Question by gee im a tree: How to cite sources MLA format?
So I forget how to do this every time I write have to write a paper…
How do you cite sources within the paper:
Do you use parentheses or brackets? What do you put in the parentheses/brackets?
I will mainly be using books and websites but information on how to cite other types of sources would be fantastic as well.

It would also be helpful if you could give me an example of how to cite this website:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/stat/summary/a-0a.pdf
It came from this site:

http://www.fao.org/fishery/statistics/en

The link I clicked was “Summary table of fishery statistics”
Oh yeah and then I clicked “Latest summaries and tables”
And after that I clicked “World fisheries production, by capture and aquaculture, by country”

Best answer:

Answer by Caroline
To cite something with in a paper you use parenthesis. what you put in the parentheses depends on what you are citing. You almost always put the authors name. This may be all you have to put, but if you are quoting a book you should also include the page number like this (author, 180). And remember quotes always go on the outside of the citation.

If you are quoting 2 articles, either online, in print or both, that have the same author you also need to include the first couple words of the title of each of the articles to clarify which one you are citing.

If the article you are using does not have an author listed then you should put the article title or the first few words of the citation.

I always use the websites below to help me whenever I need to do a bibliography or works cited.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!