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)
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)
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)
Example (two authors included in narrative)
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)
Example (multiple authors in narrative)
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)
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)
"MLA In-Text Citations" by Excelsior Online Writing Lab is licensed under CC By 4.0