How to Cite Your Source Using the MLA Style Format

The Modern Language Association (MLA) developed a style for writing and citing scholarly works that is widely used by schools, instructors and academic departments throughout North America and in other countries. The MLA was founded in 1883 as a way for members to share their scholarly findings with colleagues.

Instructions

    • 1

      Create a separate "Works Cited" page to include at the end of your research paper or report. Center the words "Work Cited" -- not in quotation marks -- at the top of the page.

    • 2

      Write the author's last name followed by a comma and then the author's first name followed by a period. If the author's middle initial is available, follow the author's first name with a comma then write the middle initial and a period.

    • 3

      Place the title of the article in quotation marks after the author's name. Enclose a period inside the quotation marks after the title of the article. For example: Santos, Fernanda. "Schools May Have to Absorb Students' Unpaid Lunch Bills."

    • 4

      Place the name of a book after an author's name in italics followed by a period. For example: Gore, Al. Earth in the Balance. Then write the city in which the book was published followed by a colon, then the name of the publisher followed by a comma and the year of publication.

    • 5

      Write the name of the publication that printed the article in italics followed by the date it was printed and a colon. After the colon place the page numbers and then a period. For example: Santos, Fernanda. "Schools May Have to Absorb Students' Unpaid Lunch Bills." New York Times (in italics) February 7, 2011: 25-27.

    • 6

      Write whether the source is in print, web, DVD, CD, film or another format after the page numbers (if applicable).

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