MLA Format, 8
th
Edition: In-Text Citations
In MLA format, in-text citations take the form of a parenthetical citation and, often, a signal phrase. In
parentheses, place relevant information about the source from which a particular paraphrase, summary, or
quotation comes to clearly distinguish your ideas from the ideas, information, words, images, etc. taken from
others.
General Guidelines
● Name the author either in a signal phrase (Brooks argues…) or in a parenthetical citation (Brooks 35).
● Include a page number in the parentheses whenever possible. The abbreviation “p.” is not used. If no page
numbers are given, do not use numbers that result from printing out a document. In the case of audiovisual
references, use the timestamp in place of the page numbers (e.g., Spotlight 0:01-03:12).
● Do not use punctuation between the author’s name and the page number. An exception would be two or
more works by the same author (e.g., Gilbertson, Selected Speeches 38).
● Place the citation as close to the cited material as possible. Punctuation marks typically follow
parentheticals; block quotes are an exception.
● Italicize containers (e.g., books, magazines, journals, web sites, databases, album titles, movies, TV shows,
and plays). Use quotation marks around “elements” (e.g., articles, web pages, song titles, and short poems).
Examples
Sources with
one or two
authors
• Give name(s) in the text or in
the parenthetical citation.
• Then, give the page number(s)
in the parenthetical citation.
According to Basu and Amin, the people of West Bengal and
Bangladesh are not limited by political borders; a common
language enables them to communicate political and religious
difference (765).
The people of West Bengal . . . and religious difference (Basu and
Amin 765).
Source with
three or more
authors
• Give the first author’s name
and the phrase “and others” in
the text or give the first author’s
name followed by et al. (the
Latin phrase meaning “a
nd
others”) in a parenthetical
citation.
Bowers and others argue that due to similarities in the plot
development of each play, both Hamlet and Chushingura could be
played by the same set of actors from any given company (182).
Due to similarities in the plot . . . given company (Bowers et al.
182).
Source with an
unknown
author
• Mention the full title in the
signal phrase or use a
n
appropriate abbreviated version
in the parenthetical citation.
Avoid using “Anonymous.”
SVSU’s students are encouraged to document every source they
use in their writings to avoid violating the Student Code of
Conduct, which was adopted by the Student Association in 2005
(“Academic Integrity”).
The “Academic Integrity” page of SVSU’s Web site encourages
students to document every source they use in their writings to
avoid violating the Student Code of Conduct, which was adopted
by the Student Association in 2005.