What is the best way to attribute content to the original source?

[JackR]

I'm going to start adding some hotel and restaurant info to my site in the coming week and want to make sure I'm 1. Not duplicating swathes of content and 2. Correctly attributing the content I do use.

Instead of simply giving names, addresses, contact numbers and locations, I think that adding a few quotes from external sources will give the viewer more information, while also directing them to visit the appropriate website of the establishment listed.

Is adding inverted commas around these comments sufficient, or should I write it as:

'From www.example.com: Hotel example is a five star residence in the heart of the financial district.'

What do you guys think?

[aristotle]

Most likely Google won't penalize you for quoting short excerpts, say 3 or 4 sentences, since many reputable sites already do it. However, to be safe I suggest you limit it to no more than 15-20% of the total content on the page.

[topr8]

<q cite="http://www.example.com/yadda">quote here</q>

would be the correct way - not that many people do that, however i strongly believe that doing things the 'right way' will work for you in the long term.

[JackR]

topr8, thank you; very interesting.

Do you know if the above code is XHTML compliant?