The Basics of MLA In-Text Citations

True or False

You should include an in-text citation every time you paraphrase or quote a source.

• True

• False

Short Answer

What do in-text citations include?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

Author's name and page number

Short Answer

Where should you place a parenthetical citation?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

Directly after a quote or paraphrase and before the period or other punctuation mark.

True or False

If you have already named the author in your sentence, you only have to cite the page numbers in parenthesis at the end.

• True

• False

Fill-in-the-blank

If you are combining sources from two or more authors, use the _______________punctuation mark to separate them.

Answer explanation

semi-colon

Short Answer

In what situation would you name the author of a source "et al"?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

If there were were 3 or more authors of the source, you would provide one name and then "et.al".

Multiple Choice

What does "et al" mean?

• limited to

• everyone else

Short Answer

What do you do when a source you want to use doesn't have an author?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

You might have to use the organization's name or a shortened version of the source's title.

Short Answer

If a title is longer than four words, what should you do?

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

If the title you're using is longer than four words, you should shorten the title down to the first word or phrase.

Fill-in-the-blank

If a source is contained within a larger whole, for example, if your source is an article from a magazine or a chapter from a book, you should punctuate the title with