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A complete guide to MLA in-text citations

MLA In-text Citations | A Complete Guide (9th Edition)

Published on July 9, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on March 5, 2024.

An MLA in-text citation provides the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses.

If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than two authors, name only the first author, followed by “ et al. ”

If the part you’re citing spans multiple pages, include the full page range. If you want to cite multiple non-consecutive pages at the same time, separate the page numbers with commas.

MLA in-text citations
Number of authors	Example
1 author	(Moore 37)
2 authors	(Moore and Patel 48–50)
3+ authors	(Moore et al. 59, 34)

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Where to include an mla in-text citation, citing sources with no author, citing sources with no page numbers, citing different sources with the same author name, citing sources indirectly, frequently asked questions about mla in-text citations.

Place the parenthetical citation directly after the relevant quote or paraphrase , and before the period or other punctuation mark (except with block quotes , where the citation comes after the period).

If you have already named the author in the sentence, add only the page number in parentheses. When mentioning a source with three or more authors outside of parentheses, use “and others” or “and colleagues” in place of “et al.”

MLA is the second most popular citation style (Smith and Morrison 17–19) .
According to Smith and Morrison , MLA is the second most popular citation style (17–19) .
APA is by far “the most used citation style in the US” (Moore et al. 74) , but it is less dominant in the UK (Smith 16) .
Moore and colleagues state that APA is more popular in the US than elsewhere (74) .

Combining citations

If a sentence is supported by more than one source, you can combine the citations in a single set of parentheses. Separate the two sources with a semicolon .

Livestock farming is one of the biggest global contributors to climate change (Garcia 64; Davies 14) .

Consecutive citations of the same source

If you cite the same source repeatedly within a paragraph, you can include the full citation the first time you cite it, then just the page number for subsequent citations.

MLA is the second most popular citation style (Smith and Morrison 17–19) . It is more popular than Chicago style, but less popular than APA (21) .

You can do this as long as it remains clear what source you’re citing. If you cite something else in between or start a new paragraph, reintroduce the full citation again to avoid ambiguity.

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For sources with no named author , the in-text citation must match the first element of the Works Cited entry. This may be the name of an organization, or the title of the source.

If the source title or organization name is longer than four words, shorten it to the first word or phrase in the in-text citation, excluding any articles ( a, an, and the ). The shortened title or organization name should begin with the word the source is alphabetized by in the Works Cited.

Follow the general MLA rules for formatting titles : If the source is a self-contained work (e.g. a whole website or an entire book ), put the title in italics; if the source is contained within a larger whole (e.g. a page on a website or a chapter of a book), put the title in quotation marks.

Shortening titles in MLA in-text citations
Full source title or organization name	In-text citation
	( 187)
“Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions”	(“Sources”)
“A Quick Guide to Proofreading”	(“Quick Guide”)
National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Academy	(National Academy 24)

If a source does not have page numbers but is divided into numbered parts (e.g. chapters, sections, scenes, Bible books and verses, Articles of the Constitution , or timestamps), use these numbers to locate the relevant passage.

If the source does not use any numbering system, include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source.

Citing sources with no page numbers in MLA
Source type	What to do	Example
Source divided into numbered parts	Add a comma after the author and give a paragraph, section, or chapter number with a relevant abbreviation.	(Luxemburg, ch. 26)
with numbered lines	Include the act, scene, and line numbers, separated by periods, instead of a page number.	( 1.2.95)
Audiovisual source	Include the time range as displayed in the media player.	(Wynn 10:23–45)
Source with no numbered divisions	Include only the author’s name (or, if there is no author, the shortened title).	(Rajaram)

Note that if there are no numbered divisions and you have already named the author in your sentence, then no parenthetical citation is necessary.

If your Works Cited page includes more than one entry under the same last name, you need to distinguish between these sources in your in-text citations.

Multiple sources by the same author

If you cite more than one work by the same author, add a shortened title to signal which source you are referring to.

In this example, the first source is a whole book, so the title appears in italics; the second is an article published in a journal, so the title appears in quotation marks.

Different authors with the same last name

To distinguish between different authors with the same last name, use the authors’ initials (or, if the initials are the same, full first names) in your in-text citations:

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Sometimes you might want to cite something that you found quoted in a secondary source . If possible, always seek out the original source and cite it directly.

If you can’t access the original source, make sure to name both the original author and the author of the source that you accessed . Use the abbreviation “qtd. in” (short for “quoted in”) to indicate where you found the quotation.

In these cases, only the source you accessed directly is included in the Works Cited list.

You must include an MLA in-text citation every time you quote or paraphrase from a source (e.g. a book , movie , website , or article ).

Some source types, such as books and journal articles , may contain footnotes (or endnotes) with additional information. The following rules apply when citing information from a note in an MLA in-text citation :

To cite information from a single numbered note, write “n” after the page number, and then write the note number, e.g. (Smith 105n2)
To cite information from multiple numbered notes, write “nn” and include a range, e.g. (Smith 77nn1–2)
To cite information from an unnumbered note, write “un” after the page number, with a space in between, e.g. (Jones 250 un)

If a source has two authors, name both authors in your MLA in-text citation and Works Cited entry. If there are three or more authors, name only the first author, followed by et al.

Number of authors	In-text citation	Works Cited entry
1 author	(Moore 37)	Moore, Jason W.
2 authors	(Moore and Patel 37)	Moore, Jason W., and Raj Patel.
3+ authors	(Moore et al. 37)	Moore, Jason W., et al.

If a source has no author, start the MLA Works Cited entry with the source title . Use a shortened version of the title in your MLA in-text citation .

If a source has no page numbers, you can use an alternative locator (e.g. a chapter number, or a timestamp for a video or audio source) to identify the relevant passage in your in-text citation. If the source has no numbered divisions, cite only the author’s name (or the title).

If you already named the author or title in your sentence, and there is no locator available, you don’t need a parenthetical citation:

Rajaram argues that representations of migration are shaped by “cultural, political, and ideological interests.”
The homepage of The Correspondent describes it as “a movement for radically different news.”

Yes. MLA style uses title case, which means that all principal words (nouns, pronouns , verbs, adjectives , adverbs , and some conjunctions ) are capitalized.

This applies to titles of sources as well as the title of, and subheadings in, your paper. Use MLA capitalization style even when the original source title uses different capitalization .

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Research Guides
Citing Your Sources

Citing Your Sources: MLA

Citing Basics
Writing & Citing
Chicago: Author-Date (17th)
Chicago: Notes (17th)
Citation Tools

Developed by the Modern Language Association, this style is most widely used for research papers in the humanities.

Citing sources in this style consists of two parts:

In-text citations
A works-cited list

See How to Format Works-Cited List and How to Format In-Text Citations .

The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook asks writers to create citations and works-cited lists using a template of core-elements -- a set of objective facts common to most materials-- rather than having a different template for different kinds of publication formats. While this approach is more flexible for new media, it may be challenging for you to know which core elements are relevant to the source you are citing. Thus, this guide also provides some examples of commonly cited sources.

The core elements are:

How to Format In-Text Citations

An in-text citation provides your reader with two pieces of information:

The first element from the corresponding works-cited list entry, usually the author's last name
The location of the cited information in the work, usually a page number

Standard Formatting of the In-Text Citation

Put the page number in parentheses

Said makes a similar argument (3-4).

This point has been argued previously (Said 3-4).

The article "Black Workers Matter" links racism and union representation (18).

The link between racism and union representation is important ("Black Workers Matter" 18).

Later, the protagonist of Jane Eyre proclaims, "I would always rather be happy than dignified" (413).

Place the parenthetical reference at a natural pause in the text or after the quotation marks for direct quotations.

(Smith, Jones, and Brown 323)

(Bia et al. 161)

(K. Shepard 36)

(J. Shepard 212)

We should all try to "live in the Past, the Present, and the Future" (Dickens, A Christmas Carol 95).

(Pushkin, ch. 5)

According to the Human Rights Campaign's map of state laws and policies ....

("Hell Hath No Fury" 00:15:23-00:18:58)

How to Format the Works-Cited List

The "Works Cited" list provides details on all sources you used in your paper. If you include other sources consulted during your research, title the page "Works Consulted."

Core Elements

The menu below lists the core elements in a works-cited entry with its associated punctuation mark. Use information found in the source itself; do not use information about the source found on websites or in library catalogs. If an element does not exist for the source you are citing, skip it. For further details on an element, open the menu item.

The author is the person or group responsible for creating or producing the work.

Alvarez, Julia.
No author: skip element and begin with title, but also see below for corporate author.
If published by the organization: skip the author element and put the organization's name in Publisher.
If published by a different publisher: enter the organization's name as the author.
Dorris, Michael, and Louise Erdrich.
Manigault-Bryant, LeRhonda S., et al.
Goldstein, Darra, editor.
White, Alan, translator.
Smith, Will, performer.
Lee, Spike, director.
Pseudonyms, online usernames: Enter like regular author names. If the name takes the form of a traditional first name and last name, start the entry with the last name.

Title of Source.

The title of the source is often located near the author's name and prominently displayed.

Enter the title exactly as it appears in the source, except for standardizing capitalization and punctuation.
essay, poem, short story
television episode
blog posting
Italicize the title if the work is self-contained and independent, such as books and films.
Untitled works: Give a generic description in place of the title. Do not use italics or quotation marks.

Title of Container ,

A container is the larger work in which the source appears.

journals, magazines, newspapers
books containing collections of essays, poems, or short stories
television show
Italicize the title and follow it with a comma.
an article from a journal available through a library database. The first container is the journal and the second is the database.
a television episode watched online. The first container is the television show and the second is the online provider (Hulu, Netflix, etc.).
In order to have a complete citation, you should add the core elements from "Title of Container" to "Location" to the end of the entry for each container.
No larger container: skip this element.

Other Contributors,

Other contributors are other people credited for the work.

If a person other than the author is important to what you are researching or for identifying the work, include their name in this element.
Translated by
Introduction by
Directed by
Performance by
Illustrated by
For works with many contributors, such as film and television, include only those people most relevant to your research.

Version indicates that there is more than one form of the work.

For books there may be numbered editions (1st ed., 2nd ed., etc.) or revised editions (rev. ed., updated ed., etc.)
unabridged version
director's cut
software versions
The version information is written in lowercase, unless the previous element ended in a period, in which case the initial word is capitalized.

Number refers to works appearing in a numbered sequence.

Instances where the number element is used include:

Using one volume of a multi-volume set: indicate which volume you used, using abbreviation vol. and the number.
Journal volumes and issues: indicate volume with abbreviation vol. and the number, followed by a comma, and issue number with the abbreviation no. and the number (e.g., vol. 7 no. 4).
Television series and episodes: record the season number and the episode number (e.g., season 5, episode 20).

Publisher is the organization responsible for making the content publicly available.

If two or more organizations are equally responsible for the work, separate their names with a forward slash (/) with spaces before and after the slash.
Books: look for the publisher on the title page or copyright page.
Film and Television : cite the company that had the primary responsibility for the work.
Web sites : look for a copyright notice in the footer or an About Us page.
Omit business words such as Co., Corp., Inc., and Ltd. from the publisher's name.
Abbreviate University (U) and Press (P) in the names of academic publishers.
Journals, magazines, newspapers
Works published by its author or editor
Web sites whose title is essentially the same as the name of its publisher
Web services not involved in producing the works it makes available. For example, YouTube, JSTOR, ProQuest. These services are containers.

Publication Date,

Publication date documents the date of the work you used.

Multiple publication dates: for some sources there may be a print publication date and an online date. Cite the date for the format you used only.
Works developed over time: cite the range of dates.
Issues of a journal, magazines, newspapers: Indicate year (e.g., 2012), month and year (e.g., Oct. 2012), season and year (e.g., Fall 2012), or full date (e.g., 18 October 2012) as indicated on the work.
Online comments : Record time stamp using 12-hour clock format ( e.g., 18 Oct. 2012, 8:58 a.m.)

Location specifies where you found the item within a larger container.

Print works: indicate the page number or range of page numbers, preceded by p. or pp. (e.g., p. 6 or pp. 6-10).
Online sources: provide the URL, stable URL (also called permalink), or DOI (digital object identifier).
Episodes on DVD: indicate disc number (e.g., disc 4).
Physical object: give name of the place that holds the object and the city (e.g., Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, MA).
Archival material: provide name of repository, city, and collection locator (e.g. Williams College Special Collections, Williamstown, MA, Hopkins Family Papers).
Performances: indicate the venue and city (e.g., '62 Center for Theatre and Dance, Williamstown, MA).

Formatting and Ordering the Works-Cited List

Place the works-cited list at end of the paper .
Use hanging indent feature of your word processor to indent the second and subsequent lines of the entry .5 inches from the left margin.
Arrange entries in alphabetical order by the first element, usually the author. If there is no author, use the title.
Alphabetize letter by letter of the author's name before the comma. Letters after the comma are used only when authors have the same last name.
For multiple works by the same author, alphabetize by title. Also, replace the author's name with three hyphens on the second and subsequent entries.
Alphabetize titles letter by letter ignoring initial articles (A, An, The, and foreign equivalents).

How do I deal with ___?

Missing citation elements.

In general, if one of the core citation elements is missing, you may skip that element in the works-cited entry.

If the organization also published the work, begin the entry with the title and use the organization's name as the publisher only, ( MLA Handbook 25, 55-56; see also Ask the MLA FAQ )
For unknown author, start the works-cited entry with the title, and use the title in place of the author in the in-text citation. ( MLA Handbook 24, 55-56)
No page number: For the in-text citation use explicitly numbered parts of the work (paragraphs, sections, chapters). Use author (or title) alone if there are no numbered parts. ( MLA Handbook 56)
Use "circa": if you supply a date that is approximate. Example: [circa 2014]
Use ?: if you are uncertain about the information you provide. Example: [2014?]

More than one author

List authors in order they appear on title page
Use the word "and," not an ampersand (&)
For the in-text citation: use the first author's last name followed by et al. (Smith et al. 23). ( MLA Handbook 116)
For the works-cited list: invert the first author's name, follow with a comma and et al. Smith, John, et al. ( MLA Handbook 22)

Using a source quoted in a secondary source

It is always better to consult the original source, but if it cannot be obtained, cite the secondary source in the works-cited list. If you are citing a quotation, use "qtd. in" (quoted in) in the in-text citation. Example: (qtd. in Smith 22). ( MLA Handbook 124)

Examples: Books, Chapters

Generic citation format.

Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Source. Title of Container , Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

For further details on the core elements, see How to Format the Works-Cited List .

Perle, George. Serial Composition and Atonality: An Introduction to the Music of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern . 6th ed., U of California P, 1991.

Feder, Ellen K. Family Bonds: Genealogies of Race and Gender . Oxford UP, 2007. ProQuest ebrary , site.ebrary.com/lib/williams/docDetail.action?docID=10194201.

Note: ProQuest ebrary provides a Williams-specific URL as the permalink. To make the "location" element more universal, replace the URL with docID 10194201.

Edited Book

Higonnet, Margaret R., and Joan Templeton, editors. Reconfigured Spheres: Feminist Explorations of Literary Space . U of Massachusetts P, 1994.

Translated Book

García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude . Translated by Gregory Rabassa, HarperCollins Publishers, 2003.

Note: if your focus is on the translation of the text, move the translator's name to the Author position, and the main content author's name to the Other Contributors position.

Rabassa, Gregory, translator. One Hundred Years of Solitude . By Gabriel García Márquez, HarperCollins Publishers, 2003.

Chapter or Essay in Book

Roell, Craig H. "The Piano in the American Home." The Arts and the American Home, 1890-1930 , edited by Jessica H. Foy and Karal Ann Marling, U of Tennessee P, 1994, pp. 193-204.

Introduction, Preface, Foreword, Afterword

Knox, Bernard. Introduction. Metamorphoses, by Ovid, translated and edited by Charles Martin, W. W. Norton, 2004, pp. ix-xxiv.

If the introduction, preface, foreword, or afterword has a title, include it in quotation marks before the descriptive term (Introduction, Preface, etc.) ( MLA Handbook 106).

Examples: Articles

Journal article.

Wolff, Larry. "‘The Boys are Pickpockets, and the Girl is a Prostitute’: Gender and Juvenile Criminality in Early Victorian England from Oliver Twist to London Labour ." New Literary History , vol. 27, no. 2, Spring 1996, pp. 227-249. Project Muse , muse.jhu.edu/article/24302.

Smith, Matthew J. "God's Idioms: Sermon Belief in Donne's London." English Literary Renaissance , vol. 46, no. 1, Winter 2016, pp. 93-128. Wiley Online Library , doi: 10.1111/1475-6757.12061.

Magazine Article

Erdrich, Louise. "The Flower." The New Yorker , 29 June 2015, pp. 56-61.

Erdrich, Louise. "The Flower." The New Yorker , 29 June 2015, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/the-flower.

Newspaper Article

Byatt, A.S. "Harry Potter and the Childish Adult." The New York Times , 7 July 2003, p. A13. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times , search.proquest.com/docview/92581320?accountid=15054.

Byatt, A.S. "Harry Potter and the Childish Adult." The New York Times , 7 July 2003, www.nytimes.com/2003/07/07/opinion/harry-potter-and-the-childish-adult.html.

Examples: Web, Blogs, Social Media

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container , Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

For further details on the core elements, see How to Format the Works Cited List .

"Maps of State Laws and Policies." Human Rights Campaign , 2016, www.hrc.org/state_maps. Accessed 21 August 2016.

Note: Access date is not a core element, but it can be included if it helps to identify the version of the page you consulted or when there is no specific publication date.

Stewart, Jenell. "Natural Hair Creates a More Inclusive Standard." My Natural Hair Journey , Huffington Post, 12 July 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/jenell-stewart/natural-hair-creates-a-more-inclusive-beauty-standard_b_10949874.html.

Blog Comment

Silver H., Comment on "You Are Triggering Me! The Neo-Liberal Rhetoric of Harm, Danger and Trauma," Bully Bloggers , 16 Aug. 2014, 3:17 p.m., bullybloggers.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/you-are-triggering-me-the-neo-liberal-rhetoric-of-harm-danger-and-trauma/#comment-9001.

Social Media

@POTUS (President Obama). "Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins." Twitter , 26 June 2015, 7:10 a.m., twitter.com/POTUS/status/614435467120001024.

For untitled short works, such as tweets, use the entire tweet without changes as the title ( MLA Handbook 29).

Examples: Music, Film, TV, Images

Music score.

Schoenberg, Arnold. A Survivor from Warsaw For Narrator, Men's Chorus, and Orchestra. Op. 46, Bomart Music Publications, 1949.

Music Recording

Bernstein, Leonard. Candide: Opera House Version, 1982 . Performance by the New York City Opera Chorus and Orchestra, NW 340/341-2, New World Records, 1986.

Beyoncé. "Sorry." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

NW 340/341-2 in the first example is the record label's catalog number for the album.

Peck, Raoul. L'homme sur les quais [ The Man by the Shore ]. 1993. Velvet Film, 2013. DVD.

The date of original release (1993 in this example) is an optional element. Include it when it gives your reader insight into the creation of the work. While MLA Handbook , 8th edition, does not require "DVD" to be included in the citation, you can add it to help your reader know how you accessed the film.

Online Video

"TNC:172 Kennedy-Nixon First Presidential Debate, 1960." YouTube , uploaded by JFK Library, 21 Sept. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbrcRKqLSRw.

"Chapter One: The Pilot." Jane the Virgin , created by Jennie Snyder Urman, season 1, episode 1, Poppy Productions, 2014. Netflix , www.netflix.com/watch/80060553.

Rodriguez, Gina, performer. "Chapter Forty-Four." Jane the Virgin , created by Jennie Snyder Urman, season 2, episode 22, The CW, 16 May 2016. www.cwtv.com/shows/jane-the-virgin/.

Jane the Virgin: Season 1. Created by Jennie Snyder Urman, performance by Gina Rodriguez, Warner Home Video, 2015. DVD.

If you are writing about a television episode without focusing on a particular individual's contribution, start the entry with the title. If you are focusing on the creator or performer, start with their name and role.

In the examples above, the first example is writing about the first episode in general and it was watched on Netflix. The second example is writing about Gina Rodriguez's performance in a particular episode that was watched online during the season. The last example is writing about the first season in general, watched on DVD. While MLA Handbook , 8th edition, does not require "DVD" to be included in the citation, you can add it to help your reader know how you acce ssed the film.

Degas, Edgar. The Dance Class . 1874, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Degas, Edgar. The Dance Class . 1874. The Met , www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/438817.

Degas, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar. The Dance Class. 1874. ArtStor , library.artstor.org.

Degas, Edgar. The Dance Class . 1875-1876. Impressionism: A Centenary Exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, December 12, 1974-February 10, 1975 , edited by Anne Dayez, Michel Hoog, and Charles S. Moffett, [Metropolitan Museum of Art], 1974, p. 105.

In the examples above, the first one is seeing the artwork in person, the second is accessing the image from the museum's website, the third is accessing it through the library database ArtStor, and the last is using an image from a book.

Examples: Government Documents

Congressional hearing.

U.S. Congress, House, Committee on International Relations. The Threat from International Organized Crime and Global Terrorism: Hearing before the Committee on International Relations . Government Printing Office, 1997. 105th Congress, 1st session.

You may end entries for congressional documents with the number of the Congress, session, and the type and number of publication (if applicable). If you are using many congressional publications, consult the Chicago Manual of Style for more specialized guidelines ( MLA Handbook 105.).

Examples: Unpublished/Archival

Interview/discussion.

Falk, Adam. Interview by author, 15 May 2016, Williamstown, MA.

Manuscript/Archival

Hopkins, Mark. Letter to Jaime Margalotti, 22 March 1861, Williams College Special Collections, Williamstown, MA, Hopkins Family Papers.

A container is "a work that contains another work". Some works are self-contained, such as a print version of a novel, and other works have more than one container, like an essay that is printed in a book, and also published on a website.

Websites can be but are not always containers. Refer to Chapter 5, section 31 (5.31) of the MLA Handbook for more information on containers.

Need More Info?

Ask the MLA Official answers to questions about MLA style.
MLA Works Cited: A Quick Guide Provides an introduction to MLA style and a practice template for creating entries for the works-cited list.
Sample Papers in MLA Style Shows examples of papers written in MLA style.

What Needs to be Cited?

Exact wording taken from any source, including freely available websites
Paraphrases of passages
Summaries of another person's work
Indebtedness to another person for an idea
Use of another student's work
Use of your own previous work

You do not need to cite common knowledge .

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MLA Citation Guide

Paper Format
Books/eBooks
Generative AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.)
Annotated Bibliography

What Is Required for MLA Citation?

MLA formats features rules and guidelines that make papers and writing projects consistent. They cover the following:

Layout of the paper (margins, spaces between lines, font size, etc.)
Citations (source documentation) at end of paper - titled Works Cited
In-Text citations near quoted or paraphrased information

Two Types of Citations Needed

With MLA format, each information source you use — such as a website you directly quote or an article idea you paraphrase (put into your own words) — must have the following:

1. a Works Cited citation

2. an In-Text citation .

1. Works Cited Citations

Works Cited citations provide details about sources used for your research project. Your Works Cited list goes at the end of your project or paper and includes information about each source that must be in a specific order. MLA calls this information Core Elements . Here is the list of Core Elements in order, including the punctuation that must be included after each element ( MLA Handbook , 8th Edition, page 20):

Title of source .
Title of the container ,
Other contributors ,
Publisher ,
Publication date ,

Some sources don't require all of these elements. Click on the link below for more details.

2. In-Text Citations

In-Text citations (also called parenthetical documentation or citation) goes in your paper or project near the information you are using. In-text citations are required when you do the following:

Directly quote from a source by putting exact wording in quotation marks
Paraphrase from a source by putting ideas into your own words
Summarize from a source

Your in-text citation consists of the first item (or Core Element) in your Works Cited citation and a page number , if the source you used has page numbers. Often the first element you use is the author of the source. Click on the link below for more details.

MLA Format Examples

Changes in mla 9th edition.

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Citing Sources (Citation Style)

MLA Handbook, 9th edition

MLA - Modern Language Association

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Citing Government Publications
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MLA Handbook Plus (9th edition) This link opens in a new window MLA Handbook Plus includes the full text of the ninth edition of the handbook, the first editions of both the MLA Guide to Digital Literacy and the MLA Guide to Undergraduate Research in Literature, and a video course that teaches the principles of MLA documentation style through a series of short videos paired with quizzes, plus a final assessment.

Used for liberal arts and the humanities. Always use the style required by your instructor.

The following sites provide examples of how to write citations in MLA format for specific sources including books, periodical articles, Web pages and other Internet resources.

Milne Library MLA Style Guide based on 9th Edition

Print this pdf version or ask for a copy at the Milne Library Research Help Desk. Written by Milne Librarians. Summary of the MLA guidelines.

MLA Formatting and Style Guide based on 9th Edition

All-round best guide to formatting papers and citations in MLA. Also includes many tutorials on how to research and write papers.

Excelsior College Online Writing Lab

All-round best guide to formatting papers and citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago. Also includes many tutorials on how to research and write papers.

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Last Updated: Jul 12, 2024 2:35 PM
URL: https://libguides.oneonta.edu/citing

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Research Guides

Format Your Paper & Cite Your Sources

Mla style (8th/9th ed.).

Citing Sources
Avoid Plagiarism

MLA Citation Style Video

Formatting your paper, formatting your works cited page, citation examples, in-text citation basics, mla annotated bibliography example, noodletools.

APA Style, 7th Edition
Chicago Style
Harvard Style
Other Styles
Annotated Bibliographies
How to Create an Attribution

What is MLA Style?

Created by the Modern Language Association, MLA is most often used by the Humanities, which includes languages, literature, philosophy, visual & performing arts.

Watch this short but excellent video from Hayden Memorial Library at Citrus College, It walks you through creating an MLA citation and the corresponding in-text citation

Margins: 1" all around (except for the page number)
Font: Easily readable typeface set to a standard size (Times-New Roman 12pt is always safe)
Line-spacing: Double-space throughout the paper, including heading, title, block quotes, and Works Cited.
Page Numbers: All pages are numbered in right hand corner, 1/2" from top. Last name appears before the page numbers.
Heading: Top left corner. Your name, your instructor's name, course number, date. Date must be written dd Month yyyy.
Title: Centered. Plain (no italics, underlining, or font variation). Standard double-spacing between heading/title, and title/first line of paper.

Use Word to Format Your Paper:

This brief video will show you how to use Word 2010 to format your paper.

Use Google Docs to Format Your Paper:

This brief video will show you how to set up your document in MLA format using Google Docs.

Sample MLA Papers:

MLA Sample Paper (Purdue OWL) This paper includes instructions for formatting your paper.
Sample Paper from MLA Style Center

Placement: The Works Cited list appears at the end of the paper, on its own page(s) . For example, If your research paper ends on page 8, your Works Cited begins on page 9.

Arrangement: Alphabetize entries by author's last name. If source has no named author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring A, An, or The.

Spacing: Like the rest of the MLA paper, the Works Cited list is double-spaced throughout. Be sure NOT to add extra spaces between citations.

Indentation: To make citations easier to scan, add a hanging indent to any citation that runs more than one line.

Citation Examples and Template:

Use the links below to see examples of source citations and practice using one of the templates.

If you don't find what you need below, check out the MLA's, Ask the MLA .

MLA Citations - Containers
MLA Citation Examples (Yellow Handout)
MLA Practice Template (Printable)
Interactive Practice Template (Online)

Citation Examples by Format:

How to Cite a Book
How to Cite a Book Chapter or Handout Professor Uploaded to a Website
How to Cite Online Work
How to Cite an Online Lecture or Speech
How Do I Cite Generative AI in MLA style?
How to Cite a Song, Recording, or Performance
How to Cite a Movie, Video, or Television Show
How to Cite an Image

What Are In-Text Citations?

In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper that tell your readers that a) you've used an outside source, and b) point them toward that source in your Works Cited list. Where relevant, the in-text citation also points your reader to the location in the source being cited (e.g. page number).

The in-text citation can appear within the body of your paper, within a parentheses, or a combination of the two.

You need to cite all direct quotations, paraphrased information, and summarized ideas.

What To Include in an In-Text Citation

An in-text citation begins with the shortest piece of information that directs your reader to the entry in the Works Cited list. Therefore, it begins with what ever comes first in the entry: the author’s name or the title of the work.
Most often, an MLA in-text citation begins with the author's last name followed by the page number : (Jones 14).
If there is no author, use the "Title" of the source: ("Global Warming" 129).

If page numbers are available, they MUST be listed. This often means examining the pdf version of database articles to locate page numbers.

Detailed Rules

For most citations, the parenthetical reference is placed BEFORE the punctuation:

Magnesium can be effective in treating PMS (Haggerty 42).

Direct quotes longer than 4 lines are indented an extra 1/2 inch, the quotation marks are removed, and the parenthetical comes AFTER punctuation.

A preliminary study presented recently at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting found that getting enough sleep was associated with greater protection of death from all causes.If magnesium does work to help someone get a little shuteye, that may be because it is acting on certain receptors on the surface of brain cells to quiet down brain cell activity.The nutrient acts on the benzodiazepine receptor, which is the same receptor used by Valium-type drugs and the sleep medication Ambien. (Gurubhagavatula)

If author name or title is used within the text, do NOT list it again within parenthesis.

Haggerty notes magnesium is effective at relieving some symptoms of PMS (42).

MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue.
In-Text Citations: An Overview from the MLA Style Center.

MLA tells us that, you should cite a source in an annotated bibliography just as you would in a list of works cited and then append an annotation to the end of the entry. Annotations describe and/or evaluate sources. Further, annotations should not rehash minor details, cite evidence, quote the author, or recount steps in an argument. Writing an effective annotation requires reading the work, understanding its aims, and clearly summarizing them.

To learn more about annotated bibliographies click on the link below from Purdue OWL

Sample annotated bibliography using mla.

MLA 9 Annotated Bibliography Sample

Annotated Bibliography Template

You may also want to use the template below. Just type over the words in the template with your own information, citations, and annotations.

MLA, 9th ed. Annotated Bibliography Template

Use NoodleTools to help you create your citations .

It's easy; it's a form you fill out with the information about your source; it helps you catch mistakes.

NoodleTools Express Use NoodleTools Express to create citations on the fly in MLA, APA, or Chicago style.
NoodleTools (Login Full Database) This link opens in a new window Create and organize your research notes, share and collaborate on research projects, compose and error check citations, and complete your list of works cited in MLA, APA, or Chicago style using the full version of NoodleTools. You'll need to Create a Personal ID and password the first time you use NoodleTools.

NoodleTools Help:

NoodleTools Help Desk Look up questions and answers on the NoodleTools Web site
NoodleTools for Researchers Research guide created for MJC students
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Next: APA Style, 7th Edition >>
Last Updated: Jul 10, 2024 5:03 PM
URL: https://libguides.mjc.edu/citeyoursources

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 Licenses .

Cite: Why? When?
Book or E-book
Article or Class Handout
Web Sources
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
In-Text Citation

Format Your Paper

MLA Format Template Document
MLA Annotated Bibliography Example

Order of Sections

Introduction/Thesis
Body (includes tables, figures, and illustrations)
Works Cited (starts on new page)

Paper Size, Margins, & Page Numbers

Use letter-sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper.
1-inch margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Indent first line of each paragraph 1/2 inch from left margin.
In the upper right-hand corner of the margin, insert page numbers and add your last name (ex. Smith 1).

Text Format

Use easy-to-read font so that regular and italicized text is easy to distinguish (ex. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri).
Use a standard size (ex. Times New Roman 12, Arial 11, Calibri 11 or 12).
Left-align text and start paragraphs with a half-inch indent. Do not justify text.
Turn off automatic hyphenation.
Double-space everything.
Leave one space after concluding punctuation marks, not two.

Heading & Title

At the top left of the page, type your name, instructor's name, course number, and date.
Include any information your instructor requires.
Center title. Do not italicize, underline, or bold. No quotation marks, all caps, or periods.
Capitalize the first word, principle words, and each part of a hyphenated word. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), prepositions, conjunctions, and to-infinitives.

Tables, Figures, & Illustrations

Put them close to the related text and align them on the left.
Above tables: capitalize the title of the table like other titles and number it (ex. Table 1).
Below the table: give the source of the table and any notes with lower-case letters. Double-space it and use dividing lines.
Below a figure or illustration: label it as "Figure" or "Fig." and number it (ex. Figure 1).

Quotations (p. 75-76, 81*)

Short quotations (less than four lines) or those without special emphasis are included in the text with quotation marks
Longer quotations (four lines or more) or those with special emphasis are indented 1/2 inch from left margin and double-spaced with no quotation marks.
Use an ellipsis with spaces ( . . . ) when omitting sections from a quote. When the ellipsis is at the end of a sentence, use four periods ( . . . . ).
For poetry, use slashes (/) to show line breaks and double slashes (//) for stanza breaks and keep all punctuation as it appears in the poem.
Cite your quotes using in-text citation.

Works Cited List (p. 102*)

Begin your Works Cited list on a separate page and put the entries in alphabetical order. Double-space and give entries a hanging indent (i.e the first line is on the left margin and the following lines are indented a half inch from the left).

Annotated Bibliography

Double-space the entire bibliography. give each entry a hanging indent. in the following annotation, indent the entire paragraph a half inch from the left margin and give the first line of each paragraph a half inch indent..

Check with your professor for the length of the annotation and which elements you should evaluate.

*Page numbers refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, available in the UW-Whitewater libraries in print .

<< Previous: In-Text Citation
Last Updated: Aug 20, 2024 1:00 PM
URL: https://libguides.uww.edu/mla

Citation Styles

What is mla, mla resources, citing your sources in mla style, cite right in mla library workshop, microsoft word templates, mla handbooks in the library.

Chicago Style
Annotated Bibliographies
Literature Reviews
Zotero (Citation Management)

Each academic discipline has its own rules for presenting research and citing ideas and words borrowed from other writers and researchers.

Courses in English and the humanities use the Modern Language Association (MLA) style rules.
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers contains comprehensive rules and examples for citing.
MLA 9 Quick Guide
MLA Style Sample Paper
Excelsior OWL MLA Guide
ZoteroBib Citation Generator
How to Create a Hanging Indent in Word
How to Create a Hanging Indent in Google Docs

How does citing in MLA work?

Step 1: Create a Works Cited page

Include a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. It should contain a full citation for each source referenced within your paper. The full citation should include the specific publication information required by the MLA rules. This allows your reader to find the sources, if desired.

Step 2: Use in-text citations throughout your paper

Use an in-text citation to acknowledge that you are quoting or paraphrasing another author's words or ideas in the text of your research paper.
Your reader will use the information provided in the signal phrase and in-text citation to find additional information about the source in your Works Cited page.

Critser noted that despite growing numbers of overweight Americans, many health care providers still “remain either in ignorance or outright denial about the health danger to the poor and the young” (5). If the author is not named in the signal phrase, place the author’s name and the page number in parentheses after the quotation or paraphrase like this (Critser 5).

Step 3: Double-check your formatting

The MLA Handbook dictates the rules for formatting your in-text citations, Works Cited page, and your final research paper.
Review the links in the " MLA Resources " box on this page to see formatting examples.

Use MLA templates in Word and Google Docs

When creating a new Microsoft Word document (or Google Doc), search for "MLA" to see MLA-style research paper templates.

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Last Updated: Jun 26, 2024 3:01 PM
URL: https://researchguides.elac.edu/Citation

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MLA Style: Overview

Works Cited: Books
Works Cited: Articles
Works Cited: Other web content
In-text citation

Modern Language Association Style, 9th Edition

MLA Handbook Plus This link opens in a new window Online version of the handbook
Using MLA Format Includes searchable FAQs

When to cite

Citations are a necessary component of a research paper. Scenarios that need a citation:

Direct quotations
Original ideas or arguments
Statistics or original research
Opinions or claims made by others
Images or artwork
Data/datasets

You do NOT need to cite:

Common knowledge, which includes commonly accepted facts, common sense, myths, and historical events (but not historical documents)
Your own words or ideas unless published in a previous work

MLA Editable Templates

MLA 9th ed. Template Microsoft Word downloadable template
MLA Template for student papers in Box Download from Box

Citation Tools

Look for a "Cite" button in library databases or Library Search . You can also export citations to a citation manager like Refworks or Zotero.

Citation generators are a time saver, but they are not always correct. If you use them, be sure to check for errors.

Common Errors of Citation Generators

Check that the following match the citation style you are using:

Titles are correctly capitalized. Some styles capitalize all words and some only capitalize the first word.
Names are properly formatted.
Correct to make sure nothing is in all caps.
Look for incomplete information.
For citations generated from databases, remove database links. Leave DOI links.

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Related Guides

Cite Government and Legal Documents
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MLA Sample Paper

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

This resource contains a sample MLA paper that adheres to the 2016 updates. To download the MLA sample paper, click this link .

MLA Citation Guide (9th edition) : Works Cited and Sample Papers

Getting Started
How do I Cite?
In-Text Citations
Works Cited and Sample Papers
Additional Resources

Header Image

works cited sample paper bibguru illustration

Quick Rules for an MLA Works Cited List

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in your paper. Here are some quick rules for this Works Cited list:

Begin the works cited list on a new page after the text.
Name it "Works Cited," and center the section label in bold at the top of the page.
Order the reference list alphabetically by author's last name.
Double-space the entire list (both within and between entries).
Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 in. to each entry. This means that the first line of the reference is flush left and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 in. from the left margin.

Sample Paper with Works Cited List

The Modern Language Association (MLA) has compiled several sample papers that include explanations of the elements and formatting in MLA 9th edition.

MLA Title Pages

MLA Title Page: Format and Template This resource discusses the correct format for title pages in MLA style and includes examples.

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Next: Additional Resources >>
Last Updated: Jun 24, 2022 12:43 PM
URL: https://paperpile.libguides.com/mla

Plagiarism and grammar
Citation guides

MLA Citation Generator

Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper, the complete guide to mla & citations, what you’ll find in this guide.

This page provides an in-depth overview of MLA format. It includes information related to MLA citations, plagiarism, proper formatting for in-text and regular citations, and examples of citations for many different types of sources.

Looking for APA? Check out the Citation Machine’s guide on APA format . We also have resources for Chicago citation style as well.

How to be a responsible researcher or scholar

Putting together a research project involves searching for information, disseminating and analyzing information, collecting information, and repurposing information. Being a responsible researcher requires keeping track of the sources that were used to help develop your research project, sharing the information you borrowed in an ethical way, and giving credit to the authors of the sources you used. Doing all of these things prevents plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the act of using others’ information without giving credit or acknowledging them. There are many examples of plagiarism. Completely copying another individual’s work without providing credit to the original author is a very blatant example of plagiarism. Plagiarism also occurs when another individual’s idea or concept is passed off as your own. Changing or modifying quotes, text, or any work of another individual is also plagiarism. Believe it or not, you can even plagiarize yourself! Reusing a project or paper from another class or time and saying that it’s new is plagiarism. One way to prevent plagiarism is to add citations in your project where appropriate.

What is a Citation?

A citation shows the reader of your project where you found your information. Citations are included in the body of a project when you add a quote to your project. Citations are also included in the body when you’re paraphrasing another individual’s information. These citations in the body of a research paper are called in-text citations. They are found directly next to the information that was borrowed and are very brief to avoid causing distraction while reading a project. These brief citations include the last name of the author and a page number. Scroll down for an in-depth explanation and examples of MLA in-text citations.

In-text citations provide us with a brief idea as to where you found your information, though they usually don't include the title and other components. Look on the last page of a research project to find complete citations.

Complete citations are found on what MLA calls a works-cited list, which is sometimes called an MLA bibliography. All sources that were used to develop a research project are found on the works-cited list. Complete citations are also created for any quotes or paraphrased information used in the text. Complete citations include the author’s name, the title, publisher, year published, page numbers, URLs, and a few other pieces of information.

Looking to create your citations in just a few clicks? Need an MLA format website or book citation? Visit Citation Machine.net! Our Citation Machine MLA generator, which is an MLA citation website, will create all of your citations in just a few clicks. Click here to see more styles .

Why Does it Matter?

Citing your sources is an extremely important component of your research project. It shows that you’re a responsible researcher and that you located appropriate and reputable sources that support your thesis or claim. In addition, if your work ends up being posted online or in print, there is a chance that others will use your research project in their own work!

Scroll down to find directions on how to create citations.

How the Modern Language Association Helps You Become a Responsible Researcher

What is mla format.

The Modern Language Association is an organization that was created to develop guidelines on everything language and literature related. They have guidelines on proper grammar usage and research paper layouts. In addition, they have English and foreign language committees, numerous books and journal publications, and an annual conference. They are not connected with this guide, but the information here reflects the association’s rules for formatting papers and citations.

What are citations?

The Modern Language Association is responsible for creating standards and guidelines on how to properly cite sources to prevent plagiarism. Their style is most often used when writing papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities fields. “Liberal arts” is a broad term used to describe a range of subjects including the humanities, formal sciences such as mathematics and statistics, natural sciences such as biology and astronomy, and social sciences such as geography, economics, history, and others. The humanities focuses specifically on subjects related to languages, art, philosophy, religion, music, theater, literature, and ethics.

Believe it or not, there are thousands of other types of citation styles. While this citation style is most often used for the liberal arts and humanities fields, many other subjects, professors, and schools prefer citations and papers to be styled in MLA format.

What’s the difference between a bibliography and a works-cited list?

Great question. The two terms cause a lot of confusion and are consistently misused not only by students but educators as well! Let’s start with what the two words mean.

A bibliography displays the sources the writer used to gain background knowledge on the topic and also research it in-depth. Before starting a research project, you might read up on the topic in websites, books, and other sources. You might even dive a bit deeper to find more information elsewhere. All of these sources you used to help you learn about the topic would go in an MLA format bibliography. You might even include other sources that relate to the topic.

A works-cited list displays all of the sources that were mentioned in the writing of the actual paper or project. If a quote was taken from a source and placed into a research paper, then the full citation goes on the works-cited list.

Both the works-cited list and bibliography go at the end of a paper. Most teachers do not expect students to hand in both a bibliography AND a works-cited list. Teachers generally expect to see a works-cited list, but sometimes erroneously call it a bibliography. If you’re not sure what your teacher expects, a page in MLA bibliography format, a works-cited list, or both, ask for guidance.

Why do we use this MLA style?

These specific guidelines and standards for creating citations were developed for numerous reasons. When scholars and researchers in literature, language, and numerous other fields all cite their sources in the same manner, it makes it easier for readers to look at a citation and understand the different components of a source. By looking at an MLA citation, we can see who the author is, the title of the source, when it was published, and other identifiable pieces of information.

Imagine how difficult it would be to understand the various components of a source if we didn’t all follow the same guidelines! Not only would it make it difficult to understand the source that was used, but it would also make it difficult for readers to locate it themselves. This streamlined process aides us in understanding a researcher’s sources.

How is the new version different than previous versions?

This citation style has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition.

The new version expands upon standards previously set in the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook, including the core elements. The structure of citations remains the same, but some formatting guidance and terminology have changed.

DOI numbers are now formatted as https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx
Seasons in publishing daters are lowercased: spring 2020
The term “optional elements” is now “supplemental elements”
“Narrative in-text citations” are called “citations in prose”

In addition, new information was added on the following:

Hundreds of works-cited-list entries
MLA formatting for papers
Punctuation, spelling, and other mechanics of prose
Chapter on inclusive language
Notes (bibliographic and content)

For more information on MLA 9, click here .

A Deeper Look at Citations

What do they look like.

There are two types of citations. The first is a full, or complete, citation. These are found at the end of research projects. These citations are usually listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last names and include all of the information necessary for readers to be able to locate the source themselves.

Full citations are generally placed in this MLA citation format:

There are times when additional information is added into the full citation.

Not sure how to transfer the information from your source into your citation? Confused about the term, “containers”? See below for information and complete explanations of each citation component.

The second type of citation, called an “in-text citation,” is included in the main part, or body, of a project when a researcher uses a quote or paraphrases information from another source. See the next section to find out how to create in-text citations.

What are in-text citations?

As stated above, in-text citations are included in the main part of a project when using a quote or paraphrasing a piece of information from another source. We include these types of citations in the body of a project for readers to quickly gain an idea as to where we found the information.

These in-text citations are found directly next to the quote or paraphrased information. They contain a small tidbit of the information found in the regular MLA citation. The regular, or complete, citation is located at the end of a project, on the works-cited list.

Here’s what a typical in-text citation looks like:

In the book The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements…. Too much fire and you have a bad temper...too little wood and you bent too quickly...too much water and you flowed in too many directions” (Tan 31).

This specific in text citation, (Tan 31), is called an MLA parenthetical citation because the author’s name is in parentheses. It’s included so the reader sees that we are quoting something from page 31 in Tan’s book. The complete, regular citation isn’t included in the main part of the project because it would be too distracting for the reader. We want the reader to focus on our work and research, not get caught up on our sources.

Here’s another way to cite in the text:

In Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements... Too much fire and you have a bad temper... too little wood and you bent too quickly... too much water and you flowed in too many directions" (31).

If the reader would like to see the source’s full information, and possibly locate the source themselves, they can refer to the last part of the project to find the regular citation.

The regular citation, at the end of the project looks like this:

%%Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Penguin, 1989, p. 31.

Notice that the first word in the full citation (Tan) matches the “Tan” used in the body of the project. It’s important to have the first word of the full citation match the term used in the text. Why? It allows readers to easily find the full citation on the works-cited list.

If your direct quote or paraphrase comes from a source that does not have page numbers, it is acceptable to place a line number (use line or lines), paragraph number (use the abbreviation par. or pars.), sections (sec. or secs.), or chapters (ch. or chs.). Only use these other terms if they are actually labeled on the source. If it specifically says on the source, “Section 1,” for example, then it is acceptable to use “sec. 1” in the in-text citation.

If there are no numbers to help readers locate the exact point in the source, only include the author’s last name.

To determine how to create in-text citations for more than one author, no authors, or corporate authors, refer to the “Authors” section below.

More about quotations and how to cite a quote:

Use quotes from outside sources to help illustrate and expand on your own points. The majority of your paper should be your own writing and ideas.
Include the quote exactly as you found it. It is okay to use only certain words or phrases from the quote, but keep the words (spelling and capitalization) and punctuation the same.
It is acceptable to break up a direct quote with your own writing.

Example from a movie:

Dorothy stated, "Toto," then looked up and took in her surroundings, "I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore" ( Wizard of Oz ).

The entire paper should be double-spaced, including quotes.
If the quote is longer than four lines, it is necessary to make a block quote. Block quotes show the reader that they are about to read a lengthy amount of text from another source.
Start the quote on the next line, half an inch from the left margin.
Do not use any indents at the beginning of the block quote.
Only use quotation marks if there are quotation marks present in the source.
If there is more than one paragraph in the block quote, indent the beginning of the paragraphs after the first one an additional half an inch from the left margin.
Add your in-text citation after the final period of the block quote. Do not add an additional period after the parenthetical citation.

While his parents sat there in surprise, Colton went onto say:

“Cause I could see you,” Colon said matter-of-factly. “I went up and out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body. And I saw you and Mommy. You were in a little room by yourself, praying; and Mommy was in a different room, and she was praying and talking on the phone.” (Burpo xxi)

How to create a paraphrase:

As stated above, the majority of your paper should be your own writing and ideas. It’s acceptable to include quotes, but they shouldn’t crowd your paper. If you’re finding that you’re using too many quotes in your paper, consider adding paraphrases. When you reiterate a piece of information from an outside source in your own words, you create a paraphrase.

Here’s an example:

Readers discover in the very first sentence of Peter Pan that he doesn’t grow up (Barrie 1).

What paraphrases are:

Recycled information in the paper writer’s own words and writing style.
They’re still references! Include an in-text citation next to the paraphrased information.

What paraphrases are not:

A copy and pasted sentence with a few words substituted for synonyms.

Confused about whether footnotes and endnotes should be used?

Footnotes and endnotes are completely acceptable to use in this style. Use a footnote or endnote if:

Adding additional information will help the reader understand the content. This is called a content note .
You need to cite numerous sources in one small section of your writing. Instead of clogging up a small paragraph with in-text citations (which could cause confusion for the reader), include a footnote or endnote. This is called a bibliographic note .

Keep in mind that whether you choose to include in-text citations or footnotes/endnotes, you need to also include a full reference on the MLA format works-cited list.

Content note example:

Even Maurice Sendak’s work (the mastermind behind Where the Wild Things Are and numerous other popular children’s picture books) can be found on the banned books list. It seems as though nobody is granted immunity. 1

In the Night Kitchen ’s main character is nude on numerous pages. Problematic for most is not the nudity of the behind, but the frontal nudity.

Work Cited:

%%Sendak, Maurice. In The Night Kitchen. Harper Collins, 1996.

Bibliographic note example:

Dahl had a difficult childhood. Both his father and sister passed away when he was a toddler. He was then sent away by his mother to boarding school (de Castella). 1

Numerous books, such as Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, all feature characters with absent or difficult parents.

MLA Works Cited:

Include 4 full citations for: de Castella’s article, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG .

Don’t forget to create full, or regular citations, and place them at the end of your project.

If you need help with in-text and parenthetical citations, CitationMachine.net can help. Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use!

Common Knowledge: What Is It and How Will It Affect My Writing?

Footnotes, endnotes, references, proper structuring. We know it’s a lot. Thankfully, you don’t have to include a reference for EVERY piece of information you add to your paper. You can forget about including a reference when you share a piece of common knowledge.

Common knowledge is information that most people know. For example, these are a few facts that are considered common knowledge:

The Statue of Liberty is located in New York City
Tokyo is the capital of Japan
Romeo and Juliet is a play written by William Shakespeare
English is the language most people speak in England
An elephant is an animal

We could go on and on. When you include common knowledge in your paper, omit a reference. One less thing to worry about, right?

Before you start adding tons of common knowledge occurrences to your paper to ease the burden of creating references, we need to stop you right there. Remember, the goal of a research paper is to develop new information or knowledge. You’re expected to seek out information from outside sources and analyze and distribute the information from those sources to form new ideas. Using only common knowledge facts in your writing involves absolutely zero research. It’s okay to include some common knowledge facts here and there, but do not make it the core of your paper.

If you’re unsure if the fact you’re including is common knowledge or not, it doesn’t hurt to include a reference. There is no such thing as being overly responsible when it comes to writing and citing.

Wikipedia - Yay or Nay?

If you’re wondering whether it’s okay to use Wikipedia in your project, the answer is, it depends.

If Wikipedia is your go-to source for quick information on a topic, you’re not alone. Chances are, it’s one of the first websites to appear on your results page. It’s used by tons of people, it’s easily accessible, and it contains millions of concise articles. So, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the problem?”

The issue with Wikipedia is that it’s a user-generated site, meaning information is constantly added and modified by registered users. Who these users are and their expertise is somewhat of a mystery. The truth is anyone can register on the site and make changes to articles.

Knowing this makes some cringe, especially educators and librarians, since the validity of the information is questionable. However, some people argue that because Wikipedia is a user-generated site, the community of registered users serve as “watchdogs,” ensuring that information is valid. In addition, references are included at the bottom of each article and serve as proof of credibility. Furthermore, Wikipedia lets readers know when there’s a problem with an article. Warnings such as “this article needs clarification,” or “this article needs references to prove its validity” are shared with the reader, thus promoting transparency.

If you choose to reference a Wikipedia article in your research project, and your teacher or professor says it’s okay, then you must reference it in your project. You would treat it just as you would with any other web source.

However, you may want to instead consider locating the original source of the information. This should be fairly easy to do thanks to the references at the bottom of each article.

Specific Components of a Citation

This section explains each individual component of the citation, with examples for each section for full citations and in-text citations.

Name of the author

The author’s name is usually the first item listed in the MLA citation. Author names start with the last name, then a comma is added, and then the author’s first name (and middle name if applicable) is at the end. A period closes this information.

Here are two examples of how an author’s name can be listed in a full citation:

Twain, Mark.

Poe, Edgar Allan.

For in-text:

(Author’s Last name page number) or Author’s Last name... (page).

Wondering how to format the author’s name when there are two authors working jointly on a source? When there are two authors that work together on a source, the author names are placed in the order in which they appear on the source. Place their names in this format:

Author 1’s Last Name, First name, and Author 2’s First Name Last Name.

Here are two examples of how to cite two authors:

Clifton, Mark, and Frank Riley.

Paxton, Roberta J., and Michael Jacob Fox.

(Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name page number) or Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name... (page).

There are many times when three or more authors work together on a source. This often happens with journal articles, edited books, and textbooks.

To cite a source with three or more authors, place the information in this format:

Author 1’s Last name, First name, et al.

As you can see, only include the first author’s name. The other authors are accounted for by using “et al.” In Latin, et al. is translated to “and others.” If using the Citation Machine citation generator, this abbreviation is automatically added for you.

Here’s an example of a citation for three or more authors:

%%Warner, Ralph, et al. How to Buy a House in California. Edited by Alayna Schroeder, 12th ed., Nolo, 2009.

(Author 1’s Last name et al. page number)

Is there no author listed on your source? If so, exclude the author’s information from the citation and begin the citation with the title of the source.

For in-text: Use the title of the source in parentheses. Place the title in italics if the source stands alone. Books and films stand alone. If it’s part of a larger whole, such as a chapter in an edited book or an article on a website, place the title in quotation marks without italics.

( Back to the Future )

(“Citing And Writing”)

Other in-text structures:

Authors with the same last name in your paper? MLA essay format requires the use of first initials in-text in this scenario.

Ex: (J. Silver 45)

Are you citing more than one source by the same author? For example, two books by Ernest Hemingway? Include the title in-text.

Example: (Hemingway, For Whom The Bell Tolls 12).

Are you citing a film or song? Include a timestamp in the format of hours:minutes:seconds. ( Back to the Future 00:23:86)

Was the source found on social media, such as a tweet, Reddit, or Instagram post? If this is the case, in an MLA format paper, you are allowed to start the citation with the author’s handle, username, or screen name.

Here is an example of how to cite a tweet:

%%@CarlaHayden. “I’m so honored to talk about digital access at @UMBCHumanities. We want to share the @libraryofcongress collection.” Twitter , 13 Apr. 2017, 6:04 p.m., twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/852643691802091521.

While most citations begin with the name of the author, they do not necessarily have to. Quite often, sources are compiled by editors. Or, your source may be done by a performer or composer. If your project focuses on someone other than the author, it is acceptable to place that person’s name first in the citation. If you’re using the MLA works cited generator at Citation Machine.net, you can choose the individual’s role from a drop-down box.

For example, let’s say that in your research project, you focus on Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances as an actor. You’re quoting a line from the movie Titanic in your project, and you’re creating a complete citation for it in the works-cited list.

It is acceptable to show the reader that you’re focusing on Leonardo DiCaprio’s work by citing it like this in the MLA works-cited list:

%%DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. Titanic . Directed by James Cameron. Paramount, 1997.

Notice that when citing an individual other than the author, place the individual’s role after their name. In this case, Leonardo DiCaprio is the performer.

This is often done with edited books, too. Place the editor’s name first (in reverse order), add a comma, and then add the word editor.

If you’re still confused about how to place the authors together in a citation, the tools at CitationMachine.net can help! Our website is easy to use and will create your citations in just a few clicks!

Titles and containers

The titles are written as they are found on the source and in title form, meaning the important words start with a capital.

Here’s an example of a properly written title:

Practical Digital Libraries: Books, Bytes, and Bucks.

Wondering whether to place your title in italics or quotation marks? It depends on whether the source sits by itself or not. If the source stands alone, meaning that it is an independent source, place the title in italics. If the title is part of a larger whole, place the title of the source in quotation marks and the source it is from in italics.

When citing full books, movies, websites, or albums in their entirety, these titles are written in italics.

However, when citing part of a source, such as an article on a website, a chapter in a book, a song on an album, or an article in a scholarly journal, the part is written with quotation marks and then the titles of the sources that they are found in are written in italics.

Here are some examples to help you understand how to format titles and their containers.

To cite Pink Floyd’s entire album, The Wall , cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. The Wall. Columbia, 1979.

To cite one of the songs on Pink Floyd’s album in MLA formatting, cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall (Part I).” The Wall, Columbia, 1979, track 3.

To cite a fairy tale book in its entirety, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. The Land of Stories. Little Brown, 2016.

To cite a specific story or chapter in the book, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. “Little Red Riding Hood.” The Land of Stories, Little Brown, 2016, pp. 58-65.

More about containers

From the section above, you can see that titles can stand alone, or they can sit in a container. Many times, sources can sit in more than one container. Wondering how? When citing an article in a scholarly journal, the first container is the journal. The second container? It’s the database that the scholarly journal is found in. It is important to account for all containers, so readers are able to locate the exact source themselves.

When citing a television episode, the first container is the name of the show and the second container is the name of the service that it could be streaming on, such as Netflix .

If your source sits in more than one container, the information about the second container is found at the end of the citation.

Use the following format to cite your source with multiple containers :

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

If the source has more than two containers, add on another full section at the end for each container.

Not all of the fields in the citation format above need to be included in your citation. In fact, many of these fields will most likely be omitted from your citations. Only include the elements that will help your readers locate the source themselves.

Here is an example of a citation for a scholarly journal article found in a database. This source has two containers: the journal itself is one container, and the site it sits on is the other.

%%Zanetti, Francois. “Curing with Machine: Medical Electricity in Eighteenth-Century Paris.” Technology and Culture, vol. 54, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 503-530. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/520280.

If you’re still confused about containers, the Citation Machine MLA cite generator can help! MLA citing is easier when using the tools at CitationMachine.net.

Other contributors

Many sources have people besides the author who contribute to the source. If your research project focuses on an additional individual besides the author, or you feel as though including other contributors will help the reader locate the source themselves, include their names in the citation.

To include another individual in the citation, after the title, place the role of the individual, the word “by,” and then their name in standard order.

If the name of the contributor comes after a period, capitalize the first letter in the role of the individual. If it comes after a comma, the first letter in the role of the individual is lowercased.

Here’s an example of a citation for a children’s book with the name of the illustrator included:

%%Rubin, Adam. Dragons Love Tacos. Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, Penguin, 2012.

The names of editors, directors, performers, translators, illustrators, and narrators can often be found in this part of the citation.

If the source that you’re citing states that it is a specific version or edition, this information is placed in the “versions” section of the citation.

When including a numbered edition, do not type out the number, use the numeral. Also, abbreviate the word “edition” to “ed.”

Here is an example of a citation with a specific edition:

%%Koger, Gregory. “Filibustering and Parties in the Modern State.” Congress Reconsidered, edited by Lawrence C. Dodd and Bruce I. Oppenheimer, 10th ed., CQ Press, 2013, pp. 221-236. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=b7gkLlSEeqwC&lpg=PP1&dq=10th%20edition&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q=10th%20edition&f=false.

Many sources have numbers associated with them. If you see a number different than the date, page numbers, or editions, include this information in the “numbers” section of the citation. For MLA citing, this includes volume and/or issue numbers (use the abbreviations vol. and no.), episode numbers, track numbers, or any other numbers that will help readers identify the specific source that you used. Do not include ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers) in the citation.

It is important to include the name of the publisher (the organization that created or published the source), so that readers can locate the exact source themselves.

Include publishers for all sources except periodicals. Also, for websites, exclude this information when the name of the publisher matches the name of the website. Furthermore, the name of the publisher is often excluded from the citation for second containers, since the publisher of the second container is not necessarily responsible for the creation or production of the source’s content.

Publication dates

Publication dates are extremely important to include in citations. They allow the reader to understand when sources were published. They are also used when readers are attempting to locate the source themselves.

Dates can be written in MLA in one of two ways. Researchers can write dates as:

Day Mo. Year

Mo. Day, Year

Whichever format you decide to use, use the same format for all of your citations. If using the Citation Machine citation generator, the date will be formatted in the same way for each citation.

While it isn’t necessary to include the full date for all source citations, use the amount of information that makes the most sense to help your readers understand and locate the source themselves.

Wondering what to do when your source has more than one date? Use the date that is most applicable to your research.

The location generally refers to the place where the readers can find the source. This includes page ranges, URLs, DOI numbers, track numbers, disc numbers, or even cities and towns.

You can usually leave out http:// or https:// from URLs unless you want to hyperlink them. For DOIs, use http:// or https:// before the DOI: https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx .

For page numbers, when citing a source found on only one page, use p.

Example: p. 6.

When citing a source that has a page range, use pp. and then add the page numbers.

Example: pp. 24-38.

Since the location is the final piece of the citation, place a period at the end. When it comes to URLs, many students wonder if the links in citations should be live or not. If the paper is being shared electronically with a teacher and other readers, it may be helpful to include live links. If you’re not sure whether to include live links or not, ask your teacher or professor for guidance.

Looking for an online tool to do the work for you? Citation Machine citing tools could help! Our site is simple (and fun!) to use.

Need some more help? There is further good information here .

Common Citation Examples

ALL sources use this format:

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). *Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

*If the source does not have a second container, omit this last part of the citation.

Remember, the Citation Machine MLA formatter can help you save time and energy when creating your citations. Check out our MLA Citation Machine pages to learn more.

Journal Articles

How to Format a Paper

When it comes to formatting your paper or essay for academic purposes, there are specific MLA paper format guidelines to follow.

Use paper that is 8½-by-11 inch in size. This is the standard size for copier and printer paper.
Use high quality paper.
Your research paper or essay should have a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the paper.
While most word processors automatically format your paper to have one-inch margins, you can check or modify the margins of your paper by going to the “Page setup” section of your word processor.

Which font is acceptable to use?

Use an easily readable font, specifically one that allows readers to see the difference between regular and italicized letters.
Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica are recommended options.
Use 12-point size font.

Should I double-space the paper, including citations?

Double-space the entire paper.
There should be a double space between each piece of information in the heading.
Place a double space between the heading and the title.
Place a double space between the title and the beginning of the essay.
The works-cited list should be double-spaced as well. All citations are double-spaced.

Justification & Punctuation

Text should be left-justified, meaning that the text is aligned, or flush, against the left margin.
Indents signal to the reader that a new concept or idea is about to begin.
Use the “tab” button on your keyboard to create an indent.
Add one space after all punctuation marks.

Heading & Title

Include a proper heading and title
The heading should include the following, on separate lines, starting one inch from the top and left margins:
Your full name
Your teacher or professor’s name
The course number
Dates in the heading and the body of your essay should be consistent. Use the same format, either Day Month Year or Month Day, Year throughout the entire paper
Examples: 27 July 2017 or July 27, 2017
The title should be underneath the heading, centered in the middle of the page, without bold, underlined, italicized, or all capital letters.

Page numbers

Number all pages, including the very first page and the works-cited list.
Place page numbers in the top right corner, half an inch from the top margin and one inch from the right margin.
Include your last name to the left of the page number. Example: Jacobson 4

Here’s an example to provide you with a visual:

The image shows an example of the first page of an MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described above under the heading How to Format a Paper.

If you need help with sentence structure or grammar, check out our paper checker. The paper checker will help to check every noun , verb , and adjective . If there are words that are misspelled or out of place, the paper checker will suggest edits and provide recommendations.

If a citation flows onto the second line, indent it in half an inch from the left margin (called a “hanging indent”).
For more information on the works-cited list, refer to “How to Make a Works Cited Page,” which is found below.

How to Create a Title Page

According to the Modern Language Association’s official guidelines for formatting a research paper, it is unnecessary to create or include an individual title page, or MLA cover page, at the beginning of a research project. Instead, follow the directions above, under “Heading & Title,” to create a proper heading. This heading is featured at the top of the first page of the research paper or research assignment.

If your instructor or professor does in fact require or ask for an MLA title page, follow the directions that you are given. They should provide you with the information needed to create a separate, individual title page. If they do not provide you with instructions, and you are left to create it at your own discretion, use the header information above to help you develop your research paper title page. You may want to include other information, such as the name of your school or university.

How to Make a Works Cited Page

The MLA Works Cited page is generally found at the end of a research paper or project. It contains a list of all the citations of sources used for the research project. Follow these directions to format the works-cited list to match the Modern Language Association’s guidelines.

The “Works Cited” page has its own page at the end of a research project.
Include the same running head as the rest of the project (Your last name and then the page number). The “Works Cited” page has the final page number for the project.
Name the page “Works Cited,” unless your list only includes one citation. In that case, title it in MLA “Work Cited.”
The title of the page (either “Works Cited” or “Work Cited”) is placed one inch from the top of the page, centered in the middle of the document.
Double space the entire document, even between the title of the page and the first citation.
Citations are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the citation (usually the last name of the author or the first word in the title if the citation does not include the author’s name. Ignore “A,” “An,” and “The” if the title begins with these words.)
If there are multiple citations by the same author, place them in chronological order by the date published.
Also, instead of writing the author’s name twice in both citations, use three hyphens.

%%Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 2009.

%%---. Gather Together in My Name. Random House, 1974.

All citations begin flush against the left margin. If the citation is long and rolls onto a second or third line, indent the lines below the first line half an inch from the left margin. This is called a “hanging indent.” The purpose of a hanging indent is to make the citations easier to read. If you’re using our MLA citation machine, we’ll format each of your references with a hanging indent for you.

%%Wai-Chung, Ho. “Political Influences on Curriculum Content and Musical Meaning: Hong Kong Secondary Music Education, 1949-1997.” Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, vol. 22, no. 1, 1 Oct. 2000, pp. 5-25. Periodicals Index Online, search-proquest-com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/pio/docview/1297849364/citation/6B70D633F50C4EA0PQ/78?accountid=35635.

MLA “Works Cited” pages can be longer than one page. Use as many pages as necessary. If you have only one source to cite, do not place the one citation below the text of your paper. In MLA, a “Work Cited” page is still created for that individual citation.

Here’s a sample paper to give you an idea of what an MLA paper could look like. Included at the end is an MLA “Works Cited” page example.

The image shows the first page of an example MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described under the heading How to Format a Paper.

Looking to add a relevant image, figure, table, or musical score to your paper? Here’s the easy way to do it, while following guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association:

Place the image, figure, table, or music close to where it’s mentioned in the text.
Provide source information and any additional notes directly below the image, figure, table, or music.

For tables:

Label the table as “Table” followed by an arabic numeral such as “1.” Table 1 is the table closest to the beginning of the paper. The next table mentioned in the text would be Table 2, and so on.
Create a title for the table and place it below the label. Capitalize all important words.
The label (Table 1) and the title should be flush against the left margin.
Double-space everything.

Example of formatting a table in MLA format.

A figure can be a map, photograph, painting, pie chart, or any other type of image.
Create a label and place it below the figure. The figure first mentioned in the text of the project is either “Figure 1” or “Fig 1.” Though figures are usually abbreviated to “Fig.” Choose one style and use it consistently. The next mentioned figure is “Figure 2” or “Fig. 2.”, and so on.
Place a caption next to the label. If all of the source information is included in the caption, there isn’t a need to replicate that information in the works-cited list.

Example of formatting a figure in MLA format.

MLA Final Checklist

Think you’re through? We know this guide covered a LOT of information, so before you hand in that assignment, here’s a checklist to help you determine if you have everything you need:

_ Are both in-text and full citations included in the project? Remember, for every piece of outside information included in the text, there should be a corresponding in-text citation next to it. Include the full citation at the end, on the “Works Cited” page.

_ Are all citations, both in-text and full, properly formatted in MLA style? If you’re unsure, try out our citation generator!

_ Is your paper double-spaced in its entirety with one inch margins?

_ Do you have a running header on each page? (Your last name followed by the page number)

_ Did you use a font that is easy to read?

_ Are all citations on the MLA format works-cited list in alphabetical order?

Our plagiarism checker scans for any accidental instances of plagiarism. It scans for grammar and spelling errors, too. If you have an adverb , preposition , or conjunction that needs a slight adjustment, we may be able to suggest an edit.

Common Ways Students Accidentally Plagiarize

We spoke a bit about plagiarism at the beginning of this guide. Since you’re a responsible researcher, we’re sure you didn’t purposely plagiarize any portions of your paper. Did you know students and scholars sometimes accidentally plagiarize? Unfortunately, it happens more often than you probably realize. Luckily, there are ways to prevent accidental plagiarism and even some online tools to help!

Here are some common ways students accidentally plagiarize in their research papers and assignments:

1. Poor Paraphrasing

In the “How to create a paraphrase” section towards the top of this page, we share that paraphrases are “recycled information, in the paper writer’s own words and writing style.” If you attempt to paraphrase a few lines of text and it ends up looking and sounding too close to the original author’s words, it’s a poor paraphrase and considered plagiarism.

2. Incorrect Citations

If you cite something incorrectly, even if it’s done accidentally, it’s plagiarism. Any incorrect information in a reference, such as the wrong author name or the incorrect title, results in plagiarism.

3. Forgetting to include quotation marks

When you include a quote in your paper, you must place quotation marks around it. Failing to do so results in plagiarism.

If you’re worried about accidental plagiarism, try our Citation Machine Plus essay tool. It scans for grammar, but it also checks for any instances of accidental plagiarism. It’s simple and user-friendly, making it a great choice for stress-free paper editing and publishing.

Updated June 15, 2021

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master’s degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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MLA Citation Generator

Free MLA Citation Generator

Generate accurate citations in MLA format automatically, with MyBib!

😕 What is an MLA Citation Generator?

An MLA citation generator is a software tool designed to automatically create academic citations in the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format. The generator will take information such as document titles, author, and URLs as in input, and output fully formatted citations that can be inserted into the Works Cited page of an MLA-compliant academic paper.

The citations on a Works Cited page show the external sources that were used to write the main body of the academic paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an MLA Citation Generator?

MLA style is most often used by middle school and high school students in preparation for transition to college and further education. Ironically, MLA style is not actually used all that often beyond middle and high school, with APA (American Psychological Association) style being the favored style at colleges across the country.

It is also important at this level to learn why it's critical to cite sources, not just how to cite them.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Writing citations manually is time consuming and error prone. Automating this process with a citation generator is easy, straightforward, and gives accurate results. It's also easier to keep citations organized and in the correct order.

The Works Cited page contributes to the overall grade of a paper, so it is important to produce accurately formatted citations that follow the guidelines in the official MLA Handbook .

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's MLA Citation Generator?

It's super easy to create MLA style citations with our MLA Citation Generator. Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form.

The generator will produce a formatted MLA citation that can be copied and pasted directly into your document, or saved to MyBib as part of your overall Works Cited page (which can be downloaded fully later!).

MyBib supports the following for MLA style:

⚙️ Styles	MLA 8 & MLA 9
📚 Sources	Websites, books, journals, newspapers
🔎 Autocite	Yes
📥 Download to	Microsoft Word, Google Docs

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

MLA Citation

Overview of MLA Citations
MLA Core Elements
In-Text Citations
Works Cited Page
MLA Citation Quiz
Resources for MLA Assistance

MLA Resources

Finding citation help in library databases.

When searching library databases, look for a "Cite" button. This feature provides citation formats in various styles, including MLA (though the 9th edition might not be available). While useful for pointing you in the right direction, these generated citations are often inaccurate. Always review and edit them to ensure correctness, especially if MLA 9th edition is required.

Library Search

When using the Quick Search on the Library's homepage , find the quotation mark icon next to a work and select the MLA format.

In library databases, look for a button labeled "Cite" or something similar, and copy the reference provided under MLA style.

Other MLA Citation Guides

If you need additional MLA assistance, consider these resources:

PSC Library Citation Resources
The OWL (Online Writing Lab) from Purdue University

Need Additional Help?

For further assistance, the PCS Library's research specialists can help with:

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Citation example, citation details.

Additional Info

Citations for archives and special collections are different than typical sources like books and articles. Even published books in Special Collections can have unique features that distinguish them from other copies of the same title or edition.

Primary sources can be challenging to cite. When in doubt:

Keep close track of what you find and exactly where it is stored.
Include all the information someone else would need to locate that exact document again in the future.
Be consistent the order you list materials within your notes, works cited or bibliography.

Most style guides (such as APA, Chicago, MLA) give general guidance about citing primary source documents. Follow these as much as possible.

Papers, Contracts, and Reports
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Unpublished Letters
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Explore More: Style Guides & Citations

If you are citing this document, it might look like this:

St. Louis Pan Hellenic Council, New Attitudes in a Changing World, 22 April 1945. Series 6, sub-series 1, Box 1, Folder 2 "Personal Correspondence, 1945." William Sentner Papers, wua00370. Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries, St. Louis.

Finding aid description for location of this document

Generally when citing from an archive, you should try and include the following information:

Item (who created it, and a title or short description)
Item date (when created)
Location within larger collection (series, box, folder)
Collection name and identification code
Repository - the library, archive, or museum (and city if needed to clarify)
AND, if the item is full-text online, add the URL where you accessed it.

Item (creator and title / description)

Sometimes the creator of an item may be the same as the creator of the collection you found it in, but just as often it’s someone else.
If there is no clear title on the document, list the type, format, or brief (few word) description of the item.

Helpful	Less Helpful
Robin Morgan, Annotated planning notes for the Miss America protest	R. Morgan, document
Odessa Massey, Scrapbook with green cover	Massey book
Baseball with African-American woman in US Military uniform	souvenir
Correspondence, Asa Spaulding to Val Washington	Spaulding Letter

Item date created

If it doesn't have a date, make your best guess and indicate this with "circa" or put the date inferred in [brackets].
If you really can't tell, it's okay to say "no date" or "undated."
Check your citation guidelines for the order to list Day, Month, and Year. Always be sure to use a 4-digit year.

Helpful	less helpful
12 July 1979	7/12/79
circa 1980	1980?
[1963 - 1970]	1900s
undated

Location within archive or manuscript collection*

SERIES number (and sometimes sub-series number) if collections lists them. Small collections may not have series.
Box or container number.
Folder number and/or Folder title.
Any further information (section, part, or item number)
Ask archive staff if you have any questions. Labels on boxes or folders may be abbreviated for space.

Correct	Incorrect
Series 3, Sub-series 1, Box 8, Folder 5 "letters"	Box 8 letters
Box 23, Item 1	large box
Series 2, Volume 53, part 2	53

*NOTE: If you are citing a rare book or unusual publication shelved in Special Collections by call number, this step in citation is not needed.

Collection title and identifier*

The full official name of the collection. Check carefully as many are long, and can have only slight differences between collections.
ID (identifier) code typically has letters and numbers. This is unique to each collection
Ask archive staff if you have any questions. Labels on boxes may be abbreviated for space.

Correct	Incorrect
Raymond R. Tucker Smoke Abatement Records, LH-wua00367	Tucker Records
Robert A. Barnes Business Ledgers Collection, LH-wua00447	Barnes Archive
Philip A. Larkin Letters, MS-VMF-vmf095	PAL, vmf95

Some large organizations -- like WashU -- have more than one location, so be specific about department and building.
State or national archives may have many locations, so also give the city to clarify.
Commonly in bibliographies you can list the longer repository name, and then use abbreviations for later citations

Common examples:

Correct	Incorrect
Department of Special Collections, Olin Library, Washington University	WashU Archives
Archives and Rare Books, Becker Medical Library, Washington University	Medical archives
Library and Research Center, Missouri Historical Society	History Museum
State Historical Society of Missouri, St. Louis branch	Historical Society

URL for digitized items*

If you viewed a document, video or image online, also include the full URL where someone else can access it.

Use a perma-link or DOI if provided on the site (rather than longer URL in browser bar).
not always required by style guides, but many professors ask you also include the (date accessed)

Stable Link	less stable
	https://repository.duke.edu/dc/adaccess/TV0567

*Two exceptions:

1. Although finding aids describing the collection are online , when citing archives you would typically not include a link to the finding aid, UNLESS you are quoting from or referencing the provided description. Then your source is not the archival document, but the secondary source describing it.

2. If you were given a digital copy of a document by the archive, but it is not generally available to other researchers online, do not include a URL. State that in the description of your item, such as "digital copy of XYZ, date"

gratefully adapted from based on Duke LIbraries, https://guides.library.duke.edu/CitePrimarySources/Archival

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Communications Department (Lake Worth): Citing Generative AI

Communications (English, Literature, and English)
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Citing Generative AI

Using AI to Maximize Research
Student AI Guidelines
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AI Across the Curriculum

Citing Generative AI in Research Papers: Why It Matters

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard are revolutionizing research by offering assistance with tasks like literature review, data analysis, and even writing. While their benefits are undeniable, proper citation is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and ensuring transparency in research. Here's why college students need to cite generative AI use in their research papers:

Citing AI-generated content allows researchers to demonstrate that their work is original and transparent. It acknowledges the contribution of the AI tool and prevents any misinterpretations of authorship. This is essential for upholding academic integrity and avoiding accusations of plagiarism.

2. Reproducibility and Verification:

Citing AI tools allows other researchers to replicate the research process and verify the results. By providing details about the specific AI tool used, its parameters, and the prompts given, others can build upon the research and ensure its accuracy and reliability.

3. Promoting Responsible AI Development:

Citing AI tools contributes to the responsible development and application of AI in research. It encourages researchers to consider the limitations and biases of AI tools and to evaluate their outputs critically. This feedback loop helps developers improve AI models and ensure they are used ethically and effectively.

4. Fostering Collaboration and Openness:

Citing AI tools promotes collaboration and openness within the academic community. By sharing their experiences with AI, researchers can learn from each other, identify best practices, and develop guidelines for ethical and effective AI use in research.

5. Building Trust and Credibility:

Proper citation demonstrates a commitment to ethical research practices and builds trust with readers. It shows that the researcher is transparent about their methodology and acknowledges the contributions of others, including AI tools. This fosters trust and credibility in the research findings.

Understanding Citation Practices:

While specific citation formats for AI tools are still evolving, students should consult their institution's guidelines and library resources for guidance. Additionally, it's essential to:

Clearly identify the AI tool used.
Provide details about the specific parameters and prompts used.
Distinguish between AI-generated and human-generated content.
Consider including an appendix with the full transcript of the AI interaction or the prompts used.

By following these practices, college students can ensure responsible and ethical use of generative AI in their research while maintaining academic integrity and contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

When should you cite an AI tool like ChatGPT?

Cite a generative AI tool whenever you paraphrase, quote, or incorporate into your own work any content (whether text, image, data, or other) that was created by it.
Acknowledge all functional uses of the tool (like editing your prose or translating words) in a note, your text, or another suitable location.
Take care to vet the secondary sources it cites

Citing Generative AI - MLA Format

Citing Generative AI - MLA Format This document will show you how to cite the use of generative AI in MLA format.

Citing Generative AI - APA Format

Citing Generative AI - APA Format This document will show you how to cite the use of generative AI in APA format.

Large Language Models

A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that is trained on a massive amount of text data. This allows the LLM to learn the patterns and relationships between words and phrases and to generate text that is similar to human-written text. LLMs can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

Generating text: LLMs can be used to generate text that is similar to human-written text, such as news articles, poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, emails, and letters.
Translating languages: LLMs can be used to translate languages by learning the patterns and relationships between words and phrases in different languages.
Writing different kinds of creative content: LLMs can be used to write different kinds of creative content, such as poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, emails, and letters.
Answering your questions in an informative way: LLMs can be used to answer your questions in an informative way, even if they are open-ended, challenging, or strange.

LLMs are still under development, but they have learned to perform many kinds of tasks, including

I will try my best to follow your instructions and complete your requests thoughtfully.
I will use my knowledge to answer your questions in a comprehensive and informative way, even if they are open-ended, challenging, or strange.
I will generate different creative text formats of text content, like poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, emails, letters, etc. I will try my best to fulfill all your requirements.

click on each model to explore

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How to Cite a Podcast in APA and MLA Styles with Examples

Published 22 Aug 2024

Understanding Podcast Citation: Why It Matters

Before diving into how to cite a podcast in APA format and exploring practical examples, it's important to understand the significance of podcast citations. Properly citing a podcast is crucial for accurately referencing sources in your nursing paper or any other academic work. Podcasts, like TedX, are popular among college students because they offer firsthand information from experts through interviews and discussions. Whether you're studying Engineering, Nursing, or Journalism, these sources provide valuable insights. However, since podcasts are considered copyrighted material—whether broadcast live or sourced from archives—it's essential to provide accurate references to avoid copyright infringement and plagiarism. Citing podcasts in APA format can be challenging, so if you're feeling uncertain, using a homework assistance service can help ensure your citations are correctly formatted. Now, let's explore the APA podcast citation guidelines and examples to help you cite sources accurately.

How to Cite Podcasts in APA Style Format

When citing a podcast in APA 7th edition, here are the key guidelines to follow:

Identify the Host: Include the host's name in your citation. If the host's name is not available, use the producer's name instead, followed by either (Host) or (Producer) in parentheses.

Indicate the Airing Status:

If the podcast is ongoing, use the format: (Year - present).
If the podcast is no longer being aired, specify the years it was active, such as: (2010-2018).

Specify the Podcast Type: Indicate the type of podcast in square brackets, for example, [Audio podcast].

Include the URL or Studio Name: If you have a URL for the podcast, include it in your citation. If not, list the studio's name instead.

Citing a Specific Episode from a Larger Podcast:

List the Hosts: Provide the names of the hosts, followed by the word "hosts" in parentheses.

Include the Episode Number: If the episode has a specific number, include it in parentheses after the podcast title. If the episode is unnumbered, you can omit this detail.

Reference the Podcast Title: After specifying the type of podcast, use the word "In" and then provide the full title of the podcast series. For example: In Mechanics for kids .

APA Podcast Citation Examples

Let us review how to reference a podcast both when it is used in-text and then when it is used in Bibliography for your APA style format:

In-text APA Podcast Citation:

When you are dealing with the basic podcast, it should follow this template:

If it is parenthetical citing : (Briges, 2018-present)

Narrative citation : Bridges (2018-present)

Podcast Bibliography Citation:

Here is how to reference a Podcast APA for your Bibliography citation:

When you are citing a Podcast episode for your in-text citation:

Parenthetical citing : (Harold, 2020; King, 2020)

Narrative citing in APA in-text for Podcast : Harold (2020) and King (2020)

To quote a podcast episode in your Bibliography:

How to Cite a Podcast in MLA Format

Citing a podcast in MLA format is crucial for today's learners, as podcasts, including interviews and online discussions, provide valuable primary sources of information. While learning how to cite a podcast in MLA can be challenging, using a homework assistance service can ensure that your citations are properly formatted. Here are the basic rules you need to follow:

Identify the Host or Author: Start by listing the host of the show or the author of the episode, depending on the information you have.

Include the Episode Title and Podcast Name: Provide the title of the episode in quotation marks, followed by the name of the podcast in italics.

Mention the Season and Episode Number: If the podcast is organized by seasons, include the season and episode number in your citation.

Specify the Publisher: Include the name of the publisher or the entity responsible for the podcast.

Add the Date and URL: Conclude with the date of publication and the URL where the podcast can be accessed.

When quoting directly from a podcast, include the relevant timestamp in your in-text citation, like this:

(Johnson and Valenzuela 12:22)

MLA Template

Host Last Name, First Name, host. "Title of The Episode." Podcast Name , season, episode, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.

MLA Works Cited Citation

Strandberg, J.V., and Andrew Holmes, hosts. "Native American Indians Culture." Cultural Explorers Online , episode 22, Natives, 13 June 2014, http://mypodcast.com/URL.

How to cite an entire podcast series

When you are planning to cite the entire podcast series for your assignment in MLA style, it's a bit easier to do. When you specify the date, you must leave the space after the dash. It means that the podcasts are still running! Here is the podcast citation MLA run down:

Host Last Name, First Name, Host. Podcast Name . Publisher, year range, URL.

MLA Works Cited Page

Pickles, Thomas, host. SETIcast , Seti Research Group, 2011- , www.setigroup.com/podcasts/

In-text Citation Example

Citing a podcast from an app

College students often use platforms like iTunes or Spotify to listen to their favorite podcasts and may need to cite them. When accessing podcasts through an app, you might not have access to all the details, such as the publisher, season, or episode number. This situation is similar when citing a podcast in APA style using an app. For MLA podcast citations, the rule is straightforward: if specific information isn’t available, simply omit that part and follow the template and example provided below.

MLA Format Template for App Podcast Citing

Host's Last Name, First Name, host. "Title of Podcast Episode." Podcast Name , App Name app, season number, episode number, Publisher, Day Month Year.

MLA Format Works Cited Page

Kemper, Bruno, host. "Global Citizens." Fashion Weekly , iTunes app, 12 Jan, 2022.

In-text Citation in MLA

(Kemper 17:34)

Identifying the Author

Students frequently inquire about how to correctly label the author when citing a podcast in MLA format, or when citing a TED talk featuring guest speakers. Typically, the author is the host or creator of the podcast. However, you may also need to cite guest speakers, narrators, or even the producer, who may be different individuals. When citing a podcast in MLA, it's important to identify the role of the person you're citing. Depending on the context (refer to the citation examples above), the author could be:

Holmes, Nick, host.

McIntosh Gregor, narrator.

Connor, John, guest.

Stipe, Michael, producer.

You simply add the label after the person’s name, which will help the college professor or your target audience to identify things clearly as they see the relevant roles.

How to cite a podcast MLA in-text?

You must use the last name of the author (if available) or podcast’s name along with the time stamp. For example: (Jones 12:13)

Who is listed as the author of a podcast in MLA?

When you are creating a Works Cited page in MLA format, the manual recommends using the "host" label as you mention the host or the author of the podcast. Depending on the situation, you can use other labels (if relevant) like "narrator", "guest" or a "producer". See by the situation as to who has made the main contribution for the episode.

How do I cite a source with no author?

If your source has no author, use the source title of the podcast. As for your in-text citation, use a shortened title.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

Written by Jamie Wallace

Jamie Wallace, editor and freelance writer, specializes in Philosophy, Literature, and Art. His interdisciplinary background and passion for critical analysis enable him to assist students in crafting compelling and well-researched papers.

The Ultimate Guide to Citing Speeches in APA, MLA, and Chicago

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How to Cite a Brochure in APA Format: Key Rules to Follow

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What is citation?

Citation is the process of giving credit to other people’s words, ideas, and work in an academic context.

Citation shows how your work is part of a scholarly conversation. When you cite another person’s work, you show that you have engaged with other scholars. You also show how your ideas and research build on other people’s work. Citation also allows your reader to fact check your research and learn more from the original source. Citation makes your research path more visible to readers. When your research path is visible, your work is more credible.

Good citation practices help prevent you from plagiarizing. Avoiding plagiarism is important because plagiarizing can result in failing an assignment and even facing disciplinary action from the University. Plagiarism also undermines the authority of your work and prevents you from fully learning from assignments.

Citation Styles

The three most common citation styles are APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago Style. In general, APA is used in the social sciences, MLA is used in the humanities, and Chicago Style is used in history. However, your instructor will tell you what style you should use in your work for class assignments.

Citing in APA

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's APA Guide is a good introduction to APA style and gives examples of APA citations in for many different types of sources.
APA itself also offers an online guide for citation
Consult the official APA Style Manual [CLIO entry]

Citing in MLA

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's MLA Guide is a good introduction to MLA style and gives examples of MLA citations in for many different types of sources.
Consult the official MLA Handbook [CLIO entry]

Citing in Chicago Style

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's Chicago Style Guide is a good introduction to Chicago Style and gives examples of Chicago citations in for many different types of sources.
Consult the official Chicago Manual of Style [CLIO entry]

Citation Management Software: Zotero

Citation management software tools can help keep your sources organized, record the information needed to cite your sources, and automatically generate in-line citations and bibliographies. Tools like this can save you a lot of time! Columbia University Libraries recommends the citation management software Zotero because it is free and open source, and it's relatively easy to use.

Downloading Zotero

Go to zotero.org and follow the download instructions. Be sure to download both the software and the browser extension.

Troubleshooting Zotero

Use Zotero's documentation to get started and troubleshoot any technology issues. If you're having trouble with Zotero when you first install the software, we recommend closing your browser and Zotero and restarting your computer.

If you can't find the help you need, you can browse or ask a question in the Zotero forums .

Zotero Workshops at Columbia Libraries

Check the Columbia University Libraries workshop calendar for upcoming Zotero workshops. The Libraries usually offer Zotero workshops at least every couple of weeks.

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Citing art and architecture papers

Preserving web links, citation managers and more, help with writing papers, your librarian.

The format used for art papers is usually either MLA or Chicago Manual of Style. For examples and explanations, below are some useful resources. For Brown Library books that can be checked out or read online, use this subject heading: "Bibliographical citations ."

Chicago Manual of Style Online Book The full, searchable digital version of this resource.
Chicago Manual of Style Quick Guide Easy to use guide for looking up bibliography and footnote formats.
Chicago Manual of style Examples for Every Format in Art History Created by Duke University Libraries.
Chicago Manual of Style Format from The Owl A comprehensive resource to the Chicago Style from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab.
MLA Format from The OWL A comprehensive resource to the MLA Style from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab.
Citing Images Clear examples for MLA, Chicago, APA from Colgate University Visual Resources Library. Includes examples from various sources and different types of artworks plus architecture.
Citing / Documenting Images From Bates College Library. The basics of image citation using Chicago Manual of Style.
Crediting a Photo Used Online Some helpful tips.
Audiovisual Citation Project British Universities Film & Video Council guidelines for the citation of moving image and sound.

Aerial view of Cuzco, Peru with mountains in background

Cuzco, Peru. Photo by Martin St-Amant via Creative Commons license. Luna Collection.

Perma.cc Perma.CC is a service maintained by the Harvard Law Library. Its purpose is to facilitate sustainable citation of web pages and web documents by archiving an image of a web page and/or web document in the case that one day the site URL is no longer accessible (i.e., link rot). Images are stored and assigned an indentifier and URL for citation in a footnote/references/works cited. Features include the ability to upload a CSV of URLs and the automatic creation of permanent links. Contact [email protected] to request a Brown University Perma.CC account through the University Library, offering users the ability to create an unlimited amount of permanent links.
Wayback Machine Maintained by the non-profit Internet Archive, users can enter a URL in bar labeled 'Save Page Now' (if website allows crawling).

Brown supports several citation managers, including EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero. Please see the page below for descriptions. links, and comparisons of the software.

Citation Management Information on citation, citation management software, plagiarism, copyright, fair use, and creative commons

Your librarian can help you with researching your paper, but what about the actual writing process?

For Brown Library books that can be checked out or read online, use this subject heading:

Art Criticism -- Authorship .

Research Support This guide discusses some of the basics of doing college level research, including tips for evaluating sources and a glossary of terms with examples. It also offers tutorials, a library orientation, and much more.
Writing About Art A guide to writing art history papers, by Marjorie Munsterberg, Ph.D., former Professor at City College of New York and other schools.
Developing a Thesis for a Research Paper This very helpful guide from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center discusses the art of crafting a thesis.
Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning (Writing Center) Writing Center associates assist students with all stages of the writing process, from finding a topic through drafting, revising, and final editing.
How to Write a Research Enquiry to a Museum Written by Mark Carnall, curator at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim via Creative Commons license. Luna Collection.

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MLA Formatting and Style Guide
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 (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics
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 (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
PDF Formatting a Research Paper
Do not use a period after your title or after any heading in the paper (e.g., Works Cited). Begin your text on a new, double-spaced line after the title, indenting the first line of the paragraph half an inch from the left margin. Fig. 1. The top of the first page of a research paper.
General Format
Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another.
MLA Format
Cite your MLA source. Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document: Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman. Set 1 inch page margins. Use double line spacing. Include a ½" indent for new paragraphs. Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page. Center the paper's title.
How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA
MLA in-text citation. (Eve and Street 84) If an article has three or more authors, include only the first author's name, followed by " et al. ". MLA journal citation: 3+ authors. MLA format. Author last name, First name, et al. " Article Title .". Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year, Page range. DOI or URL.
Using MLA Format
Get started with MLA style. Learn how to document sources, set up your paper, and improve your teaching and writing. Document Sources Works Cited Quick Guide Learn how to use the MLA format template. Digital Citation Tool Build citations with our interactive template. In-Text Citations Get help with in-text citations. Endnotes and Footnotes Read our …
MLA Style Center
MLA Style Center, the only authorized Web site on MLA style, provides free resources on research, writing, and documentation. ... About MLA Handbook Plus; Formatting Your Research Project; Interactive Practice Template; MLA Handbook, 9th Edition; Ask the MLA; Sample Essays: Writing with MLA Style; Using MLA Format; ... Cite a playlist by ...
MLA In-text Citations
Revised on March 5, 2024. An MLA in-text citation provides the author's last name and a page number in parentheses. If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than two authors, name only the first author, followed by " et al. ". If the part you're citing spans multiple pages, include the full page range.
Research Guides: Citing Your Sources: MLA
About MLA. Developed by the Modern Language Association, this style is most widely used for research papers in the humanities. Citing sources in this style consists of two parts: In-text citations. A works-cited list. See How to Format Works-Cited List and How to Format In-Text Citations . The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook asks writers to ...
Research Guides: MLA Citation Guide: Paper Format
2. an In-Text citation. 1. Works Cited Citations. Works Cited citations provide details about sources used for your research project. Your Works Cited list goes at the end of your project or paper and includes information about each source that must be in a specific order. MLA calls this information Core Elements.
MLA
Summary of the MLA guidelines. MLA Formatting and Style Guide based on 9th Edition. All-round best guide to formatting papers and citations in MLA. Also includes many tutorials on how to research and write papers. Excelsior College Online Writing Lab. All-round best guide to formatting papers and citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Format Your Paper & Cite Your Sources
For example, If your research paper ends on page 8, your Works Cited begins on page 9. Arrangement: Alphabetize entries by author's last name. If source has no named author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring A, An, or The. Spacing: Like the rest of the MLA paper, the Works Cited list is double-spaced throughout. Be sure NOT to add extra spaces ...
Research, Citation, & Class Guides: MLA Style: Format Your Paper
Paper Size, Margins, & Page Numbers. Use letter-sized (8.5 x 11 inch) paper. 1-inch margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Indent first line of each paragraph 1/2 inch from left margin.
MLA Style
Step 1: Create a Works Cited page. Include a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. It should contain a full citation for each source referenced within your paper. The full citation should include the specific publication information required by the MLA rules. This allows your reader to find the sources, if desired.
Paper & bibliography format
MLA is pretty easy to format if you can remember a few rules: Don't use a cover sheet. The first sheet of your paper is the first page of your essay. Number your pages with your last name and the page number in the upper-right-hand corner (see below) Use 1" margins all around; Center your title
Overview
When to cite. Citations are a necessary component of a research paper. Scenarios that need a citation: Direct quotations; Original ideas or arguments; Statistics or original research; Opinions or claims made by others; Images or artwork; Data/datasets; You do NOT need to cite:
MLA Sample Paper
This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. This resource contains a sample MLA paper that adheres to the 2016 updates. To download the MLA sample paper, click this link.
MLA Citation Guide (9th edition) : Works Cited and Sample Papers
Begin the works cited list on a new page after the text. Name it "Works Cited," and center the section label in bold at the top of the page. Order the reference list alphabetically by author's last name. Double-space the entire list (both within and between entries). Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 in. to each entry.
Free MLA Citation Generator and Format|Citation Machine
To cite one of the songs on Pink Floyd's album in MLA formatting, cite it as: %%Pink Floyd. "Another Brick in the Wall (Part I)." The Wall ... According to the Modern Language Association's official guidelines for formatting a research paper, it is unnecessary to create or include an individual title page, or MLA cover page, at the ...
PDF Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation
Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation MLA documentation and formatting style is often used in the humanities (except history and theology) and the fine arts. This handout provides some of the key rules, but for additional help, use the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (9th edition), visit the Purdue OWL
Free MLA Citation Generator [Updated for 2024]
Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form. The generator will produce a formatted MLA ...
Research Guides: MLA Citation: Resources for MLA Assistance
When using the Quick Search on the Library's homepage, find the quotation mark icon next to a work and select the MLA format. Databases. In library databases, look for a button labeled "Cite" or something similar, and copy the reference provided under MLA style. Other MLA Citation Guides. If you need additional MLA assistance, consider these ...
Formatting Your Research Project
Formatting Your Research Project. To learn how to set up your research project in MLA format, visit our free sample chapter on MLA Handbook Plus , the only authorized subscription-based digital resource featuring the MLA Handbook, available for unlimited simultaneous users at subscribing institutions. Be the first to read new posts and updates ...
How to cite primary sources
Most style guides (such as APA, Chicago, MLA) give general guidance about citing primary source documents. Follow these as much as possible. Chicago Manual: See Chapter 14 sections for Papers, Contracts, and Reports; Manuscript Collections ; Special Types of References; MLA: See Citation examples for Visual Art; Unpublished Letters; Unpublished ...
Communications Department (Lake Worth): Citing Generative AI
Here's why college students need to cite generative AI use in their research papers: 1. Academic Integrity and Transparency: Citing AI-generated content allows researchers to demonstrate that their work is original and transparent. It acknowledges the contribution of the AI tool and prevents any misinterpretations of authorship.
Writing & Citation Management
MLA Citation Examples (University of Maryland University College) MLA Format Papers: Step-by-step Instructions for Writing Research papers in MLA Style (Seton Hill) << Previous: Latin American Images & Sound; Next: Plagiarism, Research and Writing >> Last Updated: Aug 20, 2024 1:16 PM;
How to Cite a Podcast in APA and MLA Styles with Examples
Students frequently inquire about how to correctly label the author when citing a podcast in MLA format, or when citing a TED talk featuring guest speakers. Typically, the author is the host or creator of the podcast. However, you may also need to cite guest speakers, narrators, or even the producer, who may be different individuals.
Research Guides: Sports Management: Citation Management
Citation makes your research path more visible to readers. When your research path is visible, your work is more credible. ... MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago Style. In general, APA is used in the social sciences, MLA is used in the humanities, and Chicago Style is used in history. However, your instructor will tell you what ...
Citing & Writing
The format used for art papers is usually either MLA or Chicago Manual of Style. For examples and explanations, below are some useful resources. For Brown Library books that can be checked out or read online, use this subject heading: "Bibliographical citations."

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MLA In-text Citations | A Complete Guide (9th Edition)

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Table of contents

Combining citations

Consecutive citations of the same source

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Multiple sources by the same author

Different authors with the same last name

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Shona McCombes

Citing Your Sources: MLA

How to Format In-Text Citations

Standard Formatting of the In-Text Citation

How to Format the Works-Cited List

Core Elements

Title of Source.

Title of Container ,

Other Contributors,

Publication Date,

Formatting and Ordering the Works-Cited List

How do I deal with ___?

More than one author

Using a source quoted in a secondary source

Examples: Books, Chapters

Edited Book

Translated Book

Chapter or Essay in Book

Introduction, Preface, Foreword, Afterword

Examples: Articles

Magazine Article

Newspaper Article

Examples: Web, Blogs, Social Media

Blog Comment

Social Media

Examples: Music, Film, TV, Images

Music Recording

Online Video

Examples: Government Documents

Examples: Unpublished/Archival

Manuscript/Archival

Need More Info?

What Needs to be Cited?

MLA Citation Guide

What Is Required for MLA Citation?

Two Types of Citations Needed

MLA Format Examples

Citing Sources (Citation Style)

MLA - Modern Language Association

Excelsior College Online Writing Lab

Format Your Paper & Cite Your Sources

MLA Citation Style Video

What is MLA Style?

Use Word to Format Your Paper:

Use Google Docs to Format Your Paper:

Sample MLA Papers:

Citation Examples and Template:

Citation Examples by Format:

What Are In-Text Citations?

What To Include in an In-Text Citation

Detailed Rules

To learn more about annotated bibliographies click on the link below from Purdue OWL

Annotated Bibliography Template

Use NoodleTools to help you create your citations .

NoodleTools Help:

Format Your Paper

Order of Sections

Paper Size, Margins, & Page Numbers

Text Format

Heading & Title

Tables, Figures, & Illustrations

Quotations (p. 75-76, 81*)

Works Cited List (p. 102*)

Annotated Bibliography

Citation Styles

MLA Style: Overview

Modern Language Association Style, 9th Edition

When to cite