100+ MLA Citation Format Examples for Quotes – Complete Guide
In academic writing, properly citing quotes using MLA format ensures credibility, avoids plagiarism, and respects intellectual property. This article explores ten distinct types of quotations—ranging from direct to paraphrased, block quotes to in-text citations—and demonstrates how to apply MLA 9th edition guidelines accurately. Each section includes real-world examples with correct formatting for author-date-page structure, signal phrases, and integration into prose. Understanding these variations empowers writers to enhance their arguments with authoritative support while maintaining scholarly integrity. From literary excerpts to online sources, mastering MLA citation strengthens both clarity and academic rigor across disciplines.
Direct Short Quotes (Fewer than 4 Lines)
"Language is the road map of a culture," said Rita Mae Brown (45).
According to Smith, "the data reveals a significant trend" (23).
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal," Churchill reminded us (102).
As Johnson stated, "innovation drives progress" (78).
"Art enables us to find ourselves," wrote McNamer (33).
"The future belongs to those who believe in beauty," affirmed Eleanor Roosevelt (15).
"Books are mirrors of the soul," observed Byrne (89).
"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us," declared Churchill (104).
"Imagination is more important than knowledge," Einstein believed (67).
"To be yourself in a world that wants you otherwise is true courage," wrote Emerson (29).
"Education is the most powerful weapon," Mandela once said (55).
"Change begins when we step outside comfort," argued Patel (112).
When incorporating short direct quotes (fewer than four lines of prose), integrate them smoothly into your sentence using quotation marks and follow with the author’s last name and page number in parentheses. Signal phrases like “according to” or “stated” help introduce the source naturally. Punctuation goes after the citation unless it's part of the original quote. MLA style emphasizes clarity and consistency, ensuring readers can trace each idea to its origin. These concise quotes strengthen arguments without disrupting flow, making them ideal for supporting key points in essays and research papers.
Long Block Quotes (4+ Lines of Prose or 3+ Lines of Poetry)
In her seminal work, Morrison reflects: “At some point, the pain becomes so deep, the loss so constant, that one forgets what life felt like before the wound. Memory becomes a burden, yet we carry it, because to let go is to lose ourselves entirely” (Morrison 76).
Thoreau elaborates on simplicity: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (32).
Woolf muses on female creativity: “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction; and that, as you will see, leaves the great problem of the true nature of woman and the complexity of her mind untouched” (Woolf 4).
King defends civil disobedience: “An unjust law is no law at all. One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty, is expressing the highest respect for law” (King 89).
Foucault analyzes power: “Power is not something that is acquired, seized, or shared; it is exercised from innumerable points in the social body, through daily practices, institutions, and discourses that produce knowledge and regulate behavior” (Foucault 114).
Fanon discusses colonial identity: “The colonized subject internalizes the gaze of the colonizer; he sees himself through foreign eyes, and thus becomes alien to his own culture, his own history, and ultimately, himself” (Fanon 108).
Freire on education: “Education either functions as an instrument to bring about liberation or to domesticate the oppressed. The banking concept of education transforms students into passive recipients, deposited with information they do not question” (Freire 72).
Gandhi on nonviolence: “Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. It disarms the opponent, awakens his humanity, and converts enmity into friendship” (Gandhi 54).
Neruda writes of love: “I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that never blooms but carries the light within” (Neruda 21).
Whitman celebrates selfhood: “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 1).
Douglass on literacy: “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. The white man’s power over the slave depends on ignorance; enlightenment is the first step toward rebellion and liberation” (Douglass 63).
Solnit on hope: “Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope is an action, a stance, a discipline” (Solnit 131).
Long quotations—four or more lines of prose or three or more lines of poetry—must be formatted as block quotes in MLA style: indented one inch (or 0.5 inches) from the left margin, double-spaced, without quotation marks. The citation appears after the closing punctuation. Introduce the quote with a colon if it follows a complete sentence; otherwise, use a comma or no punctuation. Block quotes are used sparingly to highlight impactful passages without breaking readability. Proper formatting preserves the integrity of the original text while clearly distinguishing it from the writer’s voice, enhancing scholarly tone and analytical depth.
Quotes from Multiple Authors (Same Source)
Johnson and Lee argue that "climate policy must prioritize equity" (44).
"Social media reshapes identity formation," state Patel and Kim (89).
Brown and Taylor emphasize, "early intervention improves outcomes" (103).
"Urban design influences mental health," according to Garcia and Liu (77).
"Digital archives democratize access to history," write Adams and Cole (121).
"AI ethics requires interdisciplinary collaboration," assert Reed and Zhao (56).
"Migration patterns reflect economic disparities," explain Ortiz and Wu (91).
"Parental involvement boosts academic performance," note Simmons and Yang (34).
"Cultural narratives shape political beliefs," observe Hayes and Park (67).
"Renewable energy adoption lags behind innovation," claim Bennett and Lin (115).
"Trust is the foundation of effective leadership," maintain Cruz and Ahmed (28).
"Language learning enhances cognitive flexibility," affirm Dawson and Kimura (82).
When citing a quote authored by two individuals, list both surnames in the in-text citation separated by “and.” If introduced in a signal phrase, use “and” between names; if in parentheses, use an ampersand (&). For sources with more than two authors, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” This convention maintains clarity and conciseness. Accurately representing collaborative scholarship acknowledges contributions fairly and aligns with MLA’s emphasis on transparency. Writers should verify author order and spelling from the original source to ensure precision in attribution and uphold academic standards in multi-author citation practices.
Quotes from Sources with No Author
"Over 70% of teens report anxiety linked to social media" ("Teen Mental Health Trends" 12).
"Global temperatures rose 1.2°C since pre-industrial levels" ("Climate Report 2023" 5).
"Remote work increases productivity by 13%" ("Workplace Innovation Study" 8).
"Plastic waste in oceans may triple by 2050" ("Ocean Pollution Data" 21).
"AI will automate 30% of jobs by 2030" ("Future of Work Forecast" 17).
"Bilingual education improves test scores" ("Language Learning Review" 9).
"Urban green spaces reduce stress levels" ("City Wellbeing Index" 33).
"Food insecurity affects 1 in 8 Americans" ("Hunger Statistics 2022" 6).
"Cyberattacks increased by 45% last year" ("Digital Security Report" 14).
"Sleep deprivation impacts memory retention" ("Brain Health Study" 27).
"Public transit reduces carbon emissions" ("Sustainable Cities Initiative" 19).
"Volunteering correlates with higher life satisfaction" ("Community Impact Survey" 41).
When a source lacks a clear author, MLA recommends using a shortened version of the title in quotation marks for the in-text citation. Titles of articles, web pages, or reports are italicized in the Works Cited but appear in headline-style capitalization and quotation marks in parenthetical citations. This method ensures traceability even when authorship is anonymous. Always match the shortened title precisely to the full entry in the Works Cited. This approach supports academic honesty and allows readers to locate the source independently, preserving the reliability of research despite incomplete author information.
Paraphrased Quotes (Ideas Restated in Your Own Words)
Effective communication relies on empathy and active listening (Smith 15).
Students perform better when they feel psychologically safe in classrooms (Lee 88).
Urban sprawl contributes significantly to habitat fragmentation (Nguyen 67).
Mindfulness practices reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (Kim 31).
Children exposed to bilingual environments develop stronger executive function (Zhang 44).
Historical narratives often exclude marginalized voices (Ortiz 102).
Algorithmic bias can reinforce societal inequalities (Reed 73).
Creative expression fosters emotional resilience (Byrne 55).
Peer feedback enhances writing development more than teacher comments alone (Adams 29).
Sustainable agriculture reduces water pollution and soil degradation (Liu 94).
Music training improves auditory processing and language skills (Chen 18).
Trust is built through consistent actions over time (Patel 7).
Paraphrasing involves rewording someone else’s idea in your own language while retaining the original meaning. Even when not quoting directly, MLA requires citation of the author and page number to credit the source. Effective paraphrasing demonstrates comprehension and allows seamless integration of evidence into your narrative. Avoid merely replacing words with synonyms; instead, restructure sentences and adjust tone. Always compare your version to the original to ensure accuracy and avoid unintentional plagiarism. Proper citation of paraphrased content upholds academic integrity and strengthens your argument with credible support.
Quotes from Online Articles or Websites
"Digital detoxes improve focus and emotional regulation," according to Harvard Health (2023).
"Microplastics have been found in human bloodstreams," reports National Geographic (2022).
"Sleep experts recommend 7–9 hours nightly for adults," states Mayo Clinic (2023).
"Cryptocurrency volatility discourages long-term investment," explains Bloomberg (2023).
"Remote learning widened the digital divide," notes UNESCO (2021).
"Plant-based diets lower risk of heart disease," says WebMD (2022).
"AI-generated art raises copyright concerns," observes The Verge (2023).
"Air pollution reduces life expectancy globally," warns WHO (2023).
"Social comparison on Instagram affects self-esteem," finds Psychology Today (2022).
"Electric vehicles cut transportation emissions by 50%," claims EPA (2023).
"Misinformation spreads faster than factual news," according to MIT Study (2021).
"Universal basic income trials show mixed results," reports BBC News (2023).
When citing quotes from online sources without page numbers, include the author or organization name and, if available, a paragraph number (e.g., par. 5). If no author is listed, use the website or article title in quotation marks. MLA 9th edition prioritizes accessibility, so URLs are optional unless required by instructors. Always include the access date for dynamic content. Quoting reputable websites enhances relevance, especially for current topics. However, evaluate sources critically for credibility. Proper citation builds trust and ensures accountability in digital scholarship.
Quotes from Edited Books or Anthologies
"Postcolonial literature challenges dominant historical narratives," writes Achebe in *Postmodern Literatures*, ed. Gupta (112).
"Feminist theory interrogates power structures in everyday life," argues Butler in *Gender and Society*, ed. Thompson (67).
"Queer identities resist binary classifications," states Muñoz in *Sexualities in Context*, ed. Diaz (89).
"Indigenous epistemologies value communal knowledge," explains Yellowtail in *Voices of the Earth*, ed. Clarke (34).
"Digital storytelling empowers marginalized communities," observes Chen in *New Media Narratives*, ed. Lee (55).
"Urban poverty is shaped by systemic exclusion," contends Davis in *Cities of Inequality*, ed. Moore (78).
"Trauma-informed pedagogy supports student healing," advocates Ramirez in *Teaching Through Crisis*, ed. Kim (101).
"Archival silence erases subaltern histories," warns Spivak in *Decolonizing Knowledge*, ed. Patel (44).
"Performance art disrupts traditional aesthetics," asserts Abramović in *Avant-Garde Expressions*, ed. Rossi (23).
"Algorithmic governance threatens democratic participation," warns Zuboff in *Data and Power*, ed. Ford (133).
"Multilingualism enriches cognitive diversity," affirms De Costa in *Language and Identity*, ed. Singh (61).
"Ecocriticism reimagines human-nature relationships," proposes Morton in *Environmental Humanities*, ed. Greene (95).
When quoting from a chapter or essay in an edited book, cite the specific author of the quoted passage, not the editor. The in-text citation includes the author’s last name and page number. In the Works Cited, list the chapter author first, followed by the title of the essay, the book title in italics, the editor’s name preceded by “ed.,” publisher, year, and page range. This structure gives proper credit to contributors within anthologies and helps readers locate the exact source. Precision in citing edited collections reflects meticulous research and adherence to MLA’s hierarchical citation logic.
Quotes from Secondary Sources (Indirect Citations)
As cited in Johnson,鲁迅 believed "the hope is like a path in the countryside" (qtd. in Johnson 144).
Darwin reportedly said, "It is not the strongest who survive," according to Smith (qtd. in Smith 33).
Marx noted, "Religion is the opium of the people," as referenced by Lee (qtd. in Lee 88).
"Democracy is the worst form of government," Churchill allegedly joked, per Brown (qtd. in Brown 105).
Freud suggested, "Unconscious desires drive behavior," as relayed by Clark (qtd. in Clark 72).
"Poetry is eternal graffiti," Kerouac reportedly mused, according to Diaz (qtd. in Diaz 41).
Einstein claimed, "Imagination encircles the world," as cited by Patel (qtd. in Patel 67).
"Silence is the language of God," said Eliot, per Wilson (qtd. in Wilson 29).
"All art is propaganda," argued Du Bois, as mentioned by Taylor (qtd. in Taylor 94).
"Technology shapes society invisibly," Postman reportedly observed, via Reed (qtd. in Reed 51).
"History is written by the victors," Churchill supposedly said, as quoted by Kim (qtd. in Kim 12).
"The personal is political," attributed to Hanisch, per Garcia (qtd. in Garcia 77).
When citing a quote found in a secondary source (i.e., you did not read the original), use “qtd. in” before the author of the source you actually consulted. This indicates indirect quotation and prevents misrepresentation. MLA advises locating and citing primary sources whenever possible, but indirect citations are acceptable when originals are inaccessible. Clearly distinguish between direct and secondary references to maintain scholarly honesty. This practice protects academic integrity by acknowledging the chain of transmission and guiding readers to the accessible source.
Quotes from Multimedia Sources (Videos, Podcasts, Films)
"We are the first generation to feel climate change," said Attenborough in *Climate Final Hour* (00:12:34).
"Storytelling is how we pass down wisdom," explained Adichie in her TED Talk (00:05:17).
"Fear is the mind-killer," intones Jessica in *Dune* (1:23:45).
"Creativity is intelligence having fun," attributed to Einstein in *Genius Mindset* (00:18:22).
"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain," says Harvey Dent in *The Dark Knight* (00:44:10).
"Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another," stated Brené Brown in *Unlocking Connection* (00:22:05).
"The internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand," said Galloway in *Digital Future* (00:30:12).
"We were soldiers," narrates Hanks in *Band of Brothers* (Ep. 1, 00:10:55).
"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be," declared Obama in *Yes We Can* (00:08:41).
"Algorithms shape what we see and think," warned Zuboff in *Surveillance Capitalism* (00:37:20).
"Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart," said Picasso in *Art & Soul* (00:15:33).
"Every child deserves a champion," insisted Rita Pierson in her TED Talk (00:07:19).
MLA allows citation of multimedia sources by timestamp rather than page number. Include the creator or speaker, the title of the work in italics, and the timestamp in HH:MM:SS format. For podcasts or videos, specify the platform if relevant (e.g., YouTube, Spotify). Signal phrases help contextualize spoken quotes. Always verify accuracy by referencing transcripts or rewatching segments. Citing audiovisual material broadens research scope and adds contemporary relevance, especially in cultural or media studies. Proper formatting ensures accessibility and scholarly rigor across evolving media formats.
Quotes with Omissions or Additions (Using Brackets and Ellipses)
"The ... journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" (Lao Tzu 12).
"She [Marie] demonstrated exceptional leadership during the crisis" (Dubois 88).
"If we can dream it ... we can achieve it" (Disney 45).
"The results were significant (p < .05) ... and replicated across samples" (Choi 103).
"He [Dr. Evans] emphasized transparency in clinical trials" (Reed 77).
"To be or ... not to be: that is the question" (Shakespeare 3.1.58).
"Participants reported higher satisfaction ... particularly in remote settings" (Nguyen 61).
"The treaty [Paris Agreement] marks a turning point in climate policy" (Green 29).
"We shall fight on the beaches ... we shall never surrender" (Churchill 107).
"The data suggest a correlation ... though causation remains unproven" (Foster 44).
"Her [Malala’s] advocacy transformed global education policy" (Khan 55).
"One small step ... for all mankind" (Armstrong 1).
Ellipses (...) indicate omitted words within a quote, preserving grammatical integrity while condensing content. Use brackets [ ] to insert clarifying words, such as names or pronouns, not present in the original. Never alter the meaning through omissions or additions. MLA requires square brackets for editorial insertions and spaced ellipses for deletions. These tools enhance clarity and relevance but demand ethical use. Proper application maintains fidelity to the source while adapting quotes to fit new contexts, balancing brevity with accuracy in scholarly writing.
Schlussworte
Mastery of MLA citation format for quotes is essential for producing credible, ethical, and professional academic work. From short in-text quotations to complex multimedia attributions, each citation type serves to honor original thinkers and fortify your argument with evidence. By correctly applying rules for block quotes, paraphrasing, indirect sources, and modified excerpts, writers demonstrate both respect for intellectual property and command of scholarly discourse. Consistency, precision, and attention to detail define strong citation practices. As research evolves across digital and interdisciplinary landscapes, adherence to MLA guidelines ensures clarity, transparency, and academic excellence in every piece of writing.
浙公网安备
33010002000092号
浙B2-20120091-4