MLA Citation Tool
MLA In-Text Citation Generator
Generate proper MLA 9 in-text citations with examples and explanations.
Common MLA In-Text Citation Examples
One Author + Page
Wordsworth stated that romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).
Author last name and page number in parentheses. No comma between them.
One Author (No Page)
Wordsworth argued that all good poetry originates from "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings."
When no page number is available, use only the author name.
Two Authors
According to Smith and Jones, the study yielded significant results (45).
Use "and" between the two authors. Add page number if available.
Three or More Authors
The research confirmed the initial hypothesis (Johnson et al. 112).
Use the first author's last name followed by "et al." and page number.
No Author
"MLA Formatting Guide." Purdue Online Writing Lab, 2024.
Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks.
Organization Author
(Modern Language Association 78).
Use the full organization name as the author.
How to Use the Generator
- Select a citation type. Choose from one author, two authors, three or more, corporate author, no author, or multiple works by the same author.
- Enter the required information. Depending on the type, you'll need an author's last name, page number, organization name, or shortened title.
- Generate the citation. Click "Generate In-Text Citation" to create the parenthetical reference.
- Copy the result. Copy just the citation, or copy it with an example sentence to see how it looks in context.
The generator also shows an explanation of why the citation is formatted that way, so you can learn the rule while generating.
What Is an MLA In-Text Citation?
An MLA in-text citation connects information in your paper to the corresponding entry on your Works Cited page. When a reader sees a parenthetical reference like (Smith 42), they can look up "Smith" in your Works Cited to find the full source.
In MLA format, in-text citations are typically brief — just the author's last name and the page number, with no comma between them. This keeps your writing readable while still giving credit to sources.
In-Text Citation Rules
One Author
Use the author's last name and page number: (Smith 24). No comma, no "p." or "page."
Two Authors
Use "and" between the two last names: (Smith and Jones 45).
Three or More Authors
Use the first author's last name followed by "et al.": (Johnson et al. 112). MLA 9 recommends this for any work with three or more authors.
Organization / Corporate Author
Use the full organization name: (Modern Language Association 78). Abbreviate only well-known organizations like "MLA" if the abbreviation is defined in your paper.
No Author
Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: ("MLA Formatting Guide"). If the source is a longer work like a book, use italics instead of quotes.
No Page Number
For web sources and other unpaginated works, omit the page number: (Smith). Do not invent a page number or use "n.p."
Multiple Works by Same Author
Include a shortened title to distinguish between works: (Smith, "Writing Style" 42).
Parenthetical vs. Narrative Citation
MLA allows two ways to include in-text citations:
Parenthetical Citation
The citation appears in parentheses at the end of the sentence: Climate change affects biodiversity in measurable ways (Smith 42).
Narrative Citation
The author's name appears naturally in the sentence, with only the page number in parentheses: Smith argues that climate change affects biodiversity in measurable ways (42).
Both approaches are equally valid. Narrative citations are often easier to read when discussing a source's argument or findings.
Common Mistakes
MLA does not use a comma: (Smith 42) is correct, not (Smith, 42).
Never guess a page number. If the source doesn't have pages, omit the number.
In a narrative citation, don't say "According to Smith (Smith 42)" — that's redundant.
An in-text citation is a brief parenthetical. The full reference belongs on the Works Cited page.