Blog: Mastering MLA Citation Style

Navigating the world of academic writing can often feel like learning a new language, and one of its most crucial dialects is citation. For students in the humanities, mastering MLA citation style is not just a recommendation; it's a cornerstone of scholarly communication and academic integrity. If the thought of Works Cited pages and parenthetical citations makes your head spin, you're in the right place. This comprehensive guide is designed to demystify the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, helping you cite sources accurately, avoid plagiarism, and ultimately, perfect your essays with confidence.

At Write My Essay Now, we understand that academic success hinges on many factors, including the ability to properly acknowledge your sources. While this guide aims to empower you with the knowledge to handle MLA citations independently, remember that our expert writing services are always available if you need further assistance or a perfectly cited essay crafted to meet the highest academic standards.

What is MLA Citation Style?

MLA citation style, developed by the Modern Language Association, is the preferred referencing method for scholars and students in various humanities disciplines. These include literature, languages, philosophy, religious studies, media studies, and cultural studies. First published in 1951 as a slim booklet, the MLA Handbook has evolved through nine editions, with the latest (9th edition, published in 2021) emphasizing a universal set of principles for citing any source type.

The core philosophy of MLA is to provide a clear and consistent way for writers to:

1. Briefly credit sources within their text using parenthetical citations (also known as in-text citations).
2. Provide full bibliographic information for these sources in an alphabetized list called the "Works Cited" page at the end of the document.

This system allows readers to easily locate the original sources for verification or further study, while ensuring that authors receive proper credit for their work. Mastering MLA citation style is therefore essential for participating effectively in academic discourse.

Why is MLA Citation So Important?

Proper citation is more than just a formal requirement; it's fundamental to ethical scholarship and effective academic writing. Here's why dedicating time to understanding MLA is crucial:

• Avoiding Plagiarism: This is perhaps the most critical reason. Plagiarism, the act of using someone else's words or ideas without proper attribution, is a serious academic offense with severe consequences. Correct MLA citation ensures you give credit where it's due. For a deeper understanding of this topic, explore our resource on "Understanding Plagiarism and How to Avoid It".
• Giving Credit to Original Authors: Scholars build upon the work of others. Citations acknowledge the intellectual contributions of the researchers and writers whose ideas have informed your own.
• Building Your Credibility: A well-cited paper demonstrates that your work is thoroughly researched and grounded in existing scholarship. It shows your reader that you've engaged with the relevant literature and can support your arguments with evidence.
• Allowing Readers to Trace Your Sources: Citations provide a roadmap for your readers, enabling them to consult the original sources you used. This facilitates further research and allows them to verify your interpretations.
• Meeting Academic Requirements: Most instructors in the humanities require MLA format for essays and research papers. Adhering to these guidelines is often a significant part of your grade.
• Strengthening Your Argument: By citing authoritative sources, you lend weight and support to your own claims and analyses, making your arguments more persuasive.

Understanding these reasons can transform citation from a tedious chore into a meaningful part of the research and writing process.

Core Elements of MLA Citation (MLA 9th Edition)

The MLA 9th edition streamlines the citation process by focusing on a set of nine core elements. The idea is that if you can identify these elements for any source, you can construct a proper MLA citation. Not all sources will have all nine elements, so you only include those that are relevant to your specific source.

The elements are presented in a specific order, followed by the punctuation mark shown:

1. Author. (End with a period)
2. Title of source. (End with a period. Use italics for larger works like books and websites; use quotation marks for smaller works like articles, poems, or book chapters.)
3. Title of container, (End with a comma. This is the larger work that holds the source, e.g., a journal for an article, a website for a webpage, a book for a chapter.)
4. Other contributors, (End with a comma. E.g., editors, translators, illustrators.)
5. Version, (End with a comma. E.g., edition, revised ed.)
6. Number, (End with a comma. E.g., volume and issue numbers for journals, episode numbers for TV series.)
7. Publisher, (End with a comma. The organization responsible for producing or distributing the source.)
8. Publication date, (End with a comma. The date the source was published.)
9. Location. (End with a period. E.g., page numbers, URL, DOI, permalink.)

Let's break these down:

1. Author

• Start with the author's last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name.
• Example: Smith, John.
• For two authors: Smith, John, and Jane Doe. (Only the first author's name is inverted).
• For three or more authors: Smith, John, et al. (Latin for "and others").

2. Title of Source

• This is the title of the specific work you are citing (e.g., an article, a chapter, a poem, a webpage).
• Titles of articles, chapters, poems, short stories, essays, and individual webpages are placed in quotation marks, followed by a period inside the quotation marks.
  • Example: "The Art of Citation."
• Titles of larger, self-contained works like books, journals, entire websites, films, and albums are italicized, followed by a period.
  • Example: A Guide to Academic Writing.

3. Title of Container

• If your source is part of a larger whole (the "container"), include the title of that container.
• Examples: A book containing a short story, a journal containing an article, a website containing a webpage, a TV series containing an episode.
• Container titles are usually italicized, followed by a comma.
  • Example: Journal of Modern Literature,

4. Other Contributors

• Include other individuals who played a significant role in the source, if relevant to your research.
• Precede their names with a descriptive term (e.g., edited by, translated by, directed by, performance by).
  • Example: edited by Sarah Jones,

5. Version

• If the source indicates a specific version, include it.
  • Examples: revised ed., 2nd ed., King James Version, director's cut,

6. Number

• If the source is part of a numbered sequence, include this information.
  • Examples: vol. 12, no. 3 (for a journal), season 2, episode 5 (for a TV show).

7. Publisher

• The publisher is the organization primarily responsible for producing the source or making it available.
• Omit business words like "Inc.," "Ltd.," or "Company." For university presses, use "UP" (e.g., Oxford UP).
  • Example: W. W. Norton,

8. Publication Date

• Provide the date the source was published. Be as specific as the source allows (day, month, year).
• Abbreviate months with five or more letters (e.g., Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.).
  • Example: 15 May 2023, or 2023, or Spring 2023,

9. Location

• This element tells your reader where to find the cited material.
• For print sources: page numbers (p. or pp.).
  • Example: pp. 25-30.
• For online sources: URL (omit http:// or https:// unless needed for clarity or if the URL doesn't lead to the resource without it) or DOI (Digital Object Identifier). DOIs are preferred for scholarly articles.
  • Example: www.example.com/article. Accessed 10 June 2024. (Access dates are optional but can be helpful for websites that might change).
  • Example: doi:10.1000/182.

Understanding these nine core elements is fundamental to mastering MLA citation style. You'll apply them to construct entries for your Works Cited page.

Formatting In-Text Citations in MLA

MLA uses parenthetical citations (also called in-text citations) to briefly identify sources within your essay. These citations direct readers to the full bibliographic entries in your Works Cited list.

Basic Format: (Author's Last Name Page Number)

• Example: (Smith 123).
• There is no comma between the author's name and the page number.
• The parenthetical citation typically comes at the end of the sentence or clause where the information is used, before the period.

Key Variations for In-Text Citations:

• Author's Name in Sentence: If you mention the author's name in your sentence, you only need to include the page number in the parenthesis.
  • Example: Smith argues that "this is a key point" (123).
• Unknown Author: If the source has no known author, use a shortened version of the source's title (the first noun phrase) in quotation marks (for an article or webpage) or italics (for a book or entire website), followed by the page number if available.
  • Example: ("Impact of Reading" 45).
  • Example: (Guide to Good Writing 78).
• Two Authors: List both authors' last names.
  • Example: (Smith and Jones 56).
  • If mentioned in text: Smith and Jones explain... (56).
• Three or More Authors: List the first author's last name followed by "et al."
  • Example: (Smith et al. 78).
  • If mentioned in text: Smith et al. discuss... (78).
• Corporate Author (Organization as Author): If an organization is the author, use its name. You can abbreviate common organization names if the full name is long and cumbersome, provided the abbreviation is clear.
  • Example: (Modern Language Association 21). or (MLA 21).
• Citing an Indirect Source (Source Quoted in Another Source): Use "qtd. in" (quoted in) to indicate an indirect source.
  • Example: Johnson stated that "research is vital" (qtd. in Smith 99). (Here, Johnson's quote was found in Smith's work).
• Citing Sources Without Page Numbers: For sources like websites, videos, or some e-books that lack stable page numbers, you may omit the page number. If the source has explicitly numbered paragraphs, sections, or timestamps, you can use those.
  • Example: (Brown).
  • Example: (Jones, par. 4).
  • Example: (Lee, 00:03:15-00:03:20).
• Citing Multiple Works by the Same Author: If your Works Cited list includes more than one work by the same author, include a shortened title of the work in your parenthetical citation to distinguish them.
  • Example: (Smith, Art of Writing, 123).
  • Example: (Smith, "Later Poems," 45).
• Citing Different Authors with the Same Last Name: Use the authors' first initials (or full first names if initials are also the same) to differentiate them.
  • Example: (J. Smith 123) and (M. Smith 45).
• Block Quotations: For prose quotations longer than four lines, or poetry quotations longer than three lines:
  • Indent the entire quotation 0.5 inches from the left margin.
  • Do not use quotation marks.
  • The parenthetical citation goes after the final punctuation of the quotation.
  • Maintain double-spacing.
  • Example (Prose):

    Nelly Dean's narrative perspective is crucial: She is a rustic, but not vulgar; a gossip, but not malicious; a servant, but not servile. Her character is complex, offering both an insider's and an outsider's view of the Earnshaw and Linton families. (Bronte 75)

Accuracy and consistency in your in-text citations are vital for academic credibility.

Creating the Works Cited Page in MLA

The Works Cited page is a comprehensive list of all the sources you cited in your paper. It appears at the end of your document on a new page.

Formatting the Works Cited Page:

• Title: Center the title "Works Cited" (without quotation marks, italics, or bolding) one inch from the top of the page.
• Alphabetical Order: Arrange entries alphabetically by the author's last name. If there's no author, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignoring "A," "An," or "The").
• Double-Spacing: Double-space the entire Works Cited page, both within and between entries.
• Hanging Indent: The first line of each entry should be flush with the left margin. Subsequent lines of the same entry should be indented 0.5 inches (a hanging indent). This makes it easy to scan the authors' names.

Examples of Works Cited Entries for Common Source Types:

Here’s how to apply the nine core elements to various source types. Remember to only include elements that are present and relevant for your specific source.

Books

• Book by One Author: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

  Example: Jacobs, Alan. The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. Oxford UP, 2011.

• Book by Two Authors: First Author's Last Name, First Name, and Second Author's First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

  Example: Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale UP, 1979.

• Book by Three or More Authors: First Author's Last Name, First Name, et al. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

  Example: Bordwell, David, et al. Film Art: An Introduction. 12th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2020.

• Book with an Editor (No Author): Editor's Last Name, First Name, editor. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

  Example: Lauter, Paul, editor. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 5th ed., vol. C, Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

• Chapter or Essay in an Edited Book (Anthology): Author of Chapter's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Chapter/Essay." Title of Book, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Year, pp. Page Range of Chapter.

  Example: Bordo, Susan. "The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity." Writing on the Body: Female Embodiment and Feminist Theory, edited by Katie Conboy et al., Columbia UP, 1997, pp. 90-110.

• E-book: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year. Name of E-reader Platform or Database, URL or DOI (if available).

  Example: Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin Classics, 2003. Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm. Example: Smith, Zadie. White Teeth. Vintage, 2001. Kindle ed.

Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)

• Article in a Scholarly Journal (Print): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Publication Date (Month or Season Year), pp. Page Range.

  Example: Williams, Linda. "Film Bodies: Gender, Genre, and Excess." Film Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 4, Summer 1991, pp. 2-13.

• Article in a Scholarly Journal (Online with DOI): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Publication Date (Month or Season Year), pp. Page Range. Name of Database or Website (if different from journal), doi:DOI Number.

  Example: Goldman, Anne. "Questions of Transport: Reading Primo Levi Reading Dante." The Georgia Review, vol. 64, no. 1, Spring 2010, pp. 69-88. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/41403188.

• Article in a Scholarly Journal (Online with URL, no DOI): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Publication Date (Month or Season Year), pp. Page Range (if available). Name of Database or Website, URL. Accessed Access Date (optional, but recommended for sites that may change).

  Example: Jenkins, Henry. "Transmedia Storytelling 101." Confessions of an Aca-Fan, 22 Mar. 2007, henryjenkins.org/blog/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html. Accessed 15 July 2023.

• Article in a Magazine (Print): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Date of Publication (Day Month Year), pp. Page Range.

  Example: Klosterman, Chuck. "The Importance of Being Earnest." Esquire, 15 Mar. 2015, pp. 78-82.

• Article in a Magazine (Online): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Date of Publication (Day Month Year), URL.

  Example: Gopnik, Adam. "The Information: How the Internet Gets Inside Us." The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2011, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information-adam-gopnik.

• Article in a Newspaper (Print): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, Date of Publication (Day Month Year), Section (if applicable), p. Page Number or pp. Page Range.

  Example: Krugman, Paul. "The Austerity Delusion." The New York Times, 29 Apr. 2010, p. A25.

• Article in a Newspaper (Online): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, Date of Publication (Day Month Year), URL.

  Example: Bruni, Frank. "The Real Campus Scourge." The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/04/18/opinion/frank-bruni-the-real-campus-scourge.html.

Web Sources

• Entire Website: Author or Corporate Author (if available). Title of Website. Publisher (if different from author or title), Date of Creation or Last Update (if available), URL. Accessed Access Date (optional).

  Example: The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2023, owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html. Accessed 20 July 2023.

• Page on a Website: Author of Page (if available). "Title of Page or Document." Title of Overall Website, Publisher or Sponsor of Site (if different from website title), Date of Publication or Last Update, URL. Accessed Access Date (optional).

  Example: "MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL Family of Sites, Purdue U Writing Lab, 11 Aug. 2021, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html.

• Blog Post: Author's Last Name, First Name (or username if real name isn't available). "Title of Blog Post." Title of Blog, Date of Post (Day Month Year), URL.

  Example: Dean, Jeremy. "The 10 Most Common Flaws in Student Papers." PsyBlog, 15 Sept. 2022, www.spring.org.uk/2022/09/student-papers.php.

• Online Video (e.g., YouTube): Uploader's Name or Channel Name. "Title of Video." Platform Name (e.g., YouTube), uploaded by Uploader's Name (if different from channel), Date of Upload, URL.

  Example: CrashCourse. "How to Cite Sources: Plagiarism and Citation 101 - The SASS." YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 6 Nov. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=schZ913aB4Y.

• Social Media Post (e.g., Twitter, Instagram): Author's Name or Username (@handle). "Full text of the post or a description." Platform Name, Date of Post, Time of Post (optional), URL.

  Example: Atwood, Margaret (@MargaretAtwood). "My new book The Testaments is out now! So thrilled to share it with you all." Twitter, 10 Sept. 2019, 9:15 a.m., twitter.com/MargaretAtwood/status/1171401719203950592.

Other Common Sources

• Film or DVD: Title of Film. Directed by Director's First Name Last Name, performances by Key Actors' Names, Distributor, Release Year.

  Example: Pulp Fiction. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, performances by John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Samuel L. Jackson, Miramax, 1994.

  • If citing a specific version: Blade Runner: The Final Cut. Directed by Ridley Scott, Warner Bros., 2007.

• Television Episode: "Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, created by Creator's Name, season Season Number, episode Episode Number, Production Company or Distributor, Original Air Date.

  Example: "The Constant." Lost, created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, season 4, episode 5, ABC Studios, 28 Feb. 2008.

• Interview (Personal): Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Date of Interview (Day Month Year).

  Example: Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 12 July 2023.

• Interview (Published): Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview (if any)." Interview conducted by Interviewer's First Name Last Name. Title of Publication or Program Where Interview Appears, Publisher/Network, Date, Location (URL or page numbers).

  Example: Morrison, Toni. "Toni Morrison: The Art of Fiction No. 134." Interview conducted by Elissa Schappell and Claudia Brodsky Lacour. The Paris Review, no. 128, Fall 1993, www.theparisreview.org/interviews/1888/toni-morrison-the-art-of-fiction-no-134-toni-morrison.

• Lecture or Presentation: Speaker's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Presentation." Sponsoring Organization or Event Name, Date of Presentation, Venue, City. Type of Presentation (e.g., Lecture, Keynote Address).

  Example: Said, Edward. "The Myth of 'The Clash of Civilizations'." University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1998, Amherst. Lecture.

This list is not exhaustive, but it covers many common source types. The key is to apply the nine core elements consistently. For more complex or unusual sources, consulting the official MLA Handbook is always recommended.

Key Differences in MLA 9th Edition (Compared to 8th)

For those familiar with MLA 8th edition, the transition to the 9th edition is relatively smooth. The 9th edition builds upon the flexible, container-based system of the 8th, offering more guidance and examples rather than radical changes. Key refinements include:

• More Guidance on Inclusive Language: The handbook now includes a chapter on using inclusive language, encouraging writers to be mindful of bias related to race, gender, sexuality, ability, etc.
• Expanded Guidance on Annotations: More detailed advice on writing annotated bibliographies.
• Refinements for Citing Audiovisual Material: More examples and clarity for citing online videos, music, and other multimedia.
• Citing Social Media: Enhanced guidelines for citing various social media platforms.
• Emphasis on the Writer's Role: The 9th edition continues to emphasize that the writer should make thoughtful choices based on their audience and the nature of their source.
• No Major Structural Changes to Citations: The core elements and the container system remain the foundation of MLA citation.

Essentially, if you understood MLA 8th edition, you are well-prepared for the 9th. The focus remains on providing clear, consistent, and useful information for your readers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in MLA Citation

Even with a good understanding of the rules, certain errors frequently appear in student papers. Being aware of these can help you proofread more effectively:

• Incorrect Punctuation: MLA is very specific about commas, periods, and colons. Pay close attention to the punctuation within and at the end of each element in your Works Cited entries.
• Forgetting Hanging Indents: This is a common formatting error on the Works Cited page.
• Inconsistent Capitalization in Titles: MLA uses title case for titles of works (capitalize the first word, last word, and all principal words). Do not use sentence case unless the original title uses it.
• Missing Elements: Omitting necessary information like the publisher, publication date, or page numbers (when available).
• Incorrectly Formatting Author Names: Inverting only the first author's name in multi-author entries, or misusing "et al."
• Mismatched In-Text Citations and Works Cited Entries: Every in-text citation must correspond to an entry in the Works Cited list, and the first word(s) of the Works Cited entry must match what appears in the parenthetical citation.
• Not Citing Paraphrased Information: Remember, MLA requires citation for both direct quotes and paraphrased ideas.
• Over-Relying on Citation Generators: While citation generators can be helpful starting points, they are not infallible. Always double-check generated citations against the MLA guidelines or a reliable guide like this one.
• Incorrectly Formatting URLs and DOIs: Generally, omit "http://" or "https://". DOIs should be formatted as "doi:xxxxxx".
• Forgetting to Italicize or Use Quotation Marks for Titles: Remember, larger works (books, journals, websites) are italicized; smaller works within them (articles, chapters, poems) are in quotation marks.

Careful proofreading is your best defense against these common pitfalls.

Tips for Mastering MLA Citation Style

Becoming proficient in MLA citation takes practice and attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you on your journey to mastering MLA citation style:

1. Start Early: Don't leave citations until the last minute. Integrate the process of recording source information as you conduct your research.
2. Keep Detailed Notes: For every source you consult, immediately write down all the information you'll need for your Works Cited entry (author, title, publisher, date, URL/DOI, page numbers, etc.).
3. Use the Official MLA Handbook or Reliable Guides: While online summaries are helpful, the official handbook is the ultimate authority. This guide aims to be comprehensive, but complex cases may require the handbook.
4. Practice Consistently: The more you use MLA style, the more familiar and intuitive it will become. Apply it to all your relevant academic assignments.
5. Double-Check Everything: Accuracy is paramount. Before submitting any work, meticulously review your in-text citations and Works Cited page for correctness and consistency.
6. Understand Why You're Citing: Knowing the purpose behind citation (avoiding plagiarism, giving credit, etc.) can make the process feel less like a chore and more like an integral part of scholarly work.
7. Consider Citation Management Tools (with caution): Software like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help organize sources and generate citations. However, always verify their output for accuracy, as they can make mistakes.
8. Create a Personal Style Sheet or Checklist: As you learn, jot down common rules or tricky examples for quick reference.
9. Review Sample Papers: Look at well-written academic papers in your field that use MLA style to see how it's applied in context.
10. Focus on the Core Elements: If you're unsure how to cite a particular source, try to identify its core elements. This will usually guide you to the correct format.
11. If you are working on a significant piece of academic work, such as a research paper, remember that citation is just one part of a larger process. For broader advice, you might find our "Blog: 10 Tips for Writing a Compelling Research Paper" helpful.

When to Seek Help with MLA Citations (and Essays)

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Conclusion: Your Path to MLA Proficiency

Mastering MLA citation style is an invaluable skill for any student in the humanities. It enables you to engage ethically with the work of others, build your own credibility as a scholar, and communicate your ideas effectively within the academic community. While the rules may seem daunting at first, remember that MLA is designed to be a logical and consistent system.

By understanding the core elements, practicing the formatting for in-text citations and Works Cited entries, and paying close attention to detail, you can navigate MLA with confidence. Use this guide as your trusted companion, refer to the official MLA Handbook when needed, and don't hesitate to practice. The more you apply these principles, the more second nature they will become.

Remember, accurate citation is not just about following rules; it's about participating responsibly in the ongoing conversation of scholarship. And if you ever need a helping hand to ensure your work is polished and perfectly cited, Write My Essay Now is here to support your academic journey. Unlock top grades with perfect MLA citations and compelling essays – your success is our priority.