MLA In-Text Citation PLACEMENT

any students cite their work accurately, but don’t properly place the citations. This is like answering a question correctly, but by shouting it at the top of your lungs while jumping up and down. It discredits you.

Here are three typical mistakes:

• According to the New York Times, “Kelly Clarkson is back on top.” (Sisario)
• According to the New York Times, “Kelly Clarkson is back on top (Sisario)”.
• According to the New York Times, “Kelly Clarkson is back on top (Sisario).”

The difference is simple: the citations goes inside the sentence but outside the quotation. Here’s the correct way:

• According to the New York Times, “Kelly Clarkson is back on top” (Sisario).