You know what’s not fun? Seeing a sentence like: “Many studies agree on this point (Smith 45; Jones 22; Lee 98; Patel 12).” That’s four citations in one breath. Your reader will feel like they’re at a fireworks finale—overwhelmed and slightly dizzy.
Instead, spread them out. Use different sentences. Or, group sources by idea. For example: “Memory improvements are well-documented (Smith 45; Lee 98), while logic gains are a newer focus (Jones 22; Patel 12).”
See how that organizes the chaos? Your writing sounds smarter. Your citations look intentional. And you get to avoid that awkward “uh-oh, I forgot to cite” moment.
MLA - Citations - CIS Secondary Library - LibGuides at Chinese
The Secret Trick: Use “And” (But Not How You Think)
You can also write a sentence like: “Smith argues that gaming boosts memory (45), and Jones supports this claim with evidence from logic tests (22).” The word “and” is your bridge. It connects the two sources without a clunky pause.
Just make sure the grammar is solid. Don’t let the sentence become a run-on mess. Short sentences are your friends. They’re like loyal dogs—always happy to help.
Remember: Clarity over cleverness. If a sentence is confusing, rewrite it. No one ever failed a paper for using too many periods.
