Clear examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations for real papers

Three core examples of MLA in-text citations you’ll use constantly

Let’s start with the heart of this guide: three everyday patterns you’ll repeat in almost every MLA-style paper. These are the classic examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations you’ll see over and over:

• Citing a book with page numbers
• Citing a journal article with page numbers
• Citing a web source with no page numbers

Instead of listing them like a rulebook, I’ll show you how they look inside real sentences.

Imagine you’re writing an English paper on climate fiction, a psychology paper on stress, and a current events paper on public health. You might write something like this:

In Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler shows how communities adapt to constant danger: “You can’t save all the people you care about” (Butler 123).

Here’s what’s happening in that first example of MLA in-text citation:

• Butler is the author’s last name.
• 123 is the page number.
• No comma between name and page.
• No “p.” or “pg.” — just the number.

The second of our 3 examples of MLA in-text citations might come from a scholarly article:

College students who report higher levels of social support tend to experience lower perceived stress (Nguyen and Patel 457).

Now we have:

• Two authors: Nguyen and Patel.
• 457 as the page number.

And the third example of MLA in-text citation might be from a web article with no page numbers:

According to recent data, regular physical activity can improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety symptoms (Mayo Clinic Staff).

Because there are no page numbers on that page, we just use the author (or group author) name.

Those are the three core patterns. The rest of this guide shows you how to bend and stretch them to handle almost anything your professor throws at you.

More detailed examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations in action

To really master MLA, you want to see multiple versions of each pattern. Let’s walk through three clusters of examples—so you’re not just memorizing one example of MLA in-text citation, but recognizing the pattern behind it.

1. Quoting and paraphrasing books: best examples with page numbers

When you cite a book in MLA, you almost always include the author’s last name and page number. Here are several real examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations all built from books.

First, a direct quote where the author’s name appears in the sentence:

As Butler argues, “Drowning people sometimes die fighting their rescuers” (123).

Because you already named Butler in the sentence, you only need the page number in parentheses. This is one of the best examples of MLA in-text citations for smooth, natural writing.

Next, a paraphrase where the author’s name is only in the citation:

Some scholars suggest that apocalyptic fiction reflects real anxieties about climate and inequality (Butler 89).

Here, the citation quietly tells the reader: This idea comes from Butler, page 89.

Another example of MLA in-text citation with two works by the same author:

Butler’s later work explores how communities can be rebuilt after disaster ("Parable” 45).

In this case, you might have two books by Butler on your Works Cited page, so MLA asks you to shorten the title in the citation (here, “Parable") along with the page number.

If you’re citing a classic novel available in many editions (say, Pride and Prejudice), your in-text citation still follows the same pattern:

Elizabeth’s changing view of Darcy shows how first impressions can be misleading (Austen 211).

All of these are simply different flavors of one of the core examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations: author + page, with or without the name in the sentence.

2. Articles and PDFs: examples include journal and magazine sources

Journal articles, magazine articles, and many PDFs also use author + page. But you’ll often deal with multiple authors and sometimes corporate authors. Here are more real examples of MLA in-text citations to model.

A scholarly article with two authors:

Recent research suggests that students benefit from shorter, more frequent study sessions rather than long cramming sessions (Karpicke and Blunt 78).

A study with three or more authors uses et al. in MLA:

Long-term studies show that active learning strategies improve exam performance in large science courses (Freeman et al. 841).

A magazine article with no page numbers but a clear author:

Many teens report that social media affects their sleep and mood (Anderson).

If you’re citing a PDF that does have page numbers, treat it like a print source:

The report concludes that early intervention programs can significantly improve reading outcomes (National Reading Panel 4).

Again, these are just more detailed examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations using the same backbone: author (or group author) + page, when available.

For more on how MLA handles authors and sources, you can check the official guidance from the Modern Language Association at MLA.org or the Purdue OWL MLA guide at owl.purdue.edu.

3. Websites and online sources: examples of MLA in-text citations with no page numbers

Online sources are everywhere in 2024–2025, and MLA has adapted to that reality. When a web page has no page numbers, you simply drop the number and keep the author (or organization).

Here are three practical examples of MLA in-text citations for web content.

A web article with a named author:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that washing hands with soap and water can reduce the spread of many illnesses (Thompson).

A page with a group author instead of an individual:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

A health article from a well-known medical site:

Regular physical activity can improve mood and help manage symptoms of depression and anxiety (Mayo Clinic Staff).

You’ll notice these examples of MLA in-text citations do not include URLs, access dates, or page numbers. Those details belong in your Works Cited entry, not in the in-text citation.

If you’re unsure whether to trust a source, it’s a good idea to stick with reputable sites like CDC.gov, NIH.gov, or major medical providers like Mayo Clinic and WebMD.

Variations on the core patterns: more real examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations

Now that you’ve seen the backbone patterns, let’s layer on some slightly trickier situations. These are the spots where students often hesitate, but they’re all still built from the same three core examples of MLA in-text citations.

Signal phrases: blending citations smoothly into your writing

A signal phrase is when you introduce the author in your sentence instead of cramming everything into parentheses at the end. This often makes your writing sound more natural.

Compare these two versions:

Version A: Some researchers argue that students remember more when they test themselves regularly (Roediger and Karpicke 254).

Version B: Roediger and Karpicke argue that students remember more when they test themselves regularly (254).

Both are correct MLA. Version B uses a signal phrase and is one of the best examples of how MLA in-text citations can sound smooth and academic at the same time.

Another example with a web source and no page numbers:

According to the National Institutes of Health, even small increases in daily activity can lead to health benefits (National Institutes of Health).

You could also write:

The National Institutes of Health reports that even small increases in daily activity can lead to health benefits.

Here, the source is so clearly identified in the sentence that some instructors accept this as enough, especially in informal writing, though MLA typically still encourages a parenthetical citation.

No author? Use the title instead

Sometimes you hit a page with no author listed. MLA lets you use a shortened version of the title instead.

For example, if your Works Cited has an entry like this:

“Benefits of Exercise.” WebMD, 2024.

Your in-text citation might look like:

Regular physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke ("Benefits of Exercise").

This is another variation that still fits into our overall set of examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations: author, group author, or shortened title + page number (if available).

Multiple sources in one citation

Sometimes you want to show that more than one source supports your point. MLA lets you combine them in a single parenthetical citation, separated by semicolons:

Studies consistently show that active learning improves student performance in STEM courses (Freeman et al. 841; Deslauriers et al. 192).

Here, you’re citing two separate studies in one smooth move. This kind of sentence is a strong example of MLA in-text citation use in higher-level academic writing.

Putting it all together: building your own MLA in-text citations

Let’s pull these threads together into a simple mental checklist you can use when you’re writing.

When you need to cite a source in MLA, ask yourself three questions:

1. Do I have an author?

   • If yes, use the author’s last name.
   • If no, use a shortened title.

2. Do I have page numbers?

   • If yes, add the page number after the name.
   • If no, just use the name or title.

3. Did I already mention the author in my sentence?

   • If yes, you usually only need the page number in parentheses.
   • If no, put name + page (or just name) in parentheses.

Most of the real examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations in this article come from combining those three questions in different ways.

Here’s a quick run-through of three fresh sentences that show the pattern clearly:

Book with author and page: In Beloved, Morrison explores how memory and trauma shape identity (Morrison 256).

Journal article with three authors: Active learning strategies are associated with higher exam scores in large lecture courses (Smith et al. 304).

Website with organization as author, no pages: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least seven hours of sleep per night for adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

These are simple but powerful examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations you can adapt to almost any source.

If you want to double-check your work, many universities host clear MLA guides. For instance, the Harvard College Writing Center and Purdue OWL both keep their MLA pages updated as the style evolves.

FAQ: Short answers about MLA in-text citation examples

Q1: Can you give another example of MLA in-text citation for a quote?
Yes. Here’s one:

“Self-testing is one of the most effective learning strategies available to students” (Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel 43).

Q2: How do I handle an example of MLA in-text citation with no page numbers at all?
Just use the author or organization name:

Many adults underestimate how much sleep they need (National Sleep Foundation).

Q3: Do I need a comma between the author and page in MLA citations?
No. MLA uses no comma between name and page: (Austen 45), not (Austen, 45).

Q4: Do my in-text citations have to match my Works Cited page?
Yes. Every in-text citation should point to a matching entry on your Works Cited list. If you use (Freeman et al. 841) in your paper, your Works Cited should include the full Freeman article.

Q5: Are these examples of MLA in-text citations still accurate for the 9th edition (2021–2025)?
Yes. The patterns you see here—author + page when available, name only for web sources without pages—follow the MLA Handbook 9th edition, which is current for 2024–2025.

If you keep these patterns and examples of 3 examples of MLA in-text citations in mind while you write, you’ll spend less time worrying about formatting and more time focusing on your ideas—which is exactly where your energy should go.