Sometimes, two sources say the exact same thing at the same time. Maybe both Smith and Jones agree that gaming makes you smarter. In that case, put them in a single parenthetical citation with a semicolon: (Smith 45; Jones 22).
It’s like saying, “Both of these fine folks agree, and I’m not playing favorites.” Boom. Done. No need to rewrite the sentence.
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Just make sure the sentence itself says something like, “Multiple studies confirm…” or “This is supported by…” That way, the reader knows both sources back up the whole claim. Easy peasy.
What About Block Quotes? (No, We’re Not Talking About Minecraft)
Block quotes are for long passages—40+ words in MLA. If you somehow have two sources in a block quote, you’re probably quoting a source that quoted another source. That’s called a secondary source, and it’s a whole different circus act.
For now, stick to inline sentences. Keep your quotes short and sweet. Your reader’s eyes will thank you.
But if you ever do need to cite two sources in a block quote? Use the semicolon trick. Always. It’s the duct tape of MLA citations.
