In MLA format, when I'm citing multiple, separate pages from a source, do I list them all in the in-text citation?

Answered By: Jessica Maris

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2024 Views: 162079

In situations like this, you have three options:

Option 1: Give a single parenthetical reference after the last idea or quotation from the source in the paragraph.

Example from the MLA Handbook:

Romeo and Juliet presents an opposition between two worlds: "the world of the everyday... and the world of romance." Although the two lovers are part of the world of romance, their language of love nevertheless becomes "fully responsive to the tang of actuality" (Zender 138, 141).

Option 2: Make separate in-text citations for each section you are citing.

Example from the MLA Handbook:

Romeo and Juliet presents an opposition between two worlds: "the world of the everyday," associated with the adults in the play, and "the world of romance," associated with the two lovers (Zender 138). Romeo and Juliet's language of love nevertheless becomes "fully responsive to the tang of actuality" (141).

The handbook specifies that the second citation can omit the name of the author if it is reasonable for the reader to conclude that the author is the same as in the previous citation.

Option 3: Define a source in the text at the start of the paragraph.

Example from the MLA Handbook:

According to Karl F. Zender, Romeo and Juliet presents an opposition between two worlds: "the world of the everyday," associated with the adults in the play, and "the world of romance," associated with the two livers (138). Romeo and Juliet's language of love nevertheless becomes "fully responsive to the tang of actuality" (141).

If the two citations are in different paragraphs, be sure to make two separate, full in-text citations.

Links & Files

Cite MLA Style Guide

Comments (14)

So would I be able to cite like this?

(Wadsworth 16-17,19).

by Drey on May 10, 2016
yes you can

by Mursaleen on Dec 09, 2017
This saved me in my English assignment! Thank you!

by adriano zafririan on Nov 11, 2018
thank a bunch! my english teacher would've killed me if i got this wrong!

by a random person on Sep 11, 2019
What if I had a line that recurs multiple times in the book and I want to quote it?

by Anonymous on Oct 06, 2019
Hi Anonymous. To quote a line that recurs multiple times, just use the first instance in which it occurs in the book for your citation.

by COM Librarian on Oct 07, 2019
so, (Bradbury 16-17)?

by Anonymous v2 on Nov 10, 2020
Yes, Anonymous v2, (Bradbury 16-17) would work.

by COM Librarian on Nov 11, 2020
What if the topic I'm citing in my text is listed a great quantity of times throughout the book, possibly over 50 different pages?

by Jameela on Dec 06, 2020
Hi Jameela. It is not uncommon for a source to discuss a topic on multiple pages. Since the intent of your citation is to guide your reader to the specific piece of information you are referencing in that sentence, you would focus on the page(s) focusing on the specific aspect of the topic that you are discussing in that part of your paper. For instance, say the source was on diabetes.Your paper is also on diabetes. But in a specific part of your paper you discuss the injection site, you would just reference that very specific piece of information from that source. If the entire source is truly that specific then you can cite the source with no page numbers as you used the entire source. You may want to check with your instructor just to make sure.

by COM Librarian on Dec 08, 2020
What if I am citing two quotes from a play?

by Anon on Jan 17, 2021
Hello aiden.wolf@tolarschools.org. If you are citing two quotes from a play, you can still use any of the options above in the answer, but you will need to use the MLA format for citing a play. Here is an example from style.mla.org https://style.mla.org/edition-without-line-numbers/In Macbeth, Shakespeare often returns to the idea that appearances can be deceiving. After hearing of the death of the traitorous Thane of Cawdor, who had seemed so loyal, Duncan remarks, “There’s no art, / To find the mind’s construction in the face” (54; 1.4).1the 1 in the in text citation is a note. MLA recommends that you specify that the play cited does not use numbered lines so you are citing the act followed by scene numbers. So in that citation 54 is the page number where the quote can be found in the edition of the play you sued, 1 is the act, 4 is the scene. You do not need put title or author in the in text citation as you have already referenced that in the beginning of the sentence, "In Macbeth, Shakespeare".

by COM Librarian on Jan 25, 2021
How do I quote multiple lines from the same scene, in one long quotation. Like would the intext citation be this=(Shakespeare, 1.1.40-45, 51, 53-54). If I quote lines 40-45(put a line break), then quote 51(then line break) then 53-54?

by Anonymous 0625 on Apr 08, 2022
Hi @Anonymous 0625. Using that example, you would need to cite each instance separately. The line (Shakespeare, 1.1.40-45). the line (Shakespeare, 1.1.51). the line (Shakespeare, 1.1.53-54).

by COM Librarian on Apr 08, 2022