HTML5 Doctor: “cite and blockquote – reloaded”

Previously in HTML5 it is was not conforming to include citations within blockquote elements. Now it is, as long as the citation content is within a cite or footer element. Citations inside blockquote elements are a common markup pattern (data indicates approximately 60% of blockquote elements include citations), the change to the HTML spec acknowledges this and provides semantic mechanisms to differentiate quoted content from citations.

Steve Faulkner

Couldn’t agree more, that’s how I use them!