Where is the best place to insert an in text citation in an essay?

MLA citation style requires that writers cite a source within the text of their essay at the end of the sentence in which the source is used. The parenthetical reference should be inserted after the last quotation mark but before the period at the end of the sentence.

How do you cite a piece of text?


How do I cite a website?


How do you cite a summary in text?

You do not need to use quotation marks. Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize, to let the reader know that the information comes from another source. Continue to use signal phrases as well. For more information about paraphrasing, please review the content on the paraphrasing page.