In-text Citation

MLA in-text citations use the author-page method, placing the author's last name and page number in parentheses directly after a quote or paraphrase, e.g., (Smith 163). If the author's name is in the sentence, only the page number is needed in parentheses (e.g., Smith 163). Periods go outside the closing parenthesis.

Examples

Parenthetical: "Direct quote" (Wordsworth 263).

Using a Signal Phrase: According to Wordsworth, "Direct quote" (263).

Basic Rules for MLA In-Text Citations (9th Ed.)

1. Author-Page Format: If the author is unknown, use the shortened title of the work in quotation marks, e.g., ("Trouble" 22).

2. No Page Numbers: If the source lacks page numbers (e.g., websites), use only the author's name, e.g., (Garelli).

Number of authors:

• Two Authors: Include both names: (Moore and Patel 48).

• Three or More Authors: Use the first author followed by "et al.": (Moore et al. 59).

Types of quote:

• Direct Quotes: Place the citation after the quotation marks but before the final punctuation: "...end of quote" (Smith 8).

• Long Quotes (Block Quotes): If a quote is more than four lines, indent it 0.5 inches from the margin, do not use quotation marks, and place the citation after the period.