113 MLA Style and Format
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA, or Modern Language Association
An in-text citation is a brief note about the source you are using, and it goes directly in your sentence. It’s only a quick mention, however, because a big one it would otherwise make your writing awkward and heavy. To cite a source in your sentence, you generally need three things:
1. A quote or paraphrase from the source
2. The author’s last name
3. Either a page number (book) or an article/film title in quotation marks (see the style listings for other types of sources)
Signal Phrase Example: Bob Jones, canine behaviorist, claims that “all dogs go to heaven” (816).
In-text Example: Some experts believe that “all dogs go to heaven” (Jones 816).
Paraphrase Example: Bob Jones, canine behaviorist, claims that dogs are heavenly creatures (816)
You can include these three things in any combination that makes sense for your sentence, but all three components must be there. Whatever does not get added directly into the sentence must go in parentheses.
Note that the third example contains a paraphrase and not a direct quote. This is perfectly acceptable, but you must add a citation, even when you paraphrase information. Students often forget this important detail, but failure to include a citation is considered plagiarism.
Here is a quick reference guide for citing your sources in your sentences: MLA In-text Citations Quick Reference_04.09.2024 JN
MLA Works Cited
Works Cited: The List of Sources for an Essay in MLA Format
Creating a list of sources and placing it in the final pages of an essay is usually a familiar practice for most students. While the various formatting styles have various names for their lists of sources, it is called a Works Cited in MLA style. All essays that require research must have a Works Cited page.
A Works Cited is a master list of all the sources used in your essay, and it can be as many pages as it needs to be to list all of your sources. Notice the example has specific characteristics:
- It is double spaced throughout.
- The entries are in alphabetical order from top to bottom.
- Each entry has a hanging indent. (The first line is not indented, but all subsequent lines are.)
- The title is centered, and it remains the same font and size as the rest of the document. Is not in bold, italics, or underlined, either.
- The entries are not numbered, nor do they have bullet points.
MLA Generators: Clicks vs. Correctness
Students often ask about MLA generator websites, and our best recommendation is not to use them. These websites make money with clicks and not by providing correct answers to students. We recommend that you follow the guidance given in this textbook, instead, and write it for yourself.
If you insist on using these websites, do so with caution. Compare the answers you receive from the generator to the guidance given in this textbook, and you might be surprised at how terrible the online results truly are. Some of the current websites give formatting answers that are not in the current edition, are glitchy and filled with programming codes, or are adding symbols and information that have never been a part of an MLA entry. If you must use these websites, be prepared to make corrections in your entries.
Use this graphic organizer to help you organize the needed information for each source: MLA Practice Template
Here’s an easy-to-follow booklet on MLA source citations (including the MLA Practice Template): MLA Booklet
MLA Paper Format
Further Reading
For more details on MLA format, visit the MLA Style website.