Whenever you provide a quotation or data that is not common knowledge, you must provide an in-text citation indicating the source of the specific piece of information. The in-text citations correspond to the sources listed on the Works Cited page.
MLA STYLE: Author and page
MLA in-text citation consists of parenthesis containing the author’s last name and the page of their work where the information was found placed at the end of the sentence: (Author ##). THESE CITATIONS NEVER USE COMMAS.
As Perry says, “Nuns are a bad-luck bunch” (Capote 46).
As Perry says, “Nuns are a bad-luck bunch” (Capote 46).
Solutions to author citation issues
WORK WITH NO AUTHOR: replace the author’s name with key words from the title.
A similar scene play out when the king dies: "They stretched their beloved lord in his boat [...] Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear. I never heard before of a ship so well furbished with battle tackle, bladed weapons and coats of mail (Beowulf 34-42).
WORK WITH TWO AUTHORS: use both names connected with and (no ampersands)
The final lines the Joker says haunt Batman's ending: "Enjoy yourself out there. In the asylum. Just don't forget-- If it ever gets too tough, there's always a place for you here.” (Morrison and McKean 101).
WORK WITH THREE OR MORE AUTHORS: use et al. without a comma after first author
In American Sniper, Hussein's forces are characterized as “savage, despicable evil” (Kyle et al. 43).
WHEN TWO WORKS USE THE SAME AUTHOR: include key words from the title between author’s name and page number
“I went to the woods […] to live deliberately” (Thoreau Walden 5).
WHEN TWO AUTHORS HAVE THE SAME SURNAME: include their first initial
The greatest conclusion can be stated as thus: “Always encourage and artist” (K. Smith 92).
TWO WORKS IN THE SAME SENTENCE: separate each citation with a semicolon
Only a tenth of teens smoked in 1990--a record low--but by 2000, that number increased by 20% (Collins 14; Ball and Sweet 1).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE: do not repeat it in the citation.
In Gladwell’s book, he claims “practice isn't the thing you do once you're good; it's the thing you do that makes you good” (43).
Additionally, after citing the author the first time, you do not cite the author's name again until a new source appears.
Augusten tells Neil, “You deserve to need me, not to have me” (Burroughs 67). Yet he contradicts this late when he thinks, “I missed him so much I had physical sensations of loss, all over my body” (82). This relates to how Holden misses Phoebe when he breaks down and cries at the museum (Salinger 117).
A similar scene play out when the king dies: "They stretched their beloved lord in his boat [...] Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear. I never heard before of a ship so well furbished with battle tackle, bladed weapons and coats of mail (Beowulf 34-42).
WORK WITH TWO AUTHORS: use both names connected with and (no ampersands)
The final lines the Joker says haunt Batman's ending: "Enjoy yourself out there. In the asylum. Just don't forget-- If it ever gets too tough, there's always a place for you here.” (Morrison and McKean 101).
WORK WITH THREE OR MORE AUTHORS: use et al. without a comma after first author
In American Sniper, Hussein's forces are characterized as “savage, despicable evil” (Kyle et al. 43).
WHEN TWO WORKS USE THE SAME AUTHOR: include key words from the title between author’s name and page number
“I went to the woods […] to live deliberately” (Thoreau Walden 5).
WHEN TWO AUTHORS HAVE THE SAME SURNAME: include their first initial
The greatest conclusion can be stated as thus: “Always encourage and artist” (K. Smith 92).
TWO WORKS IN THE SAME SENTENCE: separate each citation with a semicolon
Only a tenth of teens smoked in 1990--a record low--but by 2000, that number increased by 20% (Collins 14; Ball and Sweet 1).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE: do not repeat it in the citation.
In Gladwell’s book, he claims “practice isn't the thing you do once you're good; it's the thing you do that makes you good” (43).
Additionally, after citing the author the first time, you do not cite the author's name again until a new source appears.
Augusten tells Neil, “You deserve to need me, not to have me” (Burroughs 67). Yet he contradicts this late when he thinks, “I missed him so much I had physical sensations of loss, all over my body” (82). This relates to how Holden misses Phoebe when he breaks down and cries at the museum (Salinger 117).
Solutions to page number citation issues
WORK WITHOUT PAGES (WEBSITE, SPEECH, IMAGE, EMAIL, TWEET): skip the page numbers
His response of Twitter to the controversy was simply "I'm not going to comment" (Cosby).
WORK OF AUDIO OR VIDEO: cite the time when the relevant information begins
However, Batman writer Grant Morrison believes the Moore has Batman kill the Joker in the final shadowed panel: "That's why it's called The Killing Joke." (Smith and Morrison 1:07:33).
POEM OR SONG: substitute page numbers with line numbers; use the word lines (no abbreviations)
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same” (Kipling lines 11-12).
CLASSICAL PLAY OR EPIC: cite the act/book/canto/verse, scene, and lines. If in Roman numerals, keep them Roman.
Note: MLA has a list of Biblical and Shakespearean abbreviations if you are citing several verses or Shakespearean plays in one essay
The Nazis further descrated Jewish bodies by giving them tattoos, which is explicity banned by the Torah (Lev. 19:28).
As Jaques retorts,“All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players” (AYL II.vi.139-140).
"I take you to that other shore / into the fire and into the ice” may have also inspired Frost (Canto III, lines 86-87).
His response of Twitter to the controversy was simply "I'm not going to comment" (Cosby).
WORK OF AUDIO OR VIDEO: cite the time when the relevant information begins
However, Batman writer Grant Morrison believes the Moore has Batman kill the Joker in the final shadowed panel: "That's why it's called The Killing Joke." (Smith and Morrison 1:07:33).
POEM OR SONG: substitute page numbers with line numbers; use the word lines (no abbreviations)
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same” (Kipling lines 11-12).
CLASSICAL PLAY OR EPIC: cite the act/book/canto/verse, scene, and lines. If in Roman numerals, keep them Roman.
Note: MLA has a list of Biblical and Shakespearean abbreviations if you are citing several verses or Shakespearean plays in one essay
The Nazis further descrated Jewish bodies by giving them tattoos, which is explicity banned by the Torah (Lev. 19:28).
As Jaques retorts,“All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players” (AYL II.vi.139-140).
"I take you to that other shore / into the fire and into the ice” may have also inspired Frost (Canto III, lines 86-87).
Additionally, if you need to clarify a quotation using sic or emphasis added, this may go in the source citation.
Lawrence starts with dissecting the idea of obscenity: “If a play shocks ten people in an audience, and doesn’t shock the remaining five hundred, then it is obscene to ten and innocuous to five hundred; hence, the play is not obscene, by majority” (646; emphasis added).
Both Hope and Magawisca rebel because they subscribe to "an inner honoured liking justice" (sic) that trumps the law of Massachusetts and Pequod Law (Sedgwick 94). Hope takes "counsel only in her heart," believing that "the rights of innocence paramount to all other rights" (124; sic).
Lawrence starts with dissecting the idea of obscenity: “If a play shocks ten people in an audience, and doesn’t shock the remaining five hundred, then it is obscene to ten and innocuous to five hundred; hence, the play is not obscene, by majority” (646; emphasis added).
Both Hope and Magawisca rebel because they subscribe to "an inner honoured liking justice" (sic) that trumps the law of Massachusetts and Pequod Law (Sedgwick 94). Hope takes "counsel only in her heart," believing that "the rights of innocence paramount to all other rights" (124; sic).
APA STYLE: AUTHOR AND YEAR
APA in-text citation consists of parenthesis containing the author’s last name and the year the work was published (Author, year). For exact quotations, also the page of their work where the information was found (Author, year, ##). THESE CITATIONS ALWAYS USE COMMAS.
As Perry says, “Nuns are a bad-luck bunch” (Capote, 1965, 46).
As Perry says, “Nuns are a bad-luck bunch” (Capote, 1965, 46).
Solutions to author citation issues
WORK WITH NO AUTHOR: replace the author’s name with key words from the title.
In the words of Jack Stanton, “Well, we tried.” (Primary Colors, 1999, 122).
WORK WITH TWO TO FIVE AUTHORS: use all names connected with an ampersand
The data showed a decrease of crime across the decade (Dubner & Levitt, 2010).
WORK WITH SIX OR MORE AUTHORS: use et al. after first author
Concussions doubled over the next six years (Kalvin, et al., 1993).
TWO WORKS IN THE SAME SENTENCE: separate each citation with a semicolon
Only a tenth of teens smoked in 1990--a record low--but by 2000, that number increased by 20% (Collins,1994; Ball and Sweet, 2013).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE: do not have to repeat it in the citation.
In Gladwell’s book, he claims “practice isn't the thing you do once you're good; it's the thing you do that makes you good” (2012, 43).
WHEN YOU ARE ONLY USING ONE SOURCE: do not cite the author's name and year again until a new source appears
Augusten tells Neil, “You deserve to need me, not to have me” (Burroughs, 2007, 67). Yet he contradicts this late when he thinks, “I missed him so much I had physical sensations of loss, all over my body” (82). This relates to how Holden misses Phoebe when he breaks down and cries at the museum (Salinger, 1951).
In the words of Jack Stanton, “Well, we tried.” (Primary Colors, 1999, 122).
WORK WITH TWO TO FIVE AUTHORS: use all names connected with an ampersand
The data showed a decrease of crime across the decade (Dubner & Levitt, 2010).
WORK WITH SIX OR MORE AUTHORS: use et al. after first author
Concussions doubled over the next six years (Kalvin, et al., 1993).
TWO WORKS IN THE SAME SENTENCE: separate each citation with a semicolon
Only a tenth of teens smoked in 1990--a record low--but by 2000, that number increased by 20% (Collins,1994; Ball and Sweet, 2013).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE: do not have to repeat it in the citation.
In Gladwell’s book, he claims “practice isn't the thing you do once you're good; it's the thing you do that makes you good” (2012, 43).
WHEN YOU ARE ONLY USING ONE SOURCE: do not cite the author's name and year again until a new source appears
Augusten tells Neil, “You deserve to need me, not to have me” (Burroughs, 2007, 67). Yet he contradicts this late when he thinks, “I missed him so much I had physical sensations of loss, all over my body” (82). This relates to how Holden misses Phoebe when he breaks down and cries at the museum (Salinger, 1951).
Solutions to year citation issues
WORK WITH NO YEAR: replace the year with n.d.
Goth makeup always starts with using a concealer to make the face as pale as possible (Wikihow, n.d.).
TWO WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR IN THE SAME YEAR: designate each as different with a letter after the year
Donations tripled after the president's speech (American Red Cross, 2012a).
TWO AUTHORS WITH THE SAME SURNAME PUBLISHING IN THE SAME YEAR: include their first initial
The greatest conclusion can be stated as thus: “Always encourage and artist” (K. Smith, 2011, 92).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE YEAR IN THE SENTENCE: do not have to repeat it in the citation.
In 2009, a new study confirmed Robertson's findings with 92% success (Kaplan, King, Royce, & Jones).
Goth makeup always starts with using a concealer to make the face as pale as possible (Wikihow, n.d.).
TWO WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR IN THE SAME YEAR: designate each as different with a letter after the year
Donations tripled after the president's speech (American Red Cross, 2012a).
TWO AUTHORS WITH THE SAME SURNAME PUBLISHING IN THE SAME YEAR: include their first initial
The greatest conclusion can be stated as thus: “Always encourage and artist” (K. Smith, 2011, 92).
WHEN YOU MENTION THE YEAR IN THE SENTENCE: do not have to repeat it in the citation.
In 2009, a new study confirmed Robertson's findings with 92% success (Kaplan, King, Royce, & Jones).
Solutions to page number citation issues
TEXT WITHOUT PAGES (WEBSITE, SPEECH, POEM, GRAPHIC NOVEL): replace page numbers with paragraph, lines, or panel
Additionally, Rodney claimed that "the results will be inconclusive until the next generation enters the workforce" (Luster, 2006, para. 6).
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/And treat those two impostors just the same” (Kipling, 1889, line 11-12).
TEXT-FREE SOURCE WITHOUT PAGES (IMAGE, AUDIO, VIDEO, EMAIL, TWEET): skip the page numbers entirely
His response of Twitter to the controversy was simply "I'm not going to comment" (Cosby, 2015).
However, Batman writer Grant Morrison believes the Moore has Batman kill the Joker in the final shadowed panel: "That's why it's called The Killing Joke." (Smith and Morrison, 2013).
CLASSICAL PLAY OR EPIC: cite the translation year and act.scene.lines in Arabic numerals
As Jaques retorts,“All the world’s a stage,/And all the men and women merely players” (Shakespeare, trans. 2013, 2.7.139-140).
Additionally, Rodney claimed that "the results will be inconclusive until the next generation enters the workforce" (Luster, 2006, para. 6).
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster/And treat those two impostors just the same” (Kipling, 1889, line 11-12).
TEXT-FREE SOURCE WITHOUT PAGES (IMAGE, AUDIO, VIDEO, EMAIL, TWEET): skip the page numbers entirely
His response of Twitter to the controversy was simply "I'm not going to comment" (Cosby, 2015).
However, Batman writer Grant Morrison believes the Moore has Batman kill the Joker in the final shadowed panel: "That's why it's called The Killing Joke." (Smith and Morrison, 2013).
CLASSICAL PLAY OR EPIC: cite the translation year and act.scene.lines in Arabic numerals
As Jaques retorts,“All the world’s a stage,/And all the men and women merely players” (Shakespeare, trans. 2013, 2.7.139-140).