Inside your actual essay, you’ve got two options. Option one: put their last names in parentheses. Like this: (Smith and Doe 42). Notice the “and” is there again? Always the word “and” in MLA.
How To Write Two Authors In Mla Format - Design Talk
Option two: be suave and mention the authors in your sentence. Example: “Smith and Doe argue that cats are plotting world domination (42).” That’s it. You don’t need a comma between the names. The universe will not implode.
Pro tip: If you write “Smith & Doe (42)” in your paper, the MLA police won’t arrest you, but they will send you a strongly worded postcard from their headquarters in New York. And nobody wants passive-aggressive postcards.
What If the Authors Have the Same Last Name? (Oh No)
Relax, it’s not a horror movie. If both authors are named Smith, you include their first initials in the citation. Example: (A. Smith and B. Smith 12). This prevents a confusion crisis in your professor’s brain.
If their first names start with the same letter? Then you use their full first names. Sorry, but you have to type “Alice Smith and Bob Smith (12).” It takes two extra seconds, but your professor will think you’re a citation wizard.
Weird but true: Some scholars argue that citing two authors is actually easier than citing one, because you have less pressure. With one author, it’s just you and them. With two, it’s a party. A very boring, academic party with no snacks.
PPT - MLA Style PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID:5747366
