In-Text Citations
Common Mistakes
Citation Scenarios
100

What two things belong in a basic in-text citation?

Author’s last name and page number (e.g., Smith 42)

100

What is the most common Works Cited error?

Missing or incorrect formatting of the hanging indent

100

You summarize an article—what citation do you need?

An in-text citation with the author’s name

200

How do you cite a source with two authors?

(Smith and Jones 77)

200

True or False: In MLA format, it’s okay to include hyperlinks in blue and underlined on your Works Cited page.

False. (URLs should appear in plain black text with no underlining or blue font—just like the rest of your paper.)

200

You use two quotes from the same book—what’s needed?

A full Works Cited entry and in-text citations

300

What if there’s no page number available?

Just include the author’s last name (Smith)

300

What’s wrong with this citation: Smith, John. “Climate.” NYT 2020.

It’s missing the full title, date format, and URL

300

What’s wrong with this in-text citation?

(Smith, 2020).


What is including a comma between the author’s name and the year? (MLA uses only the author’s last name and page number, no comma, and no year: Smith 22.)


400

What is the correct way to cite an in-text source that has three or more authors?

What is First Author’s Last Name et al.?

400

Where should the period go in an in-text citation?

After the parentheses: “…quote” (Smith 42).

400

Your friend says you don’t need citations for paraphrasing. Are they right?

No – paraphrasing still requires citations

500

You forget to cite a source, but list it on your Works Cited. Is that enough?

No – you need both in-text and Works Cited citations for every source used

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