CitationsMLA Style Guide
In-Text Citations/General Guidelines
In-text citations are created with a combination of signal phrases and parenthetical references in MLA. A signal phrase introduces the information taken from a source and typically includes the author's name. Use a dictionary/thesaurus to help you use various verbs as signal phrases.
Signal phrases help set up direct quotations. For example:
According to Andrew Smith, "The latest version of MLA has been used since 2016" (18).
The signal phrase "according to" attributes the quotation to the author, Andrew Smith. A parenthetical reference follows the quoted material, typically at the end of the sentence that includes the quote or paraphrase, which usually includes at least a page number. The information in the parenthetical references must match the corresponding information in works cited list. The example above shows a direct quote in quotations and the parenthetical citation only includes the page number since the author was already named.
The purpose of parenthetical references is to indicate to readers not only what sources you used, but what you used from each source and where in the source you found the material. The combination of signal phrases and parenthetical references are essential to avoid plagiarism.
FYI: Remember to treat the parenthetical reference as part of the sentence and to always place the period AFTER the parentheses.
Authors — Identification of source
Author named using a signal phrase: Introduce the quote/paraphrase using a signal phrase and the author's name. No need to have author's name in parenthetical citation if named in the sentence.
Waters argues that the Soviets were surrounded by enemies (119).
Author in parenthetical reference: In order to avoid plagiarism, you must connect the information used to the direct source, even if the author is not mentioned. Place the author's name in the parenthetical citation followed by the page number with no commas.
The Soviets were surrounded by enemies (Waters 119).
Two authors: Include both last names with the page number, no comma.
The Germans were surrounded by enemies (Black and Mondoux 123).
Three or more authors: Use the first listed author's name followed by "et al."
The Americans were surrounded by enemies (Roosevelt et al. 200).
Unknown author: When an author is unknown, use the full title with a signal phrase, or a shortened title in the parenthetical reference.
However, other sources argue the Soviets were not surrounded by enemies ("Russian History").
Page number unknown: Many web sources have no page numbers, so it is not necessary to always have them. Only use page numbers from printed material or if online sources have a PDF file.
Organization as author: When using signal phrase, use entire organization name as author. If using in parenthetical reference, abbreviate certain words such as "Dept.," "Assn.," "Natl.," etc.
The cost of cancer in the United States in 2016 was estimated to be $500 billion (Amer. Cancer Assn.).
Two or more works by the same author: If your works cited page contains multiple references by the same author, mention the full title in the signal phrase or include a shortened version of title along with author's name in parenthetical reference.
The United States was "vulnerable after the Revolutionary War" (Feder Birth 124).
Location of passage within source
- give relevant page number if available
- give volume or edition page number in a multi volume/edition work
- if citing entire work omit page numbers
- for web sources, no page numbers unless PDF file. May use paragraph numbers or other reference number (Louis par. 20)
- film, television, or radio broadcasts no page numbers needed
Ellipsis mark: In order to condense a quoted passage, the ellipsis (three period with no space in between) is used to show you have omitted words. Make sure the sentence is still grammatically sound when using the ellipsis. Avoid using an ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quoted passage.
Andrew Smith argues that "MLA is difficult to understand at first yet [practice]…will make your life easier" (14).
Brackets: Brackets [] allow you to insert your own words into quoted material in order to clarify the meaning or make quotes grammatically correct. (See above example). In order to depict an error in spelling, insert [sic] immediately after the error.
Queen Elizabeth I supposedly claimed, "Shakespeare is my favourite [sic] playwright."
Long quotations:
If the quotation is over 4 lines typed, you must indent the whole quotation.5 inch from the right and start the quotation on a new line. No quotation marks are required. Because there are not quotation marks, you will place the period at the end of the quote, not at the end of the parenthetical reference.
Alberta is occasionally divided into two regions, Northern Alberta and Southern Alberta. The majority of Alberta's population is located in large urban cities, mostly located in the South. Alberta is Canada's most populous province of all three Canadian Prairie provinces. Edmonton is the Capital of Alberta. (Herick 22)
