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In-Text Citations: MLA

A research paper is a collaboration with the scholars and writers who have made contributions to the body of knowledge concerning a topic. Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines help writers document the sources from which they obtain evidence to support their arguments. In-text citations are a key component of this documentation.

Placement and Format of In-Text Citations

An in-text citation appears at the end of the sentence in which a quotation or paraphrase appears. The citation information is enclosed in parentheses and serves as a pointer to the corresponding listing on the Works Cited page.

For detailed information about using signal phrases with in-text citations, see A Writer’s Reference, pp. 152–54.

Examples

1. Using a signal phrase:

   Similarly, Judith K. Powers emphasizes, “Because collaborative techniques depend so heavily on shared basic assumptions or patterns, conferences that attempt merely to take the techniques we use with native-speaking writers and apply them to ESL writers may fail to assist the writers we intend to help” (41).

   Note: Because a signal phrase is used, only the page number appears in the in-text citation.

2. No signal phrase:

   Writing tutors must serve as “informant[s] of rhetoric and culture for ESL writers” (Ganguly 11).

3. Two authors:

   When a source has two authors, either mention both in the signal phrase and include only the page number in parentheses, or list both names in the in-text citation.

   Example: (Collins and Lucas 227)

4. Three or more authors:

   List the first author followed by et al.

   Example: (Austen et al. 332)

   Note: Use the same form in the in-text citation as in the Works Cited entry.

5. Same author, different works:

   Muriel Harris describes collaborative learning as an opportunity for students to “shake off their passive classroom stance and assume some responsibility for getting involved with their own learning” (“What’s Up” 32).

   Note: Because the author’s name appears in the signal phrase, it is not repeated in the citation.

Corresponding Works Cited Entries

Harris, Muriel. “Collaboration Is Not Collaboration Is Not Collaboration: Writing Center Tutorials vs. Peer-Response Groups.” The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing Center Theory and Practice, edited by Robert W. Barnett and Jacob S. Blumner, Allyn, 2001, pp. 272–87.

Harris, Muriel. “What’s Up and What’s In: Trends and Traditions in Writing Centers.” Landmark Essays on Writing Centers, edited by Christina Murphy and Joe Law, Hermagoras, 1995, pp. 27–36.

Additional In-Text Citation Situations

6. Multiple sources in one sentence:

   It was not until the mid-1990s that training regarding diversity and multicultural issues in writing conferences became available (Edlund 203; Kilborn 394).

7. Page ranges:

   Use a hyphen to indicate a range of pages.

   Examples: (Harris 274–75); (O’Connor 399–400)

8. Indirect sources:

   If citing a source quoted in another source, use qtd. in.

   Judith K. Powers states that “the principal difference in the two conferencing situations appears to be the increased emphasis on our role as informant” (qtd. in Ganguly 11).

Print vs. Online Sources

The rules for in-text citations are the same for print and online sources, with two exceptions:

1. No author listed: Use the article title or organization name.

   Example: Writing centers are becoming more common at all levels of public education (“Writing Center Resources”).

2. No page numbers: Use the author’s name, article title, or organization name. Do not include page numbers from printed web pages.

   Example: The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina recommends that tutors “provide several choices for rephrasing instead of a single alternative” (“Ten Tips”).

Punctuating In-Text Citations

For additional examples and explanations, consult A Writer’s Reference, pp. 152–54.