The Best Examples of How to Format Quotes in an Interview Blog Post

Real-world examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post

Let’s skip theory and start with what you actually need: real examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post that you can steal and adapt.

Think of interview quotes as building blocks. You’re choosing:

• How much of the person’s exact words to include
• How to break those words on the page
• How much context to wrap around them

Below are examples of different quote formats, with sample lines you can drop into your next interview blog post.

Example of a clean Q&A quote format

The classic Q&A format is still one of the best examples of simple, scannable quote formatting. Readers see the question, then the answer, no confusion about who’s talking.

Format pattern:

Interviewer: Question here.

Guest: Answer here.

Real example of Q&A formatting:

Interviewer: When did you realize you wanted to start your own company?

Jordan Lee: I was working 70-hour weeks at an agency. One night I looked around and thought, “If I’m going to be this exhausted, I’d rather be exhausted building something that’s mine.”

Why this works:

• Speaker names are bolded, so it’s easy to skim.
• Quotes are kept in short paragraphs, which is easier on the eyes.

You can also shorten the labels once the reader knows who’s who:

Q: What surprised you most in the first year?

A: Honestly, how lonely it was. Everyone talks about freedom. No one talks about the 2 a.m. panic.

This is one of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post when you want something quick, direct, and easy to publish.

Narrative style: weaving quotes into your own paragraphs

Not every interview needs a strict Q&A format. Narrative interviews read more like feature articles: your voice as the writer leads, and quotes are woven in.

Here’s an example of a narrative-style quote format:

Lee didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. “I just wanted my weekends back,” she said, laughing. “The business was supposed to be a side project, not my entire life.”

Notice what’s happening:

• The quote is part of a full sentence, not dropped in as a block.
• The attribution ("she said") is short and tucked in the middle.

Another real example of narrative quote formatting:

For years, Martinez thought burnout was just part of the job. “Everyone around me was exhausted,” he explained. “I thought that meant I was doing it right.”

This kind of narrative structure is one of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post when you’re writing profile pieces, case studies, or long-form features.

If you want more guidance on quote accuracy and attribution, many journalism programs teach similar approaches. For example, the Poynter Institute offers training on ethical quote use and editing in reporting.

Examples of how to format long quotes and stories

Sometimes your guest tells a story that’s too good to chop into tiny pieces. That’s where long quotes and block quotes shine.

Here’s an example of a long quote formatted as a block:

Alex Rivera:

“The first week we launched, nothing happened. No sales, no emails, nothing. I thought we’d failed before we even started. On day eight, one person tweeted about us, and suddenly my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. That was the moment I realized how fast things can change when the right person notices your work.”

Why this works:

• The name is on its own line, so the reader knows who’s talking.
• The quote is in a block, set apart from the rest of the text.
• Paragraph breaks inside the quote keep it readable.

You can also break a long quote into multiple paragraphs for clarity:

“The first week we launched, nothing happened. No sales, no emails, nothing.

I thought we’d failed before we even started. On day eight, one person tweeted about us, and suddenly my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.

That was the moment I realized how fast things can change when the right person notices your work.”

This is one of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post when your subject is telling a story and you want the reader to stay with them from beginning to end.

If you’re quoting people about sensitive topics (health, mental health, etc.), double-check that you’re representing their words accurately. Organizations like the Mayo Clinic and NIH model clear, respectful language when sharing patient or expert quotes.

Examples include paraphrasing and partial quotes

You don’t have to quote every word your guest says. In fact, some of the best examples of interview writing use a blend of paraphrasing and short quotes.

Example of paraphrasing with a short quote:

Johnson told me she never planned to move back home, but when her mother got sick, “there wasn’t really a choice.” That decision changed the entire direction of her career.

Here, you summarize the context and keep the most powerful phrase in quotes.

Another example of partial quotes:

The early months were, in Kim’s words, “a beautiful disaster"—full of mistakes, late nights, and unexpected wins.

And one more real example:

Patel said he didn’t see himself as a “natural leader” at first. But once he started mentoring interns, he realized people were looking to him for guidance.

These examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post show how to:

• Keep your article tight and focused
• Highlight the most memorable lines
• Avoid drowning the reader in word-for-word transcripts

For writers working in academic or research contexts, the Purdue Online Writing Lab offers guidance on when to quote directly versus when to paraphrase.

Examples of editing quotes for clarity (without changing meaning)

Real interviews are messy. People repeat themselves, change direction mid-sentence, or start three thoughts at once. Your job is to clean that up while staying honest.

Here’s an example of a raw quote:

“I mean, like, when I first, you know, started doing this, I wasn’t, uh, I didn’t really, like, think of myself as, you know, a writer or whatever.”

Here’s a cleaned-up version, which is one of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post without losing the speaker’s meaning:

“When I first started, I didn’t think of myself as a writer.”

You’ve:

• Removed filler words ("like,” “you know,” “uh")
• Tightened the sentence
• Kept the original meaning

Another example of light editing:

Raw:

“We was trying to figure out how to, like, make it work with no money, basically.”

Edited:

“We were trying to figure out how to make it work with no money.”

If you need to add a word for clarity, brackets help:

“That was the moment I knew [the project] was bigger than just me.”

If you skip part of a sentence, use an ellipsis:

“When I look back at that first year … I’m proud we didn’t quit.”

Journalism ethics organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists emphasize accuracy and fairness in quotes. These examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post keep you honest while still producing clean, readable copy.

Examples of how to format quotes from email or written interviews

In 2024 and 2025, a lot of interviews happen by email, DM, or chat instead of live conversation. That changes how the quotes look—but you still have options.

Here’s an example of formatting email interview quotes in a blog post:

I asked Rivera what advice he’d give someone starting today.

“Give yourself twice as much time and three times as much patience as you think you’ll need. The work is slower than you imagine, but the results are usually better than you expect.”

You can also introduce the quote with a short setup:

In a follow-up email, Chen expanded on that idea:

“Social media makes it look like everything happens overnight. It doesn’t. I spent five years building the skills people now think appeared in a month.”

Another real example:

When I asked via email how she handles burnout, Lopez wrote,

“I take it seriously now. If I’m exhausted, I rest. If I’m overwhelmed, I ask for help. That used to feel like weakness. Now it feels like survival.”

These are strong examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post when your source has already written polished answers. You usually need less editing, but you still want to:

• Break long answers into paragraphs
• Pull out the most vivid lines
• Add context so readers know what question was asked

Examples include handling multiple speakers in one interview

Panel interviews or roundups with several people can get confusing fast. Clear formatting keeps readers oriented.

Here’s an example of a multi-speaker format:

On their biggest early mistake

Jordan Lee: “I hired too fast. I thought more people would automatically mean more progress. It didn’t.”

Samir Patel: “I waited too long to charge real prices. Discounting everything made us look less confident than we actually were.”

Maria Chen: “I tried to do everything myself. By the time I asked for help, I was already burned out.”

Why this works as one of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post for roundups:

• The topic is bolded at the top.
• Each name is bolded, followed by their quote.
• Readers can skim by person or by topic.

Another multi-speaker example:

How they define success now

Lee: “Success means I can take a week off without everything falling apart.”

Patel: “It’s knowing my team feels safe telling me the truth.”

Chen: “It changes every year. Right now, success is getting to pick my own projects.”

These examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post help you turn a messy group conversation into something clear and structured.

Examples of powerful opening and closing quotes

The first and last quotes in your interview do a lot of heavy lifting. They set the tone and leave the final impression.

Example of a strong opening quote:

“I didn’t start this business to be brave. I started it because I was tired of asking other people for permission.”

That’s how founder Maya Lopez explains the beginning of her company.

This grabs attention and immediately tells the reader who they’re dealing with.

Example of a strong closing quote:

“If there’s one thing I’d tell my younger self,” Rivera said, “it’s that fear is loud, but it’s rarely accurate.”

Or:

As Chen put it, “You don’t have to know the whole path. You just have to be willing to take the next honest step.”

These are some of the best examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post when you want the piece to start and end with the interviewee’s voice, not yours.

Quick checklist for using these examples in your own interview posts

You’ve seen a lot of examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post. Here’s how to actually use them when you sit down to write:

• For simple, fast posts: Use the Q&A format with bolded names.
• For storytelling pieces: Weave quotes into your narrative, using short, vivid lines.
• For deep dives: Use block quotes for longer stories, with clear breaks.
• For messy transcripts: Edit lightly for clarity, using brackets and ellipses when needed.
• For panels and roundups: Bold each speaker’s name and group quotes by topic.
• For email interviews: Introduce each quote with a short setup so readers know the context.

Mix and match these real examples until you find a style that matches your voice and your readers’ expectations.

FAQ: examples of common quote-formatting questions

Q: Can you give an example of when to use a block quote in an interview blog post?
Yes. Use a block quote when the interviewee tells a story or explanation that runs longer than two or three sentences and works best as a single, uninterrupted moment. For instance, a founder describing the day they almost shut down the company is a strong example of a block quote opportunity.

Q: Are there examples of when I should paraphrase instead of quoting directly?
Paraphrase when the wording is clumsy, repetitive, or overly technical, but the idea is important. A good example of this is summarizing a long explanation of a process, then pulling out one short, memorable phrase to quote directly.

Q: What are the best examples of attribution tags (like “she said”)?
Simple tags work best: “she said,” “he said,” “they told me,” “she explained,” “he recalled.” You typically don’t need fancy verbs like “exclaimed” or “interjected.” The best examples keep the focus on the quote, not the tag.

Q: Do I have to include every word the person said in the interview?
No. Most strong interview posts use editing, paraphrasing, and selective quoting. Your job is to stay accurate and fair while shaping a story that readers can follow.

Q: Are there examples of how to handle off-the-record comments?
Off-the-record comments should not appear in your blog post at all, even in paraphrased form. If something off the record changes how you understand the story, you can ask the interviewee if they’re comfortable sharing a version of it on the record, but you need explicit permission.

Use these examples of how to format quotes in an interview blog post as a reference, not a script. The more interviews you publish, the more you’ll develop your own instincts for when to quote directly, when to paraphrase, and how to make your interviewee sound as sharp on the page as they did in real life.