How to Cite Work Using MLA Format

When using Modern Language Association (MLA) style, you cite sources in two different places. Throughout the text of your paper, you include short citations identifying the source of material you quote or paraphrase. At the end of your paper, on what MLA calls the Works Cited page, you list full-length citations that match up with the shorter versions used in-text.

Instructions

    • 1

      Include the author's last name as part of the text to cite a source in the body of your paper. Enclose in parentheses the page where the information you cite can be found. For example:

      Jansen makes the case for the Nobel winner (120).

    • 2

      As an alternative, place both the author's last name and page number(s) in the parenthetical citation:

      The Nobel winner received support from all political parties (Jansen 124).

    • 3

      Order your Works Cited page alphabetically by the author's last name on a separate page at the end of your paper.

    • 4

      Cite scholarly journal articles as follows. Italicize the title of the journal. The numbers that follow the journal title are the volume (12), issue number (3), date of publication (2001) and page numbers (112-123). "Print" refers to the medium in which you accessed the article.

      Talen, William. "Born to Run: The Story of Bruce Springsteen." Popular Culture

      Quarterly 12.3 (2001): 112-23. Print.

    • 5

      List your Works Cited entries for books based on the following example. Italicize the title of the book.

      Jones, Nathan. Style and Writing. New York: McMillan, 1999. Print.

    • 6

      Cite Web pages in your Works Cited list as shown below. In some cases, organizations serve as authors. In this citation, "University of Hawaii Library" should be in italics. The material found on the Internet was accessed on June 19, 2009, from the URL listed.

      University of Hawaii. "Research Basics." University of Hawaii Library. University

      of Hawaii, 2005. Web. 19 June 2009 <http://www.fullurl.edu/>.

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