How to Cite a Source Properly in MLA Format

Books

• 1

  List the author's last and first name separated by a comma and add a period at the end. (Example: Last, First.)

• 2

  Put the book's title in italics, followed by a period. (Example: [begin italics] Book Title [end italics].)

• 3

  Write down the book's place of publication followed by a colon. Then list the publisher of the book followed by a comma and the year the book was published ending with a period. At the very end, put the word "Print" followed by a period. (Example: Publication Location: Publisher, Year of Publication. Print.)

• 4

  Check the following example, which your reference should resemble:

  Last, First. Book Title (in italics). Publication Location: Publisher, Year of Publication. Print.

Websites

• 5

  List the article writer's last and first name separated by a comma and add a period at the end. (Example: Last, First.)

• 6

  Put the website's article title in quotation marks and end with a period. (Example: "Website Article Title.")

• 7

  Write down the name of the Web page in italics, and don't end with a period. (Example: [begin italics] Title of the Web page [end italics]).

• 8

  List the publisher or sponsor of the website and end with a comma. Then write down the date the article was published, followed by "Web." And then the date you accessed it. (Example: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999. Web. 05 May 2010.) The terms "n.p." and "n.d." can be used if the website doesn't list a publisher or date, respectively.

• 9

  List the website URL at the very end if you would like. It has become an optional requirement. Your final reference should resemble this:

  Last, First. "Website Article Name" Name of Webpage (in italics). Publisher, Date of Publication. Web. Date Accessed. <URL> (if desired.)

Newspapers, Magazines and other Periodicals

• 10

  Write down the article writer's last and first name separated by a comma and add a period at the end. (Example: Last, First.)

• 11

  Put the article title in quotation marks and end with a period. (Example: "Article Title.")

• 12

  Italicize the name of the periodical, and don't end with a period. (Example: [begin italics] Title of the Periodical [end italics]).

• 13

  Put the year the periodical was published in parenthesis, followed by a colon and the page numbers where the article is located followed by a period. Write the type of periodical it was, whether print or Web. (Example: (1999): 34-36. Print.)

• 14

  Check this example against your reference, it should resemble this:

  Last, First. "Article Title" Periodical Name (in italics). (Year Published): Page Number-Page Number. Print.