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In MLA style, two citations are used to cite a source: a short citation used in the text (called the in-text citation) and a full citation (called the works-cited-list entry) in the works-cited list, which appears at the end of a paper.
What is an MLA works cited?
Every source cited using an in-text citation also has a corresponding works-cited entry in the list. The works-cited entry provides additional information about the cited source, enough information so the reader can find the source if needed. This usually includes additional information like the publication date, who published the source, and the location of the source (e.g., URL, DOI number, etc.).
Basic formatting
Placement
The works-cited list appears at the end of the paper after any endnotes, if they are present.
Page margins
All margins (top, bottom, left, and right) should be set at 1 inch.
Running head
Write the running head in the top right of the page at 0.5 inch from the top. Use the running head “Surname Page #.”
Font
The font should be clear enough to read. Use Times New Roman font sized at 12 points.
Formatting entries
Entries should be double-spaced. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent lines 0.5 inch from the left margin.
Formatting the title
The title should be “Works Cited.” It should be aligned to the center of the page. Do not bold, italicize, or underline the title. If you cite only one source in the list, the title should be “Work Cited.”
Formatting works cited
Works-cited-list entries are arranged alphabetically. Entries should be double-spaced. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent lines 0.5 inch from the left margin.
Examples of works-cited-list entries
Below are a few examples of different types of works-cited-list entries along with their templates. The examples given are for one author.
Book
The title of the book is given in italics and title case.
Template:
Surname, First name Middle initial. Title of the Book. Publisher, Publication Date. Page range.
Example:
Fienup-Riordan, Ann. Boundaries and Passages: Rule and Ritual in Yup’ik Eskimo Oral Tradition. UP of Oklahoma, 1995.
Journal article
The title of the article is in title case and given inside the quotation marks. The journal title is in italics. Include “vol.” before the volume number and “no.” before the issue number. Use “pp.’’ before the page range.
Template:
Surname, First name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page range.
Example:
MacDonald, Shauna M. “Performance as Critical Posthuman Pedagogy.” Text and Performance Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 2, 2014, pp. 164–81.
Webpage of a website
The webpage title is in plain text, while the website name is given in italics. Follow the format given in the template and example for writing the date, month, year, and URL.
Template:
Author or Organization Name. “Title of the Webpage.” Website Name. Publication Date, URL.
Example:
Carbert, Michelle. “Canada Will Not Move Embassy to Jerusalem, Federal Government Says.” The Globe and Mail. 7 Sept. 2017, www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-will-not-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-federal-government-says/article37219576/.
YouTube video
The video title is given in title case and inside quotation marks. This is followed by the word “YouTube.” Then the uploader’s name is given in the first name-surname format followed by the uploaded date. Finally, the URL is given.
Template:
“Title of the Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Uploader’s Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
“Covid: Leaks, Lies and Incompetence.” YouTube, uploaded by Russel. Brand, 29 May 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dArz2OPsGSU.
Works cited entries for different numbers of authors
The number of authors in the source decides how the author name(s) will be added to the works-cited list. Here, you will see many journal references with different numbers of authors.
One author
List the author name in surname-first name order.
Template:
Surname, First name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page range.
Example:
MacGill, Belinda. “Craft, Relational Aesthetics, and Ethics of Care.” Art/Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, vol. 4, no. 1, 2019, pp. 426–29.
Two authors
The first author’s name is styled in surname-first name order, whereas the second author’s name is styled in first name-surname order. The authors’ names are separated by “and.”
Template:
Author Surname, First name. Middle initial., and First name Surname. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page range.
Example:
Gingrich-Philbrook, Craig, and Jake Simmons. “Reprogramming the Stage: A Heuristic for Posthuman Performance.” Text and Performance Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 4, 2015, pp. 323–44.
More than two authors
List only the first author’s name in the surname-first name order followed by a comma. Then, use “et al.”
Template:
Author Surname, First name, et al. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page range.
Example:
Meints, Samanta M., et al. “Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Experience and Treatment of Noncancer Pain.” Pain Management, vol. 9, no. 3, 2019, pp. 317–34.
Arranging works-cited list
Follow the below guidelines for arranging the entries in the works-cited list.
Entries are arranged in alphabetical order according to the surname of the first author.
If there is no author, then the title is considered for alphabetical arrangement.
For entries beginning with a title, only the main words are considered for alphabetical arrangement (e.g., exclude “A,” “An,” and “The”).
Accented characters are considered normal characters (e.g., “á” should be considered as “a”). However, “ä” should be considered “ae”)
Space between words is ignored while arranging the entries alphabetically.
Works by different numbers of authors
Works by one author
If there are two or more works by the same author, add the author’s name only for the first entry. Use three em dashes followed by a period in subsequent entries.
Dumond, Don E. “The Artic Small Tool Tradition in Southern Alaska.” Alaskan Journal of Anthropology, vol. 3, no. 2, 2005, pp. 67–78.
———. “A Reexamination of Eskimo-Aleut Prehistory.” American Anthropologist, vol. 89, 1987, pp. 32–56.
Works by two authors
If there are two or more works by the same first author but different second authors, arrange the entry according to the surname of the second author.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann, and Melia Knecht. “Irr’inarqellriit /Amazing Things: Quinhagak Elders Reflect on Their Past.” Alaskan Journal of Anthropology, vol. 13, no. 2, 2015, pp. 36–39.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann, and Alice Rearden. Ellavut, Our Yup’ik World & Weather: Continuity and Change on the Bering Sea Coast. Washington UP, 2012.
If there are two or more works by the same two authors, add the names only for the first entry. Use three em dashes followed by a period in subsequent entries.
Works by a single author and the same author with a coauthor
If there are multiple works, a few by a single author and others by the same first author with other coauthors, arrange the single author works first using three em dashes in place of the author’s name. Then arrange entries with the same first author and other coauthors according to the surname of the second author. Do not use three em dashes here, as the author is not exactly the same. The below examples will help you arrange your works-cited list entries alphabetically.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann. Hunting Tradition in a Changing World: Yup’ik Lives in Alaska Today. Rutgers UP, 2000.
———. Yup’ik Elders at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin: Fieldwork Turned on Its Head. Washington UP, 2005.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann, and Alice Rearden. Ellavut, Our Yup’ik World & Weather: Continuity and Change on the Bering Sea Coast. Washington UP, 2012.
———. Wise Words of the Yup’ik People: We Talk to You Because We Love You. Washington UP, 2018.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann, et al. Yup’ik words of wisdom=Yupiit qanruyutait. Washington UP, 2018.
Works by titles
Arrange entries by title only when
There is no author name
There are more works by the same single author
There are more works by the same first author and same coauthor
There are more works by the same first author followed by et al.
Example works cited
“Covid: Leaks, Lies and Incompetence.” YouTube, uploaded by Russell. Brand, 29 May 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dArz2OPsGSU.
Fienup-Riordan, Ann. Boundaries and Passages: Rule and Ritual in Yup’ik Eskimo Oral Tradition. UP of Oklahoma, 1995.
MacDonald, Shauna M. “Performance as Critical Posthuman Pedagogy.” Text and Performance Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 2, 2014, pp. 164–81.
Carbert, Michelle. “Canada Will Not Move Embassy to Jerusalem, Federal Government Says.” The Globe and Mail. 7 Sept. 2017, www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-will-not-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-federal-government-says/article37219576/.
Resource Types
For additional information on MLA format, select from one of the resource types below. For help creating MLA citations, check out the BibMe MLAcitation generator.
- How to cite a Book in MLA
- How to cite a Magazine in MLA
- How to cite a Newspaper in MLA
- How to cite a Website in MLA
- How to cite a Journal Article in MLA
- How to cite a Movie in MLA
- How to cite an Interview in MLA
- How to cite a Lecture in MLA
- How to cite a TV Show / Radio Broadcast in MLA
- How to cite an Encyclopedia in MLA
- How to cite a Photograph in MLA
MLA Format:
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FAQs
What are 3 rules to a work cited page? ›
Basic rules
Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page. Only the title should be centered. The citation entries themselves should be aligned with the left margin.
- Running head containing your surname and the page number.
- The title, Works Cited, centered and in plain text.
- List of sources alphabetized by the author's surname.
- Left-aligned.
- Double-spaced.
- 1-inch margins.
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
How do you properly cite MLA? ›MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
What should an in-text MLA citation look like? ›In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8). If the author's name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the works cited list, such as quotation marks.
How do you cite sources in MLA format? ›- Author last name, author first name (if applicable)
- Title of article (in quotation marks)
- Name of newspaper (italicized), city of publication if needed, such as local, less-known newspapers (square brackets, not italicized)
- Other Contributors.
- Version or Edition.
- Issue Number.
- Publication Date.
An in-text citation is an acknowledgement you include in your text whenever you quote or paraphrase a source. It usually gives the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number of the relevant text.
What information do you have to include in your MLA website citations? ›Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Work.” Title of Site, Sponsor or Publisher [include only if different from website title or author], Date of Publication or Update Date, URL. Accessed Date [only if no date of publication or update date].
How many in-text citations per paragraph? ›How many in-text citations should I have? A good rule to follow, is to have about two sources per paragraph. This means that each source will be cited more than once throughout your paper.
What are the 4 requirements for MLA format? ›- Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
- Set 1 inch page margins.
- Apply double line spacing.
- Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page.
- Center the paper's title.
- Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.
How should MLA 9 citations look? ›
Format. Works Cited List: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title." Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title, Publication Information [volume, issue/number, year, pages]. Name of Database, DOI, Permalink or shortened URL for article in the database.
What are the 4 parts of MLA format? ›An MLA paper has a standard look for every page including 1-inch margins, a readable font, a running header including your last name and page number, and author-page in-text citations.
Do I need to cite if I paraphrase? ›It is useful to paraphrase when your reader needs to understand or be exposed to the argument of another author in order to understand your argument. Paraphrasing ALWAYS requires a citation. Even if you are using your own words, the idea still belongs to someone else.
Can you get in trouble for not citing sources? ›When you use the work of others and do not cite the source, you are committing a form of academic dishonesty, even if the assignment is not graded. UNC does not treat the offense of plagiarism lightly; if a violation occurs, the punishment may include one semester of suspension and a failing grade in the class.
What should not be included on a works cited page? ›It is not necessary to include sources that you consulted but did not directly reference in the works cited list – it should only include the sources you directly quoted or paraphrased. Each in-text citation should therefore have a corresponding entry in the works cited list.
What are four 4 things that could be should be included in a citation no matter the source? ›While you are doing research and locating sources, be sure to document materials thoroughly, noting the author, title, publisher, place of publication, date, and page numbers of all sources used.
What is inaccurate citation? ›Inaccurate citations are erroneous quotations or instances of paraphrasing of previously published material that mislead readers about the claims of the cited source.
What is a wrong MLA citation? ›Incorrectly used capitalization for author names, the titles of books, the title of journals, and/or the title of articles. NEVER use all capitalized letters for anything in a citation (unless it's an acronym that was used in an article- or book-title, such as "U.S.A.").
Do you have to cite each sentence in MLA? ›The MLA Style Center
No. The citation should appear only after the final sentence of the paraphrase. If, however, it will be unclear to your reader where your source's idea begins, include the author of the source in your prose rather than in a parenthetical citation.
The basic form is for this sort of citation is as follows: Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page range of entry.
What is MLA format for an essay? ›
The basic characteristics of an MLA document include double-spaced lines throughout the essay with paragraphs indented half an inch, size 12 Times New Roman font, and a double-spaced Works Cited page with a hanging indent.
Do MLA in-text citations go at the end of the sentence? ›In MLA, an in-text citation should include the author's last name and the page number of the material that you quote or reference. It will usually be in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
How do you do in-text citations for MLA in word? ›Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations. From the list of citations under Insert Citation, select the citation you want to use.
How do you in-text cite an online article in MLA? ›An MLA website citation includes the author's name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date, and the URL (without “https://”). If the author is unknown, start with the title of the page instead.
How do you cite sources in an essay? ›When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, for example, (Jones, 1998), and a complete reference should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
What are the five important information needed when writing a citation? ›Answer. Generally, a citation will include: the name of the book, article, or other resource; the name of its author; information (if applicable) about the journal it came from; the date it was published; and when it was accessed if it was read online.
What are the 3 main parts needed for an in text citation? ›An in-text citation in APA style requires 2-3 parts. The first is the name of the author(s), the second is the year of publication, and the third (required only if directly quoting) is a locator--often a page, page range, or paragraph number.
What should every citation include? ›Typically, a citation can include the author's name, date, location of the publishing company, journal title, or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). A citation style dictates the information necessary for a citation and how the information is ordered, as well as punctuation and other formatting.
Do you have to include links in MLA citations? ›The MLA Style Center
Whether to link a URL, DOI, or permalink in a works-cited-list entry for a work published or submitted in digital format is optional. The MLA Handbook notes that one benefit of URLs is that they “may be clickable” in digital formats (48).
For MLA 8 you need to include a URL or web address to help readers locate your sources. MLA only requires the www. address, so eliminate all https:// when citing URLs. Many scholarly journal articles found in databases include a DOI (digital object identifier.
What information is included on a works cited page? ›
A Works Cited page is a formatted list of all sources you cited within your paper. Any time you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or include information that you've read from an outside source, you must include that source in your references list, correctly formatted in MLA style.
Do I need to cite twice in a paragraph? ›Appropriate level of citation
Instead, when paraphrasing a key point in more than one sentence within a paragraph, cite the source in the first sentence in which it is relevant and do not repeat the citation in subsequent sentences as long as the source remains clear and unchanged.
For all researchers, 5-10 citations of their papers will be great! Publishing in good journals help the citations of our articles.
Do I need to in-text cite every sentence? ›Important to remember: You DO NOT need to add an in-text citation after EVERY sentence of your paragraph.
What are the 3 main components of MLA style? ›- Body.
- (If applicable) Endnotes.
- Works Cited.
Introductory paragraph including your thesis statement. Three body paragraphs. Concluding paragraph.
What are the three things MLA format regulates? ›MLA Style establishes standards of written communication concerning: formatting and page layout. applying stylistic technicalities (e.g. abbreviations, footnotes, quotations) citing sources.
DOI cite in MLA 8 or 9? ›MLA offers in-depth guidance on how to cite your sources properly. There are two primary ways to cite: in-text and a Works Cited list. MLA 9 provides ample guidance on both, as well as a total of 333 sample citations (quite a jump from MLA 8's 164). Below is the updated guidance MLA 9 offers for each kind of citation.
What four things do proper MLA citations do? ›- Help curious readers retrace your research steps.
- Help you build credibility and be more likely to win your argument.
- Give credit to the people who've done the work you want to talk about.
- Allow you to avoid a charge of plagiarism.
Not much! MLA 9th edition is an expansion of the 8th edition with new sections on grammar, writing advice, mindful of inclusive language, expansion endnotes & footnotes, and new guidelines for annotated bibliographies. URLs: If a DOI is available it is preferred over a URL or permalink.
What comes first in MLA citation? ›
In most cases, the first word will be the author's last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the. For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first name followed by a period.
What are the 3 main components of citing? ›The main elements included in all book citations across APA, MLA, and Chicago style are the author, the title, the year of publication, and the name of the publisher. A page number is also included in in-text citations to highlight the specific passage cited.
What are the rules of citation? ›- Rule 1: Include relevant citations.
- Rule 2: Read the publications you cite.
- Rule 3: Cite in accordance with content.
- Rule 4: Cite transparently, not neutrally.
- Rule 5: Cite yourself when required.
- Rule 6: Prioritise the citations you include.
- Rule 7: Evaluate citations as the choices that they are.
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
What are the 4 important things that we need in making a citation? ›author name(s) titles of books, articles, and journals. date of publication. page numbers.
What are three things that should be included in an MLA Style citation? ›...
In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order:
- Author.
- Title of source.
- Title of container,
- Other contributors,
- Version,
- Number,
- Publisher,
- Publication date,
Tips for Citing Sources
Write down the complete citation information for each book, article, etc. you use as you go along. Use quotation marks when directly stating another person's words. Always credit original authors for their information and ideas.
An in-text citation is an acknowledgement you include in your text whenever you quote or paraphrase a source. It usually gives the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number of the relevant text.
What should you not do when citing? ›- Common knowledge (2,3). Common knowledge includes facts that are found in many sources. ...
- Generally accepted or observable facts (2,4). When a fact is generally accepted or easily observable, you do not need a citation. ...
- Original ideas and lived experiences (4).
In general, if it's your words, your opinion, your photo, or your graph, of course, you don't need to cite it. HOWEVER, if you are using information from one of your own previously published works (journal article, book chapter, etc.), you MUST cite it just as you would cite another author's work.
Do citations need to be after every sentence? ›
Important to remember: You DO NOT need to add an in-text citation after EVERY sentence of your paragraph.
What are five information items required to list for a source in a works cited page? ›A standard MLA Works Cited entry is structured as follows: Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location. Only include information that is available for and relevant to your source.