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MLA Citations

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Using Citations in a Paper

An MLA paper follows MLA style. MLA style shows you how to cite your sources AND how to set up your paper. MLA style papers are double spaced and typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font. MLA papers may include In-text citations which show the sources for your quotes and information. Sometimes, you may have a quote that is four or more sentences. If so, you will indent the entire quote and place the period before the parenthesis/page number instead of after it. In-text citations like this POINT to the full citations on your Works Cited page. The Works Cited page is at the end of your paper. It shows readers where to look for more information on your topic. Each citation points to a specific source.

Parts of an In-Text Citation

In-text citations are placed inside your paper where you actually use the information from the source.  Whether you use a direct quote or summarize the information in your own words, you need to include an in-text citation.  Find examples of in-text citations on the "Authors" page in this LibGuide.  

For an in-text citation, the author's name can be used in the introduction to the quote. For example, you might write Solomon highlights the efforts of an Indian woman in New Delhi to obtain clean water, and then begin your quote describing these efforts. Quotation marks show what part of the text is directly quoted from the source. If you leave out part of the quote, you can use ellipses, or three periods, to indicate some of the quote has been omitted on purpose. Following the closing quotation mark, you place the page number where the quote was found in parenthesis followed by the period ending the sentence.

Parts of a Citation in a Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page shows the full information on the sources you used.  Citations will be different depending on the type of source. Find examples of citations for various sources using the menu on the left.

A citation on your works cited page will include the Author of the work, the title, the publication location, publisher, date, and format of the work. For examples, check out the other pages of this guide.

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