MLA Citation & Formatting: Citing Sources

In-Text Citation

Brief reference to an author’s work in the body of your paper, pointing your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. MLA Style uses author-page format. APA style uses author-date format.

-or-

Footnotes and Endnotes

Notes placed at the bottom of a page or at the end of a chapter or a project with complete citation information. Chicago Notes and Bibliography (NB) style requires these instead of in-text citations.

-and-

List of cited works

List of full citations for all resources used, arranged alphabetically by authors’ last names. MLA style refers to this as Works Cited. APA Style and Chicago Author-Date style refer to this as References. Chicago NB style refers to this as Bibliography.

Do Cite It:

...when you quote or paraphrase someone else's words, ideas, analysis, or opinions

...when you use data collected or created by someone else

...when you use someone else's images or illustrations

Don't Cite It: 

...when information is common knowledge, something your reader already knows

...when you use data you collected yourself, like an informal student poll or survey

...when you use your own images or illustrations

Quoting & Paraphrasing

Quoting: using exact words from a source

• short quotations (40 or fewer words) should be enclosed in quotation marks and followed by an in-text citation
• long quotations (more than 40 words) should be placed in block format, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch, without quotation marks, and followed by an in-text citation
• quotes should always be attributed to the original author with an in-text citation

Paraphrasing: restating someone else's ideas in your own words

• a paraphrase is usually shorter than the original passage because it involves condensing an idea
• do this to summarize or to focus on an important point
• a paraphrase is preferable to a quotation because it is presented in the context of your argument and in your own writing style
• paraphrases should always be attributed to the original author with an in-text citation

Quote when the exact wording is important to retain meaning:

• when you’re reproducing an exact definition

• when you can’t say the same thing more memorably or more succinctly

• when you want to respond to the author’s direct wording to strengthen your argument

Paraphrase to restate in your own words

• summarize and synthesize ideas when you can

• adapt the information to the context of your paper

• retain your own writing style