MLA Style (Archived: 8th Edition)

For example, if you are borrowing a quotation of Smith's work, which is cited in Jones, but you did not read Smith's work:

In-text

Name the original source in the sentence, and provide an in-text citation for the secondary source. Include the abbreviation qtd. in to indicate that you are citing a quotation:

Works Cited

Include the source you actually read in your references list. If you read Jones, but not Smith, include Jones in your Works Cited list.

The MLA Handbook 8th ed. recommends that you take material from the original source. It is acceptable to use secondary sources only when the original work is unavailable.