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Most students understand the basics of plagiarism, but many don’t realize that a strong citation has two equally important parts—and leaving out either one can weaken the credibility of their work. Citations aren’t just something you tack on at the end; in‑text citations are just as essential as the full entries in your Works Cited list. Recognizing these two parts is the foundation of accurate source use. Many students—especially those introduced to citation in middle or high school—still believe that an in‑text citation is only needed when directly quoting. That’s a common misconception. Any time you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote someone else’s ideas, you must include an in‑text citation.

In MLA style, a citation consists of two connected components. The first is the Works Cited entry, listed alphabetically at the end of your paper and containing full publication details. The second is the in‑text citation, which appears within your writing and points readers to the exact source you used. Every in‑text citation should match a corresponding Works Cited entry, creating a clear, reliable trail between your ideas and the evidence supporting them. Together, these two components show readers exactly where your information comes from and uphold academic integrity. In fact, one of the most important functions of an in‑text citation is that it acts as a bridge, connecting the ideas in your paper to the complete source information on your Works Cited page (see Fig. 1).

Works Cited Page In-text citations connections

Fig. 1. The connection between the in-text citation in MLA format and the list of Works Cited sources used at the end of a paper.

Over-Quoting

Some students may think copying and pasting information from sources and adding a few transitions is an excellent way to present their findings, but this is not recommended. It is essential to restate the information in one's own words through paraphrasing and synthesis.

Paraphrasing means explaining a concept without using direct quotations, which results in a more general and understandable description of the material. By breaking down complex information into a more accessible format, paraphrasing can help clarify ideas.

Example of the original text

"The weather was very rainy, so he packed accordingly. He brought rain boots, an umbrella, and a waterproof jacket. Although there was heavy cloud cover, the news said it would lighten up by the afternoon, so he packed his favorite sunglasses."

Example of paraphrasing from the original text

He packed ahead for the rainy day and brought sunglasses in case it turned out to be sunny.

Ways to Include In-Text Citations in MLA

Parenthetical Citation:

A parenthetical citation, also called an information-prominent citation, highlights the cited information. It must be included within the punctuation of the sentence or portion thereof to which the citation pertains. As an illustration, consider the following: … as evidenced by a recent survey (Brown and White) and demonstrated in the literature (Hess 194).

Narrative Citation:

When using a narrative citation, also known as an author-prominent citation, the focus is on the author of the work being referenced. This type of citation can add some diversity to your writing and is more suitable for an oral presentation than a citation at the end of the sentence. For instance, Matt Westley researched epidemiological samples and found that...

Alternatively, the lessons provided by Matt Westley regarding epidemiological samples indicated that...(24).

Problems Distinguishing Outside Material from Their Work

Students often summarize external information into a single paragraph and provide a citation at the end, which can make it difficult for readers to distinguish between the researched and non-researched parts of the paragraph. The approach to addressing this issue may vary depending on the instructor. However, at LSSC, librarians use the "Mention-Citation Sandwich" method, developed by Jacklyn Pierce. Here's an example of a summarized source presented in MLA format.

Many jobs in the United States require college degrees. Research shows that from 2010 to 2016, 99% of jobs were filled by candidates with college degrees. A high school diploma is only valid 25% of the time. Employers will hire someone with a higher degree over someone with only a high school degree 75% of the time. As millions of jobs in the United States increasingly require a college degree, the opportunities for those without a college education are becoming more complex (Smith 25).

In the example, the citation for "Smith" at the end of the paragraph creates confusion for the readers. It must be clear which parts of the paragraph belong to the student and which parts belong to the author, Smith. The "mention-citation sandwich" model suggests that you mention the author's name in a signal phrase at the beginning of the cited material and then provide a parenthetical reference at the end of the paraphrased material. By following this model, you can ensure your writing remains unambiguous.

Many jobs in the United States require college degrees. According to John Smith from Georgetown University, research shows that from 2010 to 2016, 99% of jobs were filled by candidates with college degrees (25). Another study shows that a high school diploma is only valid 25% of the time. Employers will hire someone with a higher degree over someone with only a high school degree 75% of the time. As millions of jobs in the United States increasingly require college degrees, the window of opportunity for those without a college education is shrinking (Smith 25).

Problems Formatting the In-Text Citation

The rules for creating an in-text citation in any of the most common styles indicate that we use whatever element appears first in the citation list at the end of the paper. Consider this MLA Works Cited page:

Works Cited example

Fig. 2. Drawing a line or arrow down the left-hand margin helps students visualize where their in-text citations should come from.

The blue arrow on the left margin (as shown in Figure 2) serves as a visual aid to determine where to extract the information. It is important to note that the left-hand margin always takes precedence. This is particularly easy to follow when dealing with simple citations, as shown in the example below.

Smith, John. The Importance of College. Georgetown UP, 2017.

When citing a book with an author, including the proper citation is easy. However, according to Pierce, the process becomes more complicated when citing a website without an author.

"The Importance of Higher Education in the 21st Century." Vista College, 26 Nov. 2019, www.vistacollege.edu/blog/resources/higher-education-in-the-21st-century/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

According to Pierce, using an in-text citation format that grabs the citation from the left margin, while technically accurate, can sound awkward in the text. Instead, when citing the title of a work within the text, it is sufficient to use just a few identifying words in the citation. For example:

According to "The Importance," "people with some form of higher education earn more money and have a lower probability of unemployment."

Pierce suggests combining a signal phrase with a parenthetical reference to create a complete and proper citation, as the current version appears awkward despite being technically correct.

According to Vista College, "people with some form of higher education earn more money and have a lower probability of unemployment" ("The Importance").