Question

To follow MLA citation rules properly, what does the author of this essay need to do?

add a citation after each sentence in the essay
include a page number after the author’s name
remove the reference to the name of the doctor
place an end quotation mark after the end parenthesis

Answer 1

Include a page number after the author’s name.

MLA uses the author–page in-text format: (LastName page). For example:
- If you name the author in the sentence: According to Smith, ... (45).
- If you don’t name the author in the sentence: ... (Smith 45).

Notes on the other choices:
- You do not need a citation after every sentence—only when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize source material that isn’t your own.
- Don’t move the end quotation mark after the parenthetical; the quotation mark comes before the parenthetical citation: "..." (Smith 45).
- You don’t need to remove a doctor’s name unless it’s irrelevant or violates privacy; titles aren’t part of the parenthetical citation (use last name only).