CREATED BY MRS. BAKER Citing Textual Evidence Using MLA Format MLA formatted Citations

What is MLA? MLA refers to the Modern Language Association. Several different formats exist for citing research within a paper, such as MLA and APA. The MLA citation method is most commonly used in English classes.

Citing a Book For printed sources (books, magazines etc.) with a single named author, the in-text citation would appear: This is my example sentence (last name page number). This is my example sentence (Reilly 101). Note: there is a single space between the name and page number

General Guidelines: MLA In-text Citations If the author’s name is introduced in the sentence before the quotation, then it does not need to be included in the parenthesis. Example of included author’s name: Ben Mikaelsen’s character Cole Matthews illustrates his selfishness and lack of empathy when he thinks to himself that Peter would never have gotten hurt if he “had kept his mouth shut” (40). Example of author’s name not included: Cole Matthews illustrates his selfishness and lack of empathy when he thinks to himself that Peter would never have gotten hurt is he “had kept his mouth shut” (Mikaelsen 6).

Print Sources with No Author If the print source (book, magazine…) does not list an author, the title of the work should replace the author’s last name in the parenthesis. Depending on the work, the title should appear in quotation marks or be italicized/underlined. Short sources (chapters, articles, pamphlets) should be in quotations. Longer sources (books, plays…) should be italicized or underlined. This is my example sentence (“Why Study Skills are Important” 4).

Sources with Identical Last Names If two or more of your authors share the same last name, you will need to differentiate between them by using the first initial of their first name. This is my example sentence (K. Smith 101). This is another example sentence (B. Smith 23). Including the first initial of the author’s first name allows the reader to correctly reference the source on the Works Cited page.

Sources with Multiple Authors If the source has two or three authors, list the last names of the authors as they are listed in the book: This is my example sentence (Smith and Bright 201). This is my example sentence (Reilly, Roberts and Smith 107). If the source has four or more authors, list the last name of the first author and then et al. This is my example sentence (Smith et al. 87). Note with two authors, and is used. Note with three authors, a comma AND and is used

Citing On-line Sources with Authors If the online source (website, online article…) lists an author, then the same guidelines exist. Cite the author’s name following the quoted, paraphrased or summarized text. This is my example sentence (Washington). **Page numbers will not be necessary when citing on- line sources**

Citing On-line Sources without Authors First, the writer should ask himself or herself if the information is trustworthy if the on-line source does not have an author. If the information is trustworthy, but lacks an attributed author, then the title of the website or on-line article should replace the author’s name. This is my example sentence (Oprah.com). **Note: However the source will be listed on the Works Cited page is how it should be referenced in the in-text citation**

Good Website Resources The following list provides some great online resources to help with determining the format for MLA style in-text citations and Works Cited format. NoodleTools EasyBib Citation Machine