To correctly cite sources using MLA style, you must include both an in-text citation and the full source citation.
The first step occurs while you're writing within the main body of your paragraph or essay. Each time that you include a fact, quote, chart, image, or other piece of information that you first saw in another source, you must pause at that moment and give credit to the original source. This is called the in-text citation because it's placed inside the main text of your project.
For MLA style, you must provide in-text, parenthetical citations each time you quote from, paraphrase, or summarize a source. For each source, give the author’s last name and page number, if available. If no page number is available, then write "n. pag."
Examples / Models (both share information found in this article):
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Paraphrased information
Within the American court system, legal financial obligations ought to be considered more carefully to address equity issues, according to two sitting judges (Stephens and Galván 93).
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Directly quoted information
Barriers to equity in our courts include “a lack of transparency, failure to explain court processes and potential consequences of adjudication, and the imposition of fines” (Stephens and Galván 93).
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Notice: In MLA style, the period is always placed *after* the parenthetical citation. And there is no comma inserted between the author and the page number.
Click here to view the full corresponding citation for this source.