MLA In-Text Citations
Mrs. Lane
Types of In-Text Citations
Direct Quote
Paraphrase/Summary
Key Words/Phrases
Indirect Quotes
Direct Quotes
Short
Long
Signal phrase with author’s name
Short Quote Basic Format
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” (Someone 23).
“Quote Dump” (Floating Quote): When you
include a quote without preparing your reader
for the quote—it’s just a random quote.
According to researchers, “xxxxxxxxxxxx”
(Someone 23).
According to Someone, “xxxxxxxxxxxx” (23).
According to Someone, “xxxxxxxxxxxx”, but
the opposite seems true (23).
Electronic In-text Citations
For electronic in-text citations, you need only list the
citation information that matches the first set of
information listed on the works cited page (author, title
of article, website—do not incl. url—http://)
“xxxxxxxxxxxxx”(Someone).
“xxxxxxxxxxxxx”(“Title of Article”).
“xxxxxxxxxxxxxx”(USHMM.org).
**Remember, whatever is listed first on the Works
Cited for that entry has to match what is inside the
parenthesis
Long Quotes
Definition of long quotes: a quote that is longer
than 3 lines
Sample long quote
Paraphrase/Summary
You must cite the source you paraphrase and
summarize the same way you would cite a direct
quote (but don’t use quotation marks).
Key Words/Phrases
If you want to use word-for-word phrases that the
author uses, you must put the word-for-word terms or
phrases in quotes.
For example, “cyber junkies” is a phrase or a term that
someone else coined (created) and I want to use it in
the same way, but I didn’t think of it, so I have to cite
it.
The first time I use “cyber junkie” I have to give the
citation information. Each time I use “cyber junkie,” I
have to keep it in quotes, but I don’t have to keep citing
it.
Indirect Quotes
Indirect quotes are quotes that your author used
in his/her paper (a quote of a quote).
Example:
Martha Hirschbaum said, “I was never again as
scared as I was that day” (qtd. in Smithson 22).