MLA Quick Reference Guide

In MLA style the surname of the author and page number are inserted in the text at the appropriate point.

Single Author

• List the author and page of the article

Example:

Brown (274) compared reaction times ...

In recent study of reaction times (Brown 274) ...

Multiple Authors

• For a work with 2-3 authors, include the names in the text of your paper or in parentheses.

Example:

(Brown and Norell 54)

(Smithson, Hall, and Zoran 245-50)

• For works with more than four or more authors use the surname of the first author followed by "et al." and page.

Example:

Williams et al. (26) found ...

They also found (Williams et al. 26) ...

No Author or Anonymous Author

• When a work has no author, cite the first few words of the reference list entry (usually the title) and the page.

Example:

... on free care (Study finds 102) ...

... the book College Bound Seniors (45)...

Other Examples

• Authors with same surname - S. Dykes (35) and B. Dykes (253) also found
• Two or more works by the same author(s) - Past research (Brown, Seize the Moment, 274)
• Works by different authors are listed in the same parentheses and separated by a semicolon - Several studies (Dorow & O’Neal, 56; Mullaney, 209)
• Business or corporation author shortened in parentheses - Scores improved after training (College Board 89)
• Reference to the whole work - A final text in 1992 (Wilmarth)
• Personal communication such as letter, interview, e-mail, etc. Name in text with type of communication in works cited - According to L. C. Lear …..