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In-text Citations
For one author, quoted: Instead of choosing to write about something just because it seems easy, “it’s generally best to write about a topic that you feel strongly about” (Meyer 9).
For two or three authors, paraphrased: According to researchers, advertisers like to use animated mascots instead of real celebrities because cartoons are cheaper and easier to control (Solomon and Gajilan 154).
Four or more authors: Use only the first one’s last name followed by “et al.”
For example: (Avinger et al.26).
Unknown author: Use one or two identifying words from the title.
For example: (“High
Cost” np)
(Note
that np stands for “not paginated,” often used for websites.)
Book with one author:
Meyer, Michael. Thinking and Writing about Literature. Boston: Bedford,
1995.
(This book was published in Boston by Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press.)
Work from an anthology, two authors:
Solomon, Jolie, and Arlyn Tobias Gajilan. “A Tale of a Tail.” Mirror on
America: Short Essays
and Images from Popular Culture. Ed. Joan T. Mims and Elizabeth M. Nollen.
Boston: Bedford, 2000. 152-55.
(Ed. means "edited by" in this position.)
Article from a journal, four or more authors:
Avinger, Charles, et al. “Ideas in Practice: Writing Centers for the 21st
Century.” Journal of Developmental Education 21.3 (1998): 26-30.
(21.3 means volume 21, issue number 3.)
Website, author unknown:
“The High Cost of Wal-Mart Prices.” Wal-Mart Watch. 5 Feb. 2003.
http://www.walmartwatch.com/bad/
(The researcher accessed the website on Feb. 5, 2003.)
For more information on MLA formatting, visit http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocMLA.html