What punctuation is correctly used to separate the quote from the parenthetical element in an MLA citation?

In MLA citation, when you are integrating a quote within your text and need to include a parenthetical element (like the author's name or page number) after that quote, the appropriate punctuation to separate the quote from the citation is a comma. This usage maintains the flow of the sentence and clearly indicates that the citation pertains to the quote immediately preceding it.

For instance, if you were to write, “This is a direct quote,” you would follow it with a citation like this: “This is a direct quote,” (Smith 23). The comma serves to connect the quotation and the citation smoothly, adhering to MLA guidelines for proper punctuation when citing sources. This helps to clarify the structure of the sentence and the relationship between the quoted material and its source without interrupting the reading experience.

In contrast, using a period, semicolon, or colon would disrupt this flow and may not conform to MLA standards. Each of those punctuation marks serves a different purpose, making them unsuitable for this particular citation format.