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How to Cite an Anthology Using MLA Style

When writing a term paper or working on a longer term research project, it is important to keep track of your sources of information so that you can credit them for contributing to your own original conclusions. While historically such credit has been given via footnote, more recent forms of citation actually occur within the text of a paper in abbreviated form and refer a reader to a more detailed reference at the end of the document. One of the most popular forms of this type of citation is MLA style, which allows a writer to use a non-invasive parenthetical note in the text that directs a reader to a simple resource reference on a "Works Cited" page. MLA is especially popular in undergraduate classrooms where the process of citing references may be a new experience. In the course of your studies, you may need to use an anthology to determine literary trends and practices. You will need to cite the anthology in such a way as to give credit to the editor of the anthology for their work in commenting and compilation as well as to the authors of individual works in the book. Read on to learn how to cite an anthology using MLA style.

Title of the anthology
Editor's name
Year of publication
City where the book was published
Publisher

Instructions

- 1
  List the editor's name. The last name should come first, then the first name. Conclude with the abbreviation "ed." If the editor's name is Lester Billings, then your citation will begin: Billings, Lester (ed.)
- 2
  Add the title of the anthology and a period. The title should be italicized or underlined. If your word processor will not do this type of formatting, then use an underscore symbol to indicate that the words are the title of a book. If the book is called "Flying is for the Birds" then your citation will now look like this: Billings, Lester (ed.) _Flying is for the Birds_.
- 3
  List the city where the anthology was published, followed by a colon. This information is usually located on the inside cover page of the book, or on the back cover. If the book was published in Knoxville, Tennessee, then your citation will read:Billings, Lester (ed.) _Flying is for the Birds_. Knoxville:
- 4
  Add the name of the publisher and comma. If you cannot find this information in the book, you can usually find it online by entering the title of the anthology into a search engine. If the publisher is called "Letherson and Sons Publications," then your citation will now read: Billings, Lester (ed.) _Flying is for the Birds_. Knoxville: Letherson and Sons Publications,
- 5
  Finish with the year of publication and a period. If the anthology was published in 2006, then your finished reference will read:Billings, Lester (ed.) _Flying is for the Birds_. Knoxville: Letherson and Sons Publications, 2006.

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