In-Text MLA Citations

Basic In-Text Citation Rules

ANYTHING that is not considered “common knowledge” must be cited in a paper.

In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what is known as parenthetical citation. This
method involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase.

General Guidelines

• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the
Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the
text, must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry in the Works
Cited List.

• There are different ways to work-in citations. The three main types are as follows:

m
er as
o Paraphrasing information (putting it into your own words) and giving credit to the appropriate

co
source for the information at the end of the sentence in a set of parentheses (known as a

eH w
parenthetical citation). -- Don't overuse this one. You should not be paraphrasing most of your paper and you

o.
should only paraphrase 1 sentence at a time in a paragraph (maybe 2) because it should be very clear which

rs e
sentence is a paraphrase and which sentences are your own words. Remember the "common knowledge" rule. If it's
common knowledge, then you can say it without citing it. If you are literally paraphrasing someone else's words,
ou urc
then cite.

 Example: A utilitarian guide to ethical decision making incorporates aggregationism,

o

which implies that we should not look at the distribution of welfare, but rather that we
aC s

should look at what maximizes its sum total added together (Hare, 87).
vi y re

o Using a direct quote from a source to support a point you are trying to make in your paper and
supplying a parenthetical citation at the end. --Make sure that you are using a full quote that has meaning
in the context of what you're talking about. Don't just take a few words out of a quote that hold no meaning on their
ed d

own. These quotes are typically full sentences or thoughts.

ar stu

 Example: Robert young tells us that an "autonomous, or self-determining, person

chooses or devises a plan for her life, rather than having one imposed on her" (Young,
530).
is
Th

o Using introductory phrases to give credit such as “As stated in…”, “According to…”, “The
article “__________” found at _____________ says that….” to lead up to the name of the source
and the corresponding information. --This is a variant of the paraphrase, but instead it leads with a citation
instead of ending with it. These are typically used when you are referencing the goal of an entire paper, not a detail
sh

found within it like in a direct quote or even a simple paraphrase.

 Example: According to Joseph Fletcher's "Morals and Medicine," we first began to see a
pull away from the traditional Christian way of deciding correct action and began to
focus more on a consequentialist ethics.

Don't forget that you also need a proper works cited at the end of your paper that gives reference to every
source
This usedwasindownloaded
study source your entire paper, but from
by 100000817988713 noneCourseHero.com
that you don't use. 11:52:08 GMT -05:00
on 04-12-2021

https://www.coursehero.com/file/26569063/Works-Cited-and-In-Text-Citation-Worksheetpdf/
 In Text Citation Practice

Using the following information, practice using in-text citations at the bottom of the page. You need to
give an example of all three types of the citations listed under the “General Guidelines” section from the
previous page.

FROG
…Frogs have no outer ears; their prominent eardrums are exposed on the sides of the head. The bulging
eyes have nictitating membranes to keep the eyes moist. Adult frogs have lungs, but their breathing mechanism
is poorly developed. At rest they breathe mainly through the mouth lining, filling the lungs only occasionally.
When in wet places they also absorb much dissolved oxygen through their skins. Frogs have true voice boxes
and are noted for their various sounds. Frogs capture insects and worms with their sticky, forked tongue,

m
er as
attached at the front of the lower jaw. Some large tropical species eat small mammals and snakes. A few frogs

co
have skin glands that can produce irritating or poisonous secretions…

eH w
o.
rs e
ou urc
1) Paraphrased information with a parenthetical citation:
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d

2) Your words followed by a direct quote with a parenthetical citation:

ar stu
is
Th
sh

3) A phrase that introduces the source of the information, followed by the paraphrased or quoted information
from the

This study source was downloaded by 100000817988713 from CourseHero.com on 04-12-2021 11:52:08 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/26569063/Works-Cited-and-In-Text-Citation-Worksheetpdf/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)