Okay, let’s be real for a second. You’ve just spent hours digging through a book, found the perfect quote on page 78 and another killer piece on page 213. Now what? Do you just slap a single number in your citation and hope nobody notices? That’s like ordering a pizza with only one topping—it works, but it’s missing the good stuff. Citing multiple pages in MLA is your ticket to showing off your deep dive without looking sloppy.
Think of it this way: a single page number is a snapshot. But when you cite multiple pages, you’re giving your reader a full video clip of your research. It’s way cooler. You’re saying, “Hey, I didn’t just skim one paragraph—I followed this idea across the whole chapter.”
The simple secret: it’s just a hyphen (or a comma)
Here’s the part that sounds scary but isn’t. If you’re pulling information from a continuous chunk of pages—say, pages 45 through 50—you write it as 45-50. That’s it. A hyphen. Like connecting two Lego bricks. No fancy symbols, no drama.
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But what if your information jumps from page 22 to page 87, skipping everything in between? Then you use a comma: 22, 87. The comma tells your reader, “I grabbed a gem here, then jumped to another gem over there.” It’s efficient. It’s honest. And it’s way easier than spelling out the whole train of thought.
Real talk: where does this actually go in your sentence?
Imagine you’re writing a sentence like: “The author argues that penguins secretly control the weather (Smith 45-50).” That parentheses with the author’s last name and the page range is your citation. No need for “pp.” or “pages”—MLA keeps it clean. Just the name, a space, and the numbers with a hyphen or comma. Done.
If you already mention the author’s name in the sentence itself—like “Smith claims penguins are weather ninjas (45-50)”—you can drop the name from the parentheses. Less clutter, same credibility. Good vibes all around.
MLA - Citations - CIS Secondary Library - LibGuides at Chinese
Why this matters more than you think
Here’s a fun comparison: citing a single page is like telling a joke with only the punchline. Citing multiple pages is like telling the whole joke—the setup, the twist, and the laughter. Your reader gets context. They can see you didn’t just cherry-pick one sentence; you followed the argument across a stretch of text. That builds trust.
Plus, let’s be honest, professors love this. It shows you’re not lazy. You didn’t just flip to the first page that had a keyword and call it a day. You actually read the material. And in the world of citations, reading is like finding a rare Pokémon—you earn bonus points just for doing it.
What if you need to cite two separate books or articles?
Now we’re leveling up. If your sentence uses information from two different sources—say, page 45 of Smith’s book and page 12 of Jones’s article—you separate them with a semicolon. Like this: (Smith 45; Jones 12). It looks fancy, but it’s really just a polite way to say, “I’ve got receipts from two different places.” Classy.
Ever used a playlist that mixes two genres? That’s exactly what this feels like. You’re blending sources, and the semicolon is your DJ transition.
MLA Parenthetical (in-text) Citations – Olathe East Library
The one trap to avoid (it’s tiny but evil)
Don’t use “pp.” or “pp.” in the parentheses. MLA doesn’t need it. Just the numbers. Also, if you’re citing a source with more than three authors, you shorten the name to “First Author et al.”—like “Johnson et al. 45-50.” It sounds like an ancient Latin curse, but it’s actually just a shortcut. You’re welcome.
And whatever you do, don’t invent page numbers. If you’re paraphrasing a whole chapter’s vibe but can’t pinpoint a specific page, use “ch. 4” or “pp. 78-85” if you’re confident. Guessing is for horoscopes, not citations. Stay honest.
Final thought: it’s really just about being helpful
Think of your citation like leaving breadcrumbs in a forest. You want your reader to follow your path without getting lost. Multiple pages are just more breadcrumbs. They say, “I explored a lot, and here are my favorite spots.” You’re giving a tour, not a map.
So next time you’re staring at a book with three perfect quotes spread across pages 34, 56, and 102, don’t panic. Just use the comma trick: (Author 34, 56, 102). Simple, clean, and totally chill. You’ve got this. Now go cite something—and make it multiple pages. It’s the cool thing to do.