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Descriptive markup: References and quotations
References
References to people, book titles and other publications can be made using the cite element. As a standard feature graphic browsers display cite markup in italics.
Example of use of cite markup (HTML)
As mentioned in <cite>the Willemse report</cite>,
the Frisian Economy is not doing well.Use the cite element for references to people and titles.
Guideline R-pd.3.10
Sometimes, it can be useful to provide the visitor with a link to the source document or a page with information on the person mentioned. cite markup can, but does not have to be, used in combination with this.
Quotations
Quotations on websites can take two shapes: as one or more sentences or in block form. The first instance, the q (quotation) element is not recommended due to compatibility problems.
Avoid using the q (quotation) element.
Guideline R-pd.3.11
The blockquote element, is widely supported.
Example of blockquote markup (HTML)
<blockquote cite="http://domein.com/famous-quotes/jfk/">
<p>
All this will not be finished in the first hundred days.
Nor will it be finished in the first thousand days,
nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps
in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
</p>
</blockquote>
Several pieces of text, including markup for paragraphs, headings, et cetera, can appear between the <blockquote></blockquote> tags. The cite attribute (not to be confused with the above cite element) provides the opportunity to include the source adress. Do not enter the name of the person in question here.
Use the blockquote element to indicate (long) quotations.
Guideline R-pd.3.12
Relevant information in an attribute may not be immediately visible to the user. The following addition kills two birds with one stone.
Example of blockquote markup (HTML)
<blockquote cite="http://domein.com/famous-quotes/jfk/">
<p>
All this will not be finished in the first hundred days.
Nor will it be finished in the first thousand days,
nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps
in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
</p>
<p>
Quotation by
<a href="http://domein.nl/beroemde-citaten/jfk/">
John F. Kennedy
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
If no source address can be given, the <a></a> can be replaced by <cite></cite>.
Reference to a source and the cite element (HTML)
Quotation by <cite>John F. Kennedy</cite>