Style and Formatting Guide For Parenthetical References The following information is an adapted version of the style and formatting guidelines found in the MLA Handbook, 8th ed. (2016), published by the Modern Language Association. This sheet serves as a ready-reference—more information can be found in the MLA 8th Edition Handbook.
Parenthetical citations in MLA. MLA in-text citations are described as author-page citations.This means that the parentheses contain the author’s last name and a page number or page range.. Example: MLA parenthetical citation Art has been deeply impacted by technological advances, which have come to play a significant role in the reproduction of artworks (Benjamin 19).
Signal phrase ("Citation in prose" in the MLA Handbook): Introducing the name of the author or the work's title in the text of your sentence. Parenthetical citation: Paraphrasing an idea or using a quotation without the author/title in your sentence text. The author/title goes in parentheses at the end of your sentence. Signal Phrase
In conjunction with the explanations about structuring and formatting in–text citations detailed here, this page provides example citations for how a range of different source types are correctly referenced according to MLA’s citation guidelines. – Author’s name in text. Magny develops this argument (67-69). – Author’s name in reference
Modern Language Association (MLA) style is used for formatting and documenting work in English and other disciplines, particularly in the humanities. In MLA style, parenthetical citations are used to document sources in-text. Using MLA style correctly increases your credibility as a writer and avoids accidental incidents of plagiarism.
If the author's name or title of the work is mentioned in the text, put only the page number in parentheses. Single author (MLA Handbook 54-55) Example 1: ... the in-text citation will contain the title or a shortened form of the title used. Examples:
1. The author's name may be introduced in the beginning of the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence, not within the text of your sentence. Notice that the period follows the parenthesis because the in-text citation is considered part of the sentence.
The function of a parenthetical citation--also known as an in-text citation--is twofold: (1) it unambiguously directs readers to a source listed on the works cited page, and (2) it provides the specific location within the source of the information being cited. In an effort to disrupt reading as little as possible, parenthetical citations are often but not always placed at the end of a sentence.
MLA; Explanation: Short Quotations: Place within quotation marks and follow with page number in parentheses (#). Include the author’s name either in a signal phrase before the quotation or at the end (name #) Long Quotations (more than four lines): Place in an inset block of text without quotations. Include the author’s name either in a signal phrase before the quotation or at the end ...
Being more compliant with MLA in-text citation guidelines will become easier if you review these examples and the citation rules on which they rely. In-text citations are often parenthetical, meaning you add information to the end of a sentence in parentheses.
An in-text citation is a reference made within your academic writing to acknowledge the source of information, ideas, or quotes used. In MLA Style, in-text citations can be used in your prose or parentheses. In-text citations that include the relevant source information inside parentheses are called parenthetical citations. General Guidelines
Every citation on your Works Cited page should be parenthetically referenced in your actual paper, and every parenthetical reference in your paper should correspond to a full citation on your Works Cited. Many electronic resources do not have page numbers. In this case, the use of an author name within the text is sufficient.
Cite the name of the primary source (the text you are actually citing) as a signal phrase and within the parentheses, include the words “qtd. in” before the secondary source (source which included the text you have cited) information: The Works Cited entry will refer to the bibliographic information for the secondary source.
This MLA Style Guide has basic examples for citations. For more complex examples, please see the MLA Handbook, 8th edition. ... If the author's name or title of the work is mentioned in the text, put only the page number in parentheses. Single author (MLA Handbook 54-55) ... the in-text citation will contain the title or a shortened form of the ...
If a title or short title in parentheses must be given in a parenthetical citation, do not nest parentheses within parentheses. Instead, change the parentheses around the title or short title to square brackets: The chorus of one of R.E.M.’s songs begins: “Don’t go back to Rockville / And waste another year” (“[Don’t]”). Works Cited …
