The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style requires you to create a reference page or bibliography at the end of the article along with in-text citations (bracketed citations). Place an in-text citation at the end of each sentence with the information or opinion you quoted or paraphrased from another source. The basic format for citations in MLA-style text is the author's last name, followed by the page number or page range containing the cited or paraphrased information. However, there are certain situations that require you to change the format.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Author Name-Page Number Format
Step 1. Enter the author's last name and page number in parentheses
To create a citation in basic MLA text, type the author's last name, then insert a space and enter the page number (or page range) that contains the information cited or paraphrased from the original. This quote is placed at the end of the sentence, before the closing punctuation mark (period).
For example: “Louis Armstrong can easily reach high notes that are difficult for other trumpeters (Bergreen 258).”
Tip:
If you mention the author's name in a sentence, you don't need to include it again in parentheses.
Step 2. Add first name initials for authors with the same last name
It's possible that you have multiple reference entries with authors with the same last name, especially if those names are relatively common. Use the initials of the author's first name to distinguish each author so that in-text citations can direct the reader to the appropriate entry on the reference page or bibliography.
For example: “Recording deals are usually negotiated by lawyers and studio executives, not the musicians themselves (R. Stewart 17).”
Step 3. Type both authors' names if the source is written by 2 people
Enter the first author's name, followed by the word " and " (or “and” for Indonesian), then include the second author's name. Write the names in order on the title page or author line of the source text. This order also needs to be applied to entries on the reference page. If the source is text with pages, include the page number after the second author's name.
- For example: “With the explosion of streaming music, record deals had to evolve to incorporate this new method of distribution (Hall and Oates 24).”
- Example in Indonesian: “With the proliferation of music streaming services, record deals need to change in order for this new distribution method to be implemented (Hall and Oates 24).”
Step 4. Follow the first author's name with the phrase "et
al" (or “etc.”) for sources with three or more authors.MLA in-text citations contain a maximum of two authors' names. If the source has 3 or more authors, simply include the name of the first author. However, you still need to mention all the authors' names in the reference entry.
- For example: “In the age of digital music, individual songs have become more important than record sales (McCartney et. al. 37).”
- Example in Indonesian: “In the era of digital music, singles are considered more important than record sales (McCartney et al. 37).”
Step 5. Cite all pages that contain the information you are paraphrasing
Some authors may cover a particular topic in several pages of their book. You don't need to list every occurrence of the topic, but you should include page numbers for the sections you did read. If available, an index on the book can help you with the citation process.
For example: Record labels are worried that digital music will be overblown and end the company's journey (Urban 12, 18, 29-32)
Method 2 of 3: Citing Nonprinting Sources
Step 1. List the first information in the reference entry
If the nonprint source you are using has author information, include the last name in the in-text citation. However, there are many non-print sources that do not include the author's name, such as in books and journal articles. In such a situation, include the first information in the reference entry to direct readers to the correct full citation on the bibliography page.
If you are citing a film, the first information in the reference entry may be the name of the director or the title of the film itself. For example, let's say you want to cite the film Raiders of the Lost Ark directed by Steven Spielberg. If the first information on the entry is the director's name, your in-text citation would look something like this: "(Spielberg)". If the first information on the entry is the title of the movie, your in-text citation would look something like this: "(Raiders)"
Step 2. Ignore the page numbers if the source text is not managed by page
Nonprint sources, including web pages, usually do not have page numbers. Instead of counting paragraphs or using page numbers in computer printing functions, you don't need to include page numbers.
Include the author's last name (in parentheses) or the first information in the reference entry
Step 3. Include citation information in your writing
If you include citation information in written sentences, you don't need in-text citations at all. Readers can find the right reference entry from the information you insert.
For example, the phrase "In Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark, the humble professor shows his desire for adventure" does not require an in-text quote at the end
Tip:
If you are citing a website, do not include the source URL in the article. If you specifically need to provide a reference, use an abbreviated site name, such as CNN.com.
Step 4. List the duration of appearance of the information for the source in the form of media
If you want to quote a specific scene in the source media, rather than the media as a whole, replace the page number with the time in which the information appears (in hours, minutes, and seconds). Separate the start and end points of the information with a hyphen.
For example: Even though Indiana Jones was an adventurer, snakes were her biggest weakness so predictably, she fell into a grave filled with snakes (Spielberg 01:18:43-01:27:32)
Method 3 of 3: Handling Special Situations
Step 1. List editions or chapter numbers for classics
If you're citing a classic or literary work with multiple editions, add identifying information so readers can find the specific paragraph or passage you're referring to, even if they're using different editions. Include the author's name if necessary and the page number, followed by a semicolon. After that, state the edition of the source you used or the chapter number and use the appropriate abbreviation (“ed.” for edition and “ch.” or “chapter” for chapter).
- For example: “Marx and Engels viewed history as a series of class struggles (79; ch. 1).”
- Example in Indonesian: “Marx and Engels saw history as a series of class struggles (79; ch. 1).”
Step 2. Enter a short title when you quote two works by the same author
If the author has produced a fair amount of work and is a leading shop in his field, you may use more than one work that he wrote. Include the author's name, unless his name is already mentioned in the sentence. After that, enter an abbreviated version of the title of the work (usually the first 2-3 words).
For example: “Developmental psychologists initially believed that children could not benefit from using computers (Murray “Too Soon” 38). However, subsequent studies have shown that playing video games promotes better development of small motor skills (Murray "Hand-Eye Development" 17).”
Tip:
For the title of the work, use the same format as the title format of the reference entry. In general, book titles should be italicized, while short article titles should be enclosed in quotation marks.
Step 3. Separate multiple sources within the same citation using semicolons
If you have a sentence that combines information or opinions from several sources, the in-text citation at the end of the sentence should include those sources. Type in the first source, insert a semicolon, then add the second source.
For example: Children interact better with tablets or touch-screen devices than desktop computers that require a keyboard and mouse (Murray 17; Smith 37)
Step 4. Simplify previously cited citations from the same source if possible
If you cite the same source multiple times in succession without being interspersed with other sources, you can simplify subsequent in-text citations after the first citation has been made.
- For example, if you include the author's last name and page number in the first citation, just use the page number in subsequent citations.
- If the source text does not have page numbers, you cannot simplify subsequent citations.
Step 5. Change the citation format when you quote information from the Bible
You may not usually have a Bible entry on the reference page. Therefore, include the title of the version of the Bible used in the in-text citation, followed by the book, chapter, and verse.
For example: The prophet Ezekiel mentions four creatures, each with the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (New Jerusalem Bible, Ezek. 1.5-10)
Step 6. Use the abbreviation " qtd
in " (or the phrase “quoted from”) to cite an indirect source.If the source used contains quotes or paraphrases from other writings, try to find the original source. If the original is not available, use indirect citations as a last resort. Explain to in-text citations that the words you use are not directly from the original author. Also, list the sources you show in the reference entry, and not the original source of the information.
- For example: “Lennon argued that all problems of the world could be solved if they were approached with love (qtd. in Starr 22)”.
- Example in Indonesian: “Lennon argues that all problems in the world can be solved by using an approach with love (quoted from Starr 22)”.
