When paraphrasing, summarizing or quoting words or ideas from a source, the source must be cited. To cite, "either place both the author's last name and the page number inside parentheses or introduce the author's name in the sentence and just the page number in parentheses," advise Cheryl Glenn and Loretta Gray, authors of the "Hodges Harbrace Handbook." Each citation must have a corresponding entry on the works cited page that provides full documentation.
Attribution involves naming the source in a signal phrase right before using borrowed information. Writers may also include the source's credentials: According to Dr. Janet Smith, professor of anthropology at XYZ University, "Insert quote " (26). Sometimes, however, writers prefer not to use attribution. When not identifying the source in a lead in, writers should provide the source's name and page number in the citation: An article in "Writers Today" reports, "Insert quote" (Smith 3).
When authors are not named, put the first few significant words of the article title and the page number (if available) in the citation: ("Cats" 2), short for "Cats: Health and Wellness." When articles are produced by corporate authors or government agencies, cite the agency: (The Federal Emergency Management Agency). When in doubt, provide the title of the work, the sponsoring agency and publication year in the signal phrase to credit sources.
Information inside the citation must match the beginning of a works cited entry. When Jones is cited, readers expect to find an entry on the works cited page that begins Jones, John and will become confused if there is no such entry. If Jones is quoted in an article written by Jane Smith, the quote is indirect. Writers should cite the original source to lead readers to the correct entry: (qtd. in Smith).
Quotations that exceed four lines in a paper follow different formatting and citation rules. To create a block quote, end the lead in with a colon and begin a new line that is indented 1 inch. Do not use quotation marks around the quoted passage and place a period at the end of the quote (instead of after the citation) when citing: His voice rose under the black smoke. (186)