These apply to parenthetical or in-text citations in MLA. The bolded statments are true, while false statements are underlined.
A parenthetical citation is very short and is contained within the text.
- True, a parenthetical citation only includes the last name of the author and a page number. Sometimes when there isn't an author, the title of the work is shortened.
A parenthetical citation includes the author and the title of the work cited.
- False, a parenthetical citation includes the last name of the author and the page number. It only includes a shortened title of the work if there is no author.
A parenthetical citation gives the author’s last name and a page reference for the source material.
- True, unless there is no author. In which case, a shortened title is used instead.
A parenthetical citation is always in parentheses.
- True. Sometimes the author's last name can be used within the sentence, but at the very least the page number will always be in parenthesis.
Every source used for an assignment must be documented with a parenthetical citation.
- True. Any information that came from another source needs to be cited within your work.
Only direct quotations need to be documented with a parenthetical citation.
- False. You need to use parenthetical citations with direct quotes, paraphrases, or summaries.
A comma is not needed between the author’s last name and the page reference.
- True. There should not be a comma between the author's last name and the page number. Example: (Smith 3).
The abbreviation for page is used in a parenthetical citation.
- False. You don't need to use an abbreviation for page, all you need is the number.