MLA Format (Place your Works Cited Tips packet behind this packet)
Parenthetical Citations and Seamless Quotations
The following tips will help you utilize quotations in your essay without causing awkward pauses that
disrupt the flow of your ideas.
Citing the source:
1. Referring to the author/source:
*Make sure that the first time you cite (refer to) the author you use his/her first and last name.
(Ex: Bryce Courtenay’s novel The Power of One exposes…)
*After you’ve introduced the first and last name, go ahead and use the last name for any other
references. (Ex: Courtenay establishes …)
2. Parenthetical Citations: Every time you quote or paraphrase another source, you must cite the
source by stating the author or title (if the author is unknown) and the page number.
Option 1: If you state the author’s name, solely record the page # in parenthesis after the quote.
** Be mindful about maintaining control of your writing voice. Analyze the difference between the
two following examples.
Example 1: William Golding’s novel The Lord of the Flies exposes the innate potential of evil inside
every human being. “While we’re waiting, we can have a good time on this island” (34). One of the
boys says this quote after looking over the island and deciding that they are no other people
besides the boys themselves. (not seamless transition into quote)
Example 2: William Golding’s novel The Lord of the Flies describes the survival of a group of British
school boys who are marooned on an island without adult supervision. After the boys realize that
they are alone, they decide that “While [they are] waiting, [they] can have a good time on this
island” (34). Their hopeful words demonstrate the optimistic attitude they have toward survival.
(seamless!)
** Notice how the writer makes the quote a part of her own text to help her ideas flow rather than
having the quote be on its own, thereby disrupting the flow of her ideas. The italicized words show
how she transitions into the quote to introduce it and out of the quote to show why the quote is
relevant.
Option 2: If you do not state the author’s name or the title prior to the quote or paraphrase, then
record the author’s name in the parenthesis along with the page number.
Example: In the article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” the author describes
the unearned privileges that the white race receives. “I never realized that racism could be
committed in singular acts,” the author admits as she uncovers the unintentional acts of racism that
still exist in our society today (McIntosh 1).
** However, if you introduce or refer to the author right before the quote, you only cite the page
number.
3. Remember that the flow of your ideas is more essential than the quote
itself.
The quote should fit so smoothly into your paragraph that if read aloud, listeners could not tell you
even included a quote.
Techniques to help you create seamless transitions:
1) If you cannot make one of your own sentences flow naturally into the quote, then introduce who
states the quote (just was you would when telling a story: and then he said, “). Ex: The tribe’s
emotions were made obvious when the chief reveals, “ …)
2)If you need to adjust the wording so that the quote flows better in your sentence, simply place
the information you are adding in brackets [ ]. If you are exchanging one word for another, leave
out the word you are replacing. In the example below, the writer changes “I” to “he” to maintain the
flow of her sentence.
Ex: As the novel begins, so does Peekay’s torture. At a very young age, those around him mold his
perceptions about himself. Solely because he is British, he is mocked, beaten, and alienated by his
Boer peers. Previous to the night of his “trial” by the Judge, “[he] had no previous warning that [he]
was wicked and it came as a fearful surprise”(Courtenay 4). For all that he knew, until the moment
he was declared evil by others, he was his nanny’s good little boy…
3) If a quote is too long and you want to break it down to emphasize critical points, simply use
ellipses … (three periods) to indicate that you are cutting words out.
4) Use Transition Words:
To indicate an example or another idea that builds upon the current topic: in addition, another
example, for example, for instance, furthermore, moreover, not only… but also…
To show contrast between examples or ideas: on the other hand, in contrast, however, rather,
instead, but, yet
To show a cause and effect relationship: consequently, therefore, hence, thus, thereby, due to
the fact that…, in order for __, because, so, as
5) Use strong verbs rather than repeating the author/text says: Conveys, portrays, highlights,
pinpoints, exposes, exhibits, demonstrates, reveals, argues, explains, stresses, states, admits,
clarifies, …