Generated July 15, 2025. OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com.
- APA style example:
OpenAI. (2025, July 15). [Poem on autumn generated by ChatGPT]. OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting spaces around slashes (/).
- Adding quotation marks to block quotes (never do this).
- Placing citation before punctuation in block quotes (it should come after).
- Skipping editor details for anthologies.
- Not clarifying changes with brackets [ ].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What if the poem has no line numbers?
Use page numbers (e.g., (Angelou 25)). If no numbers exist, omit them.
Q2: How do I cite an epic like The Odyssey?
Use book + line numbers: (Homer, 9.224–227).
Q3: Can I cite a poem I found on TikTok?
Yes. Include username, platform, date, and URL.
Q4: How do I cite AI-written poems?
Treat them like digital sources: tool name, date, and platform.
Q5: What if the poem is untitled?
Use a description in brackets, e.g., [Untitled poem about autumn].
Q6: How do I cite translated poems?
Include translator’s name in the citation and reference entry.
Q7: Can I mix styles (MLA + APA)?
No. Stick to the style your professor requires.
Final Tips
- Always check the latest edition of your citation style.
- Be consistent throughout your paper. If you’re working on broader projects, exploring different case study ideas can also help you practice applying proper citation rules.
- Ask your professor which style to use if unsure.
- Use online citation generators cautiously – they often make mistakes.
