MLA format citation guide
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MLA format citation guide
MLA is an acronym for the Modern Language Association, which focuses on literature and language. Based on your research or class’s subject area, your professor may ask you to cite your sources in MLA style. It is a specific way of citing following the MLA guidelines. MLA format is usually used for liberal arts, language, literature and other humanities subjects. It is simple to recognize and understand the types of sources used for a project when everyone documents their papers in the same way.
Readers will look at the sources used to understand them and also explore them. It is essential to give credit to the original author if you borrow information from a source and place it in your assignment or research. The MLA handbook explains how to create MLA citations. Citing sources in MLA format not only lends credibility to your work but also allows readers to locate and verify the information you have used. The MLA format follows a consistent structure and includes important elements such as author name(s), title of the source, title of the container, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location.
In this guide, we will cover how to cite different types of sources, including books, articles, websites, and films, and provide examples for each. We will also explore the nuances of citing sources with multiple authors, sources without a known author, and sources accessed online.
What is MLA format?
MLA encourages the use of URLs and DOIs to citations. DOI is used if available instead of using URL. Social media usernames and pseudonyms can replace the real name of the author. Issue numbers and volume are abbreviated as ‘no’ and ‘vol.’ Cities of publication and source’s medium like Web and print are no longer included in citations. For publishers/ academic presses, the words’ press’ or ‘university’ are shortened to p and u, respectively.
Bibliography vs. works cited – what is the difference?
The terms “Bibliography” and “Works Cited” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. A bibliography is a compilation of recommended sources for further reading, while a works-cited list includes the sources cited within the author’s writing. If you want to provide book and website recommendations to your reader, you can create a bibliography in MLA format. This involves compiling a list of full citations and labeling the page as “Bibliography.” If you use quotes or paraphrases in your writing, it is important to create in-text citations and place them within the body of your work. Additionally, you should create a separate list of full citations and place it at the end of your project, labeling the page as “Works Cited.”
The great thing is that both MLA bibliography format and regular works-cited lists follow the same structure for references.
Core components
Citations in MLA format may differ by their form depending on the type of the source and its specific characteristics.
Author’s name
- The surname should be put first, separated by a comma, and then the first name and any initials listed.
- You can start with the source’s title or use the organization’s name responsible if the author is unknown.
- When citing a source with two authors, put the first author’s name in the inverted form and the other in regular form.
- For three or more authors, put the first author’s name in the inverted form followed by ‘et al’.
- Instead of real names, you are allowed to mention pseudonyms or online usernames.
- Names of editors or translators can also be included here, but the names should be followed by relevant titles – ‘translator’ or ‘editor.’
Title of the source
- When the source is part of a short work, for instance, an article, the title should be in quotation marks.
- Larger works like television shows, books, and websites should be italicized.
- If the title of the source is unknown, replace it in your citation with a brief description, not italicized and without quotation marks.
Title of container
- Can include multiple container titles when necessary
- Italicized
Contributors
- Specify the role of each contributor before the name of each
- List only the most relevant contributors to your work
Version
- It refers to a certain edition, revision of the source, or version
- This section should be in lowercase
Numbers
Refers to the sources that appear in a sequence, for example, TV episodes or seasons, volumes, and issues.
Publisher
If there are various publishers, they all need to be listed in the citation, and a slash separates them.
Publication date
- The information you provide here depends on the type of source
- If there is more than one date of publication, you only need to cite the date of the one you have used
- It is appropriate to cite a date range in certain cases.
Location
Based on the type of source used, location can stand for:
- Online source – URL
- Printed source – page numbers
- Object – place it is held
- DVD – disk number
- Performance – city or venue
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MLA referencing: in-text citations
In-text citation refers to the use of direct quote or paraphrase of information taken from another source in the body of the text. They are used to add value to your work and support your ideas.
To ensure that an MLA in-text citation corresponds to its relevant reference from the works cited page, there are a few key guidelines to follow.
- First, every citation should include the author’s last name and the page or range of pages where the specific quote or information is found in the source.
- The author’s name can be integrated into the sentence or placed directly after the quote in parentheses.
- The page number or numbers should always be included in parentheses after the quote, either alone or following the author’s last name.
Adhering to these guidelines can create accurate and adequately formatted MLA in-text citations.
More than one author
You can list all the names when there are 2 to 3 authors, followed by the page number in parentheses. When the authors are more than three, only list the last name of the first one followed by ‘et al.’
No author
If the author is not known, make the entire title in italics, put the webpage or the article in quotation marks, or the shortened title within quotation marks instead of stating his last name in parentheses.
How to cite different source types
Although the works cited page of the MLA format might have distinguished entries depending on the type of source used, in-text citations mostly look similar. The challenging part is when the author is unknown or the cited source is not printed. The following is a guide on how to cite sources in MLA based on their type.
How to cite books in MLA format
General rules
- Name of the author – When there are two authors, only the name of the first author needs to be inverted. The next should be introduced by the word ‘and’ and written in standard form. For more than three authors, you only need to indicate the first one and put ‘et al’ after it.
- Title – except for small words, all words should begin with capitalized letters, and the entire title must be italicized.
- Title of containers, versions, contributors, and numbers are optional elements. If the information is relevant and valuable to the reader, this information should be provided.
The standard MLA book citation format is as follows:
Last name of the author, first name. Title. Title of container, contributors, version, numbers, publisher, year of publication.
How to cite edited and translated books in MLA format
If you refer to a book that was translated or edited, there are two ways to indicate this while citing:
- If your work primarily revolves around translation or editing, you can list the translator or editor in the author’s name section and indicate their role.
- Include the names of the translators or editors in the contributors’ section of the citation. This approach allows you to acknowledge and give credit to the individuals who played a significant role in the translation or editing process.
How to cite E-books in MLA format
You should use the standard format for book citations and specify the e-book identity in the version section to cite an e-book.
How to cite articles in MLA format
Things to keep in mind:
- The article’s title should be placed in quotation marks and does not need to be italicized.
- The name of the publication where the article was published should be italicized and referred to as the “title of the container.”
- The “version” section refers to different editions or variations within each section of the publication.
- The “numbers” section is used to specify the issue number or volume number of the publication.
- For newspapers and magazines, the date of publication should include the day, month, and year. For journals, only the season and year are necessary (e.g., June 2018).
- The location section is dedicated to indicating the article’s page number(s).
- If the article is accessed online, the citation should include the title of the database, DOI, or URL.
How to cite non-print material
Although most of your references will probably be printed sources like articles books, among others, you may also need to cite non-print materials.
Image in MLA format
The following is the standard structure to follow:
Last name of the author, other names. ‘Title of image’. Website Title, contributors, reproduction, number, date, URL.
Film in MLA format
Follow the following structure when citing a film in the MLA format.
Name of director, director. ‘Film’s title’. Contributions, Distributor, year of release. Medium
In the case where your work focuses more on the film instead of the director, you can swap the title and name of director:
‘Title of film’. Directed by director name, contributions, distributor, year of release. Medium
Although it is not necessary to mention medium in MLA 8, you are allowed to mention it is useful information to the reader. Replace the medium with its relevant URL if the film is taken from the Web. Studygroom provides the highest quality essay writing services and works towards the success of students. Whenever you are in need of academic help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We will quickly help with all my paper requests and meet all your expectations.
TV series in MLA format
The following is the structure to use in this case:
‘Episode title’. The program title was created by name, contributors, season number, and episode number. Network, year of publication.
Music in MLA format
Standard structure:
Name(s) of the author. ‘Title of the track’. Title of the album, other contributors, version, record label, year of publication
How to cite a web page in MLA format
Standard structure:
Last name of the author, organization title, or first name. ‘Title of page/document.’ Title of overall webpage, date, URL.
Understanding and implementing proper MLA format citations is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. By following the guidelines outlined in this blog post, you can confidently cite your sources and give credit to the original authors, enhancing the validity and overall quality of your research. Remember to include all the necessary elements in your citations, including author names, titles of sources, container titles, publication information, and page numbers. Pay attention to any special considerations, such as sources with multiple authors or sources accessed online.
Following the MLA format citation guidelines demonstrates your commitment to academic integrity and responsible research practices. Accurate citations not only enhance the quality of your paper but also give credit to the original authors whose work you have referenced. Leave us a ‘do my homework’ message if you need help with homework, and we will help you as soon as possible.