Every time you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source in an MLA paper, you need to tell your reader where that information came from. That’s where an in-text citation comes in, providing a brief parenthetical note pointing back to the full source listed on your Works Cited page. Instead of providing complete publication details in the text, MLA uses a concise citation that usually includes the author’s last name and a page number, when available.

This guide covers MLA 9th edition in-text citations from the basic format through the situations that trip students up most, such as multiple authors, missing information, and block quotes.

The basic MLA in-text citation format

The standard MLA in-text citation format is:

(Author’s Last Name Page Number)

For example:

Eyewitness accounts of the Mothman often describe glowing red eyes and a wingspan of seven feet or more (Keel 42).

Here, Keel is the author’s last name, and 42 is the page number. Notice the MLA does not use a comma between the author’s last name and the page number.

Citing direct quotations

Whenever you use a source’s exact wording, place the quoted material in quotation marks and include the citation. The citation appears after the quotation and before the sentence-ending period.

Example: It’s worth noting “the pattern of sightings defies easy explanation” (Keel 24).

Direct quote example (narrative citation)

Keel writes that “the sightings began weeks before the disaster, though no one connected them at the time” (58).

Because the author’s name already appears in the sentence – a narrative citation – only the page number is included in the parenthetical.

Citing sources with two authors

When a source has two authors, include both last names connected by “and.”

Example: Local accounts of the Mothman sightings were collected and cross-referenced over several decades (Sergent and Wamsley 19).

Citing sources with three or more authors

For works with three or more authors, MLA 9th edition uses only the first author’s last name followed by et al., meaning “and others.”

Example: Field reports from the region continue to attract interest from researchers across multiple disciplines (Sergent et al. 114).

Citing sources without an author

Some sources don’t identify an author. In these cases, use a shortened version of the title.

Example (article): Several theories have emerged to explain the pattern of sightings (“Mothman Sightings” 12).

Example (book): The legend has remained part of regional folklore for decades (Mothman: The Facts Behind the Legend 89).

Use quotation marks for shorter works, such as articles, and italics for longer works, such as books.

Citing multiple sources at once

Sometimes a statement is supported by more than one source. In these cases, separate the sources with semicolons within a single set of parentheses.

Example: Several independent accounts describe similar physical characteristics (Keel 42; Sergent and Wamsley 19; Cline 27).

Citing online sources without page numbers

Many online sources don’t provide page numbers. When that’s the case, include only the author’s name or the title.

Example: Interest in the Mothman legend has grown steadily alongside broader cultural fascination with cryptids (Cline).

Example (no author): Tourism around Point Pleasant continues to grow each year (“Mothman Festival Draws Record Crowds”).

When page numbers are unavailable, MLA allows other location markers when they are provided by the source and will help readers find the cited material. Examples include chapter numbers, book numbers, act and scene numbers, line numbers for poetry, and timestamps for audiovisual sources.

Repeated references to the same source

When discussing a source repeatedly, make sure readers can clearly identify where each piece of information came from.

Example: Keel explains that the sightings followed a consistent pattern across multiple witnesses (34). He further notes that local authorities were initially reluctant to investigate (37).

Provide citations often enough that readers can easily determine which source supports each idea, even when you’re discussing the same source across several sentences.

Citing block quotations in MLA

For prose quotations longer than four typed lines, MLA requires a block quotation. A block quotation should:

• Begin on a new line
• Be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin
• Be double-spaced
• Omit quotation marks
• Include the citation after the final punctuation mark

MLA also requires block formatting for quotations of more than three lines of poetry. Block quotations should generally be used only when the exact wording is particularly important to your discussion. Most of the time, paraphrasing is the better choice.

Common MLA in-text citation mistakes

• Omitting citations for paraphrased information
• Using a comma between the author’s name and page number
• Including first names instead of last names
• Forgetting quotation marks around direct quotations
• Using incorrect page numbers
• Failing to include a Works Cited entry for every cited source
• Inconsistent formatting across the paper

Careful proofreading can catch most of these before submission.

MLA in-text citation checklist

Before submitting your paper, make sure you can answer “yes” to each of the following:

• Have you cited every quotation, paraphrase, and summary?
• Have you included author names whenever available?
• Have you included page numbers whenever the source provides them?
• Have you used et al. correctly for works with three or more authors?
• Does every in-text citation correspond to a Works Cited entry?
• Is your formatting consistent throughout the paper?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic MLA in-text citation format?

The standard MLA citation includes the author’s last name and page number.

Do MLA citations use commas?

No. MLA does not place a comma between the author’s name and the page number. (Keel 42) is correct: (Keel, 42) is not.

What if a source has no page numbers?

If a source does not have page numbers, use another location marker only if the source provides one, and it will help readers find the cited material. Examples include chapter numbers, line numbers for poetry, or timestamps for audiovisual sources. If no useful location information is available, cite only the author's name or a shortened title if there is no author.

What if a source has no author?

Use a shortened version of the title in your citation. Place the title in quotation marks for shorter works such as articles, or italicized for longer works like books.

Do all in-text citations need a Works Cited entry?

Yes. Every source cited within the text should have a corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

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