In text-citations are an important part of writing a research paper. They help place your sources in conversation with your own ideas, and help you expand on your thesis statement and overall argument. In-text citations appear in the form of parenthetical citations.
For more information about how to generate an in-text citation, refer to pages 54-58 of the MLA Handbook Eighth Edition.
Below are examples of how to write in-text citations:
| Author's name within your writing |
According to Peuget, "America is still suffering from economic collapse" (85). |
| Citing a quotation within your writing without using the author's name in your sentence |
"America is still suffering from economic collapse." (Peuget 85). |
| When using block quotes (remember that the quote will need to be set off from the text) See page 55 of MLA Handbook |
...from economic collapse. (Peuget 85). Or (85) if using author's name preceding the block quote. |
| Citing works with more than one author with the same last name |
Add author's first initial (N. Peuget 85) |
| Citing more than one work by the same author |
Add title of work (Peuget, "America's Economy" 85). |
| When paraphrasing |
Page number in parenthesis if mentioning author in your sentence. (85)
Author and page number when paraphrasing his or her idea. (Peuget 85)
If a single paraphrased idea is attributable to more than one source, list all sources. (Peuget 85; Thomson 76). Only exception to this would be common knowledge ideas.
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| If author is the organization that published a certain work |
If your in-text citation contains the title, then page number is needed. (85)
If your in-text citation does not contain the title, then author/organization title is needed. (Peuget 85)
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| If your source uses paragraph numbers rather than page numbers |
(Miller, par. 35). Note: if a source has no paragraph number or page number, then that information cannot be included and should not be made up. |
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When using different editions of a text (i.e One Hundred years of Solitude)
For time based media works, cite the relevant time range.
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Page number, edition or volumes, and chapter (250; ed. 2, ch 5)
(The X-Files 00:05:15-16).
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