What is the purpose of in-text citations in MLA format?

• A. It is used to list the sources at the end of the document.
• B. It is used to cite sources within the text.
• C. It is used to format the title page.
• D. It is used to add page numbers.

Answer: (B)

In MLA, the main purpose of in-text citations is to credit the sources right where you use them and to guide readers to the full bibliographic entry on the Works Cited page. These brief references—usually including the author's last name and a page number—signal exactly where a particular idea or quotation came from, so readers can verify your sources without interrupting the flow of your writing. This practice helps prevent plagiarism, demonstrates where your evidence comes from, and lets readers locate the full citation later. In-text citations are distinct from the list of works at the end of the document, which provides complete details for each source; they are also separate from formatting tasks like creating a title page. When a source has no page numbers or multiple works by the same author, you adjust the citation (such as using a shortened title or other locator) to keep the reference precise.