Parenthetic Citations
SECTION 6 FROM THE MLA HANDBOOK FOR
W R I T E R S O F R E S E A R C H P A P E R S , 7 TH
EDITION
Parenthetic Citations – Defined
 Based on the Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary;
 Parenthetical is defined as: “enclosed in parenthesis”
(1b 1641)
 Citation is defined as: “the act of citing verbatim the
spoken, written, or printed words of another” (2a
411)
Parenthetic Citation VS. Quotation
 While both parenthetic citations and quotations
follow the same basic procedure, they are not exactly
the same concept.
 Quotations are the exact (near exact) words used in a
work .
 Parenthetic Citations are use of the author’s idea or
line-of-thought rather than their exact words.
 It is important to note that if the information used
within your text is not your original thought or
common knowledge, you MUST use either form to
document how you derived your thought pathway.
6.1 Parenthetical Documentation and
the List of Works Cited
 In order to be in compliance with MLA guidelines,
the following items are needed to avoid plagiarism:



A works cited page that is used to document all sources used.
The use of parenthetical citation that indicates the specific
information and its placement within the document from the
work used.
The use of notes with parenthetical citations that allows the
writer to provide more information (e.g., additional
comments, explanations, etc.) and and/or additional
bibliographical information.
6.2 Information Required In Parenthetical
Documentation
The reference contained within the written text
should refer to a precise source (e.g., author’s
name. etc.) contained in the works cited list.
1.
a)
b)
Based on the parenthetical citation used, the source used
should not be ambiguous.
Distinction between similar author’s last name and/or
multiple texts by the same author will be covered in the
subsequent slides.
6.2 Information Required In Parenthetical
Documentation
2. The location of the information referenced must be
clearly and concisely identified.
a)
b)
Reference makers must include a page, paragraph, or volume
number.
Works cited in their entirety, (e.g., radio, television
programs, etc.) will usually be cited by their title only.
6.3 READABILITY
 Because the use of parenthetic citations are
necessary to support the writer’s premise, their use is
necessary to avoid the “borrowing” of another
author’s thought and/or research.
 However, readability tends to suffer and a person’s
work may read in an awkward fashion. Therefore,
these references should be kept brief and concise and
should be placed in “natural breaks” or pauses.
6.3 Readability of Parenthetic Citations (cont’d)
 Typically those are found at the end of sentences,
phrases, and/or clauses after the excised information
has been utilized.
 The placement of the original author’s name within
the context of the reference sentence is an
appropriate means to prevent the stilted nature of
many research papers references.
 The use of this technique will also aid in subsequent
usage of the reference later in the paper.
6.4 Samples of & Using Parenthetical Citations
 Based on the MLA
Handbook, 7th edition, we
will take a look at the
following examples:




6.4.1 – Citing Entire Works
or Works Without Page
Numbers
6.4.2 – Citing Parts of Works
6.4.3 – Citing Volume & Page
Nos. of Multi-Volume Work
6.4.4 – Citing a Work Listed
by Title





6.4.5 – Citing a Work by
Corporate Author
6.4.6 – Citing Two or More
Works by the Same
Author(s)
6.4.7 – Citing indirect
Sources
6.4.8 – Citing Common
Literature
6.4.9 – Citing More Than
One Work in a Single
Parenthetical Reference
6.4.1 Citing an Entire Work, Including a Work
with No Page Numbers
 Use the following format for citing an entire work.
 This is used to cite information in general terms, rather than
specific information.
 Can be used for any sources (print & non-print), particularly
those that do not have page numbers or other location
“markers”.
 Best practice suggests that the author’s name be
included in the written text rather than an
actual parenthetic citation.
6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work
When using part of another’s work, please remember
there are two conditions that must evaluated.
Is the author’s name included within the text.
2. Is the author’s name NOT included within the text.
1.

It is suggested that every “first-use” reference
include that author’s name within the text as it
was done for 6.4.1.
6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work
 Always be sure that the pages, sections, etc. are
contained within a set of parenthesis at the end of
the information before the period ending the
sentence.
6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work
– Author’s name within the text
 Sources with pagination

(page #) DO NOT use p. or pp.
 Sources without pagination
 Paragraphs – used primarily for internet sources


Sections – used from handbooks, etc.


(sec. or secs. #)
Preface – from beginning of books or other works


(par. or pars. #)
(use Roman Numeral found on page)
Appendices, table, figures, etc.

(see fig. #), (see table #), etc.
6.4.2 Citing Part of a Work
– Author’s name within the text
 Sources with pagination

(Author’s Last Name page #) DO NOT use p. or pp. and no comma!
 Sources without pagination

Paragraphs – used primarily for internet sources


Sections – used from handbooks, etc.


(Author’s Last Name sec. or secs. #)
Preface – from beginning of books or other works


(Author’s Last Name par. or pars. #)
(Author’s Last Name use Roman Numeral found on page)
Appendices, table, figures, etc.

(Author’s Last Name see fig. #), (Author’s Last Name see table #), etc.
6.4.3 Citing Volume and Page Numbers
of a Multivolume Work
 Within the citation for the volume number, be sure
to provide a page reference & separate the two (vol.
no. & page no.) by a colon and space.


Ex. 1 – (Finkelman 1: 338-355) When used at the end of a
passage.
Ex. 2 – When used with author/editor referenced within the
context of the written passage use the following at the end of
the sentence. (1: 338-355)
 Be sure to NOT include the words “volume” &
“page” or their abbreviations when using this
form.
6.4.3 Citing Volume and Page Numbers
of a Multivolume Work
 When citing a volume in its entirety, use the author’s
last name and volume no. Please see example and
note the differences from previous slide!

Ex. 1 – (Finkelman, vol. 1)
6.4.4 Citing a Work Listed by Title
 As a general rule, parenthetic references cited within the
context of a paper does allow for some abbreviations of
the titles. However, problems can arise in the following
areas:
1.
2.

Improper title abbreviations that do not reflect an actual source
(e.g., using “Computer” as a title for The Encyclopedia of Computer
Science and Technology.)
Similar citations for the same word/topic is cited and each must
have quantitative qualities that distinguish each entry. (e.g., ENIAC
– Encyc. Of Computer Science vs. ENIAC – Supercomputers)
A simple way to avoid confusion is to use the full
title within the context of the paper to avoid any
confusion of an abbreviation of the title.
6.4.5 Citing a Work by a Corporate Author
 As with all longer citations, it is acceptable to use the
full/corporate author within a parenthetic citations
at the end of a sentence.
 A better practice is to use the corporate author’s
name within the context of the sentence to avoid a
cumbersome “stop” at the end of the sentence.
 This practice can ease the abbreviated name for
further citations. (see 6.4.4)
6.4.6 Citing Two or More Works by
the Same Author or Authors
 When using this form of
citation, place a comma
after the author’s last
name and add the title of
each work (or an
appropriate abbreviation
after the first full use)
with the relevant page
number.


Ex. – (Nardo Roman
Republic, 67-76)
(Nardo Roman Empire,
42-43)
 If the author and work
are cited within the
context of the paper, cite
only the relevant page
numbers.

Ex. – In Nardo Roman
Republic …(67-76).
6.4.7 Citing Indirect Sources
Although the taking of materials excised from
another's work is allowed, this practice is highly
discouraged.
 Use the following procedure if it is not possible to
use an original source.


Include the abbreviation “qtd. in” before the author’s last name
and page number.
Ex. Emerson declared that poetry and the poet himself
“unlocks our chains, and admits us to a new scene” (qtd. in
Kane, 359)
6.4.8 Citing Common Literature
 Common literature is defined as the works that are
frequently studied, and often these sources are
drawn from multiple editions of the same work.
 Typical examples of these sources include:



Works of Shakespeare
Various editions of the Bible or other scriptural texts
Other common forms of literature
6.4.8 Citing Common Literature (cont’d)
 In order to alleviate
citation and access
problems when a specific
edition may or may not
be readily found, use the
following procedure to
cite these types of works.
 For commonly
studied verse, plays,
and poems:
 Omit page numbers

Cite by divisions &


Act, scene, book, part, etc.
Cite by line

Use periods that separate
the numbers used
 Ex. 1 (Macbeth 4.1.120)
 Refers to Shakespeare’s
Macbeth Act 4, Scene 1,
Line 120
6.4.8 Citing Common Literature
 Do’s & Don’ts
 DO NOT use l. or ll. when citing lines only as they
may be confused with numerals. If one is citing only
specific lines from a work, use the word line or lines
in the first citation and numbers thereafter.
 Unless specified by the instructor, DO use Arabic
numbers for separating the divisions (acts, scenes)
and page numbers.
6.4.8 Citing Common Literature
 For citing scripture:
 Include an edition in the bibliographic citation and
 Be sure to include the title of the specific edition used with the
first parenthetic citation.
 Always name the book used, the chapter, and verse rather than
use any page numbers.


Abbreviations of the chapter titles are acceptable.
Example: NIV Archaeological Study Bible, Ezra 7.1-10
6.4.9 Citing More Than One Work in a Single Parenthetical
Reference
 Because related information within a parenthetical
citation may be excised from multiple sources, the
write is allowed to use the following procedure:
 Multiple source citations must be set apart by a
semicolon.


Caution should be used with this method as a long
parenthetic citation may be a distraction to the
reader and its content.
Please see 6.5 on a better way to perform this procedure.
6.5 Using Notes With Parenthetical Documentation
According to the MLA Handbook 7th Edition (2009),
there are only two (2) types of notes to be used
within a paper.
1. Content Notes that provide the reader with:
a)
b)
c)
Comments,
Explanation, or
Information not found within the written text (e.g., further
explanations and/or particular word meanings)
2. Bibliographic Notes that contain multiple sources
(from 6.4.9) or to evaluate comments of the given
source.
6.5.1 Content Notes
 Use this detail to provide a
means through which a
writer may elaborate on a
topic without distracting
the reader by an indirect
source or explanation as to
why this secondary source
was used. (230-231)
 When using this device, be
sure to use a superscript
number to reference this
note.
 Then be sure that this note
will appear at the bottom of
the page with a 1 in. insert.
 Example:
6.5.2 Bibliographic Notes
 Use this note form as a
means to evaluate
multiple sources to limit
reader distraction within
the text of the paper.
 The format will be the
same as previously
mentioned


Superscripted number and
1 in. inset.
 Example:
Works Cited
Finkelman, Paul, ed. "George Washington's Farewell Address." Milestone
Documents in American History. Vol. 1. Dallas: Schlager Group, 2008. 338-55.
3 vols. Print.
Kane, Paul. "Ralph Waldo Emerson." Vol. 1. World Poets. Ed. Jeffrey H. Chen,
Timothy J. DeWerff, John Fitzpatrick, Deborah Gershenowitz, and Stephan
Wagley. New York: Charles Scribner's, 2000. 3 vols. 359-67. Print.
Nardo, Don. The Roman Empire. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1994. Print.
Nardo, Don. The Roman Republic. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1994. Print.
NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. Print.