Formatting a paper can already be stressful, and it gets even trickier when it comes to citing sources correctly. MLA style is one of the most commonly used formats for in-text citations, especially in humanities and literature courses, but the rules aren’t always straightforward. I’ve worked with students and writers who were confident in their ideas but unsure how to present their sources properly. In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about MLA in text citations.
What is MLA Format?
Before you start citing anything, it’s helpful to know what MLA actually is. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in academic writing, especially in the humanities. What sets it apart is its focus on author-page citations within the text, paired with a Works Cited page at the end. You’ll use MLA when writing essays for English classes, literary analysis, cultural studies, and often in interdisciplinary fields. Here are some key features of MLA:
In-text citations include the author's last name and page number.
Full references go on a separate Works Cited page.
It encourages clarity and consistency, especially with quoting and paraphrasing.
For example, if you’re quoting from a book by Jane Doe on page 45, you’d write: (Doe 45).
I’ve used MLA style in everything from high school assignments to graduate-level theses, and while it can seem strict, it becomes second nature once you’ve got the format down.
How to Do In-text Citation in MLA Style
MLA in text citation may seem simple, but there are key differences depending on the type of source you’re using. The basic format includes the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses. However, things change if there’s no author, multiple authors, or no page number available. For sources with no author, use a shortened version of the title instead. If there are two authors, list both names; for three or more, use the first author followed by “et al.” Let’s break down how to do mla in text citation for no/multiple authors.
Example 1: Citing a Source with One Author:
This is the most common type of citation in MLA style. You simply include the author’s last name followed by the page number in parentheses, with no comma between them, like this: (Johnson 85). If the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence itself, you only need to include the page number at the end. This keeps your writing clear while properly crediting the source. Here are some MLA in text citation examples
Step 1: Identify the author or editor’s last name from the source you are citing.
Step 2: If you are using a direct quote, include the author’s last name and page number in parentheses directly after the quote.
Step 3: If the author's name is already mentioned in the sentence, only the page number goes in parentheses
I like this format because it keeps things clean and doesn't interrupt the flow of the sentence, especially when paraphrasing. I’ve also found that using a reliable quotes in MLA generator really speeds things up when you’re trying to reword longer passages or cite direct dialogue correctly
Example 2: Citing Sources with Multiple Authors
When citing a source with two authors, include both last names joined by “and,” like this: (Taylor and Lee 112). For sources with three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.,” such as: (Martin et al. 59). This rule applies whether you mention the authors in your sentence or place the full citation in parentheses. It helps keep citations concise while still giving proper credit.
Step 1: For two authors, include both last names connected by “and”
Step 2: For three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” in parentheses: (Smith et al. 56).
Step 3: When quoting directly or paraphrasing, make sure the in-text citation follows the sentence punctuation correctly and is clearly placed.
MLA doesn’t require first names or publication years in-text, which makes it less cluttered.
Here’s a quick reference table for clarity:
Authors | Example Citation |
|---|---|
One | (Nguyen 112) |
Two | (Garcia and Lee 76) |
Three or more | (Chen et al. 89) |
Example 3: Sources with No Author, No Date, or No Page Number
Sometimes you’ll need to cite sources like websites, articles, or PDFs that are missing key details. If there’s no author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: (“Global Warming Trends”). If there’s no page number, just include the author’s name or title, no number is needed. For sources without a publication date, MLA recommends including the date you accessed the material in the Works Cited entry.
Step 1: If there is no author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks in place of the author's name
Step 2: If there is no page number, simply include the author or title only, if you have a paragraph number, it can be included as well
Step 3: If both the author and page number are missing, just use the shortened title: (“Guide to Citation”).
Step 4: Ensure the in-text citation matches exactly with the beginning of the source listed on your Works Cited page.
This part used to trip me up. Now I know to focus on what’s available, author, title, or organization, and build the citation from there.
Use WPS Office to Automate MLA In-text Citations
After learning MLA basics, you might want something to speed things up. WPS Office has built-in tools and AI assistance that make citation management a lot easier, especially for long-form writing. I started using WPS when I needed to finish a research paper on a tight deadline. It surprised me how smoothly it handled citations compared to some clunkier tools I’d tried before. Here’s how to add in-text citations using WPS:
Step 1: Open WPS Writer
Step 2: Click the AI icon in the right-hand sidebar. This will open the WPS AI tools panel where you can choose different writing features, including citation support.
Step 3: In the AI input box, type a direct prompt based on the source. For example:
Generate an MLA in text citation and Works Cited entry for this sentence. The source is a report titled Teen Digital Behavior published by the World Health Organization in 2024.
Step 4: Once you submit your prompt, WPS AI will reply with both the in-text citation and the Works Cited entry, just like in the example below. You can then just copy and paste the in-text citation directly after the sentence you highlighted.
WPS AI Tools That Helped Me:
AI Writing Assistant: Helped rephrase quotes into cleaner paraphrased citations.
Grammar + Style Checks: Cleaned up punctuation and ensured the citation fit smoothly into the sentence.
Academic Formatting: Ensured consistency between the in-text citation and the Works Cited entry.
WPS Office was lightweight, free, and didn’t hog resources, which made it especially helpful while juggling multiple documents and source types.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the difference between MLA and APA style?
MLA uses the author’s last name and page number (Smith 45), while APA uses author-date format (Smith, 2022, p. 45). MLA is more common in literature and humanities, while APA is used in social sciences.
Q2: Do paraphrases also need in-text citations?
Yes. Even if you’re not quoting directly, you still need to credit the original source.
Q3: What’s the rule for citing a quote within a quote?
Use single quotation marks for the inner quote:
"As she explained, 'students learn better by doing' which supports my thesis" (Lee 27).
Q4: Can I cite a YouTube video or website in MLA in-text?
Yes. Use the title or organization name, especially if no author is listed:
(“How AI Works”).
