MLA In-Text Citations
Master MLA (9th edition) in-text citations with this complete guide. Learn the correct format for every scenario, including single and multiple authors, direct quotes, and sources with missing information.
In-Text Citation Rules
Below are the MLA in-text citation rules for every common scenario you will encounter when writing your paper.
Single Author
(Smith 15)
Two Authors
(Smith and Jones 15)
Three or More Authors
(Smith et al. 15)
Direct Quote
(Smith 15) — include the page number for both direct quotes and paraphrases when available
No Author
("Article Title" 15) — use a shortened title in quotation marks
No Date
MLA does not use dates in in-text citations; use (Author Page) format
Quick Examples
Here are real-world MLA in-text citation examples for different source types:
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Cite in MLA Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I format an MLA in-text citation?
- For a single author in MLA, use the format (Smith 15). For two authors, use (Smith and Jones 15). For three or more authors, use (Smith et al. 15).
- How do I cite a direct quote in MLA?
- For direct quotes in MLA (9th edition), use the format: (Smith 15) — include the page number for both direct quotes and paraphrases when available.
- What if there is no author or no date in MLA?
- When there is no author in MLA, use: ("Article Title" 15) — use a shortened title in quotation marks. When there is no date, use: MLA does not use dates in in-text citations; use (Author Page) format.