MLA In-Text Citation Examples

  • In MLA in-text citations, include the author’s name(s) and the page number in parentheses, with an option for an abbreviated author.
  • When citing sources with three or more authors, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” in parenthetical citations, and “and colleagues” or “and others” in narrative citations, along with the page number.
  • For a corporate or group author, use the full name in the narrative and a shortened form in parentheses.
  • In the absence of an author, use the source’s title in both narrative and parentheses, with an abbreviated title and page number in parentheses and the full title in the narrative.

SINGLE AUTHOR

Citing a source with one author, include the author’s name and page number either within the narrative or in parentheses at the end of the quote. When integrated into the narrative, use the full author’s name.

Narrative
According to Jane Morrison, the impact of climate change is evident in rising sea levels (42).
Structure
Author First Name(s) and/or Initial(s) Author Surname (Page number)
Parenthetical
The impact of climate change is evident in rising sea levels (Morrison 42).
Structure
(Author Surname Page number)

TWO AUTHORS

Citing a source with two authors involves including both names and the page number. When integrated into the narrative, use the full author’s names. 

Narrative
Paul Johnson and Anthony Rodriguez contend that interpreting a literary work should focus on understanding its underlying themes rather than solely on deciphering its explicit meaning (122).
Structure
Author 1 First Name(s) and/or Initial(s] Author 1 Surname and Author 2 First Name(s) and/or Initial(s) Author 2 Surname (Page number)
Parenthetical
The researchers assert that a superficial analysis involves examining only what is “apparent” (Johnson and Rodriguez 122).
Structure
(Author 1 Surname and Author 2 Surname Page number)

THREE OR MORE AUTHORS 

For sources with three or more authors, include details for the first author, use ‘et al.’ in parenthetical citations, and use ‘and colleagues’ in narratives, along with the relevant page number. When integrated into the narrative, use the full author’s names. 

Narrative
According to John Whittle and colleagues the new research findings support the hypothesis (56).
Structure
Author 1 First Name(s) and/or Initial(s) Author 1 Surname and colleagues (Page number)
Parenthetical
The hypothesis is supported by the new research findings (Bressel et al. 56).
Structure
(Author 1 Surname et al. Page number)

CORPORATE OR GROUP AUTHOR

The narrative in-text citation typically uses the full name of the corporate or organizational author, while the parenthetical may use a shortened form of the name.

Narrative
The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends a standardized approach to citation (25).
Structure
Corporate Author Name (Page number)
Parenthetical
This approach has been widely adopted (APA 30)
Structure
(Shortened Corporate Author Name Page number)

NO AUTHORS

If there’s no author, we use the source title for in-text citations. In parentheses, use an abbreviated version of the title, and in the narrative use the full title.

Narrative
The study Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Considerations in Modern Society explores the ethical implications of AI in various contexts, highlighting the challenges society faces (32).
Structure
Full Title (Page number)
Parenthetical
Ethical considerations surrounding AI are a growing concern (AI Ethics 45).
Structure
(Abbreviated title Page number)

Following the rules of MLA in-text citations is important, and it means sticking to a specific way of mentioning the author’s full name and the page number in brackets.

The MLA format also lets you use shorter versions of the author’s name inside the brackets, making citations shorter and clearer.

So, in MLA style, it’s crucial to stick to this structured way of citing sources, using the author’s name and page number in brackets, and you can also use shorter author names for simplicity.

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Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)

Tomas Elliott is an assistant Professor of English at Northeastern University London. His research specialisms include the history of theatre and film, European modernism, world literature, film adaptation, transmedia studies and citation practices. He read English and French Literature at Trinity College, Oxford, before completing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn how to cite in MLA