mla handbook for writers of research papers 8th ed

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MLA Eighth Edition: What's New and Different

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MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

In April 2016, MLA replaced its seventh edition resources with a new eighth edition. This updated version reflects the ways in which digital publication has changed how writers and researchers document sources. Therefore, the new edition includes significant shifts in the approach to source documentation in academic writing. While earlier editions emphasized the importance of following specific guidelines for formatting, the eighth edition focuses on the practice and process of scholarly documentation. The logic here is basic: a style guide should offer a method that is widely applicable. Rather than insisting that writers follow strict citation formulas, this handbook outlines the principles of MLA documentation and explains how writers can use them in many different situations.

For this reason, the new edition focuses on the writer’s strategy and individual decisions. Not all scholarly prose is the same, and writers should evaluate their readers and determine how to best engage them. The writer’s goal should be to provide a document and list of sources that is easy for readers to use, so that the reading experience is informative and enjoyable .

Like earlier editions, this handbook includes information on evaluating sources, avoiding plagiarism, using quotations, constructing abbreviations, and other topics important to the scholarly writer. But what is different about the eighth edition is that it recommends a universal set of guidelines that writers can apply to any source, in any field. In the past, writers would create an entry in a works cited list by looking at MLA’s instructions for how to cite a specific type of source. For example, if you needed to cite a film, you would consult the handbook to see the proper format for documenting film. In this new edition, MLA explains that this method is no longer practical, since types of sources are sometimes undefinable, or accessible in more than one way (for instance, a YouTube clip from a film is not the same as the original film itself). Therefore, the eighth edition offers a new model for entries in a works cited list, so that rather than consulting the handbook for the proper way to document a specific type of source, the writer creates entries by consulting MLA’s list of core elements and compiling them in the recommended order.

Core elements are those basic pieces of information that should be common to all sources, from books to articles, from lectures to tweets. The MLA core elements are as follows:

If you have included these elements and assembled them in a way that makes sense to your readers, then your works cited entries will be consistent and thorough.

For more information, you can always consult the MLA Handbook  (8 th edition) or visit the MLA Style Center .

Since the eighth edition focuses on the principles of documenting sources, rather than on strict adherence to a particular format for each source, citations in this new edition vary only slightly from the old ways. When comparing works cited entries in the new eighth edition with the former seventh edition, see that differences in citation style are minimal; punctuation is streamlined, volume and issue numbers are identified as such, and there is no excess information such as city of publication or media type.

Note the differences in citing a print book with one author :

Eighth edition (the new way) :

Jacobs, Alan. The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction . Oxford UP, 2011.

In this version, only the most essential information is included (author’s name, book title, publisher, and date). Note that the city of publication is not needed, and the medium of publication is eliminated.

Seventh edition (the old way) :

Jacobs, Alan. The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction . Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.

This version includes the city of publication (Oxford) and the medium (print), which the new eighth edition does not require.

The differences in citing an article from a scholarly journal :

Eighth edition :

Kincaid, Jamaica. “In History.” Callaloo , vol. 24, no. 2, Spring 2001, pp. 620-26.

This version identifies the volume (24), the number (2), and the page numbers (620-26) of the scholarly journal, rather than leaving those numbers without clear explanation. This helps readers best make sense of your citation and allows them to locate your source without getting bogged down with extra information or references that can be difficult to decipher. Also note that punctuation is simple; only commas separate the journal title, volume, number, date, and page numbers.

Seventh edition :

Kincaid , Jamaica. “In History.” Callaloo 24.2 (Spring 2001): 620-26. Web.

This version includes the volume and number (24.2), and page numbers (620-26) of the journal, but does not explain those references. The seventh edition emphasized following a strict punctuation formula, such as parentheses around the date and the colon, while the new eighth edition focuses on providing this information in a more streamlined manner by using only commas to separate each component.

If you are already familiar with traditional MLA citation methods, continue to use them in a more simplified form. Since the eighth edition emphasizes the writer’s freedom to create references based on the expectations of the audience, consider what your readers need to know if they want to find your source.

• Think of MLA style principles as flexible guides, rather than rules. Part of your responsibility as a writer is to evaluate your readers and decide what your particular audience needs to know about your sources.
• Your goal is to inform, persuade, and otherwise connect with your audience; error-free writing, along with trustworthy documentation, allows readers to focus on your ideas.
• In-text citations should look consistent throughout your paper. The principles behind in-text citations have changed very little from the seventh to the eighth editions.
• List of works cited/works consulted needs to include basic core information, such as author’s name, title of source, publication date, and other information, depending on the type of source. Each entry should be uniform and simple, but should give enough information so that your readers can locate your sources.
• These updated MLA guidelines are based on a simple theory: once you know the basic principles of style and citation, you can apply that knowledge widely, and generate useful documentation for any type of publication, in any field.

For a more detailed overview of how to cite sources using the eighth edition, see How to Cite Document Sources in MLA Style: An Overview .

Explore our new content updates to the MLA Handbook Plus platform!

What’s New on MLA Handbook Plus ?

What is mla handbook plus .

MLA Handbook Plus is a new, subscription-based digital product providing online access to the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook. To learn more about MLA Handbook… Read More

What’s New in the Ninth Edition of the MLA Handbook (Spring 2021)

Published in April 2021, the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook works as both a textbook and a reference guide. You can order a copy… Read More

MLA Guide to Digital Literacy , 2nd Edition: An Interview with the Author

by Ellen C. Carillo

Ellen C. Carillo talks to the MLA about the MLA Guide to Digital Literacy , second edition. Read More

Forego versus Forgo

by Erika Suffern

Learn the difference between forego and forgo. Read More

Teaching Resources

A Century of Queer Korean Fiction : An Interview with Samuel Perry

Toward Educational Justice: An Interview with the Editors of Teaching Literature and Writing in Prisons

Henrique Maximiano Coelho Neto’s Sphinx: A Neo-Gothic Novel from Brazil : An Interview with M. Elizabeth Ginway

A Reflection on Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities on Its Twentieth Anniversary

Teaching Claire de Duras’s Ourika

Teaching Nineteenth-Century Activist Rhetorics Today: An Interview

How and Why to Teach Late-Twentieth-Century Mexicana and Chicana Writers: An Interview

Advice from the Editors

Was and Were with the Subjunctive

Their , There , and They’re : Learn the Difference

Attributive Nouns; or, Why There Is Sometimes No Apostrophe in Terms Such As Teachers Union

Terms for Key Concepts

Laying versus Lying

Getting to the Bottom of Principle and Principal

Does It Really Go without Saying? On Needless Phrases

Ask the MLA

How do i cite a work that has incorrect citation information on its cover sheet.

Some works, especially works contained in databases, may list citation information for the work on a cover sheet or in a footer. If that citation… Read More

How do I cite Twitter now that its name has changed to X?

In 2023 the social media platform Twitter changed its name to X . What does this change mean for citations? When you cite a post published… Read More

How do I cite several e-mails sent on the same day to the same correspondent?

If you are citing several e-mails sent on the same day to the same correspondent, use the subject line of the e-mail to differentiate between… Read More

MLA Citation Guide (MLA 8th Edition): Welcome

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What is MLA?

MLA style was created by the Modern Language Association of America. It is a set of rules for publications, including research papers.

There are two parts to MLA: In-text citations and the Works Cited list.

In MLA, you must "cite" sources that you have paraphrased, quoted or otherwise used to write your research paper. Cite your sources in two places:

• In the body of your paper where you add a brief in-text citation.
• In the Works Cited list at the end of your paper where you give more complete information for the source.

Find the MLA 8th Edition in CCL

Top 10 Differences between MLA's 7th and 8th Editions

• Top 10 Differences In May 2016, MLA updated their guidebook. The attached handout lists the top 10 updated rules.

Commonly Used Terms

Access Date: The date you first look at a source. The access date is added to the end of citations for all websites except library databases.

Citation : Details about one cited source.

Citing : The process of acknowledging the sources of your information and ideas.

In-Text Citation : A brief note at the point in your paper where information is used from a source to indicate where the information came from. An in-text citation should always match more detailed information that is available in the Works Cited List.

Paraphrasing : Taking information that you have read and putting it into your own words.

Plagiarism : Taking, using, and passing off as your own, the ideas or words of another.

Quoting : The copying of words of text originally published elsewhere. Direct quotations generally appear in quotation marks and end with a citation.

Works Cited List : Contains details on ALL the sources cited in a text or essay, and supports your research and/or premise.

What's new in the 8th edition

The eighth edition of the  MLA Handbook , published in 2016, rethinks documentation for an era of digital publication. The MLA now recommends a universal set of guidelines that writers can apply to any source and gives writers in all fields—from the sciences to the humanities—the tools to intuitively document sources. Learn more below about the changes to MLA guidelines. Get resources for teaching, an FAQ, tips on writing, and more on  The MLA Style Center  ( via  https://www.mla.org/MLA-Style/What-s-New-in-the-Eighth-Edition , accessed 26 March 2016). 

Do You Need Citation Help?

If you ever need assistance with your MLA citations, please contact us.

Research Help Desk:

Visit : 1st floor of CCL

Call : 606-783-5491

Chat : from the chat box on the library homepage 

Email : [email protected]

Schedule an individual research appointment  

This citation guide is based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (8th ed.). The contents are accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Please note: Some examples illustrate Camden-Carroll Library's recommendations and should be viewed as modifications to the official MLA guidelines. 

Seneca College Libraries

This guide is used/adapted with the permission of Seneca College Libraries. For information please contact [email protected] .

Note: When copying this guide, please retain this box.

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Citing your sources is a way to demonstrate academic honesty and is a way to avoid plagiarism.

Citing your work shows that you have:

• Completed quality research by listing the sources that you used to get your information.
• Are a responsible scholar by giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas.
• Provided a way for your reader to easily find the sources that have you used by citing them accurately in your paper using a bibliography, works cited page or reference list.

WHAT IS MLA?

MLA  is short for  M odern  L anguage  A ssociation.  MLA  Style is used to format papers and to cite sources within the  Liberal Arts and Humanities .

There are many other citation styles such as APA (American Psychological Association) for Psychology and Sciences, and the Chicago Manual of Style for Anthropology and History.  P lease note that there are many other citation styles available. Citations styles may vary with disciplines, with publishers, etc. Please consult your instructor about which citation style you should use.  Be consistent with your citation style; use only one citation style throughout your paper. 

WHEN TO CITE SOURCES

When you are writing your research paper, any information you quote, summarize or paraphrase must be cited and documented. You must document all of your sources to avoid plagiarism.

GENERAL FORMAT FOR CITING SOURCES

To properly document the sources used for your research, you need to include:

• In-text citations  - use the parenthetical citation format throughout the body of your paper when you quote or paraphrase from researched information.
• Works Cited  - include a list of sources used in your paper at the very end, as a separate page. Each will be a full citation. 

DIFFERENT EDITIONS

MLA Style has different editions.  This guide is for the current edition - MLA Style 8th (released in 2016).  There is an old edition, MLA Style 7th edition (released in 2009). You should always aim to use the newest edition of your citation style. 

• MLA 8th Citation Short Guide

Citation Managers are tools to help you keep track of your citations as you research and to create/format your citations and bibliography. For example, Zotero allows you to keep citations, full text articles, and other research resources organized in one place. You can also use these tools to format your bibliographies and the notes/citations in your papers according to the appropriate style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). ​

Watch this video to learn more about Zotero

• Download Zotero Zotero is a free open source application that works with Firefox, Chrome, and Safari, you can also download a client to your computer. It is a good choice if you use just one computer when researching. You can access citation information when online or offline.
• Zotero How-to Guide ​This will take you to The Claremont Colleges website which will answer frequently asked questions. ​
• Zotero Short Guide (PDF) Download this guide to walk you through how to download Zotero on your computer.

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MLA Citations - additional resources

• MLA 8/9 Style QuickGuide from PCC - PDF Printable version of this MLA QuickGuide
• MLA 8/9 - sample Works Cited list Example of correctly formatted Works Cited list in MLA 8 and 9 format.
• Hanging Indents How to format a hanging indent in MS Word and Google Docs
• What is an Annotated Bibliography? Guidelines and sample annotated bibliographies in MLA and APA style. From EasyBib.
• Tips on Writing an Annotated Bibliography (Excelsior OWL)
• Citing Maps How to cite print and online maps in MLA and APA style. From Western Washington University.
• How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? Guidelines for citing ChatGPT and other chatbots in MLA style.

MLA Workshop at PCC

• Sign up for an MLA workshop! In the Spring and Fall semesters, the PCC Library offers free MLA workshops. We cover the basics of MLA citations and introduce MLA resources. Sign up now!

MLA Style Quick Guide

MLA Style, 8th/9th edition Quick Guide Based on MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

Two steps to citing:  Every source you use must (1) have an in-text citation and (2) be listed in the Works Cited list.

Step 1. In-Text Citations

In the body of your paper, provide in-text, parenthetical citations where you quote from, or use ideas from, a source. For each source, give the author’s last name and page number , if available. Each in-text citation will correspond to a more detailed citation on your Works Cited list (see Step 2).

Examples :        Baer and Heron have argued that “social norms evolve in consistent and cyclical patterns” (124).

                         Scholars have argued that social norms consistently and cyclically evolve (Baer and Heron 124).

Step 2. Works Cited List

Gather these elements for each source you cite:

• Author(s) or editor(s) of your source
• Title of your source (Web page, article, chapter, book, video etc.).
• Title of any periodical, database, Web site, or book that contains your source.
• Publisher of the Web site or book, if applicable.
• Volume and issue number of a periodical, or edition number of a book, if given.
• Publication date as shown on your source (copyright date, periodical issue date, Web page updated date, etc.).
• DOI (digital object identifier) for online articles when available, or Web site address .

Works Cited List - Tips

• See a sample MLA-formatted Works Cited list:   tinyurl.com/mla8workscited
• Title your list Works Cited. Include a header with your last name and the page number of your document, and leave one-inch margins on all sides of the page. Double-space throughout.
• Begin the first line of each citation at the left margin. Indent additional lines 5 spaces, or one-half inch.
• Arrange all works in one alphabetical list by author, or by title if there is no author. When listing a work by title, alphabetize by the first main word in the title (ignore initial articles such as A, An, The).
• When a work has three or more authors, list only the first author, followed by “et al.” For example:

Burdick, Anne, et al.

• If a work doesn’t credit a person as author, its author can be the corporation or organization that created the work. If the corporate/organization name will also be in your citation as the name of the publisher, omit it as the author name and begin your citation with the title instead.
• If an element doesn’t apply to the source you’re using – for instance, no page numbers, or no publication date – then omit that element from the citation.
• Keep in mind that your reader should be able to locate your sources based on the information you provide in your citation.

For More Information...

More detailed citation guides can be found at Excelsior College's Online Writing Lab (OWL) .

For additional citation support, please ask a librarian .

MLA Style QuickGuide PDF

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MLA Handbook

Ninth edition.

• Published: 2021
• ISBN: 9781603293518 (Paperback)
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• ISBN: 9781603295611 (Hardcover)

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A  Choice  Outstanding Academic Title

“I’ve been using the  MLA Handbook  since my student years. The new ninth edition is an essential reference work for scholars.” —Viet Thanh Nguyen, MLA member, Pulitzer Prize–winning author, and professor at University of Southern California

• Description

View our convenient chart comparing the eighth and ninth editions of the  MLA Handbook .

Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA’s unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements—facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date—that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. 

The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts—middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields—the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook offers 

• New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language
• Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group projects
• Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited  in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before
• A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including Web sites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more
• Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources
• Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work
• Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes 
• Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism 
• A sample essay in MLA format
• Annotated bibliography examples
• Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation
• Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
• Writing and Research Guides
• Publishing and Editing

Preface (xvii)

Acknowledgments (xix)

Introduction (xxi)  

1. Formatting Your Research Project ( 1)

[1.1]  Margins (1)

[1.2]  Text Formatting (1)

[1.3]  Title (2)  

[1.4]  Running Head and Page Numbers (4)

[1.5]  Internal Headings and Subheadings (4)

[1.6]  Placement of the List of Works Cited (5)  

[1.7]  Tables and Illustrations (6)

[1.8]  Lists (9)

[1.9] Integrated into Your Prose (9) 

[1.10] Set Vertically (10)

[1.11] Lists introduced with a complete sentence (10)

[1.12] Lists that continue the sentence introducing them (12)

[1.13]  Paper and Printing (13)

[1.14]  Proofreading and Spellcheckers (13)

[1.15]  Binding a Printed Paper (13)  

[1.16]  Electronic Submission (14)

2. Mechanics of Prose (15)

[2.1] Spelling (15)

[2.2] Dictionaries (15)

[2.3] Plurals (15)

[2.4]  Punctuation (16)

[2.5] Commas (16)

[2.6] When a comma is necessary (17)

[2.7]  Before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses  (17)

[2.8]  Between coordinate adjectives  (17)

[2.9]  To set off parenthetical comments  (18)

[2.10]  After long introductory phrases and clauses  (18)

[2.11]  With contrasting phrases  (18)

[2.12]  In series  (19)

[2.13]  With dates and locations  (19)  

[2.14]  With nonrestrictive modifiers  (20) 

[2.15] When a comma is incorrect (22)  

[2.16]  Subject and verb  (22)

[2.17]  Verb and object  (22)

[2.18]  Parts of a compound subject  (22)  

[2.19]  Parts of a compound object  (23)  

[2.20]  Two verbs that share a subject  (23)  

[2.21]  Two subordinate elements that are parallel  (23)

[2.22] When a comma is optional (23)

[2.23]  With short introductory phrases and clauses  (23)  

[2.24]  Around specific words  (24)

[2.25]  Before some coordinating conjunctions  (24)

[2.26] Semicolons (24)  

[2.27] Colons (25)

[2.28] Dashes and Parentheses (26) 

[2.29] To enclose an interruption (27) 

[2.30] To prevent misreading (27)

[2.31] To introduce an elaboration or an example (27)

[2.32] To introduce a list (27)

[2.33] Hyphens (28)

[2.34] When to hyphenate compound adjectives before a noun (28)

[2.35] Adverbs  (28)

[2.36]  Number-noun combinations  (28)

[2.37]  Prepositional phrases  (29)

[2.38]  Clarity  (29)

[2.39] When not to hyphenate compound adjectives before a noun (29)

[2.40]  Adverbs  (29)

[2.41]  Comparatives and superlatives  (30)

[2.42]  Familiar compound terms  (30)  

[2.43]  Foreign language terms  (30)  

[2.44]  Proper nouns  (31) 

[2.45] Hyphens before suppressed words (31) 

[2.46] Hyphens with prefixes (31)

[2.47] Hyphens in fractions (32)

[2.48] Hyphens versus en dashes (32)  

[2.49] Apostrophes (33)

[2.50] Singular and plural nouns (33)

[2.51] Proper nouns (33)

[2.52] Nouns expressing shared possession (34)

[2.53] Letters (34)

[2.54] Plural abbreviations and numbers (34)

[2.55] Quotation Marks (34)

[2.56] To flag provisional meaning (35) 

[2.57] To mark translations of words or phrases (35)

[2.58] Slashes (35)

[2.59] Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points (36)

[2.60] Italics in Prose (36)

[2.61] Words and Phrases Referred to as Words (36)

[2.62] Letters Referred to as Letters (37)

[2.63] Foreign Words in an English-Language Text (37)

[2.64] Capitalization of Terms (37)

[2.65] English (37)

[2.66] French (38)

[2.67] German (39)

[2.68] Italian (39)

[2.69] Spanish (40)

[2.70] Latin (40)

[2.71] Names of Persons in Your Prose (41)

[2.72] First Uses of Personal Names (41)

[2.73] Surnames Used Alone (43)

[2.74] English (43)

[2.75] French (44)

[2.76] German (45) 

[2.77] Italian (45)

[2.78] Spanish (46)

[2.79] Latin (47)

[2.80] Asian languages (47)

[2.81] Premodern names (48)

[2.82] Transliterated Names (48)

[2.83] Titles with Personal Names (49)

[2.84] Suffixes with Personal Names (50)

[2.85] Given Names and Personal Initials (50)

[2.86] Names of Fictional Characters (51)

[2.87] Names of Organizations and Groups (51)

[2.88] Names of Literary Periods and Cultural Movements (52)

[2.89] Titles of Works in Your Prose (53)

[2.90] Capitalizing Titles in English (54)

[2.91] Capitalizing Titles in Languages Other Than English (56)

[2.92] French (56)

[2.93] German (57)

[2.94] Italian (57)

[2.95] Spanish (57)

[2.96] Latin (58)

[2.97] Other languages in the Latin alphabet (58)

[2.98] Languages in non-Latin alphabets (58)

[2.99] Punctuation of Titles (59)

[2.100] Serial comma (59)

[2.101] Subtitles (61)

[2.102] Alternative titles (62)

[2.103] Dates appended to titles (64)

[2.104] Multivolume works (64)

[2.105] Punctuation around Titles (65)

[2.106] Styling Titles (66)

[2.107] Italicized titles (66)

[2.108] Italicized titles of works contained in a larger work (69) 

[2.109] Titles in quotation marks (70)

[2.110] Titles with no formatting (71)

[2.111] Titles within Titles (73)

[2.112] Surrounding title in quotation marks (73)

[2.113] Surrounding title in italics (75)

[2.114] Surrounding title with no formatting (76)  

[2.115] Quotations within Titles (77)

[2.116] Foreign Language Terms and Titles within Titles (77)

[2.117] Styling (77)

[2.118] Capitalization (78) 

[2.119] Titles within titles (79)

[2.120] Shortened Titles in Your Prose (79)

[2.121] Subtitles (79)

[2.122] Conventional forms of titles (80)

[2.123] Very long titles (80)

[2.124] Punctuating shortened titles (80)

[2.125] Translating Titles in Languages Other Than English (81)

[2.126] Numbers (82)

[2.127] Use of Numerals or Words (82)

[2.128] Number-heavy contexts (82) 

[2.129] Street addresses (83)

[2.130] Decimal fractions (83)

[2.131] Percentages and amounts of money (83)

[2.132] Items in numbered series (84)

[2.133] Large numbers (84) 

[2.134] Plural forms (84)

[2.135] At the start of a sentence (84)

[2.136] In titles (85)

[2.137] Commas in Numbers (86)

[2.138] Dates and Times (86)

[2.139] Number Ranges (87)

3. Principles of Inclusive Language (89)

4. Documenting Sources: An Overview (95)

[4.1] Why Plagiarism Is a Serious Matter (96)

[4.2] Avoiding Plagiarism (97)

[4.3] Careful Research (97)

[4.4] Giving Credit (98)

[4.5] Paraphrasing (98)

[4.6]  When to paraphrase  (98)

[4.7]  How to paraphrase  (99)

[4.8]  How to paraphrase and give credit  (99)

[4.9] Quoting (100)

[4.10]  When to quote  (100)  

[4.11]  How to quote and give credit  (100)

[4.12] When Documentation Is Not Needed (101)

[4.13] Common Knowledge (101)

[4.14] Passing Mentions (102)

[4.15] Allusions (102)

[4.16] Epigraphs (102)

5. The List of Works Cited (105)

[5.1] Creating and Formatting Entries: An Overview (105)

[5.2] The MLA Core Elements (107)

[5.3] Author: What It Is (107)

[5.4] Author: Where to Find It (108)  

[5.5] Author: How to Style It (111) 

[5.6] One author (111)

[5.7] Two authors (111)

[5.8] Three or more authors (112)

[5.9] Names not reversed (113)

[5.10]  Languages that order surname first  (113)  

[5.11]  Lack of surname  (114)

[5.12] Variant forms of a personal name (115)

[5.13]  Different spellings  (115)

[5.14]  Pseudonyms and name changes  (115)

[5.15] When not to supply information, cross-reference, or use the published form of a name (117)

[5.16]  Online handles  (118)

[5.17] Organizations, groups, and government authors (119)

[5.18]  Listing by name  (119)

[5.19]  Avoiding redundancy  (119)

[5.20]  Government authors  (120) 

[5.21] Standardizing and supplying information (120)

[5.22] Consolidating entries (120)

[5.23] Title of Source: What It Is (121)

[5.24] Title of Source: Where to Find It (125)

[5.25] Title of Source: How to Style It (130)

[5.26] Shortened titles (130)

[5.27] Sections of a work labeled generically (130) 

[5.28] Description in place of a title (132)

[5.29] Quoted text in place of a title (132)

[5.30] Translations of titles (133)

[5.31] Title of Container: What It Is (134)

[5.32] Works that are self-contained (135)

[5.33] Works with more than one container (135)

[5.34] Determining when a website is a container (136)

[5.35] Apps and databases (138)

[5.36] Title of Container: Where to Find It (140)

[5.37] Title of Container: How to Style It (145)  

[5.38] Contributor: What It Is (145)

[5.39] Key contributors (146)

[5.40] Key contributors in the Author element (147)

[5.41] Other types of contributors (148)

[5.42] Contributor: Where to Find It (149) 

[5.43] Contributor: How to Style It (151)

[5.44] Labels describing the contributor’s role (151)

[5.45] Capitalization of labels (153)

[5.46] Multiple contributors in the same role (153)

[5.47] Repeated personal names in an entry (153)  

[5.48] Version: What It Is (154)

[5.49] Version: Where to Find It (155)

[5.50] Version: How to Style It (157)

[5.51] Number: What It Is (158)

[5.52] Number: Where to Find It (159)

[5.53] Number: How to Style It (164)

[5.54] Publisher: What It Is (164)

[5.55] Publisher: Where to Find It (166)

[5.56] Books (166)

[5.57] Websites (167)

[5.58] Audio and visual media (168)

[5.59] Publisher: How to Style It (169)

[5.60] Capitalization (169)

[5.61] Copublishers (170)

[5.62] Divisions of nongovernment organizations as publishers (170)

[5.63] Government agencies as publishers (171)

[5.64] Terms omitted from publishers’ names (172)

[5.65] Common abbreviations in publishers’ names (172)

[5.66] Ampersands and plus signs in publishers’ names (172)

[5.67] City of publication (172)

[5.68] Publication Date: What It Is (173)

[5.69] Publication Date: Where to Find It (174)

[5.70] Books (174)

[5.71] E-books (176)

[5.72] News articles (177) 

[5.73] Journal articles (178)

[5.74] Music (180)

[5.75] Government documents (182)

[5.76] Television episodes (184)

[5.77] Publication Date: How to Style It (185) 

[5.78] Year (185)

[5.79] Season (185)

[5.80] Time (185)

[5.81] Date range (186)

[5.82] Approximate date given in source (186)

[5.83] Uncertain date given in source (186)

[5.84] Location: What It Is (187)

[5.85] Location: Where to Find It (189)

[5.86] Page numbers (189)

[5.87] Online works (189)

[5.88] Location: How to Style It (189)

[5.89] Inclusive pages (189)

[5.90] Descriptive label before page numbers (193)

[5.91] Numerals for page numbers (193)

[5.92] Plus sign with page number (193)

[5.93] DOIs (194)

[5.94] Permalinks (195)

[5.95] URLs (195)

[5.96]  Truncating  (195)

[5.97]  Breaking  (196)

[5.98]  Including terminal slash  (196)

[5.99] Physical locations and events (197)

[5.100] The Three Most Common Types of Entries (197)

[5.101] Works in One Container (198)

[5.102] Works in Two Containers (200)

[5.103] Works That Are Self-Contained (204)

[5.104] One Work Cited Different Ways (207)

[5.105] Supplemental Elements (208)

[5.106] Placement after Title of Source (208)

[5.107] Contributor (208)

[5.108] Original publication date (209)

[5.109] Section of a work labeled generically (210)

[5.110] Placement at End of Entry (210)

[5.111] Date of access (211)

[5.112] Medium of publication (211) 

[5.113] Dissertations and theses (214)

[5.114] Publication history (214)

[5.115] Book series (214)

[5.116] Columns, sections, and other recurring titled features (215)

[5.117] Multivolume works (215)

[5.118] Government documents (216)

[5.119] Placement between Containers (217) 

[5.120] Punctuation of Entries (217)  

[5.121] More Than One Item in an Element (217)

[5.122] Supplied Publication Information (218)

[5.123] Ordering the List of Works Cited (219)

[5.124] Alphabetizing: An Overview (219)

[5.125] Alphabetizing by Author (221) 

[5.126] Multiple works by one author (221)

[5.127] Multiple works by two authors (222)

[5.128] Multiple works by more than two authors (222)

[5.129] Multiple works by a single author and coauthors (223)

[5.130] Alphabetizing by Title (224)

[5.131] Cross-References (225)

[5.132] Annotated Bibliographies (226)

6. Citing Sources in the Text (227)

[6.1] In-Text Citations (227)

[6.2] Overview (227)

[6.3] What to Include and How to Style It (230)

[6.4] Citing a work listed by author (230)

[6.5]  Coauthors  (232)

[6.6]  Corporate authors  (233)

[6.7]  Two authors with the same surname  (234)

[6.8]  Two or more works by the same author or authors  (235)

[6.9] Citing a work listed by title (237)

[6.10] Shortening titles of works (237)

[6.11]  Titles in quotation marks that start with a title in  quotation marks  (238)

[6.12]  Titles in quotation marks that start with a quotation  (239)

[6.13]  Using abbreviations for titles of works  (240) 

[6.14]  Shortening descriptions used in place of titles  (240)

[6.15] When author and title are not enough (241)

[6.16] Page numbers and other divisions of works (242)

[6.17]  One-page works  (242)

[6.18]  Quotations spanning two or more pages of a work  (242)

[6.19]  Quotations from a nonconsecutively paginated work  (243)

[6.20]  Numbered paragraphs, sections, and lines  (244)

[6.21]  Commonly cited works  (244)

[6.22] Verse works (245)

[6.23] Prose works (246)

[6.24] Ancient and medieval works (247)

[6.25] Scripture (247)

[6.26]  Works without numbered pages or divisions  (248)

[6.27]  Volume numbers for multivolume nonperiodical works  (249)

[6.28]  Time stamps  (250)

[6.29]  Numbered notes in your source  (250)

[6.30] Punctuation in the parenthetical citation (250)

[6.31] Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources (252)

[6.32] Integrating Quotations into Prose (253)

[6.33] Prose works (253)

[6.34]  Short quotations  (253)

[6.35]  Long quotations (block quotations)  (254)

[6.36] Poetry (255)

[6.37]  Short quotations  (255)

[6.38]  Long quotations (block quotations)  (256)

[6.39] Dialogue (258)

[6.40]  Drama  (258)

[6.41]  Prose  (259)

[6.42]  Poetry  (260)

[6.43] Placement of Parenthetical Citations (260)

[6.44] Consolidating citations (261)

[6.45]  References to a single source  (262)

[6.46]  References to multiple works citing the same idea  (262)

[6.47] Omitting Citations for Repeated Quotations and Terms (263)

[6.48] Punctuation with Quotations (264)

[6.49] Introducing quotations (264)

[6.50] Quotations within quotations (265)

[6.51] Marking the end of a quotation (266)

[6.52]  Periods and commas  (266)

[6.53]  Other punctuation marks  (267)

[6.54] Capitalization with Quotations (268)

[6.55] When to capitalize (268)

[6.56] When to lowercase (270)

[6.57] When to follow the case of your source (271)

[6.58] Using an Ellipsis to Mark Material Omitted from Quotations (272)  

[6.59] Omission within a sentence (272)

[6.60] Omission in a quotation of one or more sentences (273)

[6.61] Omission in a quotation of poetry (274)

[6.62] An ellipsis in the source (275)

[6.63] Other Permissible Alterations of Quotations (276)

[6.64] Emphasis (276)

[6.65] Errors in the source (276)

[6.66] Clarification (277)

[6.67] Syntax (278)

[6.68] What Not to Reproduce from Your Source (279)

[6.69] Languages Other Than Modern English (280)

[6.70] Accents (280)

[6.71] Umlauts (280)

[6.72] Ligatures (280)

[6.73] Letters in older languages (281)

[6.74] Orthography (spelling) (281)

[6.75] Translations of quotations (bilingual quotations) (281)

[6.76] Quotations from languages in non-Latin alphabets (283)

[6.77] Indirect Sources (284)

[6.78] Citations in Forms Other Than Print (285)

[6.79] Slides (285)

[6.80] Videos (285)

[6.81] Web Projects (286)

[6.82] Oral Presentations (286)

7. Notes (287)  

[7.1] Bibliographic Notes (287)

[7.2] Content Notes (288)

[7.3] Styling of Notes (290)

[7.4] Placement of Notes in the Text (291)

Appendix 1: Abbreviations ( 293)

Punctuation (293)

Common Academic Abbreviations (294)

Months (295)

Titles of Works (295)

Appendix 2: Works-Cited-List Entries by Publication Format (303)

Appendix Contents (303)

Work-Cited-List Entries (313)

Index (347)

“Geared . . . to the needs of today’s students and teachers. . . . Essential.”

— Choice

“This well-organized update contains abundant examples, clear language, and helpful cross-referencing.”

— Library Journal

MLA Guide (7th edition)

The examples provided in this guide are meant to introduce you to the basics of citing sources using the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (seventh edition). For types of resources not included in this guide (e.g., government documents, manuscript collections, video recordings) and for further information about the examples included below, please consult the MLA Handbook itself , and/or a Reference Librarian . For help with layout, margins, spacing and page numbering, see the MLA Handbook (Fig. 12, page 131). Consider using RefWorks to help you track your research and automatically create a bibliography in MLA style.

If you need help with the current version of MLA, please see the guide for MLA ( 8th edition, 2016). If you are unsure which version of MLA to use, please consult with your professor.

Table of Contents:

Parenthetical Documentation Preparing the List of Works Cited A Brief Note on Footnotes and Endnotes For More Help

PARENTHETICAL DOCUMENTATION

When using MLA documentation style, you need to reference your sources by using a combination of a list of works cited (see below) and parenthetical notation . Whenever you refer to or use another's words, facts or ideas in your paper, you are required to cite the source. Generally, brief parenthetical notations consisting of the author's last name and a page reference are sufficient. For example: (Drucker 30) .

Note: If you mention the author in your sentence, then you need only cite the page number . And if you cite more than one work by the same author , include the title of the work in your notation. For example: (Drucker, Management Cases 30) .

1. ONE AUTHOR

The character Folly denies satirizing Christianity when she says, "it is no part of my present plan to rummage through the lives of popes and priests," yet she spends much of her encomium doing just that (Erasmus 115).

2. TWO OR MORE AUTHORS

Max Weber purported that value systems could be studied "without the social scientist's own values distorting such studies" (Keat and Urry 196).

According to Russell Keat and John Urry in Social Science as Theory, Max Weber believed that value systems could be studied "without the social scientist's own values distorting such studies" (196).

Max Weber believed that individuals can objectively study values without their own values interfering with their judgment (Keat and Urry 196).

3. CORPORATE AUTHOR

Children of Central and Eastern Europe have not escaped the nutritional ramifications of iron deficiency, a worldwide problem (UNICEF 44).

4. NO AUTHOR

Marketers of health services and products will find the National Center for Health Statistics' site useful, particularly its statistics on mortality rates. Discovering a population's leading causes of death "tells the researcher a lot about its underlying health problems" ("Information to Die For" 40).

5. WORK IN AN ANTHOLOGY

Cite the author of the essay or story and not the editor of the anthology unless they are the same.

Although some critics disliked Mel Brook's 1993 parody of Robin Hood, it is actually "in the mainstream of the Robin Hood tradition" (Knight 461).

6. INDIRECT QUOTATION

Chief Joseph concluded his surrender by stating eloquently: "[.. .] I will fight no more forever" (qtd. in Safire 108).

7. ONLINE RESOURCE

If the work is not paginated, include the name of the author or editor within the context of your sentence (for example, from a discussion list).

Posting on the VICTORIA listserv, Karen O'Connell mentioned a relevant novel by Wilkie Collins that deals with the 19th-century use of arsenic as a complexion improver.

If the work is paginated, cite it as you would a print resource.

Imagine that the sentences above could somehow be synthesized and used in a single paper. The works cited page would look like this:

WORKS CITED

Erasmus, Desiderius. The Praise of Folly. Trans. Clarence H. Miller. New Haven:

        Yale University Press, 1979. Print.

"Information to Die For."   Marketing Health Services 22.1 (2002): 40-42.  ABI/Inform.

        Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

Keat, Russell, and John Urry.   Social Theory as Science.   2nd ed.  London: Routledge

        and K. Paul, 1982.  Print.

Knight, Stephen.  "Robin Hood: Men in Tights: Fitting the Tradition Snugly."

        Robin Hood: An Anthology of Scholarship and Criticism.   Ed. Stephen

        Knight.  Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer, 1999.  461-467.  Print.

O'Connell, Karen.  "Re: Poisoning."  VICTORIA.  Indiana U.  3 Nov. 2000.  Web.

        14 Aug. 2009.

Safire, William.   Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History. New York: W. W.

         Norton and Company, 1992. Print.

UNICEF.   Generation in Jeopardy: Children in Central and Eastern Europe and the

         Former Soviet Union. Ed. Alexander Zouev. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe, 1999.

         Print.

PREPARING THE LIST OF WORKS CITED

As demonstrated above, a works cited page consists of an alphabetical listing of the books, articles and other sources that you parenthetically noted in your paper. The works cited page occurs at the end of your paper; however, it is useful to create a draft of it before you begin writing. Following are typical examples of the types of references you will use in your research.

Include some or all of the following elements in your book citation:

• Author or editor
• Title (italicized)
• Translator or compiler
• Volume(s) used
• Name of series
• Place of publication, publisher, and date of publication
• Page numbers
• Name of vendor, database, or provider (italicized)
• Medium of publication consulted (e.g., Print)
• Date of access (Web only; day, month, year)
• Supplementary information and annotation

1. ONE AUTHOR OR EDITOR

Cather, Willa.   The Professor's House.   New York: A. A. Knopf, 1925.  Print.

UNICEF.   Generation in Jeopardy: Children in Central and Eastern Europe

         and the Former Soviet Union.   Ed. Alexander Zouev.  Armonk: M. E.

         Sharpe, 1999.  Print.

Hudson, Valerie N., ed.   Culture and Foreign Policy.   Boulder: L. Rienner

         Publishers, 1997.  Print.

2. TWO OR MORE AUTHORS OR EDITORS

    Names should be given in the order in which they appear on the title page.

Keat, Russell, and John Urry. Social Theory as Science. 2nd ed. London: Routledge

         and K. Paul, 1982. Print.

Kennedy, Mary, Kathy Lubelska, and Val Walsh, eds. Making Connections: Women's

         Studies, Women's Movements, Women's Lives. London: Taylor and Francis,

        1993. Print.

3. ELECTRONIC BOOK

    Include the vendor, database, or provider's name (italicized) and date of access (day, month, year) .

Turam, Berna. Between Islam and the State: The Politics of Engagement. Stanford,

         CA: Stanford UP, 2007. NetLibrary. Web. 14 Aug. 2009.

     If the book is accessed from a SCHOLARLY PROJECT , also include the project     name, place of publication, and the date of the electronic publication if available.

Child, Lydia Maria. An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans.

        Boston: Allen and Ticknor, 1833. Women Writers Online. Brown U. Web. 14

        Aug. 2009.

4. ANTHOLOGY

Knight, Stephen.  "Robin Hood: Men in Tights: Fitting the Tradition Snugly."          

        Robin Hood: An Anthology of Scholarship and Criticism.   Ed. Stephen

Barrick, Richard, John Sullivan, and Alexander White.  "The American Bloody Register."

       Pillars of Salt: An Anthology of Early American Criminal Narratives.   Comp. 

       Daniel E. Williams.  Madison: Madison House, 1993.  233-258.  Print.

5. INTRODUCTION, PREFACE, FOREWORD, OR AFTERWORD

Ritterson, Michael.  Introduction.   The Odin Field: A Story. By Wilhem Raabe.

      Trans. Michael Ritterson.  Studies in German Literature, Linguistics, and Culture.

      Rochester: Camden House, 2001.  xi-xxvii.  Print.

6. MULTIVOLUME WORK

Tomkins, Silvan S.   Affect, Imagery, Consciousness.   4 vols.  New York: Springer,

         1962-1992. Print.

Anthony, Robert N., and James S. Reece.   Accounting Principles.   7th ed.  Chicago:

        Irwin, 1995.  Print.

8. TRANSLATION

Erasmus, Desiderius.   The Praise of Folly.   Trans.  Clarence H. Miller.  New Haven:

        Yale, 1979. Print.

9. ARTICLE IN A REFERENCE BOOK

"Audubon, John James."   The New Encyclopaedia Britannica: Micropaedia.   15th

        ed.  2002.  Print.

"Audubon, John James."   Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.   Encyclopaedia

        Britannica, 2009.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

Ebeling, Richard, ed.   Global Free Trade: Rhetoric or Reality?  Hillsdale, MI: Hillsdale

        College Press, 1993.  Print.  Champions of Freedom 20.

B. Articles in Periodicals

Include some or all of the following in your article citation:

• Article title (usually in quotation marks)
• Periodical title (italicized)
• Series/Issue number or name
• Volume number
• Issue number (if available)
• Publication date (year for scholarly journals; day, month, year for others, as available)
• Medium of publication
• Name of database (italicized and placed before medium of publication) (Web only)
• Date of access (day, month, year) (Web only)

1. SCHOLARLY JOURNAL

Freedman, L.  "The Changing Forms of Military Conflict."   Survival 40.4 (1998): 39-56.

        Print.

Kirby, John T.  "Aristotle on Metaphor."   American Journal of Philology 118.4

        (1997): 517-554.  Print.

Online Journal -- Use n. pag. to indicate the absence of inclusive page numbers.

Ketabgian, Tamara.  Rev. of The Body Economic: Life, Death, and Sensation in

        Political Economy and the Victorian Novel, by Catherine Gallagher.  Bryn Mawr

        Review of Comparative Literature 6.2 (2007): n. pag.  Web.  19 Aug. 2009.

Chan, Winnie.  "Curry on the Divide in Rudyard Kipling's Kim and Gurinder Chadha's

        Bend it Like Beckham."  ARIEL: A Review of International English

        Literature 36.3-4 (2005): 1-23. Web.  14. Aug. 2009.

      Full text of an article from a Database -- Include the name of the      database, the name of the database provider and the date of access.      Use n. pag. to indicate the absence of inclusive page numbers.   

Freedman, Lawrence. "The Changing Forms of Military Conflict." Survival 40.4 (1998):

        39-56. ProQuest Research Library.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

  Kirby, John T.  "Aristotle on Metaphor."   American Journal of Philology 118.4 (1997):

       517-554.  JSTOR.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

2. MAGAZINE

     Monthly or Bimonthly

Goldberger, Paul. "Machines for Living: Architectonic Allure of the Automobile."

        Architectural Digest Oct. 1996: 82.

     Weekly

Levy, Steven, and Brad Stone.  "Silicon Valley Reboots."   Newsweek 25 Mar.

        2002: 42-50.  Print.

        2002: 42-50.  Academic Search Premier.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

3. ANONYMOUS ARTICLE

"Information to Die For."   Marketing Health Services 22.1 (2002): 40-42.  Print.

"Information to Die For."   Marketing Health Services 22.1 (2002): 40-42.   ABI/Inform.        14 Aug. 2009.

4. NEWSPAPER

Pianin, Eric.  "Use of Arsenic in Wood Products to End."   The Washington Post 13

       Feb. 2002, final ed.: A2.  Print.

Pianin, Eric.  "Use of Arsenic in Wood Products to End."   The Washington Post 13 Feb.

       2002, final ed.: A2.  LexisNexis Academic.   Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

Nash, Alanna.  "Hit 'em with a lizard!"  Rev. of   Basket Case, by Carl Hiaasen.  New

        York Times 3 Feb. 2002, late ed., sec. 7: 24.  Print.

        York Times 3 Feb.  2002, late ed., sec. 7: 24.  LexisNexis Academic.  Web.  14

C. Web Sites

Following are elements to include when citing entire Web sites. Keep in mind that

if you cannot find all of the elements, you should include whatever is available on the site . The URL is no longer required unless locating the site requires it or your professor requires it.

• Title of Web site (italicized)
• Site publisher/sponsor
• Date of site's publication (if none, use n.d. )
• Date of access (day, month, year)

1. SCHOLARLY PROJECT

Crane, Gregory, ed.  Perseus Digital Library.  Dept. of the Classics, Tufts U.

      n.d.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

2. PROFESSIONAL SITE

Financial Accounting Standards Board .  Feb. 2002.  Web.  14 Aug. 2009.

3. PERSONAL SITE

Lewis, Paul.  The Wilkie Collins Pages.   n.d.  Web. 14 Aug. 2009. 

       <http://www.paullewis.co.uk/>.

See also Electronic Book and Periodicals above.

D. Online Postings

To cite a posting from a discussion list, include the following elements if available:

• Author of posting
• Title of posting (from subject line of posting, in quotes)
• Name of discussion list
• Date of posting
• 5. Medium of publication
• Date of access

O'Connell, Karen.  "Re: Poisoning." VICTORIA. Indiana U.  3 Nov. 2000. Web.

A BRIEF NOTE ON FOOTNOTES AND ENDNOTES

Long explanatory footnotes or endnotes can distract the reader. Nevertheless, you may occasionally need to clarify a citation with a bibliographic note . Or you may wish to incorporate information that might interest your reader but which would seem tangential if included within the text of your paper. In this case, you would use a content note. Notes are indicated with consecutive superscript numbers within the text of your paper. The actual note is indented and can occur either as a footnote at the bottom of the page or as an endnote at the end of the paper.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE

Nineteenth-century critics of cheap, mass-produced fiction feared that the gory subject matter of stories like Sweeney Todd would lead a generation of youth into depravity. 1

          1 For a selection of penny fiction as well as 19th-century criticism of it, see

Haining's The Penny Dreadful .

2. CONTENT NOTE

Charles Knight did not rely solely on the cheaply printed word in publications like the Penny Magazine to educate people; he also mass-produced images to diffuse knowledge visually. 2

2 Patricia Anderson's The Printed Image and the Transformation of Popular Culture, 1790-1860 provides examples of Penny Magazine images, such as depictions of flamingos, reproduced portraits of people like Benjamin Franklin, and engravings of famous artworks like "The Dying Gladiator" and "Laocoon" (50-83).

FOR MORE HELP

Following are links to sites that have additional information and further examples:

• RefWorks : Once you have created an account, go to Tools/Preview Output Style to see examples of MLA style.
• Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) : Excellent source for research, writing and citation tips.
• Citing Sources : Duke University's guide to citing sources. The site offers comparison citation tables with examples from APA , Chicago , MLA and Turabian for both print and electronic works.
• Citing Electronic Primary Sources : From the Library of Congress. Provides MLA and Turabian examples of citing formats such as films, photographs, maps and recorded sound that are accessed electronically.

NOTICE: ProQuest e-book platforms will be down for planned maintenance on Saturday, August 12, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm CST.

ENG 110 - Schaaf: MLA Citations

• Scholarly Articles
• MLA Citations

This guide is based on the 8th edition (2016) of the MLA Handbook .

MLA  (Modern Language Association) uses the author/page number method for in-text citation . Include in parentheses the author's last name and the appropriate page number after all direct quotations and paraphrased content in your paper: Example: (Pollan 42). For more information, including other methods of incorporating quotes and paraphrased content in your paper, see the "Avoiding Plagiarism" tab and the Recommended Guides section of the "Basics" tab.

For the Works Cited list, MLA  requires the use of hanging indents .

Watch these:

Author: Use the full name as given in the source

Author: If one or two authors, give the full names of both

Author: If three or more authors, give the first author and indicate: et al.

Article title: Use " " (not italics or underline)

Journal/Book title: Use italics

URL: omit http:// or https://

URL: Use a DOI if one is available.  If not, use a permalink/ persistent/ stable link if one is available.

Samples of Modern Language Association (8th, 2016) Basic Format for the Works Cited list

- Capitalize all significant title and s ubtitle words. - Place of publication is normally not included.

Lastname, Firstname M. and Firstname2 Lastname2.  Title of Book: Subtitle of Book .  

     Publisher, Year of Publication.  

Lastname, Firstname M., et al., editors.  Title of Book: Subtitle of Book .  

      Publisher, Year of Publication.

Article in a Periodical

Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article." Title of Journal,

     vol. nn, no. nn, date of issue, pp. nn-nn.  

Article in a Periodical, Retrieved from a Library Database

- Give the inclusive page numbers when given.

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal,      vol. nn, no. nn, date of issue, pp. nn-nn.  Database name,      DOIorPersistentURL.  

Article in an Online Periodical (not from a library database)

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal,      vol. nn, no. nn, date of issue, pp. nn-nn.  Website name ,      URL.

Web Document/Page/Report, Web Video, Web Images

 - If citing a whole web site, omit "Title of Work".  - The Accessed date (including the word, Accessed) is generally optional, but it is  required if there is no publication date .   Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Work.” Website name,

     Day published Month published Year published,

     URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Citing Digital Content in MLA (7th, 2009)

Taken from Lafayette College's Archives and Special Collections website. You can access it directly here .

Digital Collections Note: MLA no longer requires the use of URLs in MLA citations. For instructors who still wish to require the use of URLs, MLA suggest that the URL appear within angle brackets after the date of access. The URL is given in the samples below.

Magazine Article : Shaw, Diane Windham. “Lafayette and Slavery.” Lafayette Alumni News. Winter 2007. Digital. 13 Jan. 2015. <http://digital.lafayette.edu/collections/magazine/lafalummag- 20070100>.

Newspaper Article : Kelley, Michael. “Damaged Futures. Research Finds Student Athletes are at Greater Risk for Long-Term Health.” The Lafayette. 9 May 2014. Digital. 13 Jan. 2015. <http://digital.lafayette.edu/collections/newspaper/20140509>.

Photograph : “Students Disrupt ROTC Parade on Fisher Field.” 4 May 1969. Historical Photograph Collection. Digital. 13 Jan. 2015. <http://digital.lafayette.edu/collections/historicalphotos/hpc-0269>. 

MLA Style Format

Recommended Guides

These are comprehensive citation guides recommended by librarians.

• APA  (7th, 2020)
• MLA   (8th, 2016)
• Chicago  (17th, 2017)  
• APA Formatting and Style Guide  (7th, 2020)
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide (9th, 2021)
• Chicago Formatting and Style Guide (17th, 2017)  
• APA Format and Style Guide  (7th, 2020)
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide  (9th, 2021)
• Chicago Formatting and Style Guide  (17th, 2017)
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ENG 12 (Prof. Maxine Krenzel, Spring 2024)

• Using E-Resources
• Databases for Finding Articles
• Tips for Database Searching
• Narrowing a Search Topic
• Citations & References

Creating a Bibliography Page in Google docs

• Create a new document and title it "Bibliography"
• Copy your citation from the database. (Highlight the text with your cursor and then hit "Ctrl" and "C" if you're using a PC; hit "Command" and "C" if you're using a Mac.)
• Paste the citation in your Google doc ("Ctrl" and "V" if you're using a PC; hit "Command and "V" if you're using a Mac.)
• You may need to change the font color to black and get rid of any highlighting
• Insert your cursor at the start of the second line.
• Under "Format", click on "Align & Indent".
• Then, click on "Indentation Options".
• On the drop-down menu under "Special Indent" select "Hanging" and click "Apply". 
• Now, the citation should have hanging indentations after the first line

Citation Basics & Resources

Citing your sources is a very important part of the research process. Why?

• Citations help you avoid plagiarism.  As you may know, Kingsborough stands strongly against plagiarism, or using the work of others as your own. ( See the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity here .) Citing direct or indirect quotations can prevent you from inadvertently claiming another writer's work as your own. 
• Citations help you make your case.  In addition to avoiding plagiarism, citing sources will make your work much stronger. Each citation stands as a piece of evidence: a citation adds to your paper by saying to the reader: "What she is arguing is backed up by the scholars in the field."
• Citations show the person who is reading how to get further information.  Citations can be a great way of pointing your reader to more interesting sources on your topic. 
• Citations strike up a conversation with your source.  In scholarly writing, citations are considered a form of communication between one author and another. By citing an author's work, you not only support your own argument, but you are also announcing that the sources you cited are good works of research or scholarship. It's a conversation, even though they may not know about it. 

Citation formats: There are several different citation styles, and each style has its own particular rules about how exactly a source should be cited. Your professor will often require a particular format (such as MLA or APA), or may tell you to choose one yourself. Below are some common citation styles. 

• MLA Format  (from the Modern Language Association) is the most common citation style used in undergraduate papers. You can find more information about MLA style in their handbook ( available through the library ), the  Purdue OWL , or on  MLA Style Center .  
• APA Formatting  (from the American Psychiatric Association) is quite common in social sciences publications, and occasionally in undergraduate assignments as well. You can find more information about APA style in their manual ( available through the library ), the  Purdue OWL , or on  APA Style website . 
• Chicago Style  (from the University of Chicago Press) is another common citation style in scholarly publications. You can find more information about Chicago style in their manual ( available through the library ), the  Purdue OWL , or on the  Chicago Manual of Style website . 

Citation Links

A number of websites are devoted to helping students and other researchers cite their work.

• Research and Documentation Online This resource offers recommended resources for various areas of study as well as citation instructions.
• RefWorks This link opens in a new window Online bibliographic management program that allows users to create a personal database of references and generate bibliographies in a variety of formats. First time users need to sign up for an account.

Books on Citation

There are a number of books available at the library to assist with citation as well as proper format, style, and content.

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MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Fifth Edition 5th Edition

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• ISBN-10 0873529758
• ISBN-13 978-0873529754
• Edition 5th
• Publisher Modern Language Assn of Amer
• Publication date June 1, 1999
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
• Print length 332 pages
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Modern Language Assn of Amer; 5th edition (June 1, 1999)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 332 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0873529758
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0873529754
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
• #1,457 in Research Reference Books
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System of Guarantees of Civil Rights: Constitutional and Branch Specifics

• Andrey A. METSGER State University of Management, Moscow, Russian Federation

Relevance. The study is relevant since the meaning and purpose of special (legal or juridical) guarantees is to establish such legal institutes that would provide legal means for the implementation of rights and duties, as well as protect the rights of citizens from violations by officials, government bodies and other citizens. Adhering to the traditional scientific classification of legal guarantees, the authors of the article distinguish between guarantees of implementing and guarantees of protecting personal security based on their functions.

Objective. The article aims at studying the system of guarantees of civil rights with due regard to their constitutional and branch specifics. Special attention is paid to general guarantees of civil rights embracing ideological, economic, social and political factors that create the best conditions and prerequisites for the realization of civil rights and freedoms at the current development of society and state.

Methods. The main research method was deduction used for studying the legal nature and specifics of the system of guarantees of civil rights with due regard to their constitutional and branch aspects. The authors of the article also used the inductive, comparative-legal and historical methods, as well as the method of systematic scientific analysis. To solve the task, it is necessary to consider the legal foundations and features of implementing guarantees of civil rights as exemplified by modern Russia.

Results. The article proves that the structure of guarantees of personal rights in the Russian Federation still has not been resolved from the theoretical viewpoint. The authors of the article claim that it is necessary to highlight such a type as organizational guarantees. While studying guarantees of personal security, scholars also need to consider that this right belongs to the system of personal rights, whose full list is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. At the same time, ensuring personal rights and civil freedoms is a significant task of many state structures, including internal affairs bodies.

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