Which sentence uses the correct mla in text citation – MLA in-text citations are an essential part of academic writing. They allow you to give credit to the sources you use in your paper and help readers to find the original sources if they want to learn more. But how do you know if you’re using MLA in-text citations correctly? This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about MLA in-text citations, including examples of correct and incorrect citations.
MLA In-Text Citations: Which Sentence Uses The Correct Mla In Text Citation
In-text citations provide brief references to sources used in academic writing. They allow readers to identify and locate the original sources of information and ideas.
Books
For books, include the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number(s) in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase. For example:
- (Smith, 2023, p. 10)
Articles
For articles, include the author’s last name, year of publication, and journal title (abbreviated) in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase. For example:
- (Jones, 2022, Journal of Applied Linguistics)
Websites
For websites, include the author’s name (if available), year of publication, and website title in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase. For example:
- (Brown, 2021, MLA Style Center)
Punctuation
In MLA in-text citations, commas are used to separate the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number(s). Periods are used to end the citation. Quotation marks are used around direct quotes.
Parenthetical Citations
Parenthetical citations are placed within the text itself, immediately after the quote or paraphrase. They provide the same information as in-text citations, but they do not use signal phrases.
Signal Phrases
Signal phrases introduce in-text citations and provide context for the quoted or paraphrased material. They help readers understand the source of the information and how it relates to the writer’s argument.
Examples and Counter-Examples, Which sentence uses the correct mla in text citation
| Correct | Incorrect | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| (Smith, 2023, p. 10) | (Smith, 2023) | Missing page number |
| (Jones, 2022, Journal of Applied Linguistics) | (Jones, 2022, Journal of Applied Linguistics, p. 15) | Redundant page number |
Additional Resources
FAQ Insights
What is an MLA in-text citation?
An MLA in-text citation is a brief reference to a source that you have used in your paper. It includes the author’s last name and the page number of the source.
When do I need to use an MLA in-text citation?
You need to use an MLA in-text citation whenever you use information from a source in your paper. This includes direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.
How do I format an MLA in-text citation?
The format of an MLA in-text citation is (Author’s last name page number). For example, if you are using a source by the author Smith and the information you are using is on page 123, the in-text citation would be (Smith 123).
