HTML Basics
Stanford University Libraries & Academic Information Resources

Blockquote

<Blockquote> is used to indicate a substantial portion of quoted text. It is usually rendered by browsing software much as long quotes are rendered in type: set off by empty lines and indented or italicized. As always, however, you should use this element only to indicate the meaning (i.e. that this portion of text is a quotation) and not to achieve a typographic effect.

Note that <blockquote> cannot contain simple untagged text; it must contain at least one high level element, typically <p>, <p>, or a list.

Also note that despite common sense and authorial expectation (or intention!), <blockquote> may not appear inside a P element, although it may nest within another <blockquote>, as well as appearing in <form>, <li> (List Item), or <dd> (Definition in a Definition List).

Unusual uses

<Blockquote> can also contain Headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.), because the designers of HTML thought that it might be useful for <blockquote> to be used to quote entire fragments of other HTML documents. Headings should only be used in this situation, however. In other circumstances it makes no sense for a block quote to include what is meant to be a "chapter" or "section" heading.

Example

<p>But not every country's libraries can afford microfilming. The
response from the Western African Republic of Benin was quite
different:</p>

<blockquote><p>Unfortunately, we do not presently have any
unit likely to help us microfilm our collections. Nevertheless, we would
appreciate if you could continue sending us your newsletter, which is an
appreciable source of information for us.</p></blockquote>

which is rendered

Example

But not every country's libraries can afford microfilming. The response from the Western African Republic of Benin was quite different:

Unfortunately, we do not presently have any unit likely to help us microfilm our collections. Nevertheless, we would appreciate if you could continue sending us your newsletter, which is an appreciable source of information for us.