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Library Computer Lab

MLA Citations for Books, Encyclopedias and Websites

A bibliography or works cited page is an alphabetical list of sources used to write a
paper, essay, or article.  By citing sources you
  • Give credit where credit is due (avoid plagiarism) and
  • Allow the reader to verify your sources
Your bibliography should include all the sources you used to write your paper. 
Double space all entries and list them alphabetically by author’s last name (or
first word of the title if no author is listed).  Use “hanging indents” to help organize
each entry

 

Tips on writing a bibliography:

  • Keep track of sources from the very beginning.
  • When using a book, take the title from the title page, not the cover.
  • The author's name should be written Last Name, First Name.
  • If there is no author, then go by title, ignoring a, an, and the

Basic components of a book citation:

1)     Author(s)

2)     Title of book, in italics

3)     City of Publication

4)     Publisher

5)     Year

6)     Medium of publication.

 

Format used:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Medium of Publication
Examples:

Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: Knopf, 1993. Print.

The Movie Book. London: Phaidon, 1999.  Print.

Okuda, Michael, and Denise Okuda. Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future. New York:

        Pocket, 1993. Print.

Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study. 33rd ed. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides, 1999. Print.

Rowe, Richard, and Larry Jeffus.  The Essential Welder:  Gas Metal Arc Welding Classroom Manual.  

        Albany: Delmar, 2000.  Print.    

  

Basic components of an encyclopedia citation: 

1)     Author

2)     Title of article

3)     Title of encyclopedia

4)     Edition

5)     Number of volumes in set

6)     Place of publication, publisher and year of publication

7)     Medium of publication

 

If the reference book is well known, do not include the publication information.  Note: If the encyclopedia does not arrange its articles alphabetically, include the volume and page numbers:

 

Format used:

Well-Known:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Encyclopedia. Edition. Year. Medium of Publication.

 

Not Well-Known:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article”. Title of Encyclopeida. Volume Number. Place of publication:   Publisher, date of publication. Medium of publication.

Examples:

Avery, Jennie. "Poland." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2nd ed. 1994.  Print.

"Euthanasia." Encyclopedia of World Ethics. 2nd ed. Vol 7. New York: Simon 

        Press, 2001. 54-68. Print

Kibby, Michael W. "Dyslexia." World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.  Print.

Midge, T. "Powwows." Encyclopedia of North American Indians. Ed. D.L. 

        Birchfield. 11 vols. New York: Cavendish, 1997.  Print.

"Tajikistan." World Book Encyclopedia of People and Places. 2000 ed.  Print.

 

Basic components of an Internet citation:

1)     Author

2)     Title of Article or Webpage.

3)     Title of Website.  (Magazine, journal, newspaper, newsletter, book, encyclopedia, or project

4)     Publisher or Sponsor of the site (if not available, use n.p.)

5)     Date of Article, of Web page or site creation, revision, posting, last update or date last modified.  (if not available use n.d.)

6)     Medium.

7)     Access date.

Complete publication information may not be available for a Web site; provide what is given.

 

Format used:

 

Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Web Page.” Title of the Site.  Name of Sponsor.  Date of Article.  Medium. Date of Access.

 

Examples:

 

Bromwich, Michael R.  “Argonne Researchers Create Powerful Stem Cells From

 Blood.”  Argonne National Laboratory.  n.p. 24 Feb. 2008.  Web.  11 Mar.

2010. 

"How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow.com. eHow, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2009.

“Newborn Feeding." Welcome to Gerber. Gerber Corporation. n.d. Web.
 18 Oct. 2008.

                                               

           

 

Note:  If the site has no title, substitute a description, such as “Home Page” for the title. 

 

Yoon, Mina.  Home Page.  29 Sept. 2004. Web. 12 Jan. 2005.