[header] How to cite sources in mla format [title] Place the author's name and the page number in parentheses. [step] Whenever you quote from or paraphrase a source in your writing, you should include an in-text citation. The basic format recommends putting the last name of the author of the source, followed by the page number, in parentheses. 
[substeps] For example, if you are quoting from page 28 of john francis' book planetwalker, you would reference this as (francis 28). If the work has multiple authors, list them.