This is the punchline: page numbers still matter. Even with multiple authors, you need the page where the info lives. No page number? Skip it, but only if the source has no pagination (like a website).
If you’re using a direct quote, you must include the page. It’s like giving directions to a house—you can’t just say “the blue one”; you need the street number.
When you paraphrase? You still include the page if possible. It shows your professor you didn’t just Google and guess. It’s a small gesture that pays off big.
The Final Nod
So next time you’re staring at a list of authors that looks like a sports team roster, just breathe. Two authors? Name both. Three? All three. More? Et al. your way to victory.
It’s not rocket science—it’s just MLA being polite. It gives credit to everyone without making you type a novel in the middle of your sentence. You’ve got this.
Now go write that paper. And maybe grab a snack first. You deserve it.
