# MLA Format and paraphrasing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837 "2007-02-19T18:06:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837/1 "2007-02-19T18:06:03Z")

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So I just got 10 points deducted from an essay because I did not cite the end of every paragraph despite having placed sources in the Works Cited page. I provided notations when I did quote directly from a source, but she wanted me to cite the sources even when I was paraphrasing what others said.

Is this proper formatting? I’ve never had to do that in any other writing class.

– IG

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**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837/2 "2007-02-19T18:23:03Z")

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Yes, you need to cite paraphrased material. As a general rule, you need to cite any words, facts, or ideas that come from anywhere other than your own head, and you need to do so in a way that will allow readers to identify the source at a glance. Listing the source on the Works Cited page is insufficient without the in-text citations because it’s impossible for readers to tell which material comes from which source.

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**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837/3 "2007-02-19T18:24:57Z")

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Hmmmm, well thanks for the answer. Oh well.

– IG

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837/4 "2007-02-19T18:26:51Z")

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Citing isn’t so much an issue of “form”, as making sure that a) you aren’t stealing other people’s work, and that b) people can verify that the information you list is what was actually said, and meant what you say it meant.

If you’re paraphrasing another author, then yes, you should cite it as those aren’t ideas of your own. Putting the paraphrase in without properly citing it would be misconstruing the ideas as being original to you. You would be breaking the first requirement (a).

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mla-format-and-paraphrasing/392837/5 "2007-02-19T18:34:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> If you write the following sentence [which I am omitting] without documentation, you have plagiarized because you borrowed another’s wording without acknowledgement, even though you changed its form… But you may present the material if you cite your source.

_MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers_  
6th ed.  
p. 72