Use in-text citations with MLA formatting

Learning Objectives Correctly format a standard MLA in-text citation for a source with a known author and page number. Differentiate between and correctly use a signal phrase and a parenthetical citation. Format an in-text citation for sources without a known author or page number. Integrate quotations and paraphrases into their own writing using proper citation. Correctly place punctuation in sentences containing in-text citations. Explain the connection between an in-text citation and its corresponding entry on the Works Cited page. Have you ever shared a friend's amazing story and made sure to say, 'This happened to my friend, Sarah'? Giving credit is natural, and in academic writing, it's a superpower! 🦸‍♀️ This tutorial will teach you how to use ML...

TermDefinitionExample In-Text CitationA brief reference within your text that indicates the source of a specific piece of information, such as a quote or a paraphrased idea.One scholar notes that 'the world is a stage' (Shakespeare 112). Parenthetical CitationThe most common type of in-text citation, where source information (like the author's last name and page number) is placed in parentheses at the end of a sentence.The character's downfall was his own ambition (Miller 45). Signal PhraseA phrase that introduces a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It often includes the author's name, and sometimes their credentials, to signal that the information to follow comes from a source.Literary critic Harold Bloom argues that... Works Cited PageA separate page at the end of...

The Author-Page Format (Author's Last Name Page Number) This is the standard MLA format. Use the author's last name and the page number where the information was found. There is no comma between the name and the number. Citing a Source with No Author ("Shortened Title of Work" Page Number) When a source has no known author, use a shortened, capitalized version of the work's title in quotation marks, followed by the page number (if available). The title should be the first thing that appears in the Works Cited entry. Punctuation with In-Text Citations Place the parenthetical citation *before* the sentence's final punctuation mark. The sentence's period, question mark, or exclamation point goes *after* the closing parenthesis of the c...