Use et al. to shorten citations for works with multiple authors. Quote song lyrics as words within the essay, then cite the recording or lyric source. An Amy Tan Mother Tongue citation must match the version assigned or accessed: an anthology, periodical, database, and website require different publication details.
The examples below use MLA, APA, and Chicago patterns where their treatment differs. The required style guide determines the final punctuation, ordering, and reference-list format.
How to use et al. in a research paper
Et al. means “and others.” It shortens an in-text citation when a work has multiple authors; it does not apply to a single-author work. The abbreviation has a period after al., but not after et.
In a common MLA author-page citation, write (Garcia et al. 118). In the sentence, write: Garcia et al. argue that revision improves source evaluation (118). The page number follows the authors without a comma.
In APA author-date style, write (Garcia et al., 2023), or use the narrative form Garcia et al. (2023) argue… Add a page number when quoting: (Garcia et al., 2023, p. 118). Chicago author-date commonly uses (Garcia et al. 2023, 118).
A Chicago note may begin: 1. Elena Garcia et al., Research Methods, 118. The reference list or works-cited entry follows that style’s author limit; do not automatically replace every author with et al. there. The source’s full author information belongs in the entry when the style requires it.
How to quote song lyrics in an essay
Integrate a short lyric quotation into the sentence and identify the song or performer. A song title is not the lyric quotation itself: put the song title in quotation marks, then place the selected words in a separate quotation.
For example, an MLA-style sentence could read: In “Let It Be,” the speaker responds to uncertainty with the repeated phrase “let it be” (The Beatles 1:03–1:05). The timestamp identifies the location because a recording has no page numbers. APA may format the citation as (The Beatles, 1970, 1:03–1:05).
When line breaks matter, preserve the lyric’s lineation. In a short inline quotation, represent each break with a spaced slash: “When I find myself in times of trouble / Mother Mary comes to me.” For a longer quotation, use the required block-quotation format and place each lyric line on its own line. Follow the assigned style’s rules for indentation, punctuation, and citation placement.
How to cite song lyrics in a reference list
A song citation normally identifies the creator or songwriter, song title, container such as an album, contributing performer when relevant, label or publisher, year, and location such as a streaming URL. The recording cited should be the version used in the paper.
An MLA works-cited pattern is: The Beatles. “Let It Be.” Let It Be, Apple Records, 1970. Spotify, URL. An APA pattern is: The Beatles. (1970). Let it be [Song]. On Let it be. Apple Records. URL. Chicago may use: The Beatles. “Let It Be.” On Let It Be. Apple Records, 1970. URL.
If the assignment focuses on the songwriter rather than the performer, begin with the songwriter’s name and identify the performer in the remaining elements. Use a lyric website only when it is the source actually consulted, and include its site title, publication details, and URL.
How to cite Amy Tan’s Mother Tongue
Build an Amy Tan Mother Tongue citation from the version read. In the essay, MLA usually uses (Tan 8) for a page quotation; APA uses (Tan, 1990, p. 8) when citing the original periodical publication. A Chicago note might read: 1. Amy Tan, “Mother Tongue,” 8.
- Anthology: Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” Title of Anthology, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pp. 00–00. Include the anthology editor and the essay’s page range.
- Periodical: Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” The Threepenny Review, vol. 11, no. 3, 1990, pp. 7–8. Use the volume, issue, year, and pages when that is the version consulted.
- Database: Retain the periodical details, then add the database name and stable URL. The database is an additional container, not a replacement for the original journal information.
- Web copy: Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” Website Name, Publisher, publication date, URL. Add an access date when the style or instructor requires one.
Three complete citation examples
- Multiple authors, APA: Sentence: Garcia et al. (2023) found that students revise more effectively after evaluating source credibility. Reference entry: Garcia, L., Chen, R., & Okafor, N. (2023). Research methods. Northfield Press.
- Song lyrics, MLA: Sentence: The lyric creates a moment of acceptance: “let it be” (The Beatles 1:03–1:05). Works cited: The Beatles. “Let It Be.” Let It Be, Apple Records, 1970. Spotify, URL.
- Mother Tongue, anthology, MLA: Sentence: Tan presents language as connected to family identity (45). Works cited: Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” Title of Anthology, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, 2020, pp. 40–48.
