Incorporating Proper In-text Citations And References In MLA Format*

It is important to acknowledge sources and ideas in academic writing. Citations and references within the text of your paper will give your argument credibility, demonstrate that you have done your research, and prevent plagiarism. In the humanities (literature, languages, cultural studies), MLA style is commonly used. This article will examine the guidelines and key principles for properly incorporating in-text references and citations in MLA format.

1. Understanding In-text Cited: In-text references are short references that point readers to your Works Cited page for the complete citation. MLA format typically uses parenthetical reference, which includes the author’s name and page number. Example: (Smith 45). This will allow readers to quickly locate the full source citation within the Works Cited.

2. In MLA formatting, the last initial of the author should be placed between parentheses. In the case where the author’s name has already been mentioned, the page number is all that needs to be cited. As an example: “Accordingly to Smith (45), …”” or “The concept …”(Smith 45)”. If the source is composed of multiple authors, separate their names with commas or use “et all.” If there are three or more authors, include all their last names separated by commas.

3. Citing Prints Sources: In the text citation of print sources like articles, books, or journals you will need to include the author&#39’s name as well as the page number. When the author cannot be identified, the title should be used instead. When there are no page references, as with some online sources for example, you can omit this information.

4. Citing Online Resources: If you are citing an online source such as a webpage or article, be sure to include all the information possible. If you don’t know the author, use the title or article if it is available. Also include the page number. You can use the section headings and paragraph numbers to indicate a page number if none exists.

5. For example, “According to Smith, ‘quote’ (45).” If you are quoting directly from a source, use quotation marks and include the page number(s) in your in-text citation. When you paraphrase or summarize information, you must still provide a citation in the text. Page numbers are not necessary, unless you refer to a certain section or idea.

6. Works Cited: A Works Cited page, which is separate from your research paper and lists all sources cited within it, should be included at the end. The Works Cited Page should include all the information required by MLA, such as the author&#39s name, source title, publication date, and format. Each entry must be alphabetized by author&#39s last names.

7. Cross-checking the In-text References. To ensure accuracy, you should cross-check each in-text reference with its corresponding entry on the Works Cited Page. Each intext citation needs to be matched by an entry on the Works Cited. The Works Cited entry should also be cited within the paper.

8. Citation Management: Consider using tools like EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley. They will simplify the process for incorporating proper citations within your text.

Here are some tools that can help!