How do I cite an authored work contained in another authored work, like an essay in a textbook?
Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .
To cite an essay with an author in a textbook with authors rather than editors, follow the MLA format template and list the authors of the textbook in the “Other contributors” slot:
Graff, Gerald. “Disliking Books.” From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Practical Guide , by Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky, 2nd ed., Bedford / St. Martin’s, 2012, pp. 22-26.
How to cite a piece of text in MLA format
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Citing sources in essays, articles, research papers, and other writing projects is a common and essential practice. However, some students are not familiar with all the citation requirements for different formatting styles. Due to the fact that copy-pasted statements are forbidden in all essay types and writing works, in-text citations are crucial while handling writing assignments.
MLA in-text citations are a way to avoid plagiarism in your essay. Nevertheless, there is a vast bulk of intricacies in the format instructions. We prepared this detailed MLA in-text citations guide to help you get familiar with this style and simplify the process of formatting citations in your papers.
What Are MLA In Text Citations ?
MLA format is a popular style of arranging in-text citations and references in academic papers of every kind. There are two relevant editions of the Manual , both of them include the rules of how to do in text citations MLA for websites professionally.
The ninth edition is the latest and contains the largest number of updates on MLA in text citations.
There is also the eighth edition, which is still relevant but less popular among learners and scientists. The modern edition is more common for students with a major in humanities sciences like Literature, Arts, and other related disciplines. MLA format is looming much larger in its popularity and remains one of the more commonly used formats for academic writing.
How to Do MLA In Text Citations
It seems that MLA format has simpler requirements compared to similar formats such as APA and Chicago. This style has a comprehensible author-page format that implies citing a source in the text and adding a corresponding citation to the list on the reference page.
There are solely two points that MLA format for in text citations requires:
- Firstly, in-text citation contains the author’s last name, comma, space.
- In addition, in-text citation includes the page number .
Such a structure provides parenthetical citations that should be situated at the end of the sentence where you cite a source.
How to Write In Text Citations MLA
As mentioned above, you can write in text citations MLA format at the end of the sentence in parentheses. In addition, MLA guidelines also allow shortened citations. It implies you can mention the author’s surname in the sentence if the context requires it, and then indicate the page number in parentheses.
MLA Format In Text Citations
The author-page format is used for most in text MLA citations. It exclusively indicates the author’s surname and page number to which you refer. A comma between two items is required. Of course, if you do in text citations, go at the end of the sentence and use parentheses. You cannot use any quote or data without properly citing the source. If you fail to format MLA citations in text correspondingly, this information can be considered plagiarism.
Examples of In Text Citations MLA
In-text citation logic is the same for all source types. However, each source has its peculiarities. It is almost impossible to provide a single template on how to do in text MLA citations. Usually, in-text citation consists of the author’s last name or organization’s name and page number if such information exists.
Let’s refer to the MLA Citation Guide for the examples of in text citations:
MLA in-text citation style uses the author’s last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith).
How to Use In Text Citations MLA?
MLA style requires quotation marks for all the quotes in the text. No source titles are required for in-text citations. The only obligatory criteria are the author’s surname and page number. This information should correspond to the information provided on the separate page with works cited. Now you know how to make in text citations MLA perfect every time. Still can’t understand MLA in-text citations? Don’t worry! Our experts have a huge experience in writing different assignments and citing in MLA, APA, Chicago and other formats. Order Now
How to Format MLA In Text Citations for Websites
While completing writing tasks, students often use the online databases and sources of information to find relevant material. Websites are the most common sources that writers cite and refer to in their academic papers. So, how to format MLA in text citations for websites properly?
- The place of publication is no longer required in the MLA format.
- Italics and capitalization apply to each in text citations MLA example.
- Quotation marks are necessary for indicating a source title in the citation.
- The date of access to the website takes place at the end of the citation example.
- If there is no author, the website name can be acceptable . Italicized and capitalized text style is required in this case.
- URL does not apply to in text web citations MLA but is required for citations and references.
- The date of publication comes before a URL address and includes the day, month, and year of publication.
MLA rules for website citation vary from the source type. The most common formatting of in-text citations in MLA format includes either author’s last name or source title. Parentheses are required for in-text citations. If you still question your skills and ask “how to do in text citations for websites MLA?”, expert MLA paper formatting help may become your magic wand!
How to Make In Text Citations MLA Perfectly?
While being quite a comprehensible formatting style, MLA still appears to be complicated to some writers. This ultimate MLA in-text citation guide prepared by our competent writers can come in handy. If you stick to our instructions, citation formatting will take less time and performed perfectly for each and every paper. If you still have troubles with doing in-text citations in MLA format, don’t hesitate and contact our writers. We do editing, proofreading and writing along with academic help with your papers of any format.
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How to Cite an Article Inside of a Book
Last Updated: February 7, 2023 References Approved
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 80% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 257,746 times. Learn more...
Generally, when you use an article or essay published in a book as a source, you list the author and title of the article first. The title and editor of the book, along with publishing information, will make up the rest of your citation. The specific format of your citation varies depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago style.
- Example: Charry, Eric.
- Example: Charry, Eric. "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa."
- Example: Charry, Eric. "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa." The History of Islam in Africa , edited by Nehwmia Levtzion and Randall L. Pouwels.
- A standard MLA citation includes: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Book , edited by First Name Last Name. Publisher, year, pp. ##-##.
- Example: Charry, Eric. "Music and Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa." The History of Islam in Africa , edited by Nehwmia Levtzion and Randall L. Pouwels. Ohio University Press, 2000, pp. 545-573.
- Example: "When communities converted to Islam, many traditional songs were changed to incorporate references to the religion (Charry 546)."
- If you use the author's name in the text of your paper, you don't have to include it in the parenthetical citation. For example: "According to Charry, communities incorporated references to Islam in traditional songs after converting to the religion (546).
- Example: Berry, W.
- Example: Berry, W. (2005).
- Example: Berry, W. (2005). War does not maintain peace or promote freedom.
- Example: Berry, W. (2005). War does not maintain peace or promote freedom. In L. I. Gerdes (Ed.),
- Example: Berry, W. (2005). War does not maintain peace or promote freedom. In L. I. Gerdes (Ed.), War: Opposing viewpoints (pp. 71-79).
- A standard APA reference includes: Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Article or essay title. In First Initial Last Name (Ed.), Book title: Subtitle (pp. ##-##). Place of publication: Publisher.
- Example: Berry, W. (2005). War does not maintain peace or promote freedom. In L. I. Gerdes (Ed.), War: Opposing viewpoints (pp. 71-79). Detroit, MI: Greenhouse Press.
- Example: "When nations go to war to defend freedom, their citizens become less free (Berry, 2005)."
- If you include the name of the author in your text, you don't have to include it in your parenthetical citation. Place a parenthetical with the year immediately after the author's name. For example: "Berry (2005) argued that the process of militarization reduces freedom to the extent that war and freedom are incompatible.
- Example: Andriewsky, Olga.
- Example: Andriewsky, Olga. "The Paradoxes of Reform: Higher Education in Post-Soviet Ukraine."
- Example: Andriewsky, Olga. "The Paradoxes of Reform: Higher Education in Post-Soviet Ukraine." In Society in Transition: Social Change in Ukraine in Western Perspectives , edited by Wsevolod Isajiw, 239-268.
- A standard Chicago bibliography entry includes: Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." In Book Title , edited by First Name Last Name, ##-##. Place of Publication: Publisher, year.
- Example: Andriewsky, Olga. "The Paradoxes of Reform: Higher Education in Post-Soviet Ukraine." In Society in Transition: Social Change in Ukraine in Western Perspectives , edited by Wsevolod Isajiw, 239-268. Toronto, CA: Canadian Scholars' Press, 2003.
- In Chicago style, the information included in the footnote does not change if you mention the author's name, or any other citation information, in the text of your paper.
- Standard Chicago footnotes include: First Name Last Name, "Article Title," in Book Title , edited by First Name Last Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, year), ##.
- Example: Olga Andriewsky, "The Paradoxes of Reform: Higher Education in Post-Soviet Ukraine," in Society in Transition: Social Change in Ukraine in Western Perspectives , edited by Wsevolod Isajiw (Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press, 2003), 255.
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- ↑ https://uscmed.sc.libguides.com/c.php?g=484371&p=3313032
- ↑ https://utica.libguides.com/c.php?g=703243&p=4991646
- ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf
- ↑ https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/APA/book-chapter
- ↑ https://libguides.tru.ca/chicago/book-chapter
- ↑ http://libguides.heidelberg.edu/chicago/book/chapter
About This Article
To cite an article inside of a book using MLA format, start by writing the author's last name, then add a comma. Next, write their first name and add a period. In quotation marks, enclose the title of the article you are citing, followed by a period. Then, in italics, write the name of the book, add a comma, write "edited by," and include the name of the editor. After a period, conclude with the name of the book's publisher, along with the year and the relevant page numbers, separated by commas. Alternatively, if you want to do an in-text citation, provide the author's name and page number in parentheses at the end of the line, before the period. For more advice, like how to cite an article inside of a book in APA format, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Citing an Essay. MLA Essay Citation Structure. Last, First M. “Essay Title.”. Collection Title, edited by First M. Last, Publisher, year published, page numbers. MLA Essay Citation Example. MLA Essay In-text Citation Structure. MLA Essay In-text Citation Example.
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
How to Cite a Book in MLA | Format & Examples. Published on June 28, 2019 by Shona McCombes. ...
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
To cite an essay with an author in a textbook with authors rather than editors, follow the MLA format template and list the authors of the textbook in the “Other contributors” slot: Graff, Gerald. “Disliking Books.”. From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Practical Guide , by Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky, 2nd ed., Bedford / St. Martin ...
There are solely two points that MLA format for in text citations requires: Firstly, in-text citation contains the author’s last name, comma, space. In addition, in-text citation includes the page number. Such a structure provides parenthetical citations that should be situated at the end of the sentence where you cite a source.
MLA Download Article 1 Start your Works Cited entry with the author's name. Use the name of the author of the specific article you want to cite. Type their last name first, followed by a comma. Then type their first name. Place a period at the end of the author's name. [1] Example: Charry, Eric. 2
An in-text citation can be included in one of two ways as shown below: 1. Put all the citation information at the end of the sentence: 2. Include author name as part of the sentence (if author name unavailable, include title of work): Each source cited in-text must also be listed on your Works Cited page. RefWorks includes a citation builder ...
In MLA, a basic book citation includes the following information: Author’s name Title of book Publisher of the book Year published Additional information is needed when citing: Books on websites or books in databases Name of website or database URL E-books Name of e-book device Translated or edited books Name of the translator or …