This is called a secondary or indirect source/quotation. Sometimes this situation occurs as described above, where you read an article that quoted someone else's work, but you didn't read the original "someone else's" work. It may also occur if you use a website that quotes another website, but the information from the other website is no longer online or has been updated.
It's always better to cite the original source if you can. If it's an article, see if the original article is available through the SU Library databases or online and cite it. If it's a website, follow the links back to the original website and try to find the original quote or wording.
If you're unable to find the original article, website, or source, you can go ahead and cite it as a secondary source. To cite it in APA format, follow these guidelines: APA Secondary Sources ( “as cited in”). To cite it in MLA format, following these guidelines from the Excelsior Online Writing Lab: Citing Indirect Sources.
As the pages indicate,
