2. IN-TEXT CITATIONS—THE BASICS
Insert a parenthetical reference (a reference in a
parenthesis) whenever you cite a fact or give a
quotation or paraphrase.
The parenthetical citation should refer clearly to a
source on your Works Cited page.
The basic form for internal citations is author and
page number, such as (Smith 245).
The period goes after the final parenthesis.
3. IN-TEXT CITATIONS—SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Omit the author’s name if you give it in your text.
Use the full title or a shortened form of the title if
there is no author OR if you have multiple sources
by the same author and there could be confusion.
Omit the page number if there are no page
numbers. Give only the author’s name or a
shortened title.
You may give the paragraph number if the source is
organized by paragraphs.
4. GOOD PRACTICE
Include identifying information such as
the author and/or title in your text so
that you don’t need to put this
information in the parenthesis.
5. EXAMPLES
In The Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan claims
that the public embraces pseudoscience “in exact
proportion as real science is misunderstood” (15).
While most people find it nearly impossible to tickle
themselves, schizophrenics can because their
condition makes it difficult to perceive timing
accurately (Eagleman 50).
6. EXAMPLE—CITING BY TITLE
The CCU first-year composition program incorporates
a “digital badge initiative that stresses the student
learning outcomes central to ENGL 101 and 102”
(“Practices” 7).
On the Works Cited page:
“Practices Central to First-Year Composition.”
Coastal Writers’ Reference. 2nd Ed.
Fountainhead Press, 2019.
7. REMEMBER THIS…
You are more likely to be penalized
for a missing citation than for an
unnecessary citation.
You are more likely to be penalized
for giving too little information than
too much.
8. QUESTIONS?
Coastal Writers’ Reference
MLA Handbook
Writing Center
(843) 349-2937
Website
CCU Library Citation Guides
Purdue OWL
Your Instructor
