In-Text Citation

In-Text Citation FAQs:

Below are a few frequently asked questions when incorporating citations into your written work. Please keep in mind that we will only use MLA Formatting in this class, so this isn't necessarily applicable in all of your classes. 

(1) How should I cite evidence from the text?

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

• Example: Romantic poetry is marked by "powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
• Example: Wordsworth states Romantic poetry is marked by "powerful feelings" (263).
• Why no author in this citation? The author is named in the context before the quote, so we know who is being quoted.

(2) Where do I place punctuation?

There are different rules when using different punctuation.

• [ . | , | ; ] Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation, even if the quote ends with one of those punctuation marks.
• Example: Dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" ( Foulkes 184).
• Example: According to Foulke's, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184), though others disagree.
  
  
• [ ! | ? ] Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your writing.
• Example: "'Thou art not my child! Thou art no Pearl of mine!'" (97).
• Example: Is it possible dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184)?

(3) Where do I place the citation?

Generally, your parenthetical citation will go at the end of the sentence, but sometimes it can go in the middle of the sentence if there is a naturally occurring pause and if putting it at the end of the sentence would move it farther away from the documented material. What does that mean? 

• Example: Ellie and Eddie “are one and the same person” (56), then Ellie is perhaps far more important to the story than scholars have previously thought. 
• Because the second part of the sentence is this persons explanation and unrelated to the evidence, you would put the citation in the middle of the sentence.

(4) Do I need to include the author in each citation?
You do not need to include the author's name in every citation, as long as you make it clear that you're only using one source. So, if you're writing your paper on one book, you don't need to include the author in your citation. And again, if you reference the author names before the quote, you do not need to include their name in the citation.

(5) What if there isn't a page number or an author?

If there isn't a page number just cite the name of the author. If there isn't an author cite the first element of the work cited entry. If the source title or organization name is longer than four words, shorten it to the first word or phrase in the in-text citation, excluding any articles (a, an, and the). The shortened title or organization name should begin with the word the source is alphabetized by in the Works Cited.

• Example: Full source title or organization name | (In-text citation)
• Amnesty International Report 2017/2018: The State of the World | (Amnesty International Report 187)
• “Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” | (“Sources”)
• “A Quick Guide to Proofreading” | (“Quick Guide”)
• National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Academy | (National Academy 24)