In the examples below, the information relevant to the type of signal phrase is underlined. While providing the author’s credentials and title of the source are the most common types of signal phrases, there are others we should be aware of. In most instances, the first time the author is mentioned in an MLA-style essay, as well as including the author’s first and last name in a signal phrase, it is also a good idea to include the author’s credentials and the title of the source. See below for examples of strong signal phrase verbs. You should also vary your signal phrase verbs (rather than simply using “states” throughout your entire essay) in order to maintain your readers’ interest and to indicate the author’s intended use of the excerpted material. Notice how APA in-text citations also differ from MLA style in that APA citations include the year of publication and the page number is preceded by a “p.” Varying Your Verbs Pollan (2009) observed that “Americans today are having a national conversation about food and agriculture that would have been impossible to imagine even a few short years ago” (p.When writing a paper using APA style, signal phrase verbs should be written in past tense. When you are asked to write a paper that follows MLA guidelines, signal phrases should always be written in present (not past) tense. In the examples above, notice how the signal phrase verbs are written in present tense. In APA, it is common to see general references to “researchers.” Signal Phrase Verb Tense In essays written according to MLA and APA guidelines, it is acceptable to refer to the author as “the author” as long as it is perfectly clear to whom you are referring. Notice how each signal phrase verb is followed by a comma (or the word “that”), which is then followed by one space before the opening quotation mark.
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