Skip to Main Content

MLA Citation Guidelines (9th Edition): In-text Citations

Resources

MLA in-text citations

  Each source cited in your paper must also appear in the Works Cited page. You MUST cite both paraphrased and quoted information. 

MLA citations follow specific conventions that distinguish them from other styles. In-text citations are also sometimes known as “parenthetical citations” because they are enclosed in parentheses. Most often, the author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence.

Example (one author)

At the end of the day Wilbur made “in excess of half a million dollars” (Marx 43).

 

If you use the name of the author to set up your quote or paraphrase, mention the full author’s name the first time in the sentence; thereafter use only the last name. Then put the page number without p. or pp. in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.

Example (author's name included in narrative)

According to Marx, Wilbur made “in excess of half a million dollars” (43).

 

If your source has two authors, separate their last names with the word “and.” The authors’ names should be listed in the order they appear in the published work.

Example (two authors)

According to most experts, “the best way to increase a child’s literacy” is to read to them every night (Wolf and Munemo 220–240).

Example (two authors included in narrative)

James Wolf and Alice Munemo note that children whose parents read to them every night receive higher scores on literacy tests (220–240).

 

If your source has three or more authors, your in-text citation should include the first author’s last name followed by et al.

Example (three or more authors)

According to most experts, “the best way to increase a child’s literacy” is to read to them every night (Wolf et al. 220–240).

 

Example (multiple authors in narrative)

James Wolf and others note that children whose parents read to them every night receive higher scores on literacy tests (220–240).

 

If a source is created by an organization (a corporation, a research institute, etc), the author element in the in-text citation is the name of the organization shortened to its shortest noun phrase. The citation will point the reader to the full name within the Works Cited page. In the text and in the Works Cited, use the full name of the organization. In addition, if a work, such as a website, does not include page numbers, then omit this portion of the in-text citation.

Examples (author is an organization)

According to the National Academy of Medicine, “sources should be science-based, objective, transparent, and accountable.”

 

“Sources should be science-based, objective, transparent, and accountable” (National Academy).

 

If a work, such as a website, does not include page numbers, then omit this portion of the in-text citation.

Example (no page numbers)

Marx used “class” in “two different ways” (Calvert).

 

"MLA In-Text Citations" by Excelsior Online Writing Lab is licensed under CC By 4.0