For the first citation in prose, include the author's first name.

Citation in prose example:

After 3 years of research, Leticia Rociano determined the base was ineffective in multiple settings (65).

Parenthetical example:

The base was used in multiple experiments during a 3-year period, but it proved to be ineffective (Rociano 65).

If there is no page number, leave it out.

Citation in prose example:

Yaiba and Gotouge found several examples of cooperation in the original texts (17).

Parenthetical example:

The examples of cooperation indicated there was a greater degre of communication within the different groups than previously thought (Yaiba and Gotouge 38).

If there is no page number, leave it out. Include the first names for the first reference only.

If there are three or more authors, you only list the first author's last name in text, followed by the Latin abbreviation et al. Include the first name for the first reference only.

Citation in prose example:

Kawada et al. proved cultural influences were the greatest factor in how audiences interpreted the dialog (3).

Parenthetical example:

Audiences relied most on their cultural backgrounds when interpreting author intent through the dialog (Kawada et al. 3).

Refer to an author in the same way it is written in the source for the first reference, then only by the last name. If an author has a hyphenated last name, include them both with the hyphen in the in-text citations. In most cases, if the author has two last names that are not hyphenated, only use the second last name. Exceptions are made for people who voice their preference for including both last names or for historic people who are listed by both last names in dictionaries (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 43).

Citation in prose example:

Bonnie Matthews Wolfe essentially created the trend. Wolfe notes others incorporated her style of syntax into their writing (12).

Parenthetical example:

The effect of this syntax in creative prose encourages readers to look past standardized English and embrace meaning-making in their own ways (Wolfe 34).

If an author has an abbreviation (e.g., St. James) or particle (e.g., de la, von) in their name, include it in the in-text citations. Include suffixes such as Jr. or VIII at the first citation in prose, but leave them out for subsequent references (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 42-43).

Citation in prose example:

Dane Le Emilio, Jr. concurred. Le Emilio added the idea that the setting created a sense of urgency for the characters (22).

Parenthetical example:

The setting adds a sense of urgency for the characters (Le Emilio 22).

A business, university, or government agency can produce documents. If they have a common acronym, spell out their name the first time, and use the acronym for subsequent references (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 51-52).

Citation in prose example:

Texas Tech University (TTU) increased student retention through two key initiatives (2).

Parenthetical example:

The initiatives encouraged students to use the many resources available to them (TTU 3).

Citation in prose example:

MagneBlock Inc. created the first toy building block that uses electromagnetic forces to hold the blocks together.

Parenthetical example:

Without increasing user difficulty, the blocks hold designs together even when met with greater forces (MagneBlock Inc. 5).

If there are multiple sources that have the same or similar ideas, you can put them all in one parenthetical citation separated by semicolons. The order of the authors is up to you.

Parenthetical example:

Many think William Shakespeare was actually multiple authors writing under the same name (Crosby; Applebaum et al.; Morrison; Gill and Learner).

For webpages without a specified author, some historical documents, or other artifacts that do not have an author, use the first couple of words in place of the author's name (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 227-228).
Citation in prose example:

According to the website "There Be Dragons," there are several notable differences in traditional eastern and western dragons.

Parenthetical example:

Eastern dragons fly without wings, while western dragons have large wings that can double as forelegs ("There Be Dragons").

Sometimes you find good information from an author who is quoting someone else. Ideally, you will find the original source, and cite it yourself. When that is not possible, you can have an indirect source. To do this, include the original author's name in the prose, and use the abbreviation qtd. in (quoted in) with the second-hand source parenthetically (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 284).

Example:

Linn said, "Without the fine arts program, half of the kids would have dropped out of school" (qtd. in Richards 331).

Instead of referencing a page number, include a time stamp with an Hour:Minute:Second format, as needed.

Narrative example:

Becks explained, "No time might ever be exactly right, you just have do your best in any moment" (1:00:13).

Parenthetical example:

Being prepared for any situation is always beneficial (Beck 27:30-28:00).

For 1-3 lines of poetry, include it in the text as you would a normal quote, using a space forward slash space sequence ( / ) to separate lines of poetry. The word line(s) is lowercase. If the poet's name is used in the narrative, only put word line(s) and the line number(s) in the parenthesis at the end of the sentence.

Parenthetical example:

"I'm nobody! Who are you? / Are you nobody, too? / Then there's a pair of us — don't tell" (Dickinson lines 1-3)!

For 4 or more lines of poetry, use a block quote. Indent the lines .5 inches from the left margin. The parenthetical citation goes on the last line, after the end punctuation. If there is not room for the citation, put it on its own line flush against the right margin.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog! (Dickinson lines 1-4)

Author. "Title of source." Title of container (e.g., journal, magazine), Other contributors (e.g., editors, translators), Volume, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location (e.g., page numbers, URL, building name or address where lecture was held).

Titles of books, journals, magazine, websites, etc., are italicized. Chapter titles, lecture titles, episode titles, etc., are surrounded by quotation marks. Note that the end quote mark in titles comes AFTER the period.

• In general, the more information you can include the better. You want your readers to be able to access your sources if they want to read them for themselves.
• City of publication is not required unless your source was published before 1900 or if your source was published in more than one country. For example, the British vs. American spelling of words creates differences in the text and requires the inclusion of the city of publication (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 172-73).
• Not all publications will have all the containers/fields recommended by MLA. If your source does not have an editor or URL, for example, just skip that option.

• Authors are listed alphabetically by last name then first name (e.g., Clay, Raymond).
• If an author has a middle initial or middle name they use with their publications, include them in the Works Cited (e.g., Clay, Raymond Dean).
• For works with two authors, list the first author in last name, first name order and the second author in first name last name order (e.g., Seymour, Lydia, and Diya Matthews) (MLA Handbook, 9th Ed. 313).
• For works with three or more authors, list only the first author's name, followed by the Latin abbreviation et al. (e.g., Kawada, Miri, et al.) (MLA 9th Ed. 313).
• If an author has a last name with a particle (e.g., de, van, von), leave it lower case, and alphabetize the author by the particle (e.g., von Schmit Schwarzt, H. would be alphabetized as a "V" name and not an "S" name). Include suffixes, such as Jr. or IV but not prefixes, such as Dr. or Sir.

If citing a website that is unstable and features frequent changes, consider putting Access + the date you last viewed the website in day month year format.

Example:

"Hours and Locations." TTU Undergraduate Writing Center, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/uwc/undergraduate/Hours_Location.php. Accessed 10 July 2023.