MLA style uses a combination of parenthetical in-text references and a separate Works Cited section listing full citations. The idea here is to give a concise reference within the body of the text that provides the reader with enough direction to find the full citation information in the Works Cited. This offers a more streamlined reading experience than using footnotes.
The format of the in-text citations varies depending on the type of source you are citing and the structure of the sentence containing it. Generally speaking, an in-text citation includes author name(s) and page number(s):
Huck's entanglement with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons offers a ripped-from-the-headlines satire of 'blood feuds' like the real-life interfamily war between the Hatfields and McCoys (Long 54).
If the author is included in the sentence itself, a page number is sufficient for the parenthetical reference:
As Long demonstrates, Huck's entanglement with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons offers a ripped-from-the-headlines satire of 'blood feuds' like the real-life interfamily war between the Hatfields and McCoys (54).
If, in a single essay, you cite multiple works by the same author, it becomes necessary to distinguish between them with more than just an author name and page number. Continuing with our example of Long's analysis of Huckleberry Finn, if we planned to cite an additional article by Long, we would amend our in-text citation accordingly to include an abbreviated version of the article's title. Here, you want to keep it brief but provide enough information for the reader to find the full citation in your Works Cited.
Author not mentioned in sentence:
Huck's entanglement with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons offers a ripped-from-the-headlines satire of 'blood feuds' like the real-life interfamily war between the Hatfields and McCoys (Long, "Blood on the Hills" 54).
Author mentioned in sentence:
As Long demonstrates, Huck's entanglement with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons offers as a ripped-from-the-headlines satire of 'blood feuds' like the real-life interfamily war between the Hatfields and McCoys ("Blood on the Hills" 54).
For examples of how in-text references Works Cited sections interact, check out some of the 'Sample Papers' linked in the lefthand box on this page.
NoodleTools is a citation management tool that the library subscribes to for all NMC users. It offers simple step-by-step guidance through the process of citing and annotating sources, and creating works cited or bibliography pages.
MLA Handbook by