MLA Citation Style
MLA Citation Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) establishes values for acknowledging sources
used in a research paper. MLA citation style uses a simple two-part parenthetical
documentation system for citing sources: Citations in the text of a paper point to the
alphabetical Works Cited list that appears at the end of the paper. Together, these references
identify and credit the sources used in the paper and allow others to access and retrieve this
material.
Note: A parenthetical reference to a familiar historical document -- i.e., the United States
Constitution -- no longer requires a corresponding entry in the Works Cited list.
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Give only the information needed to identify a source. Usually the author's last
name and a page reference suffice.
Place the parenthetical reference as close as possible to its source. Insert the
parenthetical reference where a pause would naturally occur, preferably at the end
of a sentence.
The parenthetical reference should precede the punctuation mark that concludes the
sentence, clause, or phrase that contains the cited material.
Electronic and online sources are cited just like print resources in parenthetical
references. If an online source lacks page numbers, omit numbers from the
parenthetical references. If an online source includes fixed page numbers or section
numbering, such as numbering of paragraphs, cite the relevant numbers.
Examples:
Author's name in text
21).
Author's name in reference
This hypothesis
(Bradley and Rogers
7) suggested this
theory (Sumner,
Reichl, and Waugh
23).
Two locations
Williams alludes to
this premise (136-39,
145).
Multivolume works
References to volumes and pages
(Wilson 2:1-18)
(Henderson, vol. 3)
In volume 3,
Henderson suggests
Corporate authors
(United Nations,
Economic Commission
for Africa 51-63)
as stated by the
presidential
commission
(Report 4).
For more detailed information about citing references in the text, please refer to the
MLA resources listed below.
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References cited in the text of a research paper must appear at the end of the paper in a
Works Cited list or bibliography. This list provides the information necessary to identify
and retrieve each source that specifically supports your research.
Capitalize the first word and all other principal words of the titles and subtitles of
cited works listed. (Do not capitalize articles, prepositions, coordinating
conjunctions, or the "to" in infinitives.)
Shorten the publisher's name; for example, omit articles, business abbreviations
(Co., Inc.), and descriptive words (Press, Publisher).
When multiple publishers are listed, include all of them, placing a semicolon
between each.
When more than one city is listed for the same publisher, use only the first city.
Use the conjunction "and," not an ampersand [&], when listing multiple authors of a
single work.
Indentation: Align the first line of the entry flush with the left margin, and indent
all subsequent lines (5 to 7 spaces) to form a "hanging indent."
Italics: Choose a font in which the italic style contrasts clearly with the regular
style.
Examples
Books:
References to an entire book should include the following elements:
author(s) or editor(s)
edition, if indicated
place of publication
date of publication
medium of publication
Basic Format
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of
Publication. Medium of Publication.
One author:
Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. New York: Putnam, 1955. Print.
Two authors:
Cross, Susan, and Christine Hoffman. Bruce Nauman: Theaters of
Experience. New York: Guggenheim Museum; London: Thames & Hudson,
2004. Print.
Three authors:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg, and Steve Jackson. Analyzing American
Government: American Government, Freedom and Power. 3rd ed. New
York: Norton, 1994. Print.
Corporate author:
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. A Guide to the Herbert F. Johnson
Museum of Art, Cornell University. Ithaca: Cornell U, 1973. Print.
Multivolume work:
No author or editor:
Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study. 33rd ed. Princeton, NJ:
Peterson's, 1999. Print.
book title
place of publication
date of publication
medium of publication
Article in a book:
Ahmedi, Fauzia Erfan. "Welcoming Courtyards: Hospitality, Spirituality,
and Gender."Feminism and Hospitality: Gender in the Host/Guest
Relationship. Ed. Maurice Hamington. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2010.
109-24. Print.
Reprinted article:
Encyclopedia entry:
Mercuri, Becky. "Cookies." The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in
America. Ed. Andrew F. Smith. Vol. 1. 2004. Print.
medium of publication
Issue numbers should be stated as decimals to a given volume number. In the example below, the
number
25.4 reads as Volume 25, issue 4. When citing newspapers, it is important to specify the edition
used (e.g. late ed.) because different editions of a newspaper may contain different material.
Journal article, one author:
Matarrita-Cascante, David. "Beyond Growth: Reaching Tourism-Led
Development." Annals of Tourism Research 37.4 (2010): 1141-63.
Print.
Magazine article:
Kaplan, David A. "Corporate Americas No. 1 Gun For Hire." Fortune 1 Nov.
2010: 81-95. Print.
Government Documents:
References to government documents vary in their required elements. In general, if you do
not know the writer of the document, cite the government agency that issued the document
as author.
State document:
New York State. Commission on Capital Punishment. Report of the
Commission to Investigate and Report the Most Humane and Practical
Method of Carrying Into Effect the Sentence of Death in Capital
Cases. Albany: Troy, 1888. Print.
Federal document:
United States. Cong. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. The
Future of the Independent Counsel Act. Hearings 106th Cong., 1st
sess. Washington: GPO, 1999. Print.
International document:
United Nations. General Assembly. Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women. New York: United Nations,
1979. Print.
Audio Visual
Film or video recording:
Annie Hall. Dir. Woody Allen. 1977. Videocassette. MGM/UA Home Video,
1991.
Sound recording:
Counting Crows. August and Everything After. DGC, 1993. CD.
CD-ROM
Citations should include the medium of the electronic publication (CD-ROM), the name of
the vendor that made the material available on CD-ROM, and publications dates for the
version used, if relevant.
"Marriage." Encyclopedia Judaica. CD-ROM. Vers. 1.0. Jerusalem: Judaica
Multimedia, 1997.
For more detailed information about Works Cited references, please refer to the MLA
resources listed below.
The examples of MLA style and format listed on this page include many of the most
common types of sources used in academic research. For additional examples and more
detailed information about MLA citation style, refer to the following resources:
MLA Hanbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language
Association of America, 2009. Print.
This book is designed for high school and undergraduate students. You can find it at the
following locations:
Olin Library Reference LB2369 .G53 2009