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:
Simpson (274) absent-mindedly spilt his coffee across ...In recent study of nuclear reactor accidents (Carlson 274) ...
Multiple Authors
- For a work with 2-3 authors, include the names in the text of your paper or in parentheses.
Example:
(Carlson and Leonardson 352)(Simpson, Burns, and Wiggum 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:
Smithers et al. (16) found ...Several empty doughnut boxes were found (Flanders et al. 62) ...
Other Examples
- Authors with same surname - S. Bouvier (32) and P. Bouvier (81) also found
- Two or more works by the same author(s) - Past research (Frink, Hyperbolic Topology, 213)
- Works by different authors are listed in the same parentheses and separated by a semicolon - Several studies (Carlson & Leonardson, 52; Simpson, 210)
- Business or corporation author shortened in parentheses - Employees morale improved after the training exercise (Springfield Nuclear, 29)
- Reference to the whole work - A final text in 1997 (Gumble)
- Personal communication such as letter, interview, e-mail, etc. Name in text with type of communication in works cited - According to Barney Gumble ..