Start by making a source record for every book, article, website, video, or database page you use: write down the author, title, publication details, page number if available, and URL or DOI. That one habit makes how to cite sources in MLA format much easier because you will have the details needed for both your in-text citations and your Works Cited page. Do this before you close a browser tab or return a library book.
MLA style, commonly used in English and humanities classes, has two connected parts. An in-text citation tells readers which source supports a sentence or quotation. The Works Cited page at the end gives readers the full publication information. Each in-text citation must point to a matching Works Cited entry.
How to cite sources in MLA format in your paper
Use an in-text citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or closely discuss someone else’s ideas. A citation usually includes the author’s last name and the relevant page number in parentheses. Do not put a comma between them.
Here is the basic pattern: (Author page number). For example: Reading fiction can develop a reader’s sense of perspective (Nguyen 42).
If you name the author in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses: Nguyen argues that fiction can develop a reader’s sense of perspective (42). Both forms are correct. Choose the one that reads more naturally.
Place the citation after the borrowed material and before the final period. With a block quotation, the period comes before the parenthetical citation because the quotation is already set off from your own sentence.
You do not need a page number for many web sources because they have no stable pages. Cite the author’s name instead: Sleep habits can affect classroom attention (Patel). If the web source has numbered paragraphs, sections, or timestamps and those details would help a reader find the material, you may include them when appropriate. Do not invent page numbers.
In-text citation examples
| Source situation | MLA in-text citation |
|---|---|
| One author, page available | (Garcia 118) |
| Author named in your sentence | Garcia explains that… (118) |
| Two authors | (Chen and Roberts 56) |
| Three or more authors | (Williams et al. 9) |
| No author, use a shortened title | (Urban Gardens 14) |
| Web page with no page numbers | (Holloway) |
| Two works by the same author | (Morrison, Beloved 72) |
| Time-based media | (Hidden Rivers 00:18:34-00:19:02) |
For a source without a named author, use the first item from its Works Cited entry. This is often a shortened version of the title. Put a shortened article or webpage title in quotation marks. Italicize a shortened book, journal, film, or website title. The wording in the parentheses must clearly match the beginning of the Works Cited entry.
For a direct quotation, give the page number whenever one exists. A paraphrase also needs a citation. Changing a few words does not make an idea yours. Put the source into your own sentence structure, explain why it matters, and cite it.
Use quotation marks around prose quotations of fewer than four lines. For four or more lines of prose, use a block quotation: begin it on a new line, indent the whole passage one-half inch, and omit quotation marks. Keep the parenthetical citation after the ending punctuation. Block quotes should be rare. Most essays are clearer when your own analysis takes up more space than quoted text.
Build the Works Cited page
Put the Works Cited page on a new page after the last page of your essay. Center the heading Works Cited without bold, italics, quotation marks, or an underline. List entries alphabetically by the first element of each entry, usually the author’s last name. Use double spacing throughout unless your instructor gives different directions.
Each entry uses a hanging indent. The first line begins at the left margin, and every later line is indented one-half inch. In most word processors, choose paragraph settings and select “hanging” indentation instead of pressing the spacebar repeatedly.
MLA’s core entry pattern is useful when you are unsure where to start: author; title of source; title of container; other contributors; version; number; publisher; publication date; location. You will not use every element every time. A simple webpage may need only an author, page title, website title, date, and URL. A journal article found in a database often needs the article title, journal title, volume, issue, year, page range, database name, and DOI or stable URL.
Use the details that identify the exact source you read. Do not copy citation information blindly from a search result, a random citation generator, or a different edition of the same book. Check the title page, article record, or webpage itself. Citation tools can save time, but they can miss an author, capitalize titles incorrectly, or use outdated formatting.
Common Works Cited patterns
A book with one author usually follows this pattern: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. For example: Garcia, Elena. Reading Across Borders. Northstar Press, 2023.
An article from a journal follows this pattern: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. number, no. number, year, pp. page range. DOI or URL. Keep the article title in quotation marks and italicize the journal title.
A webpage usually follows this pattern: Last Name, First Name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, publication date, URL. If no individual author is listed, begin with the page title. If no date appears, leave it out rather than guessing. MLA generally prefers a DOI when one is available for a scholarly article. Otherwise, use a stable URL when possible.
For an online video, begin with the creator or account name if it is useful for identification, then give the video title, the platform, date, and URL. For a film or episode, list the title first if that is the element your reader will use to locate it. The goal is not to force every source into one rigid template. The goal is to give enough accurate information for someone else to find the same source.
Check citations before submitting
First, scan every quotation and borrowed claim in your draft. Ask, “Can a reader tell where this came from?” Add an in-text citation where the answer is no. Next, compare every parenthetical citation with the Works Cited page. If you cite (Garcia 118), there must be an entry beginning with Garcia. If a source appears on Works Cited but never appears in the essay, remove it unless your instructor specifically asks for a bibliography.
Then check formatting. MLA papers commonly use readable 12-point type, one-inch margins, double spacing, and page numbers with your last name in the upper-right header. Your teacher may require a particular font, title format, or URL treatment. Follow the assignment sheet when it differs from a general MLA rule.
Finally, read the paragraph around each citation. A source should support your point, not replace it. Introduce the source when context matters, explain the evidence in your own words, and make clear how it connects to your claim.
Frequently asked questions
Do I cite a source if I paraphrase it?
Yes. A paraphrase restates another person’s idea in your own words, but the idea still came from that source. Cite the author and page number when a page number exists. Quotation marks are only for exact wording.
What if a source has no author?
Use a shortened title in the in-text citation and begin the Works Cited entry with the title. Use quotation marks for short works such as articles and webpages. Italicize titles of longer works such as books, websites, films, and journals.
Do websites need page numbers in MLA citations?
No. Most webpages do not have stable page numbers. Use the author’s last name if one is available. If there is no author, use a shortened title that matches the Works Cited entry.
Can I use a citation generator?
Yes, as a draft tool. Check every result against the source itself and your school’s current MLA guidance. Pay close attention to author names, title capitalization, dates, italics, page ranges, and whether the generator cited the exact edition or webpage you used.
How many sources should I cite?
Cite every outside source that you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or rely on for factual claims that are not common knowledge. The total number depends on the assignment. A research paper may require a minimum number of sources, while a short response may use only one or two.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not academic, admissions, or legal advice. Tool features, detection accuracy, and academic integrity policies change, so always verify current guidelines with your school or the official tool provider before making a decision.