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Paraphrasing in MLA

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill. It allows you to seamlessly integrate another person’s ideas into your work, and it is the preferred way to integrate most research information into a paper.

In addition to writing a good paraphrase, you must also include a citation with the paraphrase. One effective way to do this is by using MLA in-text citations .

But first, let’s define paraphrasing.

What is a paraphrase? Why is it beneficial?

• A paraphrase is a piece of information written in a new way after reading and analyzing a source.
• A paraphrase translates the main ideas of a passage into a new passage that uses your own words and perspective.
• A paraphrase lets you control what point or information is highlighted.
• A paraphrase allows you turn a long passage into a condensed, focused passage.
• Direct quotes are helpful, but paraphrasing allows you show that you truly understand a work. Think about it: Is it easier to quote a source or paraphrase?

What does MLA have to do with it?

Academic integrity is extremely important, and a paraphrase allows you to use someone’s ideas efficiently in your work…but that is only part of the work. In order to stay ethical, you’ll also need include an in-text citation. That’s where MLA style comes in.

An MLA in-text citation gives appropriate credit to the original source. By following the guidelines of the MLA style and including an accurate citation, you can avoid accusations of plagiarism.

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, which is a scholarly association dedicated to the study and advancement of languages. The MLA style comes from their published MLA Handbook , which provides rules and guidelines on research and writing. The latest update to the MLA style occurred in 2021, and careful consideration needs to be paid to these guidelines.

Although there are other styles of research and writing, MLA is the primary style guide for humanities, language, and literature in the United States.

How to paraphrase

Steps in paraphrasing.

• Read the original source material carefully. It is always a good idea to read it more than once so you can paraphrase accurately.
• Consider why the source was written, when it was written, who it was written by, and who the target audience was.
• What were the key ideas or points communicated?
• What is the key point you want to highlight from the source?
• What other contextual facts about the source do you think are important to include?
• Based on your notes, put together a paraphrase.
• Next, take a minute to double check your paraphrase against the original to ensure that you have used your own writing style.
• Finally, add an MLA in-text citation.

How to add an MLA in-text citation

In order to give credit for ideas that are not yours, citing is key. According the MLA, after you create a paraphrase, you should include an in-text citation with the paraphrase. In addition to the short, in-text citation, a full reference of the source should be included on your Works Cited page. This article will focus only on the in-text citation, but see this guide for more information on MLA works cited citations.

An MLA in-text citation can be done in two ways:

• Parenthetical

Both approaches require you to know the following:

• Last name of the author
• Page number

Parenthetical citation

One way to cite in the text is to use a parenthetical citation after the paraphrase. This includes putting the author’s last name and page number where you found the information at the end of the sentence, before the final period.

Using a website as a source? Note that if a source does not have page numbers, you do not have to include the page number in your parenthetical citation.

Parenthetical in-text citation structure:

Paraphrase (Author Last Name Page #)

Parenthetical example:

I kept pounding on the doors ’til my hands hurt and I woke up the dogs (Bronte 12).

Place that end punctuation carefully! Note that there is no period at the end of the sentence, but the period is outside the parentheses. Also, there is no comma between the author’s last name and the page number.

Citation in prose

A citation in prose means that you include the author’s last name within the page text and the page number at the end of the sentence in parentheses. A citation in prose would look like this:

Citation in prose citation structure:

Paraphrase with Author Last Name (Page #)

In-prose example:

Bronte explains how Lockwood kept pounding on the doors until his hands began to hurt and he woke up the dogs (12).

Example of how to paraphrase

Here is a piece of text taken from the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement; and the avowal of all that he felt, and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well; but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

A paraphrase of the above would go something like this:

Mr. Darcy had meant to communicate that he loved Elizabeth, but in the end all he managed to do was communicate all the reasons he had fought against his feelings for her (Austen 390).

Notice the benefits of paraphrasing here?

• The paraphrase is (thankfully) much shorter than the full excerpt.
• The paraphrase writer could have mentioned several different ideas and points. Instead, paraphrasing allowed the writer to focus on the main point they wanted to highlight.
• The paraphrase demonstrates the writer’s deep understanding of what was communicated in the original passage.

Also, as mentioned previously, every in-text citation needs to have a matching, full citation in the Works Cited page. Here is the full citation for the above example:

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . 1813. Project Gutenberg , 2008, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42671.

How NOT to paraphrase

When you paraphrase, do not do the follow:

• Use most of the same words and switch out a few words for synonyms.
• Use most of the same words and change the sentence order a little.
• Take key phrases from the sentences and put them into a new paragraph without quoting them.
• Create a good paraphrase but forget to include an in-text citation.
• Create a good paraphrase but cite the wrong source.

Other MLA considerations

The Modern Language Association advises that summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations can all be used to back up your argument. However, direct quotations should be used infrequently. Try to save them for experts who are speaking on the topic.

Although you are putting a paraphrase into your own words, you still need to cite it because the ideas are not your own. MLA style asks for the author’s last name and the page number where you found the information.

Key takeaways

• The ability to paraphrase is of the utmost importance in regard to academic integrity.
• To paraphrase well, read the original a few times, consider the context, jot down the key ideas, compose your paraphrase, compare your paraphrase to the original, and add an in-text citation.
• The MLA advises using in-text citations in order to give proper credit to a paraphrase’s original source.

Published October 28, 2020. Updated July 18, 2021.

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Paraphrasing

• Why Paraphrase?
• Paraphrasing Is a Process
• Step 1: Read
• Step 2: Take Notes
• Step 3: Think About What You Read
• Step 4: Write It In Your Own Words
• Step 5: Cite Your Source
• Citing in APA

Citing in MLA

• Paraphrasing Gone Bad Video
• What's Wrong With This Paraphrase? (A)
• What's Wrong With This Paraphrase? (B)
• What's Wrong With This Paraphrase? (C)

And here is how your article citation would look if you're using MLA.

In-text citation:

Parents should be concerned about online advertising. These advertisers are manipulative, and children are more vulnerable than most parents expect ( Cornish 454 ).

Works Cited page:

Cornish, Lara Spiteri. "'Mum, Can I Play On the Internet?' Parents' Understanding, Perception and Responses To Online Advertising Designed For Children." International Journal of Advertising , vol. 33, no.3, 2014, pp. 437-473.

As with APA, citations will have different  formats d epending  on what you're citing (a book, an article from a database,  a video, etc.).  Want to see more examples of MLA citations? Go to OWL at Purdue.

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Introduction to this Page

Paraphrasing, summarizing.

• Tools for Managing Citations
• Citation Season!

What This Page Covers

This page covers how to incorporate sources into your text through quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.

These guidelines will help you to avoid unintentional plagiarism. Any quote, paraphrase, or summary needs to be accompanied by an in-text citation that identifies what work you are referring to. This gives credit to the people you have learned from and shows the process of your work.

• Purdue OWL Guide to Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Learn more from this Purdue OWL Guide, which includes a tool to help you check your text.

Tutorials from APA & MLA

The guidelines on this page apply to any citation style, though the different styles may have specific rules for some details like formatting a block quote. The following are helpful tutorials about incorporating sources directly from the APA and the MLA.

Direct Quotations and Paraphrases

Learn how to cite and format direct quotations in APA Style, including short quotations and block quotations; make and indicate changes to quotations; and cite paraphrased material.

Academic Writer // © 2023 American Psychological Association.

• Quoting and Paraphrasing in MLA Format This video course is all about quoting and paraphrasing sources in your paper! Learn rules of quoting and paraphrasing responsibly, and see examples of in-text citations in MLA format.

Definition of Quoting

When you quote a source, you reproduce or repeat a passage or phrase exactly and use quotation marks around the quoted text.

Quotes are exact duplicates of text. 

When to Quote

Style guides generally advise that you quote sparingly. A quote is a good idea in these situations:

• When the writing expresses a point extremely well
• When you want to comment on the author's choice of words

Tips for Quoting

• Only quote as much as you need to to communicate the information. 
• Look at a citation style guide to see how to format block quotes and in-text quotes.  
• If there is a spelling or other error in the text, copy the error and add sic  after the quote to denote that the error was in the text
• Omit words through using ellipsis marks (...)
• If you want to call attention to specific words in a quote, emphasize the words by using italics

Definition of Paraphrasing

When you paraphrase, you express the meaning of a written or spoken passage, or the words of an author or speaker using different words.

Paraphrasing is used when the detail of a passage is important, but the exact wording is not important. 

When to Paraphrase

Paraphrase when the details of a section of text are important. 

Tips for Paraphrasing

• Be careful not to borrow too many words from the original text. It's helpful to use synonyms.  
• Make sure to change the sentence structure of the original text.  
• If you're having a hard time paraphrasing, make sure you understand what is being said and can explain why it's relevant to your work.
• Imagine yourself explaining the idea to a friend verbally, and then write down what you would say. This can be a draft you revise later, if you need to.

Definition of Summarizing

When you summarize, you communicate the main ideas of what you have learned from a source, without including much detail.

When to Summarize

Summarize when there are long passages that have important main ideas. 

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Additional Resources

GENERAL RESOURCE:

• Modern Language Association Answers frequently asked questions, including ones about how to cite recent information formats such as tweets and e-books. Additional resources are at https://style.mla.org/

FORMATTING / STYLE:

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): General Formatting Guidelines for headers, first pages, and other format details within MLA style.

IN-TEXT CITATIONS:

• Purdue OWL: In-text Citations Explains the basics of citing within your text. Includes examples for multiple authors and different types of sources.
• Purdue OWL: Formatting Quotations Guidelines for formatting short and long quotations within your text.

WORKS CITED:

• Purdue OWL: Works Cited Page Basic Format Explains basic formatting rules for your works cited page. Then, once you are ready to create a works cited entry for a source, use the menu on the left of the screen to select the right type of source (Books, Periodicals, Electronic Sources, Other Common Sources). This menu also includes helpful information about creating tables, PowerPoint presentations, and more.

MLA Style Manuals

There are two different manuals for MLA Style Citations: the Handbook and the Style Manual. The Handbook was revised in 2021; copies of both the new 2021 9th edition and the older 2016 8th edition are listed below.

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Key Elements of a Citation

There are certain pieces of information that you should note as you are doing your research.  In various types of citations, these elements will be important to recognize and take note of:

•   Author's full name (and whether or not there are multiple authors).
•  Full precise title of book, journal article, dissertation, etc.
• If resource is book, dissertation, or AV item, place of publication . name of publisher , and date of publication .
•  If resource is an article from a journal or newspaper, you need to note not only the author and title of the article but also the precise title of the journal/newspaper in which the article was published,  the volume and/or issue number, the date of the publication , and the pagination of the article.
• If the resource is digital, note if it has been assigned a " D.O.I. " = Digital Object Identification (number).
• If you found the article as the result of a search on an online database, note the name of the database NOT the name of the vendor (EBSCO, ProQuest, Gale, Web of Science, etc. are vendors, NOT databases names).

Direct Quotes, Summaries & Paraphrases

• Direct Quotations
• Common Knowledge

YOU SHOULD CITE WHEN:

• Referring to a source and stating someone else's opinions, thoughts, ideas, or research
• Using an image or media file that you did not create

WHEN REFERRING TO A SOURCE, YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS FOR USING IT:

• Directly Quoting  
• Summarizing  
• Paraphrase 

"Which option you should choose depends on how much of a source you are using, how you are using it, and what kind of paper you are writing, since different fields use sources in different ways." Grounds for Argument. When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize a Source . Used under CC BY NC SA

Image:   Random quote  by  Gabriel Jones . Used under  CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

YOU DO NOT NEED TO CITE:

• Your thoughts and your interpretations
• Common knowledge​

WHAT IS A DIRECT QUOTATION:  

" Must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author."   Purdue University Online Writing Lab. (2012).  Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

• If summarizing or paraphrasing cannot capture the essence or meaning of the text 
• To retain a specific or unique phrasing used by the source's author
• If you are analyzing the text itself (often in English or language classes)

BE ADVISED:

Most of the time when you cite a source, you want to summarize or paraphrase. Direct quotations should be used sparingly when the situation meets the criteria above.  When you do use direct quotations:

• Do not take the quote out of context. The author's meaning should not change.
• Be sure to integrate multiple sources within your text. You don't want to have a paper or a passage that seems to have come only from one source, with little original text from you.
• Use transitions to make sure your quote adds to your paper without interrupting its flow.

HOW TO CITE A DIRECT QUOTATION:  

• Place quotation marks around the entire word-for-word passage, whether it's a phrase or a sentence.
• Attribute with an in-text citation ; most citation styles request that you provide a page or paragraph number when directly citing.  
• If your quotation is longer, check with your citation style guide to see if additional formatting is necessary (block quotations, for example).  
• When and How Much to Quote From the Harvard Guide to Using Sources

WHAT IS A SUMMARY:  

" Involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s).... Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material."   Purdue University Online Writing Lab. (2012).  Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

"Similar to paraphrasing, summarizing involves using your own words and writing style to express another author's ideas. Unlike the paraphrase, which presents important details, the summary presents only the most important ideas of the passage."  University of Houston-Victoria Student Success Center (n.d.).  Decide when to Quote, Paraphrase & Summarize.

• To provide necessary background information for your audience
• When broad, concise information will suffice 

HOW TO CITE A SUMMARY:   

• Attribute with an  in-text citation ; some citation styles request that you provide a  page or paragragh number  whenever available.
• You should not be using any word-for-word quotations or language unique to the source, so you do NOT need quotation marks around your summary.
• When and How to Summarize From the Harvard Guide to Using Sources

WHAT IS A PARAPHRASE:  

"A  paraphrase is a detailed restatement in your own words of a written or sometimes spoken source material. Apart from the changes in organization, wording, and sentence structure, the paraphrase should be nearly identical in meaning to the original passage. It should also be near the same length as the original passage and present the details of the original." University of Houston-Victoria Student Success Center (n.d.). Decide when to Quote, Paraphrase & Summarize.

Paraphrasing is "your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form."  Purdue University Online Writing Lab. (2012).   Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

• "When the wording is less important than the meaning of the source"  University of Houston-Victoria Student Success Center (n.d.).  Decide when to Quote, Paraphrase & Summarize.
• If a summary would not provide enough specific details

HOW TO CITE A PARAPHRASE:   

• When paraphrasing, you must change both the sentence structure and language of the original text.  Therefore, since you will be changing the text, you do NOT need quotation marks around your paraphrase.
• Purdue OWL: Paraphrasing Includes 6 steps to effective paraphrasing and examples.
• When and How to Paraphrase From the Harvard Guide to Using Sources

COMMON KNOWLEDGE:

It doesn't necessarily mean that most people would know it offhand. And sometimes it's a judgment call because what seems like common knowledge to one person isn't to another. H ere are good rules of thumb:

• If you can find the same information in multiple places, stated in relatively the same way, it's common knowledge  ( Generally, it is said that you should find the information three to five sources)
• If most people are aware of this fact, or if it's general reference, it's common knowledge

CAUTION:  Opinions and unique terminology/phrasing do not qualify as common knowledge.

Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism

READ THE SOURCE IN ITS ENTIRETY

• It's easy to take something out of context if you only read a portion of it! If you read the entire source, you should have a better feel of the author's meaning.

TAKE DETAILED NOTES AS YOU READ

• Anytime you note something word-for-word, immediately place it in quotation marks. Also note what page or section you found it on.
• On each page, make sure you note the original source and the date you accessed the source. This will make citation much easier, especially if you are working with multiple sources or doing research over a long stretch of time.
• Try not to mix your own thoughts and commentary with excerpts from your source. Keep them on separate pages, draw two columns on your page, or switch your pen color.
• If you find it difficult to take notes with electronic sources - or if you find yourself drawn to the copy-paste method - print out your sources and deal with them in print form.

RETURN TO YOUR NOTES LATER

• In order to do this, you must not procrastinate on your projects. If you don't have sufficient time, you won't do your best work, and it may lead you to make poor decisions when including your sources. Remember, if you get caught plagiarizing, the situation or your intentions won't be an excuse. Build in time to synthesize and properly work in your sources.
• Make sure the source is fresh in your mind, but not right in front of you. If you see the original text, you are more likely to want to use their terms and sentence structure.
• Check your writing against the original. Remember, you should have changed the sentence structure and the language but the meaning of the source should still be the same. Any language that is unique to the source should be placed in quotation marks or removed. You may find it necessary to do several edits.

CONSULT WITH THE EXPERTS

• If you need a second opinion, ask!  Ask a librarian, a classmate, the Writing Center, or your professor. 
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MLA Format Guidelines

• Getting Started
• General Document Format
• Formatting Visuals
• In-Text Citations
• List of Sources
• Bias Free Language

For more guidance, visit Purdue OWL's MLA In-Text citation page.

• Purdue OWL's MLA In-Text Citation

Recommended MLA Websites

• MLA Citation Guide - Purdue Owl MLA style guidelines for formatting manuscripts and using the English language in writing.
• MLA In-Text Citations - Purdue Owl Describes how to write In-Text citations in your research assignments.
• MLA Works Cited Page - Purdue Owl How to format your Works Cited Page.
• MLA Works Cited Page - Purdue Owl A sample works cited page.
• Purdue OWL Sample Paper - 8th Ed.

Include the source's author (last name only) and page number (if applicable) in parentheses either at the end of sentence before the sentence-ending punctuation or before a natural break in the sentence, such as a semicolon or comma.

• Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).

If the author's name is used in the sentence, include the page number in parentheses before a natural break or at the end of the sentence.

• Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

If a quotation is more than four lines long in your document, indent it 0.5 inches on a new line without quotation marks around it. Double space the quotation, and insert closing punctuation before the parenthetical citation at the end.

At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding 186)

• The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
• The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
• There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
• The period at the end of the quotation comes  before  your in-text citation as opposed to  after , as it does with regular quotations.

Paraphrase or Summary

Unlike a direct quotation, a summary or paraphrase still relays ideas from a source but in your own words to make it fit better with your document. A paraphrase is a specific idea from a source that needs a citation with author and page number.

Paraphrasing from One Page

Include a full in-text citation with the author name and page number (if there is one). For example:

• Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 65).

Paraphrasing from Multiple Pages

If the paraphrased information/idea is from several pages, include them. 

• Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71).

One or Multiple Authors

Citation rules vary based on how many authors a source. Consult the following table for how to handle these different situations.

Indirect (Secondary) Sources

When citing a quotation from a source, include the quotation's original author in text and insert a parenthetical citation that begins with the phrase "qtd. in" to indicate the source from which the quotation came.

• According to Allegeria, biology "revolves around the idea that the cell is a fundamental unit of life" (qtd. in Smith 15).

Authors with the Same Surname

In addition to the author's name and the page number(s), include a shortened version of the title to distinguish which source is being referenced. 

• Mattias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, were scientists who formulated cell theory in 1838 (Smith, "Cell Theory" 20). 

Anonymous Author

When a source's author is unknown, cite the first few words of the source's reference list entry, usually the title with appropriate formatting if an article (quotation marks) or book (italicized).

• Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells ( Cell Biology  15).
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Citation Styles and How to Guide

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MLA Style is a citation style created by the Modern Language Association, which is how it got its name!  Although it's most commonly used in the humanities, MLA can be used across many disciplines.  Therefore, the current citation style for this edition is more like a set of guidelines rather than strict rules.

MLA Style is currently in the 9th edition.  For an overview of changes between the 8th and 9th editions of MLA, check out this article  from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).

MLA Citation Style Basics

• Resources for Getting Started
• Formatting Paper
• In-Text Citations
• Works Cited

These are some recommended resources for getting started citing in MLA Style.

A collection of frequently asked questions about MLA style answered by the Modern Language Association.

From the creators of MLA Style, this is a great resource for getting started with MLA.

Purdue OWL provides a wealth of information in their MLA Formatting and Style Guide.

You must format your paper according to MLA guidelines if you are citing using MLA Style.  

Purdue OWL provides some  general guidelines  for formatting your paper in MLA Style, which include:

• Papers should be typed
• Use double spacing
• 1 inch margins 
• Use 12 pt. size font
• The first line of each paragraph should be indented with the  Tab  key
• On the first page of your paper, you should include the following information indented left: your name, your instructor's name, the course that the assignment is for, and the date.  All subsequent pages should have a header in the top right corner with the page number.
• A Works Cited page at the end of your paper that includes all the sources

For MLA Style formatting examples, take a look at  MLA Style Center's Sample Papers  and  Purdue OWL's Sample Papers .

MLA Style's in-text citations use parenthetical citations that consist of an author-page style. 

The author's last name and page number(s) from where the quotation or paraphrase is taken appears in the text.  The structure of the in-text citation will depend on whether you are paraphrasing or quoting the text.  This in-text citation will correspond to a complete reference on the Works Cited page.

For example, if you are citing something paraphrased by  Jasmine Plott  on  page 3  of her work, you would provide an in-text citation that looks as follows:  (Plott 3) .  The full citation would appear in the works cted page.

For more information about how to craft an in-text citation, refer to Purdue OWL's guidance available  here .

Your Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper and will alphabetically lists all the sources that you included as in-text citations in your paper.  For MLA Style, there are a set of  core elements  that serve as general guidelines for what should go into a citation.  Structure your citations using the core elements listed below.  Don't forget to include the punctuation after each element in the below list, since that is an important part of the citation too!

Try to include as many core elements as you can in your citation, but don't sweat it if some of the information simply isn't available.  For instance, only some sources will have  containers , which are bigger sources where that particular source is held.  As an example, an entry in an encyclopedia would be the source, and the encyclopedia itself would be the container.

MLA Style Center's Works Cited: A Quick Guide,  and  Purdue OWL's MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format  are recommended resources for getting more information about how to structure your Works Cited page.  Check out the selected links from MLA Style Center and Purdue OWL for more detailed information!

MLA Style Center's overview of how to structure citations for a Works Cited page

Purdue OWL's information about the general format of a Works Cited page

MLA Style Center's examples for how to cite five basic source types: (1) books; (2) online works; (3) songs, recordings, and performances; (4) movies, videos, and television shows; and (5) images

Purdue OWL's guidance for basic book formatting, books with more than one author, book chapter, other print sources, etc.

Purdue OWL's guidance for scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers

Purdue OWL's guidance for websites, images, articles in databases, YouTube videos, etc

Purdue OWL's guidance for interviews, artwork, films, music, etc.

Purdue OWL's sample Works Cited page

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MLA Citation Guide

• MLA 9th Edition
• In-Text Citations and Paraphrasing
• Works Cited
• Formatting Research Paper
• MLA Citation Examples
• Test Your Knowledge

MLA In-Text Citations and Paraphrasing

• MLA in-text citations PowerPoint MLA in-text citations PowerPoint presentation.

In-Text Citations

Mla in-text the basics.

In MLA Style, when including a source you must include the following elements in your research paper:

• Author's Last Name
• The source is written in quotes or the source is paraphrased.
• Page Number

Please note that there are always exceptions to the rule, for example, if the source does not include a page number such as a website, then skip the element and only include the author's last name and quotation or paraphrase.

Examples of In-Text Citations

The following examples display in-text citations. Although all three examples are different they are still correct because they include the author's last name, quotation or paraphrase, and the page number.

Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

Source: "MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics." Purdue Online Writing Lab.  Purdue U, 2021,  owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html. Accessed 1 March 2022.

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Works Cited Generators on the Web

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Why is it Important to Cite Your Sources for Your Research Papers?

Citing sources and creating a Bibliography/Works Cited List:

• ​​​​ Gives credit to the author(s)
• Illustrates your ability to locate & evaluate appropriate sources
• Provides evidence for the arguments and conclusions in your paper
• Prevents plagarism and copyright infringement

What Is Plagiarism?

pla·gia·rism (noun)

The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. Synonyms - copying, infringement of copyright, piracy, theft, stealing. Informal - cribbing "accusations of plagiarism." Source: Google Definition

Plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional.

Citation Styles

• MLA Citation Style
• APA Citation Style
• Chicago Citation Style

What is MLA Style?  

MLA (Modern Language Association) style specifies guidelines for formatting papers. MLA style also provides a system for referencing sources through parenthetical citations in essays and Works Cited pages.

• MLA Handbook Plus This link opens in a new window The go-to resource for writers of research papers and anyone citing sources in MLA format. Watch the How to use MLA Handbook video and guide more... less... MLA Handbook Plus includes the full text of the ninth edition of the handbook, the second edition of the MLA Guide to Digital Literacy, and the MLA Guide to Undergraduate Research in Literature, as well as a video course that teaches the principles of MLA documentation style through a series of short videos paired with quizzes, plus a final assessment.

• Success Centers-Chaffey College Need more help? Contact the Success Centers for tutors and workshops on citing your sources.
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide From Owl Purdue University Writing Lab Helps you better understand how to cite sources using MLA Style, including the list of works cited and in-text citations.

What is APA Style?  

APA format is the official style of the  American Psychological Association  (APA) and is commonly used to cite sources in psychology, education, and the social sciences.  Most importantly, the use of APA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of material by other authors .

• APA 7th Edition References/In-Text Citations
• APA 7th Edition Sample Paper
• Chaffey College Success Centers Need more help? Contact the Success Centers for tutors and workshops on citing sources.
• OWL at Purdue University Writing Lab - APA Formatting and Style Guide Overview of APA (American Psychological Association) style and where to find information with different APA resources.

What is Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style  sets the standard for scholarly publishing in the Humanities.  Chicago  offers two citation formats, the author-date reference format and the standard bibliographic format, each of which provides conventions for organizing footnotes or endnotes, as well as bibliographic citations.  Most importantly, the use of the Chicago style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of material by other authors .

• OWL at Purdue University Writing Lab - Chicago Formatting and Style Guide Information on The Chicago Manual of Style method of document formatting and citation.

Avoid Plagiarism by Citing Sources

Bainbridge State College. "Plagiarism: How to Avoid It."  YouTube . YouTube, 5 Jan. 2010. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

A transcript is in process for this video. If you need assistance, please contact the Reference Librarian at  [email protected].

Citations Galore!

https://blog.writersdomain.net/2014/06/17/this-aint-your-high-school-english-class-why-plagiarism-is-a-big-deal/

MLA Nuts & Bolts

MLA Documentation Overview

MLA Sample Paper

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Plagiarism Prevention and Academic Integrity Resources: Paraphrasing and Quoting Sources

• About Plagiarism
• Plagiarism Resources
• Paraphrasing and Quoting Sources
• Campus and Community Resources

Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing

Information adapted from: Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing. UAGC Writing Center (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/quoting-paraphrasing-summarizing.

Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing Resources

• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Purdue OWL provides guidance on quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.
• Paraphrasing- how to write it in your own words Purdue OWL provides resources on how to paraphrase.
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism Krause, S. D. (2016). Quoting, paraphrasing, and avoiding plagiarism. Oregon Writes Open Writing Text.
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing Explore 3 different ways of including the ideas of others into your assignments. University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center.

OWL Purdue: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

"Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material."

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Reference List: Textual Sources

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Basic Format for Books

Edited book, no author, edited book with an author or authors, a translation.

Note : When you cite a republished work, like the one above, in your text, it should appear with both dates: Plato (385-378/1989)

Edition Other Than the First

Article or chapter in an edited book.

Note : When you list the pages of the chapter or essay in parentheses after the book title, use "pp." before the numbers: (pp. 1-21). This abbreviation, however, does not appear before the page numbers in periodical references, except for newspapers. List any edition number in the same set of parentheses as the page numbers, separated by a comma: (2nd ed., pp. 66-72).

Multivolume Work

Articles in periodicals.

APA style dictates that authors are named with their last name followed by their initials; publication year goes between parentheses, followed by a period. The title of the article is in sentence-case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns in the title are capitalized. The periodical title is run in title case, and is followed by the volume number which, with the title, is also italicized. If a DOI has been assigned to the article that you are using, you should include this after the page numbers for the article. If no DOI has been assigned and you are accessing the periodical online, use the URL of the website from which you are retrieving the periodical.

Article in Print Journal

Note: APA 7 advises writers to include a DOI (if available), even when using the print source. The example above assumes no DOI is available.

Article in Electronic Journal

Note :  This content also appears on Reference List: Online Media .

As noted above, when citing an article in an electronic journal, include a DOI if one is associated with the article.

DOIs may not always be available. In these cases, use a URL. Many academic journals provide stable URLs that function similarly to DOIs. These are preferable to ordinary URLs copied and pasted from the browser's address bar.

Article in a Magazine

Article in a newspaper.