Question

Identify the correct in–text citation when you reference the book Birds by Thomas Gray.

Most of the birds could already fly well. (Birds 186).
Most of the birds could already fly well (Birds 186).
Most of the birds could already fly well (Gray 186).
Most of the birds could already fly well. (Gray 186)

Answer 1

the correct answer would be the second choice, "Most of the birds could already fly well (Birds 186).". This is because when using in-text citation, you must include the line being cited and the source in (). you must remember that the source is the Title of the work and the paragraph or page number the line is found. Also a common mistake is made when placing the period. always place the period outside the ().

Answer 2

Most of the birds could already fly well (Gray 186).

Step-by-step explanation:

Whenever citing any text in an academic or written work, it is mandatory to follow carefully how the various citations are done. There are different styles of in-text citations, on how and where one thing goes.

But most commonly, in-text citations are done with the name of the author/ authors and then followed by the page number in parenthesis (). Also, one major mistake and also a common confusion is the positioning of the period (.). "Periods (.)" are put right after the parenthesis, not before it.

Like, for example,

Most of the birds could already fly well. (Gray 186) is wrong in the placement of the 'period'. Also, the first two options are wrong as the name of the author is cited wrongly and instead used the name of the source.

Thus, the correct way of making in-text citation is-

Most of the birds could already fly well (Gray 186).