If I am referring to two sources that make the same point, how do I make my citations clear?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

If you directly cite two sources that make the same point, you must make clear to your reader the source of each quotation.

Johnson argues that “mint chip ice cream is better than chocolate ice cream” (10). Smith agrees: “Chocolate ice cream is not as good as mint chip ice cream” (30).

It may be best, however, to paraphrase:

Scholars agree that when it comes to ice cream, mint chip is superior to chocolate (Johnson 10; Smith 30).