How to Cite an Online Dictionary in an MLA Format in Text

MLA style formatting stands for Modern Language Association and is used for citations for documentation used in scholarly papers and documents. MLA formatting is widely accepted in the USA and in many countries around the world. Two handbooks are recognized as official guides for this format: "The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" and "The MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing." The MLA guidelines cover multiple possible sources of information including documentation of online sources, published books and articles, and speeches or lectures.

Instructions

    • 1
      Dictionaries provide the meaning to words in multiple languages.

      Look up a word in an online dictionary. Write down the online resource, its edition, volume and the number of the definition you are using if there are multiple examples.

    • 2
      Always capitalize the word you looked up when writing it in the citation.

      Write the word you looked up in quotation marks, with a period after the word but within the quotes. For example: "Doctor."

    • 3
      Sources must be properly cited in order to avoid charges of plagiarism.

      Add the name of your online dictionary source, underline it and add a period to the end of that portion of the citation. For example, if you used the Webster's Dictionary you would write the citation as: "Doctor." Webster's Dictionary.

      If there was a specific definition used then that would be written as: "Doctor." Def. 1. Webster's Dictionary.

      Note: Webster's Dictionary would be underlined in both cases.

    • 4
      Each dictionary has several publications and editions, which makes citing the correct source important.

      Add to the citation the name of the edition and year of publication. To write the citation in it's entirety, it would look like this: "Doctor." Def. 1. Webster's Dictionary. 2nd ed. 2008

      Note: Webster's Dictionary would be underlined.

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