Research Support: How to format In-text Citations

MLA style requires adding a brief reference directly into the text to indicate the source that was used. This is called an in-text citation. The in-text citation directs the reader to the source's citation entry in the Works Cited list.

In MLA format, the author's last name and the page number(s) must be included in the text, and a complete reference should be included on the Works Cited page. The author's name can appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in parentheses. 

Examples:

Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

For more information on MLA in-text citations and their variations, visit the Purdue Owl Writing Lab: MLA In-Text Citations page. 

NoodleTools 

Research organization with bibliographies and notecards. Google SSO: Login with your FWCD Gmail account.

• NoodleTools Quick Guide for Students

• Tutorials on Using NoodleTools (scroll down on the page)

The MLA Style Center (Modern Language Association)

MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue OWL)

MLA Sample Paper (Purdue OWL)

The English department requires citation according to the MLA style. You must cite sources in your work and list them in a Works Cited page. When using MLA:

1. Use a citation organization system like NoodleTools to keep track of your research. 
2. Save all the information about the source: author’s name, title of book or website, page numbers, etc. 
3. Create a works cited list at the end of your paper, using the citation information you recorded when you were taking notes. 
4. Provide an in-text citation for all quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.