MLA IN-TEXT CITATIONS
I. MLA formatting in-text
A. uses in-text citations rather footnotes or endnotes
B. must be used each time information is taken from any source
C. most in-text citations will contain the author’s last name & page number
D. Example: “Ralph muttered the reply as if in shame” (Golding 45).
F. The above example was taken from page 45 of a text written by Golding.
G. ALL sources must be cited within the text, whether directly quoted or paraphrased.
II. What does inside parenthetical citation?
A. beginning entry must correspond to the works cited page so the reader can easily find the full reference to the work
B. do not use commas within the parenthetical citations
C. do not use page or pp or p
D. if there is no page number, list the last name or partial title only
E. below are some variations
F. a work with one author: authors last name and page number; example--(Carter 65)
G. a work with two authors: use both last names separated by “and;” example--(Smith and Wesson 103)
G. three or more authors: use the first author’s last name and “et al.” which means “and others;” example--(Sander et al. 343)
I. no author:
1. typically, use part of the title
2. typically, use a noun phrase:
a. article title:“How Facebook’s Oracular Algorithm Determines the Fates of Start-Ups”
b. in-text citation: (“Facebook’s Oracular Algorithm” 2)
3. the parenthetical citation should be enough to easily find full reference
3. format the title the way it is formatted in the title
III. Formatting Direct Quotes
A. less than four lines, enclose the direct quote with quotation marks
B. the period should be placed OUTSIDE of the last parenthesis of the in-text citation
C. example of a one-author work: “It is a brilliant tactic if you think about it” (Vakarian24).
D. long/block quotations—quotes that are more than four lines should be formatted in the following manner:
1. indent the entire quote ONE INCH from the left margin
2. do not use quotation marks around quotation
3. quotation is still double spaced and same font format as the rest of the paper
4. cite the source at the end of the quotation after the last period
5. do not place a period after the parenthetical citation
6. after the quote, continue the remainder of the paragraph at the left margin
7. example:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)
By referring Heathcliff to an “it,” Nelly Dean establishes the sad and pathetic state Heathcliff had to endure as a child.
E. place the citation as close to the quote or paraphrase as possible
F. if the entire paragraph’s information comes from one source, the citation can come at the
end of the paragraph
G. if an author’s name is used before the quote, you do not need the author’s name in the parenthetical citation only the page number.
H. example: MarkLloydstates,“Communicationspolicyiscentraltoouruniquere- public” (74).
I. introducing quotes
1. use a COMMA after the following introductory words like “states,” “says,” “asserts,” “argues,” “implies,” “alleges,” “finds,” etc.
2. no comma is necessary if the sentence flows smoothly from the introduction into the quote
3. example: MarkLloydassertsthat“Communicationspolicyiscentraltoourunique republic” (74).
4. use a COLON if the introduction is an independent clause
5. example: MarkLloydmakes an interesting statement:“Communicationspolicyiscentraltoourunique republic” (74).
J. no author or page number: use part of the title as your parenthetical citation
K. if a quote spans more than one page, use a hyphen
L. example: “The pink granite of the next cliff wasfurther back from the creepers and trees so
that they could trot up the path” (Golding 26-27).
M. paragraph numbers in citations
1. some sources provide paragraph numbers instead of page numbers
2. format the parenthetical citation thusly (lastname, par. 4)
3. use a comma after the author’s last name and a period after “par”
N. in-text citations for e-books
1. numbering is not consistent with some e-books
2. use a consistent division notation, like chapters or sections
3. use a comma after the author’s name and a period after the abbreviation
4. example: “Digitalhabitshavemushroomed,butreadingscoresforteensremainflat,and measures of scientific, cultural, and civic knowledge linger at abysmal levels” (Bauerlein, ch. 3).
O. more than one work by the same author
1. include the first important word or noun phrase in the title of
the work you are cited
2. along with last name and page number(s)
3. example: “Much is published, but little printed. The ray which stream through the shutter will be no longer remembered when the shutter is wholly removed” (Thoreau, Walden 83).