MLA Works Cited

When citing a book, the writer must identify the author of the book's full name, the title of the book, the publisher, and the publication date. A book students will find helpful to cite is Notes Towards a Performative Theory of Assembly by Judith Butler. Here is how to format this book in MLA citation: 

Citation Template: 

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.

Example: 

Butler, Judith. Notes Towards a Performative Theory of Assembly. Harvard UP, 2015.

Another book students may want to cite in an essay to incorporate topics covered in class is Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal by Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin, with an introduction by C.J. Polychroniou. Citing this source is similar to the prior citation; however, the additional author must be included along with the introduction's author. In this case, the writer must identify the author(s) of the book's full name, the book's title, the publisher, and the publication date. Also, note that when a second author is listed, the second author's first and last name should be listed alphabetically. For example, Robert Pollin's name is already in alphabetical order. If his name were not in alphabetical order, his last name would be listed before his first name, similar to the first author. If only one author exists, the last name is always listed before the first name. 

Example 2: 

Chomsky, Noam and Robert Pollin. Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal. Introduction by C.J. Polychroniou,  Verso, 2020.

ChatGPT is a useful resource for generating general examples for topics and topic ideas. ChatGPT is, however, unable to generate MLA formatting and check for MLA citation errors, making the platform partially unreliable. MLA citations for ChatGPT consist of italicizing the resource used: ChatGPT. The first and last name cited should be the person who searched the prompt, and the prompt searched should be cited right after.

Citation Template: 

Last Name, First Name. "Prompt." ChatGPT, Date created.

Example:

 Sadowski, Siera. "Provide a Counter Argument That Refutes the Idea That the Earth is Flat." ChatGPT, 1 June, 2023.

Sadowski, Siera. "Provide Specific Points on the Negative Effects of Global Warming." ChatGPT, 30 May, 2023.

Note: ChatGPT should never be used as a reputable source. Only cite ChatGPT if wording is used for any sentences utlized (this should also be avoided as ChatGPT uses language that will incur penalties due to being casual or informal.

News articles are wonderful sources for real-life examples when doing research. The format for cited news article is as follow: 

Author last name, author first name. "Article Title." Website title, institution which created the website, publication date, link to the website. Date accessed.

Example: 

 Askew, Joshua. "'Keep Ireland Irish': Say Hello to Ireland's Growing Far Right." Euronews, 13 March 2023, https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/13/keep-ireland-irish-say- hello-to-irelands-growing-far-right. Accessed 15 March 2024.

A website refers to any web page, such as a blog, news article, or government web page, found on the internet. The format of a cited website is as follows: 

Author last name, author first name. "Article Title." Website title, institution which created the website, publication date, link to the website. Date accessed.

If the website title matches the name of the publishing institution (ex. the website of the United States Department of Justice, which is both titled and created by said institution), only include the website title and omit the name of the institution which created the website (MLA Handbook 165). Any incorrect capitalization in the original title should be corrected in a works cited entry. Date accessed should also be included for websites for which the publication date cannot be identified or the website content is continuously altered (MLA Handbook 211).

Example:

 Askew, Joshua. "'Keep Ireland Irish': Say Hello to Ireland's Growing Far Right." Euronews, 13 March 2023, https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/13/keep-ireland-irish-say-   

      hello-to-irelands-growing-far-right. Accessed 15 March 2024.

"Room Rates at Disney's Art of Animation Resort." DisneyWorld.com, The Walt Disney Company, 2023, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/art-of-animation-resort/rates rooms/. Accessed 15 March 2024.

Academic journal articles are peer-reviewed academic publications, typically contained within a periodical and written by authors knowledgeable in their subject. The format of a cited academic journal article is as follows: 

Author last name, author first name. "Article Title." Title of the periodical in which the article was published, volume, number, publication date, 

page numbers. 

In the case of two authors, reverse the first author's name and retain the second author's name in regular order. In the case of three or more authors, only list the first author's name and use the abbreviation "et al." for the other contributing authors (MLA Handbook 222). Use the abbreviation "pp." before the page range of the entire article. If the title is excessively long, shorten the title in the works cited with ellipses.

Example:

Fogg, Martyn J. "Terraforming: A Review for Environmentalists." The Environnmentalist, vol. 13, no. 1, 1993, pp. 7-17.

Englar, Ryan et. al. "Survey of Communication Challenges that Impact Relationships Between Veterinarians and Dog or Cat Breeders" Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association, vol. 258, no. 4, 14 February 2021, pp. 407-415.

Rowley, Charles K, and Jennis Taylor. “The Israel and Palestine Land Settlement Problem: An Analytical History, 4000 B.C.E.-1948 C.E.” Public Choice, vol. 128, no. ½, 2006, pp. 41-27.

Books are print publications, either found online or on paper. The format of a cited book is as follows: 

Author last name, author first name. Book Title. Translator or editor (if applicable), publisher, publication date.

Note that unlike the previous two source types, book titles are italicized rather than placed in quotation marks. If an author publishes under a pseudonym, MLA format permits the use of either the author's given name or a better known pseudonym in a citation (MLA Handbook 116). 

Example By One Author: 

James, E L. Fifty Shades of Grey. The Writer's Coffee Shop, 2011.

By Two Authors:

Dorris, Michael, and Louisee Edrich. The Crown of Columbus. HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.

Translated

 Dostoevsky, Fyodor . Crime and Punishment. Translated by Pevear, Richard, and Larissa Volokhonsky, Vintage Books, 1993.

A still image can be anything from a photograph to a piece of art. The format to cite an image is as follows: 

Author last name, author first name. Image Title or Description. image date, Museum, image URL.

In this case, 'author' refers to an image's artist or photographer. If an image lacks an official title, insert a brief description of the image's contents instead. Descriptions should not be italicized or put in quotation marks (MLA Handbook 132). 

Example: 

Da Vinci, Leonardo. Mona Lisa. 1503-1506, Lourve, https://www.louvre.fr/en/what-s-on/life-at-the-museum/mona-lisa-an-

immersive-exhibition.

Lanting, Frans. Whale Tail coming out of the Ocean. 2017, https://lanting.com/images/portfolios/bay-of-life-prints/.

Films and television shows are both similar audiovisual presentations. Their format of citation differs slightly. 

For films: 

Film Title. Director, production company, release date.

For an episode of a television show: 

"Episode Title." Show Title, creator, season number, episode number, production company, original air date.

Note that if the primary subject of analysis or discussion in relation to your source is something like the acting, screenplay, or editing of a production, you can use the name of the primary credited creator of that aspect as opposed to a film's director or a show's creator after the work's title (MLA Handbook 148).

Example (Film):

 Daybreakers. Directed by Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig, Lionsgate, 11 September 2009.

Example (Television Show):

 "Thanks to Them." The Owl House, created by Dana Terrace, season 3, episode 1, Disney Television 

Animation, 15 October 2022.

A dictionary entry is the definition of a word found in a dictionary. The format to cite a dictionary is as follows: 

"Entry Title (type of word)." Dictionary title, dictionary publisher, publication date, URL or page number. Date accessed.

If the entry is from an online source, use the URL and include the date accessed. If the entry is from a print dictionary, use the entry's page number.

Example:

 "Zombie (n)." Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam Webster Incorporated, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com

/dictionary/zombie. Accessed 15 March 2023.

When citing a government publication, begin with the author or authors, if any. Following the author's name proceeds the national government title, which could be the "United States" or "Canada," for example. Any government agency, which should include any subdivisions like departments and agencies, comes after the government's national title, which could look like "Congress, House of Representatives, Department of Agriculture." Include a period after the government subdivision, then list the publication title in italics. Include another period after the publication title. United States documents are usually published in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Government Printing Office, including "Government Printing Office" or "U.S. Government Publishing Office," alongside the date of publication (Government Printing Office 2002). Place the document’s page number after the date of publication. If using a congressional document, include the number of Congress, the session when the hearing was, and the report number, which could look like "99th Congress, 2nd session, House of Representatives Report 100-6." If the government publication was accessed online, include the URL and date the website was accessed. The URL and date accessed are both followed by a period. In-text citations should be the national government title with the agency page number (United States, Congress 13).

Citation template:

Last Name, First Name. National Government Title, Subdivisions. Title of Government Publication. Publishing Location, Year. Page #. Number of Congress, Session Number, Report Number (If using Congressional Document). URL. Date Accessed.

Example: 

Grafstein, Ann. United States, Congress. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. U.S. Government Publishing Office, 1990. p. 13. 101st Congress, 2nd Session, Public Law 101-336. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-104/pdf/STATUTE-104-Pg327.pdf. Accessed 4 June 2023.

Hugues, Tim. New Zealand, The Treasury. The Distribution of Advantage in Aotearoa New Zealand: Exploring the Evidence. 2022. p.71. www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-12/tp-distribution-advantage-exploring-evidence.pdf. Accessed 7 March 2025.

The requirements are the same when developing an MLA citation for a dissertation or thesis paper. The primary elements of a dissertation or thesis are similar to books, in which an italicized title follows the name of the author or authors. Place a period after the italicized title. The citation continues with the publication date and the document type. Include page numbers after the date. If the author has a professional degree within their field, like a Ph. D., the document type is determined by such and labeled "Ph.D. Dissertation" or "Ph.D. Thesis." The institution granting the degree is optional but would go alongside the document type as "Stanford University, Ph.D. Dissertation." If the dissertation or thesis was accessed from an online database, include the source at the end of the citation in italics (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses). Online sources also require the URL after listing the database’s name. Include periods after the year published, the type of document, the online database from which the dissertation or thesis was accessed, and the URL. In-text citations should be the author’s name and page number within parentheses (Branson 13).

Citation Template: 

Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation or Thesis. Year Published. Degree Granting Institution (Optional), Document Type. Online Database. URL.

Example:

Branson, Edward. An Investigation into the Relationship between Early Exposure and Brand Loyalty. 2013. University of Leeds, BSc Hons Dissertation. University of Leeds Library. https://resources.library.leeds.ac.uk/final-chapter/dissertations/psychology/example1.pdf.

An anthology is the container of an essay, poem, or short story published in it. It is imperative when citing a work in an anthology, reference, or collection to list editors as they are key contributors to the work that is being cited. 

Citation Template: 

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor’s name (s), Publisher, year, page range entry. 

Example: 

Swanson, Gunnar. “Graphic Design Education as a Liberal Art: Design and Knowledge in the University and The ‘Real World.’” The Education of a Graphic Designer, edited by Steven Heller, Allworth Press, 1998, pp. 13-24. 

Social media ranges across a variety of platforms. Social Media consists of platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok. Ensuring an account is credible before using citing the source is advised. An excellent way to know is often by the following; a well-established platform is often a good sign of credibility. Social media sources have become informative sources that even important government figures use to voice their opinions. Not only do these platforms express the opinions of governmental figures, but they also express everyday users whose names are not necessarily recognized, which is why referring to the specific account being cited is essential. Social media is extensive, so using the following formatting as a guide is imperative. 

Citation Template:

Last Name, First Name, or Account Name. Description of Post. Social Media Platform, Day Month Year of Post, Time of Post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year post was viewed.

Instagram Post:

Jefferson, Stanley. Thrift Clothing Protest. Instagram, 20 August 2022, 2:00 pm, https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch4fF5oOfRx/. 6 June 2023.

Pinterest Photo:

@NasimiShabnam. Arrested at Women's Rights Protest. Pinterest, 4 March 2020, 5:00 pm,

https://twitter.com/NasimiShabnam?s=20. 6 June 2023.

TikTok Video: 

Lilly [@uvisaa]. “[I]f u like dark academia there’s a good chance you’ve seen my tumblr #darkacademia.” TikTok, 10 June 2021, 4:35 pm, www.tiktok.com/@uvisaa/video/6815708894900391173. 07 July 2022. 

X “Twitter” Post: 

@PurdueWLab. “Spring break is aorund the corner, and all our locations will be open next week.” X, 5 Mar. 2012, 12:58 p.m, twitter.com/PurdueWLab/status/17672830873673782. 6 March 2025.

Facebook Post: 

World Wildlife Fund. “Inspiring conservation news: 23 endangered glossy black cockatoo chicks hatched on Kangaroo Island, an area previously ravaged by Australia’s devastating bushfires.” Facebook, 8 July 2020, 1:13 p.m, www.facebook.com/worldwildlifefund/posts/10157806449919794. 13 May 2023. 

Snapchat Story: 

The Washington Post. “The Empire State Building Is Lighting the Way.” Snapchat, 30 June 2020, 10:00 a.m, www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Washington_Post/8241762018.  07 March 2023.

YouTube Video:

The citation of a YouTube video follows a similar format to other social media forms. However, certain aspects--such as description and time of post--are omitted. For this citation, 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. The template for citing a YouTube video Is as follows:

Last Name, First Name (If Applicable). Title of Post. Social Media Platform, uploaded by Account Name (If Applicable), Day Month Year of Post, URL. 

Example:

McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs. 

Podcasts offer a wide and diverse amount of information regarding many different topics. This can make them wonderful sources for research and writing as podcasts offer contrasting views and information. There is a large-scale amount of podcasts which is why using the following guide for formatting is crucial. 

Citation Template: 

“Title of Episode.” Series Name. from Broadcast Network, Day Month Year of Post, URL. 

Example: 

“Best of Not My Job Musicians.” Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! from NPR, 4 June 2016, www.nprr.org/podcasts/344098539/wait-wait-don-t-tell-me.

Reports are beneficial sources, often used to back up claims with data and statistical evidence. Reports are great logos that provide visual numerical evidence to compare analytical data. Statistical data is instrumental. However, several unreliable online sites need more credible sources to support claims. An excellent way to ensure the data is reliable is to provide someone willing to take credit for the results—research various statistical sources before committing to one piece of evidence. Reports consist of analytical reports, lab reports, and progress reports. If the report's publisher is the same as the author, start the citation with the report's title. The title of the report must either be italicized or in quotes, depending on the length of the title. If the title is short, use quotations around the title. If the title is long, use italics to differentiate the title from the rest of the citation. Use italics if there are approximately five words and above as a part of the title.

Citation Template:

Last name, First name. Report Title. Publisher, Date published, URL (if there is one). 

Example: 

Kuhnar, Rami. Financial Accounting. Kemp, Eileen, 17 October 2022.

Thomas, Michael. Financial Planning and Analysis Made Easy. Baker, Kristen, 24 April 2023.

Gorbunova, Yulia, and Konstantin Baranov. Laws of Attrition: Crackdown on Russia's Civil Society After Putin's Return to the Presidency. Human Rights Watch, 10 November 2013. 

There are numerous legal documents that could be used as sources to provide evidence to one’s

essay. Below is a list of examples and how to properly cite.

United States Supreme Court Decisions:

Citation Template:

Court, Plaintiff v. Defendant. Date Decided. Publishing Institutition, Sponsoring University, Link.

Example:

United States, Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education. 17 May 1954. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.

Public Laws 

Citation Template:

Instituiton Which Passed Law. Public Law Number. Statues at Large, cataloging number. Publishing office 

Example:

United States, Congress. Public Law 111-122. United States Statues at Large, vol. 123, 2009, pp. 3480-82. U.S. Government Publishing Office.

Speeches and presentations conducted by reputable, relevant sources can be effective for providing evidence for an argument. A professor or professional in one’s field is a great source to use in an essay. Reference the citations below for properly citing speeches and presentations.

Last name, First name. “Speech/Presentation Title.” Title of Meeting or Organization, Date, Location.

Atwood, Margaret. “Silencing the Scream.” Boundaries of the Imagination Forum. MLA Annual Convention, 29 Dec. 1993, Royal York Hotel, Toronto. 

The citations of songs or albums can be helpful in a variety of instances, including essays on popular culture. When citing a song, citations depend on the container in which the music was accessed. If a song was posted by composers or performers, list composer and performer information after the album title. If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from the source, do not list that information. Reference the citations below for properly citing music.

Artist Last Name, First Name. "Song Title." Album Name, Recording Manufacturer, Publication Year. Streaming Platform (If Applicable), Song URL (If Applicable).

Spotify

Morris, Rae. “Skin.” Cold, Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify, open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

CD

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind, Geffen, 1991.

Unpublished essays are essays not formally distributed or made available to the general public through a published, accessible format. Examples of this can include a personal essay or one from another student. 

Citation template:

Last name, First name. "Title of Essay" Year written.