HTML <blockquote> Tag Tutorial - Usage, Syntax,
Attributes and Example

calender-iconPublished: 11 May 2025

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INTRODUCTION

The HTML <blockquote> element is used when you have to include quotation in page. Quotation is text or speech written by some author. As per the specification, any attribution for a quotation must be placed outside the <blockquote> element.

Display: By default, the text is shown by browser with indentation (the blank space or white space placed before text block).

Syntax: 

<blockquote> --TEXT-- </blockquote>

Example: 


<p> 
The Gettysburg Address is a famous speech which U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered during the American Civil War.
</p>
<blockquote> Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
</blockquote> 

<p>—Abraham Lincoln </p>

The Gettysburg Address is a famous speech which U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered during the American Civil War.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

—Abraham Lincoln



NOTE:

To adjust the indentation of quoted text, use the CSS margin-left and/or margin-right properties, or the margin shorthand property.



Tag Omission

The HTML <blockquote> element must have have both start tag and end tag.

ATTRIBUTES

1. cite

The cite attribute is used to specify the URL of resource that contains reference/information about the blockquote. (Example: A link to webpage) While the cite attribute adds value semantically, it doesn't display anything visually by default.

Example: 


<blockquote cite="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address" > 
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
</blockquote>

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

What is the Difference Between HTML q Tag, blockquote tag and cite tag ?
The HTML blockquote element is used for long quotations that are typically displayed as a separate block of text. By default, browsers apply indentation to blockquote.

The HTML q - Inline Quotation element is used for short, inline quotes within a paragraph. Browsers automatically add quotation marks around the text.

The HTML cite element is used to reference the title of a creative work, such as a book, article, movie, or painting. It is rendered in italics by default.

How do you indicate the author of a quote within an HTML blockquote element?
To indicate the author of a quote inside an HTML blockquote tag, you typically use the HTML <cite> element. The cite tag is used to reference the source of a quote, and it's semantically correct for identifying authors.

What is the purpose of using the cite attribute in an HTML blockquote tag?
The benefit of adding the cite attribute to an HTML blockquote tag is that it provides a reference to the source URL of the quoted material, enhancing credibility, traceability, and semantic clarity.

It explicitly indicates where the quote came from, helping screen readers and other assistive technologies interpret the content accurately. Search engines can use the cite attribute to better understand the source and context of your content.

How can I remove or adjust the default indentation of a blockquote element in HTML?
The blockquote tag has default indentation applied by browsers, but you can override or customize it using CSS properties like margin (along with margin-left and margin-right), padding, and text-indent.