Battle of the Nightingale Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Avoiding over-quoting means using your own words when you can and reserving direct quotes for when the exact wording matters. Paraphrasing shows you understand the source and lets you weave evidence smoothly into your argument, keeping your own analysis and voice at the center. Quoting only what is necessary to support your point prevents long blocks of text from taking over your writing, which helps maintain clarity and flow. When the precise wording is crucial—perhaps for a technical term, a legal definition, or a particularly memorable phrase—you can include a brief quotation to preserve that nuance, but keep it short and integrate it with your explanation and citation. This balanced approach keeps evidence accessible and persuasive without diluting your own analysis.