When you’ve got two authors, MLA wants you to treat them like a dynamic duo. Think Batman and Robin, but for research.
In the in-text citation (the one you drop inside your paragraph), just squeeze both last names together with the word “and.” Like this: (Smith and Jones 45). No commas, no fuss.
Why does it work? Because it’s clean. You’re giving credit to both brains without making your reader hunt for clues. Easy, right?
What About the Works Cited Page?
Ah, the big list at the end. For two authors, you flip the first name but keep the second one in normal order. Example: Smith, John, and Jane Jones.
Notice the comma after the first author’s full name? That’s your signal: “Hey, this person is the lead.” Then you slap an “and” and the second author’s normal name. Simple as a recipe.
Don’t forget the period at the end—but only after the whole citation is done. It’s like the mic drop moment.
