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MLA Citation Style

An overview of the MLA style—with citation help and examples, formatting guidelines, and additional resources for more help.

What is a Works Cited Page?

A Works Cited is a list at the end of your paper that lists all of the resources you quoted from in your paper. 

A Works Cited will be a separate page from your paper and have your resources listed alphabetically by author (or title as needed) then by date (as needed). Consult the guide for specific resources or ask your professor.

How you create, order, and format a citation depends on the type of resource you used, how you accessed it, and what publication information the source provides. 

What is a Citation?

A citation gives credit to the source where you found the information you use to support your argument or analysis. That way, people can check the information you used to double-check your resources or to use for their own research.

Citations are composed of these parts of a resource: Author, Title, Publication Information, and Date. The elements of a citation can vary from format to format and how the resource was accessed.

In your paper, you will add a brief citation that will lead to a page of the resources you used at the end of your paper where the full citation goes into more detail. That way, your paper flows and can be easily verified.

Nowadays, most library databases have a "cite" function that will generate a full citation in the style you need. You can use that as a starting point and re-format or correct it as you need. 

Other resources don't generate a citation, but they have the information for you to create one, you simply need to look through the resource. 

DOIs, Permalinks, and URLs

These are locators for online resources. Resources on the internet can be available in more than one place or aren't always available. DOIs are the best way to track down a resource that is online. Permalinks, or stable links, are provided by several databases and can be clicked on when hyperlinked to take you to the resource's more specific location. A URL is the link in the address bar of your internet browser and clicking on that will try to take you to the exact location of the resourcebut you might not be able to access the resource.

When a DOI is available, please use that when the citation needs a digital location. When there isn't one listed, you can use the permalink or stable link. If there isn't an option for a permalink (most general online resources won't have one) use the URL provided in the address bar. There are additional rules and suggestions when using a URL. Consult the guide book or ask your professor for preferences on shortened URLs or access dates. 

Works Cited Citation Format

Whole Book

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Whole Book with 2 Authors

1st Author’s Last Name, First Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Whole Book with 3 or More Authors

1st Author’s Last Name, First Name, et al. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Whole Book with Editor

Editor’s Last Name, First Name, editor. Title of Work. Publisher, Year.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year.

E-Book

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. E-book ed., Publisher, Year.

Audiobook

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Narrated by Narrator’s First Name Last Name, audiobook ed., Publisher, Year.

Section of a Book

Section Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Section.” Title of Work, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, Page Range.

Journal

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume #, Issue #, Date, Page Range.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume #, Issue #, Date, Page Range. Database, DOI.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume #, Issue #, Date, Page Range. Database, Permalink. PDF Download.

Magazine

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine, Date, Page Range.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine, Date, Page Range. URL.

Newspaper

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper, Date, Section, Page.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper [Location], Date, URL.

Whole Website

Title of Site. Publisher, Date, URL.

Or

Editor’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Site. Publisher, Date, URL.

Or

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Site. Date. URL.

Web Page

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Page.” Title of Site. Publisher, Date, URL.

Social Media

User’s Last Name, First Name [@handle]. “Title of Post.” Social Media Platform, Date, URL.

Or

User’s Last Name, First Name. Description of Post. Social Media Platform, Date. URL.

Or

Organization’s Name. “First part of post….” Social Media Platform, Date. URL.

Movie

Title of Movie. Directed by Directors First Name Last Name, Studio, Year.

Or

Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s First Name Last Name, screenplay by Screenwriter’s First Name Last Name, Studio, Year. Streaming Service app.

TV Show Episode

“Title of Episode.” Title of TV Show, Directed by Director’s First Name Last Name, Season #, Episode #, Channel, Date Aired.

Or

“Title of Episode.” Title of TV Show, Created by Creator’s First Name Last Name, Season #, episode #, Production Company, Date Aired.

Song

Artist’s Name. “Title of Song.” Title of Album. Studio, Year.

Or

Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Song.” Title of Album. Publisher, Year. Music Streaming Service app.

Video Game

Title of Video Game. Publisher, Date.

Or

Title of Video Game. Version, Publisher, Date.

Artwork

Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Year. Museum, Museum’s Location.

Or

Artist Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Date. Web Site, URL.

Or

Description of work and/or medium. Museum, Museum’s Location.

Photo

Photographer’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Photo. Date, Museum, Museum’s Location.

Or

Photographer’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Photograph, Date, Web Site, URL.