How to Cite Using MLA Form

Collective gasps are common when professors mention that college papers must use Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Students and other writers need to take a second look. The rules and conventions devised by the MLA are in place to help you. They also help your readers, by providing clarity and organization to your work. The MLA format comes in particularly handy when you use sources to inform your writing. MLA styles requires that you credit your sources in the text of your paper as well as in a corresponding "Works Cited" list.

Instructions

    • 1

      Use MLA's author-page style when citing sources in the text of your paper. Include a citation as close as possible to the information you are borrowing. MLA allows you to structure an in-text citation two ways; with the author's name as part of the sentence or enclosed in parentheses.

      McNamara knew that the group's days were numbered (233). Twenty-five percent

      of the funds turned up in a Swiss bank account (McNamara 231).

    • 2

      Include a reference that corresponds to your in-text citations in your "Works Cited" list. Begin your "Works Cited" list on a separate page at the end of your paper. Center the words, "Works Cited," without the use of special formatting, including quotation marks.

    • 3

      Double-space all citations, just as you do the text of your paper. Indent the second and subsequent lines of each "Works Cited" entry five spaces.

    • 4

      Order your "Works Cited" list alphabetically by the author's last name. If an organization serves as the author of a source, lead off the entry, in alphabetical order, with it. For works with no author, use a shortened version of the title (e.g., How to cite) in place of the author's name both for in-text and "Works Cited" list citations.

    • 5

      List author's names with the last name first, followed by the first name and middle initial or name. Follow the examples shown below.

      Jones, Ron

      Jones, Ron T.

      Jones, Ron Thomas

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