MLA Citation Guide

Include an in-text citation when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. For every in-text citation in your paper, there must be a corresponding entry in your reference list.

MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith).

Example paragraph with in-text citation

A few researchers in the linguistics field have developed training programs designed to improve native speakers' ability to understand accented speech (Derwing et al. 246; Thomas 15). Their training techniques are based on the research described above indicating that comprehension improves with exposure to non-native speech. Derwing and others conducted their training with students preparing to be social workers, but note that other professionals who work with non-native speakers could benefit from a similar program (258).

References

Derwing, Tracey M., et al. "Teaching Native Speakers to Listen to Foreign-accented Speech." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol. 23, no. 4, 2002, pp. 245-259.

Thomas, Holly K. Training Strategies for Improving Listeners' Comprehension of Foreign-accented Speech. University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004.

Cite web pages in text as you would any other source, using the author if known. If the author is not known, use the title as the in-text citation.

Your in-text citation should lead your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. Below are examples of using in-text citation with web pages.

Entire website with author:

In-text citation

Parents play an important role in helping children learn techniques for coping with bullying (Kraizer).

Reference entry

Kraizer, Sherryll. Safe Child. Coalition for Children, 2011, www.safechild.org.

Web page with no author:

In-text citation

The term Nittany Lion was coined by Penn State football player Joe Mason in 1904 ("All Things Nittany").

Reference entry

"All Things Nittany." About Penn State. Penn State University, 2006, www.psu.edu/ur/about/nittanymascot.html.

In MLA style the author's name can be included either in the narrative text of your paper, or in parentheses following the reference to the source.

Author's name part of narrative:

Gass and Varonis found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (163).

Author's name in parentheses:

One study found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (Gass and Varonis 163).

Group as author:

(American Psychological Association 123)

Multiple works: (separate each work with semi-colons)

Research shows that listening to a particular accent improves comprehension of accented speech in general (Gass and Varonis 143; Thomas 24).

Direct quote:

One study found that “the listener's familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (Gass and Varonis 85).

Gass and Varonis found that “the listener’s familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (85).

Note: For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, display quotations as an indented block of text (one inch from left margin) and omit quotation marks. Place your parenthetical citation at the end of the block of text, after the final punctuation mark.

In addition to awareness-raising, practicing listening to accented speech has been shown to improve listening comprehension. This article recommends developing listening training programs for library faculty and staff, based on research from the linguistics and language teaching fields. Even brief exposure to accented speech can help listeners improve their comprehension, thereby improving the level of service to international patrons. (O'Malley 19)

When citing works by multiple authors, always spell out the word "and." When a source has three or more authors, only the first one shown in the source is normally given followed by et al.

One author: (Field 399)

Works Cited entry:

Field, John. "Intelligibility and the Listener: The Role of Lexical Stress." TESOL Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 3, 2005, pp. 399-423.

Two authors: (Gass and Varonis 67)

Works Cited entry:

Gass, Susan, and Evangeline M. Varonis. "The Effect of Familiarity on the Comprehensibility of Nonnative Speech." Language Learning, vol. 34, no. 1, 1984, pp. 65-89.

Three or more authors: (Munro et al. 70)

Works Cited entry:

Munro, Murray J., et al. "Salient Accents, Covert Attitudes: Consciousness-raising for Pre-service Second Language Teachers." Prospect, vol. 21, no. 1, 2006, pp. 67-79.

For more information on citing movies and TV shows see the MLA Style Center.

Film

Hidalgo. Directed by Joe Johnston, Touchstone/Disney, 2004.

DVD

Ballroom Dancing. Directed by Steve Kemsley, American Home Treasures, 2006. DVD.

Episode in Television Series on Netflix

"The Chinese Restaurant." Seinfeld, created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, season 2, episode 11, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1991. Netflix, www.netflix.com.

Personal interview:

Smith, John. Personal interview. 31 Aug. 2007.

If you refer to or quote from a source that is cited in another source, list only the source you consulted directly (the secondary source) in your works cited list. Name the original source in the text of your paper, and cite the secondary source in parentheses:

Wallace argues that "prior experience with nonnative speech facilitates comprehension" (qtd. in Smith 203).

In this example, only the Smith source, which was consulted directly, would be included in the works cited list.

Whenever possible, try to find and consult the original source.

Important elements:

• Author’s last name, first name, middle initial (if given, or person responsible for content) if listed

• Title of map (underlined or italicized)

• Descriptive label (e.g., Map, Graph, Photograph)

• City of publication: Publisher, date of publication (if available)

• Title of online collection (underlined or italicized)

• Date of posting or most recent update of collection

• Name of project or reference database (underlined or italicized)

• Name of sponsoring institution

• Date of access and electronic address

Title of map. Descriptive label. City of publication: Publisher, date. Title of Online Collection. Date of posting. Database. Sponsoring institution. Day Month Year of access <electronic address>.

Examples:

Map

Map of the West Coast of Africa from Sierra Leone to Cape Palmas, including the Colony of Liberia. Map. Philadelphia: Finley, 1830. Map Collections 1500-2004. 3 May 2005. American Memory. Lib. of Congress. 1 Aug. 2005 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g8882c.lm000002>.

Geospatial Data 

Author(s). Title. Publisher, Year, DOI or URL 

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Pennsylvania county boundaries. PASDA, 2021, https://www.pasda.psu.edu/uci/DataSummary.aspx?dataset=24. Accessed 13 April 2021.  

Interactive map application 

Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information. State College change through time. ArcGIS Online, 2017, http://psu-libs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8b8e085ddc4746bb9dcac35c62bfd1f9. Accessed 13 April 2021.  

ArcGIS Online layer 

View the item details for credits (attribution) information. 

Centre County Government GIS Department. Hydrography. ArcGIS Online, 2020, https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=c611558362d241ac9b5a1bf4bef3. Accessed 13 April 2021.   

• from the Library of Congress
  Citation structure for maps and charts.