What Is The Correct Book In Text Citation For MLA Format?

I’ve had to use MLA format more times than I can count. The correct way to cite a book in-text using MLA is straightforward once you get the hang of it. You include the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence where the reference appears. For example, if you’re quoting from 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the quote is on page 45, your citation would look like this: (Fitzgerald 45). No comma separates the name and page number, and the period goes after the closing parenthesis. This method keeps the flow of your writing smooth while giving credit where it’s due.

There are a few nuances to keep in mind. If the author’s name is already mentioned in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in the citation. For instance, if you write, 'Fitzgerald describes the green light as a symbol of hope (45),' the reader knows the source from the context. For books with two authors, list both last names, like (Smith and Jones 112). If there are three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by 'et al.,' as in (Lee et al. 203). This keeps citations concise without sacrificing clarity.

When citing a book with no known author, use a shortened version of the title in place of the author’s name. For example, a citation for 'A Guide to Medieval Life' would be ('Guide' 78). Make sure the title is italicized in your Works Cited page but not in the in-text citation. For translated works, credit the original author, not the translator, in the citation. If you’re citing multiple works by the same author, include a shortened title to distinguish them, like (Orwell, '1984' 120) and (Orwell, 'Animal Farm' 45). MLA is all about consistency and clarity, so as long as your reader can easily find the source in your Works Cited list, you’re on the right track.