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How to Paraphrase With Two Authors in MLA Format

When writing a research paper, it is important to give credit when you use ideas that are not completely your own. Many research essays will talk about the work that someone else has done, paraphrasing what they had to say in a succinct point. When writing in MLA format it is necessary to follow a specific set of rules for citing an author within the text of your essay. Some books, however, have more than one author, but citation is still possible with a slight adjustment to the citation formatting.

Instructions

- 1
  Write the sentence or sentences that paraphrase the points that the pair of authors made in their work. If you paraphrase multiple points you may have to cite the same source several times.
- 2
  Put the name of each of the authors, separated by the word "and", as well as the page number you are paraphrasing from at the end of the sentence in parenthesis. The order you use the names should be the same as the order they appear on the book (which is many times, but not always, alphabetical). For example:
  
  (Johnson and Smith 15).
- 3
  Put a period at the end of your sentence, after the parenthesis.

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