Final answer:
Parenthetically citing page or line numbers depends on the type of work: prose usually uses page or paragraph numbers, drama uses act, scene, and line numbers, and poetry uses line numbers. For online sources without page numbers, use paragraph numbers, and always include the author's name along with specific location information in your citation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To parenthetically cite page or line numbers of works, one should follow the style guidelines appropriate for the type of work they are referencing. For prose, one commonly includes page numbers (e.g., 245) or paragraph numbers (e.g., par. 3) in the citation. When citing drama, it is standard to use act, scene, and line numbers in a format like this: (2.3.4), which signifies Act 2, Scene 3, Line 4. However, if the play lacks line numbers or scenes, you may need to reference only the act and scene (1.3) or even just the act (Act 3).
Poetry requires line numbers for reference and, when first introducing a quote, include the term 'line' or 'lines' (e.g., "Her Eyes all sweet, and languishingly move" (line 4)). Similarly, cite verse plays with act, scene, and line numbers (e.g., Hamlet 4.4.31-39). For fiction and prose plays that are available in various editions and may not have consistent page numbering, provide additional information like chapter or scene number after the page number, using a semicolon to separate them (e.g., 331; ch. 5).
When citing sources online or print articles that do not have page or line numbers, it is advisable to include the paragraph number (e.g., para. 18). Lastly, when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source, always include the author's last name and the specific location where the information can be found if known. Use hyphens to indicate page ranges and semicolons to separate multiple works within the same citation.