Every time I open a blank doc for a research paper, MLA quotes are the part I brace for. Is it parentheses or footnotes? Do I list the page or the paragraph? One wrong detail can cost you credibility, and that’s not a risk worth taking. I’ve spent more time fixing citations than writing the actual argument. Figuring out how to do quotes in MLA used to slow me down every time. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how I do it now: accurate, fast, and clean from the start.
What Is the MLA?
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a standardized system used for writing and documenting scholarly content, particularly in the humanities such as literature, philosophy, history, and arts. It focuses heavily on authorship and source credibility, making it crucial for anyone writing academic papers in these fields.
Because MLA helps maintain a consistent format in research writing, ensuring sources are properly credited and readers can easily locate them, it’s essential for academic integrity. Misquoting or failing to cite sources can lead to unintentional plagiarism which isn’t a risk any student wants to take. That’s why knowing when to use MLA is just as important as knowing how to use it. Typically, MLA style is used in:
Writing essays for English or literature classes
Submitting papers to journals that follow humanities standards
Crafting citations in research-heavy blog posts, especially on historical or cultural topics
Using MLA in these areas helps meet academic standards and shows respect for your sources. Once you know when to use it, the next step is learning how to apply it correctly.
How to Do Quotes in MLA Style?
When I first learned how to do quotes in MLA, it felt like there were rules for every possible situation and somehow I kept missing the one I needed. But once I got the hang of the basics and understood how to adjust for different types of sources, everything started to click. I’ll take you through the exact steps I follow for quoting in MLA, whether it's a simple book citation or something trickier like a source without an author.
How to Do In-Text Citations in MLA
In-text citations are short references included within the body of your paper. They point to full citations in your Works Cited list and typically include the author's last name and the page number. This helps readers trace your sources quickly without interrupting the flow of your writing.
Step 1: Before you cite, decide how you want to include the source in your writing. MLA handles both methods the same way when it comes to in-text citations, but how you present the information differs:
Paraphrasing: This means rephrasing the author’s ideas in your own words. You still need to cite the source, since the idea isn’t originally yours.
Direct Quoting: This involves using the author’s exact words, placed within quotation marks. Make sure the quote fits naturally into your sentence and cite it right after.
Step 2: Insert the Author’s Last Name and Page Number. For both paraphrases and direct quotes, MLA uses the format (Author Page). Take a look at the quotes in MLA examples below to see exactly how proper in-text citation should be formatted.
It took me a while to stop adding commas, “p.” before page numbers, or placing citations outside punctuation, all things I picked up from mixing up citation styles like APA. At first, I’d go back and forth between sources trying to remember which format used what. But once I focused on MLA’s clean and simple approach, it made my citations not only correct but visually neater.
How to Format Works Cited Entries in MLA
Works Cited entries appear at the end of your paper and provide the full details of every source you cited in-text. Each entry allows readers to locate the original source themselves. MLA has specific formatting rules for these entries, from punctuation and title styling to indentation and line spacing.
Step 1: Type “Works Cited” at the top of the page and center it. Don’t bold, italicize, or underline it as MLA keeps headings simple and clean.
Step 2: Highlight the full citation entry, then right-click and choose “Paragraph” from the menu. This will open a settings window where you can adjust indentation and spacing options.
Step 3: In the Paragraph window, set up the formatting like this:
Under Line spacing, choose “Multiple” from the dropdown, and type 2 in the box next to it.
Under Indentation, set “Special” to Hanging and enter 0.5 inches in the “By” box.
Step 4: List all sources alphabetically by the author’s last name and use the appropriate format for each kind of source: books, articles, websites, etc. Pay close attention to the following formatting rules:
Italicize the titles of longer works such as books, websites, and journals.
Use “quotation marks” for shorter works like articles, essays, and webpages.
End each major element (author, title, publisher, date) with the correct punctuation, usually a period or comma.
It took me a few tries to get the Works Cited section right, not because it was hard, but because the little details kept distracting me. I’d forget the hanging indent, miss italics, or put quotation marks around book titles. But once I understood how MLA treats each element, it started to feel like a system I could trust.
How to Cite Sources with No Author, No Date, or No Page Number
Knowing how to do quotes in MLA for no/multiple authors is essential when working with sources that don’t list complete details. These situations are common, especially with web-based content, but MLA has specific rules to handle them properly. Learning how to cite sources with missing information keeps your work credible and consistent, even when the material isn’t perfectly packaged.
Step 1: When a source doesn’t list an author, use the title in place of the author’s name. For in-text citations, shorten long titles and place them in quotation marks. The full title will appear in the Works Cited entry. See the example below for how this looks in practice.
Step 2: If there are no page numbers, just include the author’s name in your in-text citation. If the author’s name is already mentioned in your sentence, you don’t need to repeat it in parentheses. The examples below show both formats.
Step 3: When the publication date is missing, MLA allows you to include the date you accessed the material. This goes at the end of the Works Cited entry. Below, you’ll see how to format this type of citation cleanly.
I used to avoid using undated sources just because I wasn’t sure how to cite them properly. It felt easier to leave them out than risk getting it wrong. Once I learned that MLA accepts access dates, it made things so much simpler and now I don’t hesitate to include useful sources, even if they’re missing a few details.
Do Quotes in MLA — Best Helper: WPS Office
After finishing my MLA citations, I opened WPS Office to format everything and honestly, I didn’t expect it to handle the details so delicately. Setting up the Works Cited page, applying hanging indents, and adjusting line spacing was all straightforward with no plugins or complicated menus required. What really impressed me was how WPS, despite being free, offered full support for MLA formatting and even included smart AI tools that helped refine my writing as I worked such as the WPS AI Summarizer.
How to Use WPS AI for MLA Citations
Formatting in MLA isn’t just about slapping citations onto the page, it’s about structure, spacing, and those small layout details that make a paper look polished. I’ve used WPS Office long enough to know where things tend to go wrong, like forgetting a hanging indent or using the wrong font. The good news? Once you know where to click, setting up MLA formatting in WPS becomes second nature.
Step 1: Launch WPS Word and open the document you're working on. You can either start fresh or continue editing your existing MLA paper.
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.
I used to rely on random quotes in MLA generator tools just to get through assignments faster but they rarely gave me clean, reliable formatting. What I like about WPS is that it actually goes beyond just spitting out a citation. It helps me structure everything the way MLA expects, from spacing to indentation. Having all of that in one free tool makes a big difference when you're trying to get things done right.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between MLA and APA?
MLA is used for humanities and emphasizes author-page citations. APA, on the other hand, is common in social sciences and uses author-date formats. For example:
MLA: (Johnson 22)
APA: (Johnson, 2022, p. 22)
2. What’s a block quote, and how do I format it?
A block quote in MLA is used for:
Prose: quotes longer than four lines
Verse: quotes longer than three lines
Format:
Introduce with a colon
Start on a new line
Indent 0.5 inches
No quotation marks
Parenthetical citation comes after punctuation
3. Can I use footnotes in MLA?
While not standard, MLA allows footnotes for additional commentary or acknowledgments. In WPS, go to “References” > “Insert Footnote” and type your note. It’s great for extra context without interrupting your main argument.
4. Can WPS Office generate a full MLA Works Cited page?
Yes! WPS not only inserts citations as you write, but it also compiles them into a formatted Works Cited section you can add at the end.
Nailing MLA Quotes with Ease with WPS
Mastering how to do quotes in MLA becomes much more straightforward with a solid grasp of citation rules, including in-text citations, direct quotations, paraphrasing, and formatting the works cited page. Each citation type has its nuances, especially when dealing with missing authors, page numbers, or digital sources.
Using WPS Office adds a major advantage as it’s a free, AI-enhanced writing platform that simplifies MLA formatting from start to finish. With smart citation tools, automatic block quote formatting, and seamless footnote support, WPS helps create polished, properly formatted documents without the need for extra plugins or paid software. It’s a reliable choice for handling MLA quotes with accuracy and ease.
