Fall '25 - ENGL 1302 - Garrett- by Kara Dixon: MLA Examples

Parenthetical Documentation (In-Text)

When writing your paper in MLA format, parenthetical documentation is used to briefly identify the sources of information you have borrowed from. Parenthetical documentation should be integrated smoothly into the text of your paper, rather than listed separately.  

• No signal phrase:

In an article on the benefits of video games and flow state, it is argued that when players work together collaboratively, they can improve their results in the game, while also completing all required learning outcomes (Vras 117-118).

• Using a signal phrase:

As Ta-Nehisi Coates explains, “At Howard University, one of the greatest collections of books could be found in the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. Moorland held archives, papers, collections, and virtually any book ever written by or about black people” (47).

Refer to the MLA Documentation handout for examples of works cited entries for different types of sources!

Remember: Your instructor's requirements and guidelines always come first!  Librarians are here to help you meet those expectations.

• Choose an easily readable font (must contrast clearing with the italic).  Professor Garrett specifies Times New Roman.
• Font size should be anywhere between 11-13.  Professor Garret specifies 12 point font.
• Works Cited list is arranged in alphabetical order by whatever the first word is, usually the author's last name.
• Works Cited list is double spaced.
• Works Cited list uses "hanging indent" for each item.

20 second demo of the hanging indent: