Instead of shoving the citation at the end of a sentence, try a signal phrase. It’s smoother and makes you sound like a pro. Example: “According to Washington Post reporter Michael Lee, the policy shift was inevitable (2026).” See how the citation is baked right in?
Signal phrases are also great for avoiding plagiarism without sounding robotic. You can say, “Lee notes that…” or “The article argues…” It’s like having a conversation with the author in front of your reader. Very meta, I know.
But here’s a trap: don’t use “states” or “declares” unless the newspaper is quoting a public figure. Newspapers are reporting, not declaring. Stick with “writes,” “reports,” or “observes.” Your writing will thank you.
PPT - MLA Documentation PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID:2768036
When You’re Paraphrasing vs. Quoting
You must cite both, but they look a little different. If you quote directly, slap quotation marks around the words and add the page number (if print) right after. Like this: “The mayor denied any wrongdoing” (Jones 4). If you paraphrase—meaning you put it in your own words—you still need the citation, but you can skip the page number.
I have a friend who thought paraphrasing meant “just changing a few words.” Nope. That’s still plagiarism, friendo. You have to rewrite the idea and cite the source. Even if you’re summarizing a newspaper’s dry description of a parade.
And for the love of grammar, don’t forget the punctuation. The citation goes before the period at the end of the sentence. Yes, it looks awkward. Yes, that’s the rule. Get used to it.
