paraphrasing mla 9th edition

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Paraphrasing in MLA

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill. It allows you to seamlessly integrate another person’s ideas into your work, and it is the preferred way to integrate most research information into a paper.

In addition to writing a good paraphrase, you must also include a citation with the paraphrase. One effective way to do this is by using MLA in-text citations .

But first, let’s define paraphrasing.

What is a paraphrase? Why is it beneficial?

• A paraphrase is a piece of information written in a new way after reading and analyzing a source.
• A paraphrase translates the main ideas of a passage into a new passage that uses your own words and perspective.
• A paraphrase lets you control what point or information is highlighted.
• A paraphrase allows you turn a long passage into a condensed, focused passage.
• Direct quotes are helpful, but paraphrasing allows you show that you truly understand a work. Think about it: Is it easier to quote a source or paraphrase?

What does MLA have to do with it?

Academic integrity is extremely important, and a paraphrase allows you to use someone’s ideas efficiently in your work…but that is only part of the work. In order to stay ethical, you’ll also need include an in-text citation. That’s where MLA style comes in.

An MLA in-text citation gives appropriate credit to the original source. By following the guidelines of the MLA style and including an accurate citation, you can avoid accusations of plagiarism.

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, which is a scholarly association dedicated to the study and advancement of languages. The MLA style comes from their published MLA Handbook , which provides rules and guidelines on research and writing. The latest update to the MLA style occurred in 2021, and careful consideration needs to be paid to these guidelines.

Although there are other styles of research and writing, MLA is the primary style guide for humanities, language, and literature in the United States.

How to paraphrase

Steps in paraphrasing.

• Read the original source material carefully. It is always a good idea to read it more than once so you can paraphrase accurately.
• Consider why the source was written, when it was written, who it was written by, and who the target audience was.
• What were the key ideas or points communicated?
• What is the key point you want to highlight from the source?
• What other contextual facts about the source do you think are important to include?
• Based on your notes, put together a paraphrase.
• Next, take a minute to double check your paraphrase against the original to ensure that you have used your own writing style.
• Finally, add an MLA in-text citation.

How to add an MLA in-text citation

In order to give credit for ideas that are not yours, citing is key. According the MLA, after you create a paraphrase, you should include an in-text citation with the paraphrase. In addition to the short, in-text citation, a full reference of the source should be included on your Works Cited page. This article will focus only on the in-text citation, but see this guide for more information on MLA works cited citations.

An MLA in-text citation can be done in two ways:

• Parenthetical

Both approaches require you to know the following:

• Last name of the author
• Page number

Parenthetical citation

One way to cite in the text is to use a parenthetical citation after the paraphrase. This includes putting the author’s last name and page number where you found the information at the end of the sentence, before the final period.

Using a website as a source? Note that if a source does not have page numbers, you do not have to include the page number in your parenthetical citation.

Parenthetical in-text citation structure:

Paraphrase (Author Last Name Page #)

Parenthetical example:

I kept pounding on the doors ’til my hands hurt and I woke up the dogs (Bronte 12).

Place that end punctuation carefully! Note that there is no period at the end of the sentence, but the period is outside the parentheses. Also, there is no comma between the author’s last name and the page number.

Citation in prose

A citation in prose means that you include the author’s last name within the page text and the page number at the end of the sentence in parentheses. A citation in prose would look like this:

Citation in prose citation structure:

Paraphrase with Author Last Name (Page #)

In-prose example:

Bronte explains how Lockwood kept pounding on the doors until his hands began to hurt and he woke up the dogs (12).

Example of how to paraphrase

Here is a piece of text taken from the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; and the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

A paraphrase of the above would go something like this:

Mr. Darcy had meant to communicate that he loved Elizabeth, but in the end all he managed to do was communicate all the reasons he had fought against his feelings for her (Austen 390).

Notice the benefits of paraphrasing here?

• The paraphrase is (thankfully) much shorter than the full excerpt.
• The paraphrase writer could have mentioned several different ideas and points. Instead, paraphrasing allowed the writer to focus on the main point they wanted to highlight.
• The paraphrase demonstrates the writer’s deep understanding of what was communicated in the original passage.

Also, as mentioned previously, every in-text citation needs to have a matching, full citation in the Works Cited page. Here is the full citation for the above example:

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . 1813. Project Gutenberg , 2008, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42671.

How NOT to paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do not do the follow:

• Use most of the same words and switch out a few words for synonyms.
• Use most of the same words and change the sentence order a little.
• Take key phrases from the sentences and put them into a new paragraph without quoting them.
• Create a good paraphrase but forget to include an in-text citation.
• Create a good paraphrase but cite the wrong source.

Other MLA considerations

The Modern Language Association advises that summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations can all be used to back up your argument. However, direct quotations should be used infrequently. Try to save them for experts who are speaking on the topic.

Although you are putting a paraphrase into your own words, you still need to cite it because the ideas are not your own. MLA style asks for the author’s last name and the page number where you found the information.

Key takeaways

• The ability to paraphrase is of the utmost importance in regard to academic integrity.
• To paraphrase well, read the original a few times, consider the context, jot down the key ideas, compose your paraphrase, compare your paraphrase to the original, and add an in-text citation.
• The MLA advises using in-text citations in order to give proper credit to a paraphrase’s original source.

Published October 28, 2020. Updated July 18, 2021.

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MLA Style Guide, 8th & 9th Editions: How to Paraphrase and Quote

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How to Paraphrase and Quote

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Block Quotes in MLA Style

Short quotations can be included as part of a larger sentence or within a paragraph in the body of your paper. For quotations longer than four lines, use a block quote. Press enter to start the quotation on a new line. Press Tab to indent the entire quotation 1/2 inch from the left margin. Continue double spacing for the quotation. Do not use double quotation marks. Place your in-text citation at the end after the closing punctuation mark.

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MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Quoting vs. Paraphrasing

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Quoting vs Paraphrasing: What's the Difference?

There are two ways to integrate sources into your assignment: quoting directly or paraphrasing.

Quoting is copying a selection from someone else's work, phrasing it exactly as it was originally written. When quoting place quotation marks (" ") around the selected passage to show where the quote begins and where it ends. Make sure to include an in-text citation.

Paraphrasing is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation.

Quoting Examples

• Long Quotations

Modifying Quotations

Quoting - Example:

There are two basic formats that can be used when quoting a source:

Parenthetical Style:

Narrative Style:

Note: If there are no page numbers, as in a website, cite the author name only.

What is a Long or Block Quotation?

A long or block quotation is a quotation which is 4 lines or more.

Rules for Long Quotations

There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:

• The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
• The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
• There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
• The period at the end of the quotation comes before your in-text citation as opposed to after, as it does with regular quotations.

Example of a Long Quotation

At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding 186)

• Sometimes you may want to make some modifications to the quote to fit your writing. Here are some MLA rules when changing quotes:

Changing Quotations

Omitting parts of a quotation

• If you would like to exclude some words from a quotation, replace the words you are not including with an ellipsis - ...

Adding words to a quote

If you are adding words that are not part of the original quote, enclose the additional words in square brackets - [XYZ]

Paraphrasing

Correct vs. Incorrect Paraphrasing

Long Paraphrases

Paraphrasing - Examples:

When you write information from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion as follows:

If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the page number if there is one:

Original Source

Homeless individuals commonly come from families who are riddled with problems and marital disharmony, and are alienated from their parents. They have often been physically and even sexually abused, have relocated frequently, and many of them may be asked to leave home or are actually thrown out, or alternatively are placed in group homes or in foster care. They often have no one to care for them and no one knows them intimately.

Source from:

Rokach, Ami. "The Causes of Loneliness in Homeless Youth." The Journal of Psychology, 139, 2005, pp. 469-480. Academic Search Premier.

Example: Incorrect Paraphrasing

Example: Correct Paraphrasing

If you paraphrase a source more than once in a single paragraph and no other sources are mentioned in between, provide an in-text citation for the source at the end of each paraphrase. In the examples, the second in-text citation only includes the page number since it is clear that the same source is still being paraphrased.

If your paraphrase continues to another paragraph and/or you include paraphrases from other sources within the same paragraph, repeat the in-text citations for each.

In-Text Citation Tips

• Repeated Use of Sources
• Sources with Same Author and Publication Year
• Citing More Than One Source
• AI-Generated Text

If you are using information from a single source more than once in succession (i.e., no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation.

When you are citing two different sources that share the same author, for the Works Cited List list the first title only, and for any subsequent titles by the same author list three dashes (---) in place of the author name.

For in-text citations, include a shortened version of the source title following the author name.

Example: In-text citations (Haynes, Noah's Curse 84) (Haynes, The Last Segregated Hour 57)

If you would like to cite more than one source within the same in-text citation, simply record the in-text citations as normal and separate them with a semi-colon (;).

In-text Citations & AI-generated Text

AI-generated content may not be considered as an acceptable source for your course work. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you are permitted to use it as a source. See Citation Examples: Artificial Intelligence for more information. For in-text, include the shortened text of the prompt surrounded by quotation marks such as: ("Shortened text of prompt").

Direct Quote Example

Paraphrasing Example

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How To - Use the MLA Style Guide: How to Paraphrase and Quote

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MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Paraphrasing

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Paraphrasing

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On This Page

When you write information or ideas from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion, like this:

​This is a paraphrase (Smith 8).

Ceci est une paraphrase (Trudeau 46).

  Note: The period goes outside the brackets, at the end of your in-text citation.

Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 65).

Cette hypothèse semble recevoir l'appui de plusieurs groupes (Liebes 48).

  Note: If the paraphrased information/idea is from several pages, include all of the page numbers.

Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71).

Cette hypothèse semble recevoir l'appui de plusieurs groupes (Liebes 48, 64, 71-78).

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MLA Style Guide, 9th Edition: Formatting Your MLA Paper

• Works Cited entries: What to Include
• Title of source
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• How to Paraphrase and Quote
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MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).

Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.

Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.

Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.

Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.

Heading and Title

An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:

Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).

Your Instructor's Name

Course Number or Name

Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title.  Example:  The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange

Indent the next line and begin typing your text.

Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.

Formatting first page MLA MS Word using a MAC

Formatting first page mla goggle.dox, formatting first page mla ms word using pc, mla format setup in word 2013.

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MLA 9th Edition - English Version

• Introduction to MLA 9
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• Using Inclusive Language

MLA Handbook 9th Edition

MLA Handbook . 9th ed., The Modern Language Association of America

ISBN: 9781603293518 (Paperback)

ISBN: 9781603295628 (Spiral)

ISBN: 9781603295611 (Hardcover)

LibGuide Created By

This LibGuide was created by Kelly Scott, Kari Kain, Cathy Summers, Grace Gillespie, and Jamie Pappas. Some parts are a direct translation of the Spanish version of the MLA 9th edition libguide , created by Alleya Rodríguez Vázquez and Isamar Abreu Gómez.

What Are In-Text Citations?

In-text citations are shortcuts that allow your readers to access the more complete reference in the works cited section of your paper.   You will use in-text citations every time you quote or paraphrase another author or creator’s ideas. This is important to ensure that you do not plagiarize someone else's work. MLA defines in-text citations as "brief, unobtrusive references that direct readers to the works-cited-list entries for the sources you consulted and, where relevant, to the location in the source being cited” (227).

You can quote short or long passages from an author or online creator and use parenthetical citations to refer the reader to your works cited page for further information about your source. There are also many ways to cite online and non-print sources. 

Visit the other tabs above or the box below for more information about how to do this properly. 

Why use in-text citations?

To show that you know what has been published on the subject

To appropriately cite your sources when using other people’s ideas in your paper

A note about translation: MLA recommends that “when writing in English and quoting material from other languages, you should generally p r ovide a translation” (6.75) If you are translating the passage yourself, it is important to include the original quotation so the reader can evaluate your translation for themselves.

Translations are not always necessary. See the MLA Handbook, 9th Edition for further information. 

The video below is a great overview on in-text citation basics such as what they are, where to put them, why you need them and how they are formatted.  

In-Text Citations for Print Resources

• Short Quotes
• Long Quotes
• Paraphrasing

What Are Short Quotes?

When you are writing your essay or research paper, you may want to include a direct quote from a print or non-print resource. If you are including a direct quote, then it must be written word for word from the resource using quotation marks. If the quote is four lines or less , then it is considered a short quote. If the quote takes up more than four lines in your essay, then it is considered a long quote (see the next tab for formatting in-text citations for long quotes).  

How to Include Short Quotes in Your Essay

When citing information from another source, you must give credit to the author and list the page number(s) where it is found. If you are trying to include a short quote in your essay, then the quote must have quotation marks and cannot be longer than four lines . When it is four lines or less, you may include the quote directly within the paragraph of your essay by using a parenthetical citation. This means you will use parentheses to show the author and page number(s) at the end of your sentence - before the period, but outside the quotation marks. The purpose of these in-text citations is to direct the reader to the Works Cited page of the essay to view the location of the source. 

Basic Examples (from MLA Style Guide &  Purdue OWL ):

Reading is “just half of literacy. The other half is writing” (Baron 194).

According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree.

Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?

According to Naomi Baron, reading is “just half of literacy. The other half is writing” (194).

According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184).

Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I remember" (11-12).

*Did you notice how each example above includes a parenthetical citation at the end of the quote before the end punctuation mark?

For the first three examples, you can see that the in-text citations have the author and page number inside the parentheses after the quotation mark but before the end punctuation mark. 

The third example is a question. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

In the last three examples, you will notice that the sentence mentions the author’s name. Since the author’s name is already included in the sentence, the parenthetical citation only needs to include the page number(s) of your quote.

However, the last example includes a quote from a poem. If you are quoting two or three lines of poetry, then you must separate each line with a slash ( / ) in between. If a stanza break occurs within the quotation, use a double slash ( // ) in between the lines. Most importantly, a poem that has parenthetical citation should contain the line numbers instead of the page number(s).

Does the text not have the author’s name listed? Is there more than one author or edition? Are you citing multiple works by the same author? Are you citing something other than a book or poem? Click here for more assistance with in-text citations.

What Are Long Quotes?

When you are writing your essay or research paper, you may want to include a larger quote from a specific resource. If you are including a direct quote, then it must be written word for word from the resource. If the quote is more than four lines , then it is considered a long quote. If the quote takes up less than four lines in your essay, then it is considered a short quote (see the last tab for formatting in-text citations for short quotes).    

How to Include Long Quotes in Your Essay

If you are trying to include a quote in your essay that is longer than four lines, then you must place it in a separate and more indented paragraph without quotation marks. The entire quote must be indented half an inch from the left margin, and the parenthetical citation should be placed at the end of the excerpt after the end punctuation mark. The purpose of these in-text citations is to direct the reader to the Works Cited page of the essay to view the location of the source. *Don’t forget that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced.*

Basic Examples (from Purdue OWL ):

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: 

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (1-8)

*Did you notice how each example above does not have quotation marks? Did you notice how they include a parenthetical citation at the end of the quote after the end punctuation mark?

The first example shows how to include a long quotation from an article or book. The parenthetical citation at the end of the quote includes the author and page number after the end punctuation.

The second example shows how to include multiple lines of poetry. When quoting more than three lines of poetry, try to keep the same format as the original poem. Also, since the author’s name is already included in the sentence above the quote, the parenthetical citation only needs to include the line number(s) of your poem after the end punctuation. If the author’s name was not mentioned, then the parenthetical citation would be (Roethke 1-8) instead

Are you citing two or more paragraphs? Do you need to add or omit words in quotations? Click here for more assistance with in-text citations.

How to Include Paraphrasing in Your Essay

Paraphrasing is including someone else’s product or idea in your paper by writing it in your own words. It is important to cite the original source of the idea even if you have paraphrased it. 

What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?

Quoting is including someone’s ideas in their own words. It is best to quote someone when their wording is the best way to convey the idea. Paraphrasing shows your understanding of the author's ideas by expressing them in your own words. It is best to alter the sentence structure as well as the words in order to properly paraphrase a passage. 

Below are examples of both quoting and paraphrasing from the MLA Handbook, 9th Edition. (4.7) 

Passage in source shown as a direct quote (taken from Walter A. McDougall's Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World since 1776 )

"American Exceptionalism as our founders conceived it was defined by what America was , at home. Foreign policy existed to defend, not define, what America was" (McDougall 37). 

Paraphrase (unacceptable)

This paraphrase is missing a citation, only uses synonyms to change the wording and has not changed the sentence structure from the original.

American exceptionalism as the founding fathers envisioned the concept was given meaning by America as homeland. Programs focused on other countries were there to protect America, not delineate it.

Paraphrase (acceptable)

The wording and sentence structure have both been changed and a citation has been added in this example making it an acceptable paraphrase.

As conceived, American exceptionalism was based on the country's domestic identity, which foreign policy did not shape but merely guarded (McDougall 37).

For more information on paraphrasing see sections 4.5-4.8 of the MLA Handbook, 9th Edition. Or check out the video below for some great tips about paraphrasing without plagiarism.   

In-Text Citations for Non-Print or Electronic Sources

How to Include Non-Print or Electronic Sources in Your Essay

• Films, Presentations, and Audiovisual Works
• Web Pages and Online News/Magazine Articles
• Tables, Photos, Illustrations, or Digital Images

When formatting in-text citations from an electronic or digital source, you should use the same guidelines as you would with print sources. However, it can be confusing because some digital sources do not have an author or page numbers. Review the corresponding tabs for examples. 

Different types of in-text citations from non-print, electronic, and audiovisual resources:

In-text citations for films, lectures/presentations, and audiovisual works:

Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo stars Herzog's long-time film partner, Klaus Kinski. During the shooting of Fitzcarraldo , Herzog and Kinski were often at odds, but their explosive relationship fostered a memorable and influential film.

During the presentation, Jane Yates stated that invention and pre-writing are areas of rhetoric that need more attention.

Not to mention, clear communication can help because “sometimes the very things that we think, but we don't dare to say because we're afraid that if we say they're going to become real, sometimes that's exactly what needs to be said” (Perel 05:56). 

After complaining about a lack of community, he says that “as long as people start to think for themselves and just, you know, hold the ones dear to them close and just have fun and don't take themselves so seriously, I think the world would be a better place” (Avery 01:10:15).

*Did you notice that the first example includes the title and director of the film? Did you notice that the second example mentions the presentation and the speaker’s name? Did you notice that the last two examples include quotes and mention the creator/director in the parenthetical citation with the timestamp?

For the first example, do not forget to capitalize and italicize the title of the film or video. You also must include the director’s name within the sentence if there is no parenthetical citation.

For the second example, do not forget to mention that your information comes from a presentation and include the speaker/presenter’s first and last name in the sentence.

By listing the director and presenter, the reader of your essay will know what name to look for on the Works Cited page.

The third example is from a podcast. For many audiovisual works, you must include the author’s name in the parenthetical citation (if it is not already mentioned in the sentence). However, when creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes, and seconds you plan to reference. 

The last example is quoting a film. Similar to the podcast example, if the sentence doesn’t mention the director’s name, you must include it in the parenthetical citation. Also, if you are using a direct quote then you need to include the timestamp/runtime where the quote is found in the film.

In-text citations for web pages and online news/magazine articles:

One online film critic stated that the film "has become notorious for its near-failure and many obstacles" (Taylor, “Fitzcarraldo”).

The Purdue OWL is accessed by millions of users every year. Its "MLA Formatting and Style Guide" is one of the most popular resources.

After the release of Stephen King’s new books, critics claim “the master of supernatural disaster returns with four horror-laced novellas” (Kirkus.com).

*Did you notice that all of these examples include quotes? Did you notice that only two of these examples have parenthetical citations?

The first example uses a quote from an online magazine article and does not include the author’s name in the sentence. If two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited, the parenthetical citation should include both the author’s last name and the article title in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page. If there is only one resource from that author, then only their name is necessary in the parenthetical citation.

In the second example, a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the web page does not list an author. However, the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence.

The last example is an online article that doesn’t have an author. If you cannot find the author’s name, then use the name of the article, website, or film. When you use the name of the website, do not include the full URL in the parenthetical citation. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like CNN.com or Forbes.com, as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com. 

In-text citations for a tables, photos, illustrations, or digital images:

Table 1 Caffeine Contents of Drinks

Source: Ted Kallmyer. Caffeine Informer . 2018. www.caffeineinformer.com

*Did you notice how each example above was labeled? Did you notice how the in-text citations are completely different than when we use quotations?

• When you include images, tables, or other illustrations in your essay, they should be placed as close to the relevant part of the essay as possible. If the caption of an image, table, or illustration provides complete information about the source, and the source is not cited in the text, then no entry is needed for that source on the final Works Cited page.
• The first example is a table/chart. A table is usually labeled “Table” on the first line with a corresponding number, and then a title for the table on the second line. If you have multiple tables, then you should label them Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, etc. Immediately underneath each table you need to include the source as a caption, as shown above. 
• The last three examples are specifically labeled as Figures (abbreviated as Fig.) and are given corresponding and consecutive numbers to show you how it would look in an essay (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3). 
• The caption for Fig. 1 points to an entry in the Works Cited page. This one is different because the artist’s medium is included in the caption.
• The captions for Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 have full biographical details and do not need to be included on the Works Cited page. These two examples do not include the photographer’s/artist’s medium, but instead include the institutions they belong to.
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Citation Style: MLA 9th Edition

• Citation help
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• Open web & social media
• Other resource types
• Citing indirect / secondary sources
• Quoting, paraphrasing and signal phrases
• In-text citations
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Quoting and Paraphrasing

Quoting Sources:

When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.

Paraphrasing Sources:

When you paraphrase a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing/ summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. You do not need to use quotation marks.

For more help on paraphrasing click here :

Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well.

Signal Phrases

Signal phrases let your reader know that you are quoting or summarizing from another source.

In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, " . . . "

As Matt Sundeen has noted, " . . . "

Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that " . . . "

" . . . " writes Christine Haughtney.

" . . . " claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs.

Taken from the Bedford Handbook (583)

Verbs in Signal Phrases

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MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): In-Text Citation

• What Kind of Source Is This?
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On This Page

About in-text citations, no known author, quoting directly, paraphrasing, no page numbers, repeated use of sources, in-text citation for more than one source, long quotations, quoting and paraphrasing: what's the difference, signal phrases, avoiding plagiarism when using sources.

T here are two ways to integrate others' research into your assignment: you can paraphrase or you can quote.

Paraphrasing  is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must restate the meaning of the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words and voice, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation.

Quoting  is copying the wording from someone else's work, keeping it exactly as it was originally written. When quoting, place quotation marks (" ") around the selected passage to show where the quote begins and where it ends. Make sure to include an in-text citation.

If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation. Instead include the page number (if there is one) at the end of the quotation or paraphrased section. 

Hunt explains that mother-infant attachment has been a leading topic of developmental research since John Bowlby found that "children raised in institutions were deficient in emotional and personality development" (358).

In MLA, in-text citations are inserted in the body of your research paper to briefly document the source of your information. Brief in-text citations point the reader to more complete information in the Works Cited list at the end of the paper.

When a source has no known author, use the first one, two, or three words from the title instead of the author's last name. Don't count initial articles like "A", "An" or "The". You should provide enough words to make it clear which work you're referring to from your Works Cited list.

If the title in the Works Cited list is in italics, italicize the words from the title in the in-text citation.

( Cell Biology  12)

If the title in the Works Cited list is in quotation marks, put quotation marks around the words from the title in the in-text citation.

("Nursing" 12)

When you quote directly from a source, enclose the quoted section in quotation marks. Add an in-text citation at the end of the quote with the author name and page number, like this:

"Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8).

"Here's a direct quote" ("Trouble" 22).

  Note: The period goes outside the brackets, at the end of your in-text citation.

Mother-infant attachment has been a leading topic of developmental research since John Bowlby found that "children raised in institutions were deficient in emotional and personality development" (Hunt 358).

When you write information or ideas from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion, like this:

​This is a paraphrase (Smith 8).

This is a paraphrase ("Trouble" 22).

Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 65).

  Note: If the paraphrased information/idea summarizes several pages, include all of the page numbers.

Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71).

When you quote from electronic sources that do not provide page numbers (like webpages), cite the author name only. If there is no author, cite the first word or words from the title only. 

"Three phases of the separation response: protest, despair, and detachment" (Garelli).

"Nutrition is a critical part of health and development" ("Nutrition").

Sources that are paraphrased or quoted in other sources are called indirect sources. MLA recommends you take information from the original source whenever possible. 

If you must cite information from an indirect source, mention the author of the original source in the body of your text and place the name of the author of the source you actually consulted in your in-text citation. Begin your in-text citation with 'qtd. in.' 

Kumashiro notes that lesbian and bisexual women of colour are often excluded from both queer communities and communities of colour (qtd. in Dua 188).

(You are reading an article by Dua that cites information from Kumashiro (the original source))

  Note: In your Works Cited list, you only include a citation for the source you consulted, NOT the original source.

In the above example, your Works Cited list would include a citation for Dua's article, and NOT Kumashiro's.

If you're using information from a single source more than once in a row (with no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation. The first time you use information from the source, use a full in-text citation. The second time, you only need to give the page number.

Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith 15). It revolves around the idea that the cell is a "fundamental unit of life" (17). Many important scientists have contributed to the evolution of cell biology. Mattias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, for example, were scientists who formulated cell theory in 1838 (20). 

 Note: If using this simplified in-text citation creates ambiguity regarding the source being referred to, use the full in-text citation format.

If you would like to cite more than one source within the same in-text citation, simply record the in-text citations as normal and separate them with a semi-colon.

(Smith 42; Bennett 71). 

( It Takes Two ; Brock 43).

 Note: The sources within the in-text citation do not need to be in alphabetical order for MLA style.

What Is a Long Quotation?

If your quotation is longer than four lines, it is a considered a long quotation. This can also be referred to as a block quotation.

Rules for Long Quotations

There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:

• Place a colon at the end of the line that you write to introduce your long quotation.
• Indent the long quotation 0.5 inches from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
• Do not put quotation marks around the quotation.
• Place the period at the end of the quotation  before  your in-text citation instead of  after , as with regular quotations.

Example of a Long Quotation

Vivian Gornick describes the process of maturing as a reader as a reckoning with human limitations:

Suddenly, literature, politics, and analysis came together, and I began to think more inclusively about the emotional

imprisonment of mind and spirit to which all human beings are heir. In the course of analytic time, it became apparent

that—with or without the burden of social justice—the effort required to attain any semblance of inner freedom was

extraordinary. Great literature, I then realized, is a record not of the achievement, but of the effort. 

With this insight as my guiding light, I began to interpret the lives and work of women and men alike who had

spent their years making literature. (x-xi)  

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MLA Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition): In-Text Citation

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In-text citations are inserted in the body of your research paper to briefly document the source of your information. 

• In-text citations in MLA style follow the general format of author's last name followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. Here is an example: "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8).
• If the author's name is not given, use the first word (or words) of the title. Follow the same formatting that is used in the works-cited list, such as quotation marks. Here is an example: This is a paraphrase ("Trouble" 22).
• If the source does not have page numbers (for example, some online articles, websites and e-books), only include the author's name for the in-text citation. Do not estimate or make up page numbers.  
• In-text citations point the reader to the works-cited list, which is located at the end of your paper, for more complete bibliographic information.

Repeated Use of Sources

If you use information from a single source more than once in succession (i.e., no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation. Here is an example:

Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith 15). It revolves around the idea that the cell is a "fundamental unit of life" (17).

  Note: If using this simplified in-text citation creates ambiguity regarding the source being referred to, use the full in-text citation format.

In-Text Citation Formatting and Examples

Format:  (Author's Last Name Page Number)

Example: (Hunt 358)

Two Authors

Format:  (Author's Last Name and Author's Last Name Page Number)

Example: (Case and Daristotle 57)

Three or More Authors

Format:   (Author's Last Name et al. Page Number)

Example: (Case et al. 57)

Unknown Author

Where you would normally put the author's last name, instead use the first one, two, or three words from the title. Do not use  initial articles such as "A", "An" or "The". Provide enough words to clarify which sources from your works-cited list that you are referencing. 

Follow the formatting of the title. For example, if the title in the works-cited list is in italics, italicize the words from the title in the in-text citation, and if the title in the works-cited list is in quotation marks, put quotation marks around the words from the title in the in-text citation.

Format: (Title Page Number)

Examples : 

( Cell Biology 12)

("Nursing" 12)

Multiple Sources

To cite more than one source when you are paraphrasing, separate the in-text citations with a semi-colon.

Format: (Author's Last Name Page Number; Author's Last Name Page Number).

(Smith 42; Bennett 71). 

( It Takes Two ; Brock 43).

 Note: In MLA style, the sources within the in-text citation do not need to be in alphabetical order.

Works Quoted in Another Source

Sometimes an author of a book, article or website will mention another person's work by using a quotation or paraphrased idea from that source. (This may be a secondary source.) For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith that you would like to include in your essay. The basic rule is that in both your Works-Cited List and in-text citation you will still cite Kirkey. Kirkey will appear in your Works Cited list – NOT Smith. Add the words "qtd. in" to your in-text citation.

Examples of in-text citations:

According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.

Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) states that “even if euthanasia was legal, 42% of doctors would be against this method of assisted dying” (A.10).

Example of Works Cited List citation:

Kirkey, Susan. "Euthanasia."   The Montreal Gazette , 9 Feb. 2013, p. A.10. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies.

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Mla resources from the mla style center.

The links in the MLA Style Center reflect MLA Style 9th Edition. 

• MLA Handbook 9th Edition 1.0: Introduction to Formatting Your Research Project The following guidelines have been widely adopted by instructors and educational institutions to standardize manuscript formatting, making it easier for instructors to evaluate papers and theses and for writers to focus on making decisions about their research, ideas, and prose. more... less... Although these guidelines follow common conventions, acceptable variations exist. Follow the directions of your instructor, school, or publisher if you are asked to use different formatting guidelines. You should also be responsive to the specific demands of your project, which may have unique needs that require you to use a formatting style not described...
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The links in Purdue OWL reflect MLA Style 9th Edition. 

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• MLA Works Cited - Citations by Format Entries in the works-cited list are created using the MLA template of core elements—facts common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date.
• MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications) Websites, pages on websites, eBooks, images, eArticles, social media...
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Scribbr MLA Citation Generator

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How to cite in MLA format

MLA is one of the most common citation styles used by students and academics. This quick guide explains how to cite sources according to the 9th edition (the most recent) of the MLA Handbook . You can also use Scribbr’s free  citation generator to automatically generate references and in-text citations.

An MLA citation has two components:

• In-text citation : Every time you quote or paraphrase a source, you cite the author and the page number in parentheses.
• Works Cited : At the end of your paper, you give a full reference for every source you cited, alphabetized by the author’s last name.

MLA Works Cited list

The list of Works Cited (also known as the bibliography or reference page) gives full details of every source you cited in your text. Each entry is built from nine core elements:

Following this format, you can create a citation for any type of source—for example, a book , journal article , website , or movie . You only include information that’s relevant to the type of source you’re citing.

Missing information in MLA citations

Regardless of the source type, the most important elements of any MLA citation are the author , the source title , and the publication date. If any of these are missing from the source, the Works Cited entry will look slightly different.

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MLA in-text citations

MLA in-text citations are brief references that direct your reader to the full source entry. You include them every time you quote , block quote , paraphrase or summarize a source.

The in-text citation must match the first word of the Works Cited entry—usually the author’s last name . It also includes a page number or range to help the reader locate the relevant passage.

If you already named the author in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses:

Sources with no page numbers

If the source has no page numbers, you either use an alternative locator, or leave the page number out of the citation:

Tools and resources

Besides the MLA Citation Generator, Scribbr provides many more helpful tools and resources;

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• Guides and videos : Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.

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This guide is intended as an introduction to the Modern Language Association 9th edition style for references and citations. Be sure to consult the MLA Handbook or the  MLA Style Center  website for detailed standards and procedures.

As a general rule, use MLA style in literature, arts, and humanities. For a quick introduction to MLA Style, view the following video: 

" Introduction to Citation Styles: MLA 9th ed ." by CSUDH Library on YouTube is licensed under CC-BY-4.0

Works Cited: A Quick Guide from MLA Style

MLA's tool to familiarize users with the MLA format template. 

In-text citations are concise references in the body of your paper that point readers to the Works Cited entries for the sources you used to write your paper. When applicable, it points to the location (e.g. page number, paragraph number) in the source being cited.

Basic Parenthetical Citation Format

(Last Name Page #)

For more guidelines and examples, check out the MLA Style Center In-Text Citations Overview .

In-text citations can appear in prose or in parentheses.

Parenthetical Citations

The author name appears in parentheses.

The market for publishing works is constricted by politics (Gao 13).

Citations in Prose

The author name is incorporated into the text as part of the sentence.

(Modern Language Association ch. 6)

When does my in-text citation need a page number?

If you are quoting or paraphrasing a specific part of a source and the source includes a page number, line number, time stamp, or other indicator of the location in the source where the information can be found, then that location marker must be included .

• Do not precede page numbers with p. or pp. in the in-text citation
• Use the same style as the numerals in the source you are citing (whether roman or alphanumeric)

(Drabble xi-xii)

(Richards A11)

If you cite a number other than a page number in a parenthetical citation, it must be preceded with a label.

Quotes/Quotations

A quotation is when you replicate another author's work or your own previously published work word-for-word.

Short Direct Quotes

Short Quotations

If a prose quotation extends no more than four lines in your paper and needs no distinction, consider it as a short quotation. Integrate it into your text and enclose within double quotation marks. Any sentence punctuation goes after the closing parenthesis of the citation.

• Quotations might be words or phrases instead of complete sentences.
• Quotations can be located at the beginning, middle, or end of your sentence.
• A quotation may be broken up by your own words to emphasize or clarify meaning.

Block Quotations

If a prose quotation extends more than four lines in your paper , use a blockquote . Set the quote off from the text as a block indented 1/2" from the left margin as a visual cue that you are citing.

• Block quotes don't need quotation marks,
• Do not indent the first line of the block quote.
• Your introductory text should end with a colon (see below) unless the quotation has been integrated into the sentence structure of your text (see MLA Handbook 6.35)
• The parenthetical citation goes after the punctuation of the quote.

Summarizing or Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing and summarizing entails restating a source’s points in your own words while giving credit to the source that informed your ideas. Always include an in-text citation so your reader can find the full citation in the works cited list.

Works with multiple authors

1 author or no author.

You only need the author's last name and the page number.

If there is no author...

Use a shortened title of the work

("Impact of Global Warming")

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)

• Sample MLA 9 Paper

The MLA Handbook does not provide strict instructions on how to format citations for specific types of sources. Instead, a universal set of general guidelines for citation and documentation that can be applied to any source type are outlined. These guidelines, have been followed in developing this guide, including the following examples.

General Guidelines for Styling Titles in MLA

• Capitalize the first word, last word, and all principal words including those that follow hyphens in compound terms
• Introduce subtitles after title with a colon followed by a space
• (e.g.) books, plays, films, periodicals, databases, and websites
• (e.g.) articles, essays, chapters, poems, webpages, songs, and speeches are placed in quotation marks.

General Guidelines for Styling Works Cited

• Give titles as they appear in the source's title page, standardizing capitalization and following above guidelines for styling titles in MLA
• Use day-month-year style to minimize commas. Provide most specific date available.
• Author Element, Title of source Element, at the end of each container string, and at the end of each entry.
• between elements within a container and between the surname and first  name of the author.

Basic Format:

Author Last Name, First Name Middle Name or Initial. Title of Longer Work  or "Title of Shorter Work." Publisher, Year. DOI or Permalink or URL.

I'm citing a...

Journal Article

• Author(s). Note: Use the format Last Name, First Name Middle Name or Initial. If there are multiple authors, use and before the last author's name.
• "Title of the Article." Note: Include the title of a shorter work like an article in a journal in quotation marks and use headline-style capitalization .
• Title of the Journal , Note: Use italics for the title of a longer work like a journal and use headline-style capitalization .
• no. #, Note: If there is no additional number after the volume, only include the volume number.
• Publication date,
• pp. xxx-xxx.
• Database , Note: Use italics for names of databases.
• DOI or permalink or URL.

Diaz, Natalie. “Post-Colonial Love Poem.” New Republic , vol. 247, no. 3, Mar. 2016, p. 69. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112575922&site=ehost-live .

News/Magazine Article

• "Title of the Article." Note: Include the title of a shorter work in quotation marks and use headline-style capitalization .
• Title of the Newspaper or Publisher , Note: Use italics for the title of a longer work like a newspaper or online publication and use headline-style capitalization .
• Publication date, Note: Use the formate Date Abbreviated Month Year.

Cochrane, Emily, and Noah Weiland. "Hillary Clinton, the N.F.L., Roy Moore and Other Asides from the President." The New York Times , 16 Nov. 2018, https://nyti.ms/2zf1TPB .

Print Book or eBook

• Title of the Book . Note: Use italics for the title of a longer work like a book and use headline-style capitalization .
• Edition Note: If there are multiple editions, use the format 1st/2nd/3rd ed.,
• Publication date.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird . 1st ed., J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1960.

• Title of the Book, Note: Use italics for the title of a longer work like a book and use headline-style capitalization .
• Editors Note: If there is one editor, use the format edited by Last Name, First Name. If there are multiple editors, use and before the last author's name.
• URL or permalink.

Hughes, Langston. Letters from Langston: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Red Scare and Beyond , edited by Evelyn Louise Crawford and Mary Louise Patterson. University of California Press, 2016. EBSCOhost Academic eBook Collection , https://ezproxy.midlandstech.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=1105577&site=ehost-live&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_Cover .

Book Chapter

• Author(s) of the Chapter. Note: Use the format Last Name, First Name Middle Name or Initial. If there are multiple authors, use and before the last author's name.
• "Title of the Chapter." Note: Include the title of a shorter work like a chapter in quotation marks and use headline-style capitalization .

Green, David. "Supporting the Academic Success of Hispanic Students." College Libraries and Student Culture: What We Now Know , edited by Andrew D. Asher and Lynda M. Duke, ALA Editions, 2011. EBSCOhost Academic eBook Collection , https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/midlandstech/reader.action?docID=772268&ppg=77 .

• Author. Note: If there is no individual author, begin the citation with "Title of the Page."
• "Title of Page, Section, or Document."
• Publisher ,

“Citing Your Sources.” Midlands Technical College Library , 2020, https://libguides.midlandstech.edu/citingsources.

Musical Performances

• Artist/Creator.
• "Song Title"
• Album Name ,
• Record Label.
• Release year.
• Source. Note: identify physical media type, digital media format, URL, or app. See examples below.

Entire Album

Jackson, Michael. Thriller , Epic, 2014. CD. 

Song from an Album

Snail Mail. “Thinning.” Habit , Sister Polygon Records, 2016. Vinyl EP. 

Song on a website

Beyoncé. "Pretty Hurts." Beyoncé , Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs.

Song from an app

Lopez, Jennifer. "Vivir mi vida." Sony Music Latin, 2017. Spotify app.

(Modern Language Association 330)

For more information on DOIs and MLA Style guidelines, see this page from Scribbr .

Check out more examples of citing online sources  and using DOIs from the MLA Style Center.

For information about citing images visit Finding and Using Image Resources .

• MLA Style Formatting Paper Guidelines Guidelines from the MLA Style Center on how to format your paper, including the title page, text formatting, tables and illustrations, and more.

   What does the general format of an MLA paper look like ?

The MLA Handbook, 9th Edition specifies conventions for formatting papers. Below is a sample paper formatted in MLA 9 style. See more sample papers at MLA Style Center .

How do I make a hanging indent in Word?

1. Highlight the citation in your reference list with your cursor. 

2. Right click.

3. Select Paragraph .

4. Under Indentation, select Special and Hanging .

  How do I format my essay in MLA using Word?

Learn how to format a paper using Microsoft Word according to MLA style.

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• Last Updated: May 7, 2024 3:31 PM
• URL: https://sjcc.libguides.com/mla-9-citation-guide

• Free Tools for Students
• MLA Citation Generator

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The citations on a Works Cited page show the external sources that were used to write the main body of the academic paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.

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It's super easy to create MLA style citations with our MLA Citation Generator. Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form.

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Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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MLA Formatting Quotations

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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come  after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem: