MLA: In-text citations

In-text citations:

The most common type of in-text citation is the parenthetical citation. In this citation style, the source (usually referred to by the author) and the location are provided in a bracket at the end of the quote or paraphrase (Twain 25).

The second type of citation that is used is the signal phrase

What is a signal phrase?

A signal phrase provides the source in the body of the text, not in the bracket. It is a way if signalling to the reader that the material that follows (or precedes) is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from another source.

Why use a signal phrase?

A signal phrase is very helpful if you want to emphasize the author's credentials or provide additional information, such as the title of the work, in your text. Further, in longer blocks of texts it can help clarify what is being paraphrased and what is your analysis since you still include the location within the bracket.

The signal phrase includes the source and a verb, it can also use additional information such as the qualifications of the author or the title of the article/source being used.

Examples:

• In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, "..." (3).
• As Matt Sundeen has noted, "..." (25).
• Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that "..."
• "...," writes Christine Haughtney.
• "...," claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs.

from Bedford Handbook (583).

In-text citation: 1-3 authors (remember the author could be a corporation's name)

Author named in the text :

Signal phrase with author's name, "quote" (page).

Example

One researcher, Carol Gilligan, concludes that "women impose a distinctive construction on moral problems" (105).

Author named in parenthetical citation:

Signal phrase, "quote" (Author page).

Example

According to a study, "the poor and minorities were victims" (Frieden and Sagalyn 29).

Our text discusses the "ethical dilemmas in public relations" (Wilcox, Ault, and Agee 125).

In-text citation: No author

If the source has no named author, use the first main word in the title. If it is a very short title, you may use the whole thing. .

Note: Titles of longer works (books/Website are italicized. Titles of shorter works (Webpages/articles) are enclosed within quotation marks.

Format

Signal phrase, "quote" (Shortened Title page).

Signal phrase with title, "quote" (page).

Example

Full title of book = Challenging Capital Punishment: Legal and Social Science Approaches

One article states that, "A death row inmate may demand his execution for notoriety" (Challenging Capital Punishment 135).

Challenging Capital Punishment states that, "A death row inmate may demand his execution for notoriety" (135).

Title of the article = "10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's"

One sign of Alzheimers is "memory loss that disrupts daily life" ("10 Early Signs").

Citing multiple works by the same author

In the text, you must make it clear to the reader which book you are referring to. This can be done with a signal phrase or with a parenthetical citation.

Tolkien’s character Bilbo is “terrified of losing himself” (Annotated Hobbit 226). Another work by Tolkien confronts the same issue: the character Frodo is told that he must resist going to a “cave, slowly to forget and to be forgotten” (Lord of the Rings 365).

In-text citations: Electronic sources with no page numbers

A database source is NOT the same as an Internet source. Most sites do not reproduce the article exactly as it was published in the original journal or magazine. If you find an article on a news website, such as the BBC site or CBC site please remember to cite the source as a website.

If there are no page numbers on the electronic source, use only the author name or the first main word of the title.

Format

Signal phrase, "quote" (Author).

Signal phrase, "quote" ("Shortened Title" - if citing a webpage or article and author is unknown).

Example

According to a study, "Twins reared apart report similar feelings" (Palfrey).

HOWEVER, you may want to include additional information to help the reader locate the information. Some teachers may ask you to include the section or or the paragraph where the information can be found.

MLA and images

How to format the citation in a caption

• caption goes directly under the image
• Each image must be labeled Figure - usually shortened to Fig.#.
• Citation follows
• The caption is a note so the punctuation is a bit different than the Works Cited entry. For ease of use, teachers are usually okay with using the same format at the Works Cited entry.

Formatting a title:

• If it is a known work of art that has a title use italics
• no italics/quotation marks used if the image does not have a title and you are providing a description.

Ideal situation - have all information. Image is found on the web.:

Fig. 1. Artist's last name, First name. Title of the artwork.

Works Cited page (remember the hanging indent):

Creator’s Last name, First name. “Title of the digital image.” Title of the website, First name Last name of any contributors, Version (if applicable), Number (if applicable), Publisher, Publication date, URL.

BARE MINIMUM example:

Fig. 1. Title of image or your own description of the image. Title of the website where it was published (not Google!), Publisher, Date it was published (if you know it), URL.

This can be a lot of information to put under the image. Another option is to use a shortened citation and include the full citation in the Works Cited list.

Fig. 1. Machol, Dan. "Turtle." Flicker, 30 July 2007, <URL>.

OR

Fig. 1. Machol, Dan. "Turtle." (complete citation will be in the Works Cited page)