So, you’re writing a paper, and you’ve found the perfect quote. The only problem? It spans two pages. Or maybe you paraphrased a great idea that starts on page 42 and finishes on page 43.
Your brain freezes. “Do I just put page 42? Or 43?” It feels like trying to fit a double-scoop ice cream cone into a single-cup holder. It’s messy, and you’re worried you’ll drop it.
Don’t worry. You aren’t alone. This is one of those tiny MLA citation hiccups that makes everyone squint at their screen. But once you learn the trick, it’s as easy as splitting a pizza with a friend.
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Real Talk: Why Does This Matter?
Imagine you’re telling a friend about a hilarious scene from a movie. You say, “The best part was on the DVD, around the middle.” Your friend won’t know where to look. They’ll miss the joke.
Same thing with citations. Your professor is that friend. They need the exact street address—not just the neighborhood. Getting the page range right shows you care about the details. It makes you look sharp, not sloppy.
Plus, it saves you from losing points on a technicality. That feels way better than getting back a paper with red ink yelling “WHERE IS THIS FROM?!”
The Golden Rule: Use a Hyphen
The secret sauce is simple. When information flows across multiple pages, you use a hyphen between the page numbers.
Think of it like forwarding a recipe to a friend. You wouldn’t just send them the ingredient list from page 3. You’d send them pages 3-4 so they don’t miss the baking time.
In MLA, your in-text citation looks like this: (Smith 23-24) . That tiny hyphen tells the reader, “Hey, start on page 23 and keep reading until 24. The good stuff is spread out.”
When to Squeeze It In vs. When to Use a Comma
Here is where most people trip. You have two main scenarios. Let’s walk through them like you’re choosing a coffee order.
Scenario 1: The Sentence That Spans Pages. You are quoting or paraphrasing a continuous block of text. Example: You read a paragraph that starts at the bottom of page 12 and ends at the top of page 13. You cite it as: (Garcia 12-13) . Easy.
Mla Format In Text Citation Poem - Design Talk
Scenario 2: The Non-Consecutive Pages. You use an idea from page 10, skip a few pages, and also use an idea from page 20. They are not connected. Do not use a hyphen!
Instead, use a comma to separate them. It looks like this: (Garcia 10, 20) . Think of it like buying two separate items from different aisles at the store. You list them individually. Hyphen means continuous. Comma means separate stops.
Let’s Make It Silly Simple
Imagine you are reading a biography about your favorite singer. You want to quote a story that starts on page 55, but the juicy drama doesn’t end until page 57.
Wrong way: (Star 55) . Your reader will think the drama was only one page long. They will miss the full tea.
Right way: (Star 55-57) . Now your reader knows there is a whole three-page saga of drama. You are giving them the complete story. You’re being a good narrator.
What About Page Numbers Like “iv” or “xii”?
Sometimes, books have Roman numerals in the front (like the introduction). Don’t panic. Treat them the same way.
If the idea runs from page xii to page xiv, you write (Author xii-xiv) . It feels fancy, but it works exactly the same. You are just using different letters.
Pro tip: If the quote ends exactly at the top of the next page, still include that page number. Better safe than sorry. It’s like adding that extra squeeze of ketchup—you can always leave some, but you can’t add more later.
What If There Are No Page Numbers?
This happens a lot with websites or Kindle books. Relax. Do not invent a page number.
MLA in text citations | PPTX
If you are reading a webpage, look for a paragraph number or a section heading. You can say (Author, “The Big Moment” para. 4) . It is honest and clear.
For a Kindle book, use the chapter number. Not the “location” number (those drive professors crazy). Write something like (Lee, ch. 3) . They will understand.
One Weird Trick for Long Quotes
If your quote is longer than four lines, you indent the whole quote. This is called a block quote. In that case, the page number goes after the period, not before.
So, you write the big block of text, and then at the end, you put (Roberts 101-102) . Think of it as a little party hat for your quote—it sits outside the main event. It looks tidy.
The “Oops, I Forgot” Fix
Everyone forgets sometimes. You will be in the middle of writing, and you will realize you forgot to write down the page number. Don’t lie.
Instead, write a quick note like [page unknown] or leave a placeholder like [XX] and come back later. Your future self will thank you. It is much better than guessing and getting busted for a fake citation.
Just think of it like realizing you forgot your friend’s house number. You don’t just knock on a random door. You call them and ask. Always ask.
A Final, Warm Thought
Citing multiple pages is not about being perfect. It is about being a helpful guide. You are holding a flashlight for your reader, showing them exactly where the treasure is buried.
Next time you see a quote that stretches over two pages, you will just smile, add a confident hyphen, and move on. You’ve got this. Now go write something awesome.