How to Cite Writing Using MLA

The Modern Language Association (MLA), founded in 1883, promotes proper, standardized English language used in speaking and writing. Many academic publications, especially in the liberal arts and humanities, adopt its formatting and citation standards. MLA formatting is straightforward, logical and easy to learn; the key is to apply it consistently. Proper citation makes an academic text look professional and standardizes its formatting.

Instructions

    • 1

      Cite publications within the text of your paper using parentheses. Include the author's last name followed by the page number; for example, (Jones 55).

    • 2

      Omit the author's last name when parenthetically citing a work in the same paragraph in which you have already stated the name. Just include the page number. For example, have having cited (Jones 55), if you then cite the work again later in your paragraph, just write (57), for example.

    • 3

      Cite sources with no known author by placing the title of the work in quotes. Still include the page number; for example, ("The History of Chicago" 12).

    • 4

      Differentiate between identical author last names by inserting the author's first initial within parentheses; for example, (T. Jones) and (V. Jones).

    • 5

      Cite sources with multiple authors by using all the names, up to three; for example, (Jones, Jenkins, and Hayes 101). If a text you are citing has more than three authors, cite it by the first author's last name followed by "et al"; for example, (Jones et al 40).

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