Embedded Files
Format Basics
Format Basics
Image Source: Taft College Libguide
Margins set at 1" on all sides
Double spacing throughout the entire paper including the Works Cited page
Choose a standard font - preferably Times New Roman, Size 12
Left align the entire paper EXCEPT for the title of the paper and the title of Works Cited page
Separate page for Works Cited
Last name and page number in the top right header
List your name, your instructor's name, the course title, and the paper's due date in the upper left corner of the first page
In-text Citations
In-text Citations
Go to Dr. Taylor's PeakWriting YouTube channel for more videos on academic writing, using MLA format, grammar, and more.
What is the difference between an in-text citation and a source citation?
What is the difference between an in-text citation and a source citation?
In-text citations come in two formats: parenthetical and narrative. "In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations. This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase" (Purdue Writing Lab). However, according to Savannah Patterson, a librarian at Union University, "in a narrative citation, the author of the source is listed in the body of the paper and the page number of the source is listed in the parentheses at the end" (Patterson).
"According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text" (Purdue Writing Lab). Every entry in your Works Cited page is considered a source citation, also referred to as a bibliographic citation. The basic guidelines for formatting Works Cited pages and source citations can be found below. If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you will find a Works Cited page for all of the sources used to provide valid, reliable, and accurate information on this page.
Works Cited Page & Source Citations
Works Cited Page & Source Citations
To build a source citation for a Works Cited page, include as many of the core elements present in your source. You must include any necessary punctuation, capitalization, and italics.
To build a source citation for a Works Cited page, include as many of the core elements present in your source. You must include any necessary punctuation, capitalization, and italics.
Use the following format for all sources:
Use the following format for all sources:
Author. Title. Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).
Author. Title. Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.
Article in a Newspaper:
Article in a Newspaper:
Cite a newspaper article as you would a magazine article, but note the different pagination in most newspapers. If there is more than one edition available for that date (as in an early and late edition of a newspaper), identify the edition after the newspaper title.
Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients." Washington Post, 24 May 2007, p. LZ01.
If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in brackets after the title of the newspaper.
Trembacki, Paul. "Brees Hopes to Win Heisman for Team." Purdue Exponent [West Lafayette, IN], 5 Dec. 2000, p. 20.
An Article From an Online Database (Or Other Electronic Subscription Service):
An Article From an Online Database (Or Other Electronic Subscription Service):
Cite online databases (e.g. LexisNexis, ProQuest, JSTOR, ScienceDirect) and other subscription services as containers. Thus, provide the title of the database italicized before the DOI or URL. If a DOI is not provided, use the URL instead. Provide the date of access if you wish.
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155. Accessed 26 May 2009.
Citing an Entire Website:
Citing an Entire Website:
When citing an entire website, follow the same format as listed above, but include a compiler name if no single author is available.
Author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), DOI (preferred), otherwise include a URL or permalink. Date of access (if applicable). Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).
The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008.
A Page on a Website:
A Page on a Website:
For an individual page on a Web site, list the author or alias if known, followed by an indication of the specific page or article being referenced. Usually, the title of the page or article appears in a header at the top of the page. Follow this with the information covered above for entire Web sites. If the publisher is the same as the website name, only list it once.
Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.” eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. Accessed 6 July 2015.
Digital Files (PDF, MP3, JPEG):
Digital Files (PDF, MP3, JPEG):
Determine the type of work to cite (e.g., article, image, sound recording) and cite appropriately. End the entry with the name of the digital format (e.g., PDF, JPEG file, Microsoft Word file, MP3). If the work does not follow traditional parameters for citation, give the author’s name, the name of the work, the date of creation, and the location.
A YouTube Video:
A YouTube Video:
Video and audio sources need to be documented using the same basic guidelines for citing print sources in MLA style. Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author’s name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once. If the author is different from the uploader, cite the author’s name before the title.
McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch? v=mkdzy9bWW3E.
All information gathered from Purdue Owl. Use the links below for detailed explanations.
For a more in-depth look at common sources to cite, click on the links below.
For a more in-depth look at common sources to cite, click on the links below.
Basic Format for Works Cited Page:
Basic Format for Works Cited Page:
Left aligned with a hanging indent
Alphabetical order
Double Spaced
Center the title of the page
Hanging Indents in Google Docs
Hanging Indents in Google Docs
Format
Align & Indent
Indentation Options
Special Indent: Hanging 0.5
Reliable MLA Resources
Reliable MLA Resources
"The MLA Style Center is the only authorized website on MLA style. A companion to the MLA Handbook, the site provides students and educators with a host of free resources for teaching and learning the MLA’s approach to research, writing, and documentation" (Carillo et al.).
The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue University offers resources and information for writing projects. Their online reference materials are a valuable tool to help you become a stronger writer (Purdue Writing Lab) .
Check out the OWL @ Purdue's YouTube Playlist for help with MLA formatting.
Check out the OWL @ Purdue's YouTube Playlist for help with MLA formatting.
Updates to MLA 9th Edition
Updates to MLA 9th Edition
Important: In-text and source citations have stayed the same through the update.
Some of the updates are listed below (MLA 9th Edition). For a far more entertaining version of the updates, see the YouTube video from Laura Randazzo, teacher and writing enthusiast.
A source citation must include two containers if you are using a source within a source. It is common for a source to have two containers, especially a digital source. For example: an article originally published in a journal but found in a subscription database.
Full URLs are still recommended, but optional; especially if the URL is behind a paywall. When citing URLs from databases and online scholarly journal articles, it is recommended to cite the Permalink (permanent link) or the DOI (digital object identifier) when possible.
Truncate longer URLs.
If you include anything that you have merely consulted, use "Works Cited and Consulted" by placing your consulted sources after any endnotes if necessary.
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