MLA IN-TEXT CITATIONIntroducing the Basics

MLA IN-TEXT CITATION:Basic Principles

The basic principle of MLA in-text citation is that a brief parenthetical reference after a summary, paraphrase, or quotation guides you to a much fuller entry on the Works Cited page.The idea is to keep the parenthetical reference AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.This is usually done by starting with a SIGNAL PHRASE that includes the author’s name, and then putting only the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence.

MLA IN-TEXT CITATION = Signal Phrase + Parenthetical Reference

Thomas Smith, a renal specialist on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, points out that “most kidney cancers have a good prognosis if detected early” (53).

In the first signal phrase, give the author’s full name.

Smith further observes that advanced cancers have a better prognosis if treated aggressively (82).

In subsequent signal phrases, just give the last name.

BASIC RULESIf the author—in this case, Smith—is named in the signal phrase, just give the page number in a parenthetical reference at the end of the sentence before the period (52).If the author isn’t named in the signal phrase, however, give the author’s last name and the page number in the parenthetical reference (Smith 52).

Note that there is no comma between the last name and page #.

If there is more than one work by the author who’s named in the signal phrase, or if there is NO author, then put a shortened form of the work’s title in the parenthetical reference (“Kidney” 52).

SOME WRINKLESWhen the quote ends with a question mark or exclamation point, leave it in.

Smith ends by enthusing, “Kidney cancer is an exciting field!” (72).

Titles of books are always italicized, NOT UNDERLINED. Titles of articles are always in quotation marks.If there are four or more authors, name only the first followed by the Latin phrase, et al.

In recent years, research on kidney cancer has increased exponentially (Smith et al. 14)The recent explosion of research in this area is documented in Smith et al. (14).

Incorporating Longer Quotes

When you include a quotation that’s longer than four typed lines:

Don’t use quotation marksKeep standard double spacing—no extra space above or belowIndent the left margin 1 inch (2 tabs) and don’t alter the right marginJust to make things more difficult, the parenthetical reference goes AFTER the final period.

Example of Long Quotation in a Research Paper

From Purdue OWL sample undergraduate research paper

When in doubt…

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