The information you gather from sources cannot speak for itself. Whenever you include a paraphrase, summary, or direct quotation of another writer’s work in your paper, prepare your readers for it with an introduction called a signal phrase. A signal phrase names the author of the source and often provides some context for the source material.

When the signal phrase includes a verb, choose a verb that is appropriate for the way you are using the source. Are you arguing a point, making an observation, reporting a fact, drawing a conclusion, or refuting an argument? By choosing an appropriate verb, you can make your source’s role clear.

You can use signal phrases to

In a Chicago-style paper, use the present tense or the present perfect tense in phrases that introduce quotations or other source material from nonfiction sources: Foote points out or Foote has pointed out (not Foote pointed out). If you have good reason to emphasize that the author’s language or opinion was articulated in the past, however, the past tense is acceptable.

The first time you mention an author, use the full name: Shelby Foote argues. . .. When you refer to the author again, you may use the last name only: Foote raises an important question.