New E-learning
Quotations
A quotation reproduces the words or writing of a third party, setting them apart from the rest of the content. It must be identifiable by means other than graphic style alone, and must clearly state its author or source.
Three use cases not to be confused
- Authoritative quotation: a law, standard, or report — the source is what gives it value
- Testimonial: a verbatim statement from a learner, client, or expert
- Highlighting a key sentence from the module: this is not a quotation — use a "Key takeaway" callout box instead
Every quotation must be attributed: author, role, source, date. A quotation without a source has no instructional value and exposes the module to challenge. A quotation must never be used as a decorative motif to fill a slide. Never embed a quotation as a text image.
When to use a quotation
- Reproducing the exact words of an author, an expert, or a reference text.
- Highlighting a testimonial within a scenario.
- Backing content with a regulatory or normative source, explicitly cited.
When not to use a quotation
- Highlighting a piece of text from the module: use a callout box or a subheading, not a quotation style.
- A quotation with no identifiable author or source.
- Distinction conveyed by graphic style alone (italics, decorative quotation marks), with no textual marker
Implementation
Apply the text style dedicated to quotations (Home → Font → Styles) rather than manual formatting
Verify in the published output that quotation semantics are actually present.
Delimitation
Frame the quoted text with French guillemets (« … ») for a delimitation visible to everyone.
The rendering of quotation marks depends on the screen reader and its punctuation settings: they are not sufficient on their own, which is why the semantic style matters.
Never rely solely on an indent, a colored background, or a vertical bar to signal a quotation.
Author attribution
A consistent format throughout the module: "— First Name Last Name, role, source, date."
This attribution is text, never an image or a logo alone.
Language
Storyline does not allow declaring a language change on a portion of text. For a quotation in a foreign language, explicitly state the language and provide a translation, or quote the translation directly while indicating the original source.
Checks before delivery
Rendering tested with a screen reader on a web browser (at least two screen reader / browser combinations): quotation and author attribution read consecutively
Contrast check, including on the author attribution
On this page
Keyboard interaction
Expected reading order: slide title, context sentence introducing the quotation, quoted text , author attribution: name, role, source, date
The author attribution is placed after the quotation, never before.
The quotation and the author attribution must belong to the same text object, or be adjacent in the focus order. If separated by other elements, the association is lost on playback and the quotation becomes anonymous.
If the source is a link, it constitutes a separate stop placed immediately after the quoted text.
Long quotation in a scrolling panel: to be avoided. If scrolling is retained, it must be reachable by keyboard and focus must not get lost within it.