In MLA style, an in-text citation should point the reader to the correct source in the "Works Cited." An in-text citation generally consists of the author's last name and the page number of the reference. When multiple elements are used in a parenthetical citation, they are separated by a space. If a resource does not contain pages, then the in-text citation will only contain the author. In all cases except for block quotations, parenthetical citations are placed immediately before the final punctuation of the sentence that cites the work.
Rule: When a quotation runs no more than four lines, put it in quotes, incorporate the author into the text, and provide the page number in a parenthetical citation.
As Coates (2015) wrote, “But race is the child of racism, not the father.” (7).
Rule: When the author's name does not appear in the signal phrase, place the author's name and the page number(s) in the parenthetical citation.
“But race is the child of racism, not the father.” (Coates 7).
Rule: When a quotation runs more than four lines, do not use quotation marks, but indent it one inch from the main body of your text. Double space the block quote. Incorporate the author's name or the title of the piece into a signal phrase preceding the quote. Finally, provide the page number(s) of the excerpt, in parentheses, immediately following the final punctuation of the quotation.
Even as racism and the destruction of black and brown bodies in the United States is witnessed worldwide on social media platforms, parents continue to warn their black and brown sons and daughters with words like these.
As Coates tells his son, and you know now, if you did not before, that the police departments of your country have been
endowed with the authority to destroy your body. It does not matter if the destruction is the result of an unfortunate
overreaction. It does not matter if it originates in a misunderstanding. It does not matter if the destruction springs from a
foolish policy. Sell cigarettes without the proper authority and your body can be destroyed. Resent the people trying to entrap
your body and it can be destroyed. Turn into a dark stairwell and your body can be destroyed. The destroyers will rarely be
held accountable. Mostly they will receive pensions. And destruction is merely the superlative form of a dominion whose
prerogatives include friskings, detainings, beatings, and humiliations. All of this is common to black people. And all of this is
old for black people. No one is held responsible. (9)
Rule: When paraphrasing where the author(s) is clearly identified in your text, provide only the page number in the parenthetical citation.
According to Ulrich, many women who made positive impacts on society are overlooked by history. Few of these women have their names remembered. (229)
Rule: When paraphrasing where author(s) is not clearly identified in your text, provide author(s) and page number in the citation.
Many women who made positive impacts on society are overlooked by history. Few of these women have their names remembered (Ulrich, 229).
Rule: When quoting a reference that is not originally from the source you have, after the reference use the phrase "qtd. in" (quoted in) and the author(s) of the source you have, the volume of the source (if more than one), and the page number. An indirect source may be documented in the Works Cited page.
Samuel Johnson admitted that Edmund Burke was an "extraordinary man" (qtd. in Boswell 2: 450).
Rule: When quoting a reference from time-based media, give the relevant time ranges in the format of hours, minutes, and seconds.
Buffy's promise that "there's not going to be any incidents like at my old school" is obviously not one which she can follow through ("Buffy" 00:03:16-17).