How do you cite authors in MLA?
MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith).Aug 24, 2022
Include last name of both authors connected by the word 'and', followed by the page number (no comma before the page number) in parentheses. Include the first author's last name followed by 'et al. ' and the page number (no comma before the page number) in parentheses.Sep 23, 2022
For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author's last name, and replace the additional names with et al.
Using et al.
In MLA style, always use “et al.” for sources with three or more authors. This applies to both MLA in-text citations and the Works Cited list.Feb 17, 2020
A Work by Three or More Authors
List only the first author's name followed by “et al.” in every citation, even the first, unless doing so would create ambiguity between different sources. In et al., et should not be followed by a period. Only "al" should be followed by a period.
In-text Citations
- 1 Author or No Author. You only need the author's last name and the page number. (Burke 3)
- 2 Authors. Connect both authors' last names with and, and include the page number. (Best and Marcus 9)
- 3 or More Authors. Use the first author's last name and et al., and include the page number. (Franck et al. 327)
Always list the author's surname before listing his or her initials. You only need to provide initials for the first and middle names, but do include initials for all middle names provided by the source. Include a comma after every last name and in-between different authors' names. Include a period after every initial.Feb 24, 2021
The in-text citation should occur in the sentence where the cited material has been used:
- Signal phrase reference (author's name) appears within the sentence with page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
- Full parenthetical reference (author last name and page number) appears at the end of the sentence.
In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8). If the author's name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the works cited list, such as quotation marks.Oct 18, 2022
Author Last name, First name Middle name or initial. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Date, Pages (pp.). Example: Corak, Miles.Apr 6, 2021
Author, F. M. (Publication year). Title of dissertation/thesis (Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis). Retrieved from Name of database.