Epigraph in a Thesis 2026: 7 Rules Every Student Must Follow

Read this article to understand what an epigraph is and why use one in your thesis. Learn 5 rules to craft a perfect epigraph for your thesis in 2026.

An epigraph serves as the starting point for any literature. Although adding an epigraph is optional, it sets the intellectual tone for the readers. On top of that, it also frames or illuminates the central research question. 

However, writing an epigraph thesis is not just writing a simple chunk of paragraphs. It should be very relevant to your research question. Therefore, you should avoid overused, fancy and self-made quotes. Ensure that your epigraph relates to your subject. In case of a bad epigraph, it will create a bad first impression and your research thesis will look pretentious. 

Nevertheless, this blog will cover 7 rules to write an epigraph thesis. Keep reading to learn how to build a basis in epigraph writing, its placement and thesis formatting epigraph guidelines. Let’s get into the details.

Key Points for a Quick Look

• Get a short, applicable quote that will introduce your research question and will set an intellectual tone for your readers.
• Keep your epigraph thesis short in  2-4 lines. You can exceed the limit after the approval of the supervisor. 
• Your source should always be verified from authentic sources to eliminate the risk of using stale or misattributed quotes.
• Put your epigraph on a separate page with the acknowledgements or on separate pages that come at the beginning of each chapter.
• Adhere to specific formatting rules for APA 7, MHRA, or Chicago, especially regarding indentation and the use of em dashes (—).
• Make sure that your quote is properly attributed to avoid issues from the copyright holder. If attribution is not allowed from an author, you may have to skip it, adding in your research. 
• Use strong yet best epigraph quotes for thesis dissertation so that you have the concentration on your own voice as a scholar and not to be a mask behind the crowd.

What Is an Epigraph and Why Use One in Your Thesis?

An epigraph is not a preface, introduction or dedication. It is a short quote or snippet of another source. In literature, an epigraph is used to introduce a piece of work and is generally placed immediately after the title page. On top of that, it also appears at the beginning of a thesis. Due to this importance, they are used widely. In fact, 85% of literary novels use epigraphs in their writing to set the tone and mode for the readers.

The epigraph thesis should be decorative and thematic as it gives hints to the actual piece of work without explaining them explicitly. The purpose of epigraphs is to provide more light to the themes to create context. For example, a historical thesis could start by warning about the need to remember the past, immediately underlining the topic. Students also work with a British thesis writing service to select epigraphs that align with the research and strengthen the introduction.

Here are the benefits of using an epigraph thesis in your research paper:

• It introduces the research topic or question of interest- presents the main idea or research point subtly.
• Epigraph engages examiners creatively as it injects a thoughtful aspect into a heavy scholarly piece of work.
• An epigraph is an intellectual lineage that signals to relate your work to larger academic or philosophical schools.
•  The epigraph highlights an important theme through which the readers know your arguments.

   

7 Essential Rules for Crafting a Strong Epigraph in Your 2026 Thesis

An epigraph is not just a formality, but it subtly frames your research and engages the readers from the start of the thesis. In fact, a well-chosen quote adds intellectual depth to your research without overshadowing your voice. The following are 7 impeccable rules for you to write a solid and strong epigraph for your thesis:

Rule 1: Choose Relevant and Relatable Epigraphs

The epigraph must relate to the thesis content in some meaningful way. A beautiful quote unrelated to the research topic is worse than no epigraph at all. Students should ideally select this after the thesis is substantially complete, so it genuinely fits the argument.

Additionally, it should act as a micro-summary of the articles. If you are writing a gritty noir thriller, a bubbly quote about sunshine will feel jarring. Hence, it should mirror the internal logic or the moral dilemma of your story. 

Expert Insights about Epigraphs

Tajja Isen, writing in The Walrus (October 2024), described finding prospective epigraphs as “a barometer for the sharpness of my thesis.” Similarly, Patrick Dunleavy of the LSE recommends “an epigraph or in-text quotation, of a vivid or intriguing kind” as one way to “always start a new chapter cleanly and in a high energy/high impact way.” The APA Manual (7th edition) defines the epigraph’s purpose as serving to “set the stage for what follows or to serve as a summary or counterpoint.” 

The analytical vs. decorative distinction matters legally (see Rule 7): An epigraph thesis that connects to the argument has stronger copyright protection under the UK fair dealing than a purely ornamental one.

Rule 2: Maintain Conciseness and Clarity in Epigraph

Ensure that the epigraph is easy to read and digestible for the readers. Hence, 2–4 lines of epigraph thesis is the universally recommended range across all style guides and academic writing advisors. No UK university specifies a word or line limit for epigraphs, but conciseness is universally counselled. The Chicago Style treats chapter epigraphs as block quotations where conciseness is expected.

The “Quick Glance” Principle

A great epigraph in a Phd thesis should be easy and understandable for the reader. If you want to quote three paragraphs of a scientific journal, you aren’t writing an epigraph.  It is recommended to write a preface. The reader should be mindful that the epigraph thesis should have an impact and be precise to the point. 

Clarity Over Complexity

While it’s tempting to choose a quote that sounds “deep” or abstract, clarity is your best friend. If the reader finishes the epigraph and thinks, “Wait, what?”, you’ve broken the immersion. These are some unsaid yet must-remembered rules to keep clarity in the epigraph:

• Avoid Jargon: Stay away from quotes heavy in technical language that only a scholar of that specific source would understand.
• Universal Truths: Clear language allows the reader to apply the quote to your narrative immediately.

Use White Space for Clear Formatting 

Formatting matters as this makes your quote and epigraph presentable. A brief, clear epigraph with white space attracts the readers’ eyes before the prose begins.  The epigraph should attract the reader’s attention and direct them to one singular, powerful thought.

Rule 3: Uncommon and Academically Appropriate Quotes

Avoid quotes that have become “stale” through over-saturation. If a quote is frequently seen on social media bios, it loses its intellectual punch. As per a study published on ResearchGate, named “Epigraphs in the science rewards system, theoretical notes and analysis model”, it is found that 74.2% authors are males among all the attributed authors. This shows a bias in gender disparity in attribution. Examples of overused epigraph quotes to avoid are given below:

• “Be the change you wish to see in the world” (Gandhi — likely misattributed anyway)
• “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” (FDR)
• “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (Santayana — borders on overuse)

To verify, it is considered the gold standard to refer to the original book, letter or speech itself. In tier 2, you can refer to Oxford Reference, Quote Investigator or Wikiquote. However, avoid unreliable options; instead, use some reputable sources and Quote aggregator sites like BrainyQuote, Goodreads or A-Z Quote often lack proper sourcing and accuracy. Relying on these platforms reduces academic credibility and risks turning your work into an exercise in guesswork or faulty conventional wisdom rather than rigorous scholarship 

Consider the Attribution Health of Your Epigraph

The Internet is full of misquoted or misattributed quotes which makes careful selection essential. Therefore, you have to be mindful of the health of your epigraph in your thesis. When you buy thesis online from a reliable service, experts verify every quote for accuracy, origin, and context. This process protects your work from avoidable errors. 

Otherwise, a poorly chosen or incorrectly attributed epigraph not only weakens the overall quality of your thesis but can also lead to negative marking and damage your academic credibility.

Susan Ratcliffe (Associate Editor at Oxford Quotations Dictionaries) mentions that certain historical figures attract quotation attributions more than others. Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Oscar Wilde and Groucho Marx are just some of the main victims of misattribution. Similarly, Carmine Starnino (editor-in-chief, The Walrus) called epigraphs “emoticons” and urged “a little more judiciousness” when considering whether to include one.

Rule 4: Correct placement in UK thesis structure

The standard UK practice is that the epigraph in a thesis is placed on its own separate page. The typical placement would be after the dedication/acknowledgements page or before the table of contents. Alternatively, you can also place it at the beginning of individual chapters (more common in the humanities).

Placement Comparison Across UK Universities

Epigraph placement is not consistent across the UK universities, as different organisations have their own rules. For example, some universities like to keep the epigraph on the front, while others want it after a couple of the sections. However, the basic criteria are to add on top, where the reader can take inspiration from it. 

Position in the front matter	Notes
After the title page, before the abstract	Rare; most universities require an abstract immediately after the title page
After acknowledgements, before TOC	Most common convention, consistent with MHRA guidance
Combined with a dedication page	Permitted at Bristol and potentially other institutions
At the start of individual chapters	Common in humanities; supported by Oxford LaTeX template
After TOC, before Chapter 1	Less conventional but not prohibited

You can never include an Epigraph in the table of contents. Chicago and other reference styles. Another important factor often missed is that the word count of the epigraph is excluded from the main content, similar to the table of contents. On

Rule 5: Epigraph Formatting Per Style Guides

Although the content of an epigraph is its soul, the way it is set is its uniform. By following the instructions of style guides, you will know your work will be of high professional and academic quality. Different disciplines require different visual structures. Because visual conventions vary across disciplines, it is essential to align your epigraph with the specific manual used for your thesis or manuscript. Doing so not only enhances consistency but also reinforces the scholarly credibility of your work.

Comprehensive Comparison Table for UK-Preferred Citation Styles

The formatting requirements of epigraphs vary significantly across the major style guides used in academic writing. Just like referencing in an essay has guidelines, you also need instructions on how to cite your epigraph. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of how each style handles the placement, indentation, and attribution of epigraphs:

Feature	Harvard	OSCOLA	MHRA	APA 7	Chicago/Turabian
Quotation marks	No	No	No	No	No
Indentation	Block-quote style	Block-quote style	Right-aligned	0.5in (1.3cm) left indent	Block quote or centred
Attribution format	Author, work, (year)	Footnote or credit line	Footnote or credit line	Em dash + full name, Title in italics	Dash + name, title
Attribution alignment	Right or centred	Varies	Right-aligned	Flush right	Flush right

Key Formatting Rules Universal Across All Styles

Regardless of which style guide you follow, certain “unwritten” rules have become standard across all professional publishing. These rules help distinguish the epigraph from the main body text while maintaining a clean and formal look on the page. Following these universal principles ensures that your thesis epigraph is recognisable as a scholarly preamble.

• Never use quotation marks around epigraph text, as the formatting itself signals that it is a quotation.
• Place the attribution on the line below the quotation, typically preceded by an em dash (—)
• After the em dash, write the author’s full name and the title of the work in title case or italics. Plus, include the translator’s name if the work is translated. The year of publication is optional but recommended. 
• Attribution is usually right-aligned. The source is generally not included in the bibliography/reference list unless cited elsewhere in the thesis
• Font may be slightly smaller than body text or in italics, but must remain consistent with the thesis’s overall design

Rule 6: Permissions and Fair Dealing Under UK Copyright Law

This is the most complex and legally consequential rule. Since the PhD thesis epigraph uses someone else’s work, you have to be careful how to use it. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) governs and looks after UK copyright. It states that you can use a quote for your literary or non-literary work as long as it meets the criteria.

Cambridge University states explicitly: “The ‘fair dealing for illustration for instruction’ exception applies to those extracts, excerpts or quotations from works included in a dissertation for examination and deposit in unpublished form in the University Library, but not its publication after examination, in hard copy or online.”

Rule 7: Limit to One Epigraph (or Very Few)

As far as epigraphs are concerned, quality is better than quantity. Although it may be tempting to share all of your favourite quotes, cramming too many quotes can distract from them and many may not work.

Quality Over Quantity

An epigraph is like a spice; a little bit adds flavour, but too much ruins the dish. When you put several quotes on the first page of the chapter, they become useless and begin to seem like fragments of litter. A single well-selected quote can indicate that you are a focused person and you know what your business is about. It produces a far better first impression than a long list of other people’s thoughts.

Keep the Focus on Your Voice

The voice is the most important aspect of your writing, not the people you are quoting. Excessive use of epigraphs would make it look like you are hiding behind other writers rather than standing on your own. This is where dissertation writing services often guide you to refine your own academic voice. This is where dissertation writing services based in London often guide you to refine your own academic voice. Keep it simple so your own research remains the star of the show. 

Conclusion

An epigraph can give your thesis a polished, thoughtful opening when it is used with care and intention. Follow these simple 7 rules: choose relevant quotes, keep them brief, pick thoughtful sources, place them properly, format them correctly, respect copyright and limit to one quote. 

When done right, it sets the intellectual tone of your work and even reflects a bit of your own scholarly voice. To make the most of an epigraph, consult your supervisor early on, try out a few quotes, and revise the choice as your thesis evolves. A well-chosen epigraph is more than decoration; it’s an opening gesture for your readers. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Epigraph Thesis

What is an epigraph in literature?

An epigraph in the literature is a short quote or passage that opens a book or chapter. It could either be prose or poetry and it generally comes after the title page and before the actual text starts. An epigraph offers a hint to the reader about the entire piece of work.

How can I use “epigraph” in my literature?

Use an epigraph in your literature review to drop a short, punchy quote at the top that instantly hints at your main argument or tension. It draws the reader’s attention and gives them a contextual idea of your writing. Take something sharp (a key theorist or text) that reflects on what you are thinking of (such as Foucault, Said, a novel line). Keep it short, pertinent and allow it to be the set-up of everything that is to follow.

What does an epigraph look like?
Visually, an epigraph is a short quotation set off from the main text. It often appears centred or indented on its own line(s), sometimes in italics, with the author’s name beneath. In a thesis, it usually occupies its own page in the preliminary pages (after the title or dedication). A typical epigraph might be just a sentence or two long, clearly separated from the regular paragraphs of the document.