how to write in mla citation

McCombes, S. (2022, June 16). How to Cite a Website in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 4, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/website-citation/

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How to Cite a Lecture in MLA?

If you’re an academic writer, you must know how to cite lectures. Lectures are a great source of knowledge, but mentioning them in the body of your paper can get tricky. Although you generally don’t cite lectures that you attend, it is important to note them in your works cited and bibliography, especially if you use them as a source when writing a paper. Non-scholarly lectures and speeches may also be included in the works cited list in APA or MLA citation format.

What is an MLA Lecture Citation?

We will discuss the main citations, such as MLA or APA, and what they mean for you as a writer.

In the study of MLA citations, it is important to understand the history of their use. Modern Language Association (MLA) was founded in 1883 by a group of scholars who wanted to improve the standardization of language and literature. They believed that if people could speak and write consistently, it would be easier for everyone to communicate clearly.

The founders of MLA published their first edition of Style Manuals for Authors, Editors, and Printers in 1906. This manual included rules for citations, which had been previously handled differently by various writers. The second edition of the MLA citation Style Manual appeared in 1949, and the third edition in 1974; both included rules for citing information from books, periodicals, websites, and other sources.

The first person to make it into the history books for creating a system of documentation is Robert Plumer Ward (a pseudonym), who wrote an article called “An Essay on Bibliographical Citation.” He argued that every book should have its page number, but he didn’t like how long citations looked when both author and title were included. So, instead of using one line per citation as we do now, he used two lines: one for the author’s name and the date and one for the title and the date. This format is still used today!

Citing a Lecture in MLA Format

When citing lectures both in MLA or APA citation format, use the speaker’s name in the following form:

The first element of the in-text citation in MLA or APA format is the lecture’s title. For example, if you are citing a live lesson, include the lecturer’s name and an indication that this was a live event. For example:

[Lecture Title] by [Lecturer’s Name]. On Day, Month, Year at Time: Hour: Minute AM/PM (if applicable).

In this case, if two presenters gave separate portions at different times during your visit, you would list both names separated by commas with no ending punctuation after either one. For example:

[Title], presented by [First Presenter’s Name] and [Second Presenter’s Name] on Day Month Year at Time Hour Minute AM/PM.

MLA Lecture in Text Citation: Our Generator

Lectures are a great source of knowledge, but citing them in your paper can get tricky. First, you must do it properly if you’re using a lecture as a source of information. The MLA or APA citation style guidelines for citing lectures include information on other resources, such as websites and podcasts, and how to mention any notes taken during the lecture.

How you cite the lecture will depend on what type of source it is. If you use a book or an article, you must use the author’s name, year of publication, and page number(s). If it is a website or blog post, you can use the URL and title (if available).

If you are stuck with citing properly, our MLA citation machine generator can help you! This generator is designed to help you format your essay properly so it will be easier for you to write it. First, you need to insert the text of your paper and choose the style of formatting that you need. Then, our tool will generate the results just with a few mouse clicks.

MLA Presentation Citation

Presentations are often a part of the research process and can be as simple or complex as you would like. For example, the simplest MLA cite a PowerPoint lecture includes a slideshow of images and text; more complicated presentations may require data analysis or even statistical modeling. Regardless of the MLA or APA format, mentioning any information presented during a presentation is important to give credit where credit is due.

Presentations that are scheduled and planned, such as visiting a classroom or delivering a lecture at a conference, require both in-text citation and information on the Works Cited page, either in MLA or APA format. Some examples of presentations are lectures, school assemblies, speeches at political rallies or fundraising events, and performances by artists and musicians, both live on stage and recorded for broadcast or distribution online.

MLA format PowerPoint presentation includes details such as title; date(s) presented; the location where it was held (if relevant); name (s) of the presenter(s) if available.

An in-text citation in both MLA and APA should include the speaker’s name, the title of the presentation or paper, and the phrase “Presented at.”

When you use a quote in your paper, include the speaker’s name, the title of their presentation or article, and the phrase “Presented at.”

MLA format for lectures should include the name of the presenter and presenters (if there was more than one), their last names, and their initials, followed by the date presented or published. For example, Smith, John (presenter); Smith J., 2000 (presenter). Our generator is always there for you if you can’t cite a presentation.

MLA Conference Presentation Citation

If you’ve ever had to present at a conference, you know how nerve-wracking it can be. The good news is that all that hard work is worth it if you give yourself credit! Below are some examples of how to cite in MLA/APA style:

Author’s name, “Title of Presentation,” Conference name, location, and date presented.

For example:

Jane Doe, “The Impact of Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov on the Modern Novel,” MLA 2009 Conference and Annual Meeting (New York City: New York University Press), the 12th of April, 2009.

MLA Citation Lecture Video

If you are citing a lecture video, you may use the same MLA or APA format as if it were a written work. However, there is one caveat: if the date for the video is not known or has not been specified, it is acceptable to leave that out of your citation. We recommend including it anyway so your reader knows when it was recorded.

Last name, First name. (Year of publication). Title of the video. Retrieved from URL

If the video does not have a date, you do not need to include it.

As you can see above, if there is no date for the video, you do not need to include it. However, if there is a date for the lecture video (such as “The 5th of February, 2019”), you must have it in the same MLA or APA format as the rest of your citations:

MLA: the 5th of February, 2019

APA: February, the 5th 2019

If you still struggle, the MLA Video Lecture Citation Machine Generator can help you to format your lecture video properly. It’s very simple and fast. Just enter the name of your video lecture and press “Generate.” In a few seconds, you will get all the information about your source: title, author, date, URL, and so on.

How to Do MLA Format on Google Docs [Step-by-Step Guide]

Emma collins.

Last updated March 3, 2023

Google Docs is a widely-used online word-processing tool that offers various formatting options, including MLA. Knowing how to do MLA format on Google Docs can save you a lot of time and effort in formatting your document correctly.

To set up MLA format on Google Docs, go to the “File” menu and select “Page setup.” Set the margins to 1 inch and the font to Times New Roman (size 12). Use the “Format” menu to set double spacing and hanging indents for your citations. Include a works cited page at the end of your document.

Whether you’re new to MLA formatting or simply need a refresher, this guide will help you get your document formatted correctly and ready to submit.

Table of Contents

What Is MLA Format?

MLA (Modern Language Association) is a commonly-used formatting style in academic writing, especially in humanities, literature, and social sciences papers. If you’re a student or scholar, your research papers and essays will probably require you to learn how to use MLA format on Google Docs .

MLA follows a set of rules that govern how academic papers should be formatted. Additionally, it includes guidelines on structuring the paper, citing sources, and creating a Works Cited page. These format guidelines are designed to make academic papers easy to read while maintaining a consistent structure that will be accepted by your instructor or publisher.

Which Criteria Are Needed for MLA Formatting?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of using MLA format on Google Docs , it’s essential to understand what criteria you’ll need to meet to format your paper correctly:

How to Set Up MLA Format in Google Docs

Setting up an MLA format is a straightforward process. Simply follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Open a New Google Doc

To set up MLA format in Google Docs:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—where to find page setup in Google Docs

Step 2: Set Margins and Page Size

Adjust the margins and page size to match MLA requirements. To do this:

Change the page size to “8.5 x 11” in the “Page Setup” window.

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to set page setup for MLA formatting

Next, set the margins for your document to 1 inch on all sides.

Step 3: Set Font and Font Size

Next, set your document’s font and size. MLA guidelines recommend a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial) and a 12-point font size. To change the font and font size:

Click the “Font” drop-down menu in the top toolbar.

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to change font in Google Docs

Select the suggested font and size. In this case, Times New Roman. You can find the font size tab next to the font style.

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—where to find font size box

Step 4: Set Line Spacing

MLA format requires double-spaced text throughout the document, including the Works Cited page. To set line spacing in Google Docs:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to set double spacing in Google Docs

Step 5: Add a Header

One of the critical elements of MLA formatting is a header that appears at the top of every page, including the first page. The header should include your last name and the page number, with the page number aligned with the right margin. To add a header:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—where to find headers and footers in Google Docs

Type your last name in the header section, and click “Right align.”

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to right align in Google Docs

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to insert page numbers in Google Docs

Step 6: Add a Title

The title of your paper should be centered and typed in the same font and font size as the rest of your document. To add a title:

Type it in the center of the first page using “Center Align,” with no additional formatting (like bold or underline).

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to center text on MLA title on Google Docs

The title should appear like this:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—MLA format titles in Google Docs

Step 7: Add In-Text Citations

In-text citations are used to credit sources in your paper’s body. MLA formatting requires including the author’s last name and the page number where the information was found (added in parentheses after the quoted or paraphrased text). To add an in-text citation:

Type the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses after the relevant text.

Step 8: Create a Works Cited Page

To get MLA formatting on Google Docs right, you’ll need a Works Cited page that lists all the sources cited in your paper. You must cite all sources used in your paper, including direct quotes and summarized information.

To create a Works Cited page in Google Docs , follow the steps outlined below:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—creating MLA work cited page in Google Docs

The formatting for each source type (e.g., book, journal article, website) may differ slightly. Consult the MLA Handbook or a reliable online source for guidance.

Note: I f you’re citing a source with multiple authors, you must use “et al.” after the first author’s name.

Format Citations in the Works Cited Page

In MLA format, citations on the Works Cited page should be formatted with a hanging indent and double-spaced lines. To create a hanging indent in Google Docs , do the following:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to align and indent in Google Docs

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—where to find special hanging indent in Google Docs

Step 10: Check Your Formatting

Once you’ve completed all the steps for setting up an MLA-friendly doc in Google Docs, double-check your formatting to ensure that it meets all of the required guidelines. This includes reviewing your margins, font size, line spacing, header, and Works Cited page to ensure that they follow MLA guidelines.

That’s it! You’ve successfully set up MLA format in Google Docs.

How to Use MLA Format Google Docs Template

To set Google Docs to MLA format, there’s a template that’s incredibly simple to use:

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—MLA Format Google Docs Template

Start typing! The template comes pre-formatted with all the necessary margins, line spacing, and font size.

How Do You Add MLA Citations in Google Docs?

To add a citation, place your cursor where you want the citation to go. Then, do the following:

Click on the “Tools” menu, then click “Citation.”

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—how to do MLA citation source in Google Docs

Select “MLA (8th Ed.)” as the citation format. Then, click “Add citation source.”

How to do MLA format on Google Docs—can you do MLA citations in Google Docs

If you’re citing a new source, you’ll need to enter the author’s name, title, publisher, and other information. You can choose from your previously-added sources if you select a citation source.

Tips for Writing an Essay

While formatting your paper is essential, it’s also vital to ensure your content’s message is strong. Here are some tips for writing an essay that will stand out:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make an mla cover page on googl e docs.

MLA format doesn’t require a cover page, but if your instructor does, here’s how to create a cover page on Google Docs:

What Is the Newest MLA Format?

The newest MLA format is the 9th edition, released in 2021. The ninth edition includes added chapters on inclusive language and formatting an MLA-style paper.

One of the main changes in the ninth edition is the formatting of tables. Tables are now labeled and numbered, with the label and title placed in bold above the table on separate lines. A caption providing information about the source is placed below the table.

When Do I Use a Hanging Indent in MLA Format?

Aside from these basic steps, there are other formatting considerations when working with MLA format.

For example, if you’re using quotes that are longer than four lines, they should have a hanging indent and be separated from the rest of the text.

Wrapping Up

After reading this guide, you should confidently know how to do MLA format on Google Docs. Remember: Writing is a process, and it takes time and practice to master the skills needed to write high-quality papers. With a little patience and perseverance, you’ll be able to produce well-formatted, well-researched papers that meet the highest academic standards.

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How to Write in MLA Format

Last Updated: February 23, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 317,810 times.

Modern Language Association, or MLA, format is one of the major writing styles used in academic and professional writing. This style is especially common when you are writing in the humanities. If you are writing a paper for a course, then make sure to check the instructions the professor or teacher has provided to see if MLA format is a requirement. If so, you will need to learn and follow the guidelines for using MLA format.

Creating a Cover Page

With that in mind, sometimes an instructor will ask students to create a cover page for an MLA style paper, especially for long papers. There are guidelines concerning the type of information that should be included in this event.

Following General MLA Format

For most word processing programs, you can change the margins by heading into the "Page Layout" settings, usually located under a "File" menu. There should be a "Margins" heading in the dialog box. From there, change each margin to the appropriate size.

For most word processing programs, you can change the spacing by going into the “Page Layout” settings, typically accessed from a “File” menu.” There should be a “Line Spacing” heading in the dialog box. Under that heading, select “2.0” spacing.

If you opt to use another font instead of Times New Roman, choose a font that is simple, easy to read, and not excessively large.

Access the "Header and Footer" tool in your word processor, often found under the "View" menu. Type your last name and hit the page number icon in the options box to automatically insert the current page number on its corresponding page.

Formatting the First Page

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 10

Do not make the title larger, italicized, underlined, or bold printed.

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 11

Formatting the Body of the Paper

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 12

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Using In-Text Citations

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 15

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Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 17

Formatting the Endnotes Page

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 18

If you inserted any notes into your document, the notes themselves should be included as endnotes that are listed on a separate page after the main body of the paper. Do not include them as footnotes, which are listed at the foot of each page as they appear.

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 19

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 20

Your endnotes should not exceed three or four lines in lengths. Avoid long discussions. Endnotes are not the right time to bring up entirely new points.

Including an Appendix

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 21

If including multiple appendices, label each as “Appendix A,” “Appendix B,” and so on.

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 22

An appendix is a way to include related information without distracting from the main argument of your paper.

Creating the Works Cited Page

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 23

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 24

If a text does not have a known author, arrange that citation in alphabetical order according to the first word of the article or book title.

Image titled Write in MLA Format Step 25

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Community Q&A

About This Article

To write a paper in MLA format, create 1-inch margins on all sides of the page, and use 12-point font and double-space your text as you write. You should also create a running header containing your last name and the page number on each page. On the first page, type your heading in the upper left corner. The heading typically includes your full name, your instructor’s name, the class number, and the due date, all on separate lines. On the line immediately following the date, center your paper’s title. Left-align your text again and begin writing the body of your paper. For tips on creating an MLA-format Works Cited page, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / Creating an MLA Bibliography

Creating an MLA Bibliography

If you write a research paper in MLA format, then you will need to include a Works Cited page according to the current 9th edition of the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines. Along with citing your sources within the body of your paper, you also need to include full citations of all sources at the end of your paper. The references in a bibliography are formatted in the same way as they would be in a Works Cited page. However, a bibliography refers to all works that you have consulted in your research, even if you did not use their information directly in your paper.

When you use the correct MLA bibliography format, it shows the reader what sources you consulted, makes finding your sources easier for the reader, and gives credibility to your work as a researcher and writer. This MLA sample paper will show you how the bibliography is incorporated into the rest of your paper. We also have a guide on APA reference pages , if you are following APA style in your paper.

Works cited or bibliography?

You may be wondering, what is a bibliography, and how is it different from a Works Cited page? The difference between the two is that while a bibliography refers to any source you consulted to write your research paper, a Works Cited page only includes full citations of the sources you quoted or paraphrased within your paper.

Typically, when someone says, “MLA bibliography” they really mean a Works Cited page, since the MLA format usually uses a Works Cited page instead of a bibliography.

A bibliography in MLA format may also refer to a Works Consulted page. If you used other sources that you did not directly quote or paraphrase within the paper, you will need to create a Works Consulted/Additional Resources page. A Works Consulted page starts on a separate page and follows the Works Cited page. It follows the same formatting guidelines as a Works Cited page, but you will use Works Consulted (or Additional Resources) as the title.

If you’re unsure of what to include in your citations list (works cited, works consulted, or both), ask your instructor. For the rest of this article, we will refer to this page as the MLA bibliography.

MLA bibliography formatting guidelines

These are the formatting rules you need to follow to create your bibliography according to MLA’s current edition guidelines. Your first page(s) will be your Works Cited page(s) and include the references that you directly refer to in your paper. Usually, this is all that is needed. If your instructor wants you to also include the works you consulted but did not include in your paper (more like a bibliography), then add Works Consulted or Additional Resources page for these sources.

Typically, this is the author’s last name, but sometimes it could be the title of the source if the author’s name is not available.

If you have a Works Consulted or Additional Resources page after your Works Cited page, format it in the same way, but with the title of Works Consulted or Additional Resources instead of Works Cited. Alternatively, your instructor may require a bibliography. If this is the case, all your sources, whether they are cited in your paper are not, are listed on the same page.

MLA citation guidelines

These are the rules you need to follow to create citations for an MLA bibliography. This section contains information on how to correctly use author names, punctuation, capitalization, fonts, page numbers, DOIs, and URLS in the citations on your MLA bibliography.

Author names

After the title Works Cited, the last name of the author of a source should be the first thing to appear on your page.

List the author’s last name followed by a comma, then the first name followed by the middle name or middle initial if applicable, without a comma separating the first and middle names. Add a period after the name.

Rowling, J.K.

Smith, Alexander McCall.

Sources with two authors

For a source with two authors, list the author names in your citation in the order they appear on the source, not alphabetically.

Type the last name of the first author listed on the source followed by a comma, then the first author’s first name followed by a comma. Then type the word “and” then list the second author’s first name and last name in the standard order. Follow the second name with a period.

Include middle names or initials and suffixes when applicable according to the guidelines for one author as listed above.

1st Author’s Last Name, First Name, and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name.

Lutz, Lisa, and David Hayward.

Clark, Mary Higgins, and Alafair Burke.

Sources with three or more authors

For a source with three or more authors, only type the last and first name of the first author listed in the source, followed by a comma and the phrase et al., which is Latin for “and others.” Be sure to always place a period after the al in et al. but never after the et.

1st Author’s Last Name, First Name, et al.

Charaipotra, Sona, et al.

Williams, Beatriz, et al. All the Ways We Said Goodbye . HarperLuxe, 2020.

Organizations and corporations as authors

For sources with organizations or corporations listed as the author, type the name of the corporation in place of an author’s name. If the organization begins with an article like a, an, or the, it should be excluded in the Works Cited entry.

Modern Language Association of America. MLA Handbook . 2016.

*Note: If the organization is listed as both the author and the publisher, begin the citation with the title and include the organization’s name within the publisher field instead.

For a source with no author listed, simply omit the author’s name and begin the citation with the title of the source. Use the first letter of the title when considering alphabetical order in your MLA bibliography.

Capitalization

Use MLA title case when citing titles of sources.

Font formatting

Page numbers

Include page numbers in your full citations whenever possible. This helps the reader find the information you cited more quickly than if you just cited the entire source and lends more credibility to your argument. If you cite different pages from the same source within your paper, you should cite the entire source on your MLA bibliography instead of listing all of the page numbers you used.

When including page numbers in a citation, use the abbreviation p. to cite one page and the abbreviation pp. to cite multiple pages with a hyphen between the page numbers.

p. 25 or pp. 16-37

When citing page numbers in MLA, omit the first set of repeated digits.

pp. 365-69, not pp. 365-369

DOIs and URLs

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is used to locate and identify an online source. While URLs may change or web pages might be edited or updated, a DOI is permanent and therefore more useful in a source citation.

Butarbutar, R, et al. “Analyzing of Puzzle Local Culture-Based in Teaching English for Young Learners.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science , vol. 343, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/343/1/012208.

Accessed dates

Since the previous 8th edition of the MLA Handbook was published, you do NOT need to list an accessed date for a stable source (e.g., online newspaper article, journal article, photograph, etc.). However, including an access date is good to include when a source does not have a publishing date, and some instructors will request that accessed dates be included for all sources.

If you do include an access date, here’s how to format it:

Butarbutar, R, et al. “IOPscience.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science , IOP Publishing, 1 Oct. 2019, iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/343/1/012208/meta. Accessed 8 Oct. 2020.

Note: If you choose to list an accessed date after a DOI, the accessed date part of the citation will follow the period after the DOI and will end with a period at the end of the citation

MLA 8 th edition vs MLA 9 th edition

The 9 th edition of the MLA handbook re-introduces guidelines regarding paper formatting (which were not present in the 8 th edition). The guidance in the 9 th addition is consistent with the guidance in previous editions and expands on the formatting of tables, figures/illustrations, and lists. The 9 th edition also offers new guidance in areas like annotated bibliographies, inclusive language, and footnotes/endnotes.

Many of the differences between the 8 th edition and 9 th edition have to do with the formatting of the core elements in reference list entries. Some of the main changes include:

Written by Grace Turney , freelance writer and artist. Grace is a former librarian and has a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Technology.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

Annotated Bibliography

Bibliography

Citation Examples

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An MLA bibliography is similar to the Works Cited list that you include at the end of your paper. The only difference between a Works Cited list and a bibliography is that for the former, you need to include the entries for only the sources you cited in the text, whereas for the latter you can also include the sources you consulted to write your paper but didn’t directly cite in your writing. MLA generally prefers Works Cited lists to bibliographies.

If your instructor advises you to create an MLA bibliography, follow the same guidelines you would follow for creating an MLA Works Cited list.

The bibliography list appears at the end of the paper, after any endnotes if they are present.

All margins (top, bottom, left, and right) should be set at 1 inch.

Write the running head in the top right of the page at 0.5 inch from the top. Use the running head “Surname Page #.”

The font should be clear enough to read. Use Times New Roman font of size 12 points.

Entries should be double-spaced. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent lines of the entry 0.5 inch from the left margin.

Bibliographic entries are arranged alphabetically according to the first item in each entry.

Title your bibliography as “Bibliography.”

Braidotti, Rosi. The Posthuman . Polity, 2013.

Brisini, Travis. “Phytomorphizing Performance: Plant Performance in an Expanded Field.” Text and Performance Quarterly , vol. 39, 2019, pp. 1–2.

Riccio, Thomas. “Reimagining Yup’ik and Inupiat Performance.” Northwest Theatre Review , vol. 12, no. 1, 1999, pp. 1–30.

General rules for creating an annotated bibliography

The annotation is given after the source entry and is generally about 100-150 words in length. The annotation should be indented 1 inch from the left margin to distinguish it from the hanging indent within the citation entry.

The annotation, in general, should be written as short phrases. However, you may use full sentences as well.

The annotation for each source is usually no longer than one paragraph. However, if multiple paragraphs are included, indent the second and subsequent paragraphs without any extra line space between them.

The annotation provides basic information about the source, but does not include details about the source, quotes from the author, etc. The information can be descriptive (by generally describing what the source covers) or evaluative (by evaluating the source’s usefulness to the argument in your paper).

Example annotated bibliography

The below is an example of an annotated bibliography:

Morritt, Robert D. Beringia: Archaic Migrations into North America . Cambridge Scholars Pub, 2011.

The author studies the migration of cultures from Asia to North America. The connection between the North American Athabaskan language family and Siberia is presented, together with comparisons and examinations of the implications of linguistics from anthropological, archaeological, and folklore perspectives. This book explores the origins of the earliest people in the Americas, including Siberian, Dene, and Navajo Creation myths; linguistic comparisons between Siberian Ket Navajo and Western Apache; and comparisons between indigenous groups that appear to share the same origin.

MLA Citation Examples

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14.1: Formatting a Research Paper

Learning Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn how to use APA style, the documentation and formatting style followed by the American Psychological Association, as well as MLA style, from the Modern Language Association. There are a few major formatting styles used in academic texts, including AMA, Chicago, and Turabian:

While all the formatting and citation styles have their own use and applications, in this chapter we focus our attention on the two styles you are most likely to use in your academic studies: APA and MLA.

If you find that the rules of proper source documentation are difficult to keep straight, you are not alone. Writing a good research paper is, in and of itself, a major intellectual challenge. Having to follow detailed citation and formatting guidelines as well may seem like just one more task to add to an already-too-long list of requirements.

Following these guidelines, however, serves several important purposes. First, it signals to your readers that your paper should be taken seriously as a student’s contribution to a given academic or professional field; it is the literary equivalent of wearing a tailored suit to a job interview. Second, it shows that you respect other people’s work enough to give them proper credit for it. Finally, it helps your reader find additional materials if he or she wishes to learn more about your topic.

Furthermore, producing a letter-perfect APA-style paper need not be burdensome. Yes, it requires careful attention to detail. However, you can simplify the process if you keep these broad guidelines in mind:

General Formatting Guidelines

This chapter provides detailed guidelines for using the citation and formatting conventions developed by the American Psychological Association, or APA. Writers in disciplines as diverse as astrophysics, biology, psychology, and education follow APA style. The major components of a paper written in APA style are listed in the following box.

These are the major components of an APA-style paper:

All these components must be saved in one document, not as separate documents.

The title page of your paper includes the following information:

List the first three elements in the order given in the previous list, centered about one third of the way down from the top of the page. Use the headers and footers tool of your word-processing program to add the header, with the title text at the left and the page number in the upper-right corner. Your title page should look like the following example.

Beyond the Hype: Evaluating Low-Carb Diets cover page

The next page of your paper provides an abstract, or brief summary of your findings. An abstract does not need to be provided in every paper, but an abstract should be used in papers that include a hypothesis. A good abstract is concise—about one hundred to one hundred fifty words—and is written in an objective, impersonal style. Your writing voice will not be as apparent here as in the body of your paper. When writing the abstract, take a just-the-facts approach, and summarize your research question and your findings in a few sentences.

In Chapter 12, you read a paper written by a student named Jorge, who researched the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets. Read Jorge’s abstract. Note how it sums up the major ideas in his paper without going into excessive detail.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Write an abstract summarizing your paper. Briefly introduce the topic, state your findings, and sum up what conclusions you can draw from your research. Use the word count feature of your word-processing program to make sure your abstract does not exceed one hundred fifty words.

Depending on your field of study, you may sometimes write research papers that present extensive primary research, such as your own experiment or survey. In your abstract, summarize your research question and your findings, and briefly indicate how your study relates to prior research in the field.

Margins, Pagination, and Headings

APA style requirements also address specific formatting concerns, such as margins, pagination, and heading styles, within the body of the paper. Review the following APA guidelines.

Use these general guidelines to format the paper:

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Begin formatting the final draft of your paper according to APA guidelines. You may work with an existing document or set up a new document if you choose. Include the following:

APA style uses section headings to organize information, making it easy for the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought and to know immediately what major topics are covered. Depending on the length and complexity of the paper, its major sections may also be divided into subsections, sub-subsections, and so on. These smaller sections, in turn, use different heading styles to indicate different levels of information. In essence, you are using headings to create a hierarchy of information.

The following heading styles used in APA formatting are listed in order of greatest to least importance:

Visually, the hierarchy of information is organized as indicated in Table 13.1 “Section Headings”.

A college research paper may not use all the heading levels shown in Table 13.1 “Section Headings”, but you are likely to encounter them in academic journal articles that use APA style. For a brief paper, you may find that level 1 headings suffice. Longer or more complex papers may need level 2 headings or other lower-level headings to organize information clearly. Use your outline to craft your major section headings and determine whether any subtopics are substantial enough to require additional levels of headings.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Working with the document you developed in Note 13.11 “Exercise 2”, begin setting up the heading structure of the final draft of your research paper according to APA guidelines. Include your title and at least two to three major section headings, and follow the formatting guidelines provided above. If your major sections should be broken into subsections, add those headings as well. Use your outline to help you.

Because Jorge used only level 1 headings, his Exercise 3 would look like the following:

Citation Guidelines

In-text citations.

Throughout the body of your paper, include a citation whenever you quote or paraphrase material from your research sources. As you learned in Chapter 11, the purpose of citations is twofold: to give credit to others for their ideas and to allow your reader to follow up and learn more about the topic if desired. Your in-text citations provide basic information about your source; each source you cite will have a longer entry in the references section that provides more detailed information.

In-text citations must provide the name of the author or authors and the year the source was published. (When a given source does not list an individual author, you may provide the source title or the name of the organization that published the material instead.) When directly quoting a source, it is also required that you include the page number where the quote appears in your citation.

This information may be included within the sentence or in a parenthetical reference at the end of the sentence, as in these examples.

Epstein (2010) points out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).

Here, the writer names the source author when introducing the quote and provides the publication date in parentheses after the author’s name. The page number appears in parentheses after the closing quotation marks and before the period that ends the sentence.

Addiction researchers caution that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (Epstein, 2010, p. 137).

Here, the writer provides a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence that includes the author’s name, the year of publication, and the page number separated by commas. Again, the parenthetical citation is placed after the closing quotation marks and before the period at the end of the sentence.

As noted in the book Junk Food, Junk Science (Epstein, 2010, p. 137), “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive.”

Here, the writer chose to mention the source title in the sentence (an optional piece of information to include) and followed the title with a parenthetical citation. Note that the parenthetical citation is placed before the comma that signals the end of the introductory phrase.

David Epstein’s book Junk Food, Junk Science (2010) pointed out that “junk food cannot be considered addictive in the same way that we think of psychoactive drugs as addictive” (p. 137).

Another variation is to introduce the author and the source title in your sentence and include the publication date and page number in parentheses within the sentence or at the end of the sentence. As long as you have included the essential information, you can choose the option that works best for that particular sentence and source.

Citing a book with a single author is usually a straightforward task. Of course, your research may require that you cite many other types of sources, such as books or articles with more than one author or sources with no individual author listed. You may also need to cite sources available in both print and online and nonprint sources, such as websites and personal interviews. Section 13.2 and Section 13.3 provide extensive guidelines for citing a variety of source types.

writing at work

APA is just one of several different styles with its own guidelines for documentation, formatting, and language usage. Depending on your field of interest, you may be exposed to additional styles, such as the following:

References List

The brief citations included in the body of your paper correspond to the more detailed citations provided at the end of the paper in the references section. In-text citations provide basic information—the author’s name, the publication date, and the page number if necessary—while the references section provides more extensive bibliographical information. Again, this information allows your reader to follow up on the sources you cited and do additional reading about the topic if desired.

The specific format of entries in the list of references varies slightly for different source types, but the entries generally include the following information:

The references page is double spaced and lists entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If an entry continues for more than one line, the second line and each subsequent line are indented five spaces. Review the following example. (Section 13.3 provides extensive guidelines for formatting reference entries for different types of sources.)

In APA style, book and article titles are formatted in sentence case, not title case. Sentence case means that only the first word is capitalized, along with any proper nouns.

Key Takeaways

Add citations in a Word document

In Word, you can easily add citations when writing a document where you need to cite your sources, such as a research paper. Citations can be added in various formats, including APA , Chicago-style , GOST, IEEE, ISO 690, and MLA . Afterwards, you can create a bibliography of the sources you used to write your paper.

To add a citation to your document, you first add the source that you used.

Add a new citation and source to a document

On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style and click the style that you want to use for the citation and source. For example, social sciences documents usually use the MLA or APA styles for citations and sources.

The Style APA option is highlighted on the References tab

Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.

On the Reference tab, click Insert Citation and then do one of the following:

To add the source information, click Add New Source , and then, in the Create Source dialog box, click the arrow next to Type of Source , and select the type of source you want to use (for example, a book section or a website).

To add a placeholder, so that you can create a citation and fill in the source information later, click Add New Placeholder . A question mark appears next to placeholder sources in Source Manager.

If you chose to add a source, enter the details for the source. To add more information about a source, click the Show All Bibliography Fields check box.

Click OK when finished. The source is added as a citation at the place you selected in your document.

When you've completed these steps, the citation is added to the list of available citations. The next time you quote this reference, you don't have to type it all out again. You just add the citation to your document . After you've added a source, you may find you need to make changes to it at a later time. To do this, see Edit a source .

If you've added a placeholder and want to replace it with citation information, see Edit a source .

If you choose a GOST or ISO 690 style for your sources and a citation is not unique, append an alphabetic character to the year. For example, a citation would appear as [Pasteur, 1848a].

If you choose ISO 690-Numerical Reference and your citations still don't appear consecutively, you must click the ISO 690 style again, and then press ENTER to correctly order the citations.

Add citations to your document

Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations .

From the list of citations under Insert Citation , select the citation you want to use.

The list of citations is shown from the Insert Citation button

Find a source

The list of sources that you use can become quite long. At times, you might need to search for a source that you cited in another document.

On the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Manage Sources .

The Manage Sources option is highlighted on the References tab

If you open a new document that does not yet contain citations, all of the sources that you used in previous documents appear under Master List .

If you open a document that includes citations, the sources for those citations appear under Current List . All the sources that you have cited, either in previous documents or in the current document, appear under Master List .

To find a specific source, do one of the following:

In the sorting box, sort by author, title, citation tag name, or year, and then look for the source that you want in the resulting list.

In the Search box, type the title or author for the source that you want to find. The list dynamically narrows to match your search term.

Note: You can click the Browse button in Source Manager to select another master list from which you can import new sources into your document. For example, you might connect to a file on a shared server, on a research colleague's computer or server, or on a Web site that is hosted by a university or research institution.

Edit a source

In the Source Manager dialog box, under Master List or Current List , select the source you want to edit, and then click Edit .

Note: To edit a placeholder to add citation information, select the placeholder from Current List and click Edit .

In the Edit Source dialog box, make the changes you want and click OK .

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Everything You Need to Know About MLA Format and Citations

MLA format is a set of formatting and citation guidelines for how an academic paper should look, similar to other styles such as Chicago or APA format. We use MLA format for topics in the humanities, including languages, philosophy, and the arts, but not history (which uses Chicago) or the social sciences, like psychology or education (which use APA format).

Since most schools’ requirements include humanities courses, there’s a good chance you’ll write a paper in MLA format at some point. Below, we explain how the MLA format works and what sets it apart from Chicago and APA formats. We’ll also cover how to cite sources in MLA format, with examples.

What is MLA format?

MLA format was developed by the Modern Language Association to provide a uniform way for academics in the arts and humanities fields to format their works and cite their sources. MLA format, like other academic styles, includes specific guidelines for a paper’s heading, in-text citations, works cited page, quotations, abbreviations, and even the size of the margins.

This format (like other academic formats) takes the guesswork out of formatting your academic writing and ensures that your sources are cited and credited properly, leaving you, and your readers, to focus on your paper’s content.

When to use MLA format

Use MLA format for the final draft of every piece of academic writing , including essays, reports , and research papers, that you do in your arts and humanities courses. That means English, arts, philosophy, religion, and ethics courses and any other classes you take that fall within these subjects.

If you aren’t sure if you need to use MLA or whether a specific formatting style is necessary for a particular assignment, ask your instructor.

Use MLA format for every part of an assignment you submit. That includes any essay outline , research proposal , literature review , or list of sources your instructor asks you to submit before or alongside your final paper.

There’s no need to format your first draft or any other documents that your professor won’t see, though you certainly can use MLA format throughout the writing process if you’d prefer. One benefit of doing this is that you’ll see approximately how many pages your final draft will span before you reach that stage.

MLA vs. APA, Chicago, and other formats

MLA is one of the most commonly used academic styles, especially for high school and undergraduate students. You might also be familiar with APA format , the American Psychological Association’s style, or Chicago , short for the Chicago Manual of Style . These styles each include instructions for formatting citations, crediting sources, using quotations in your work, and other aspects of writing academic papers.

Because the MLA format deals with the humanities, it places more emphasis on authorship than the other styles do. That means the names of creators are prominent in the text. By contrast, APA format emphasizes dates, and Chicago emphasizes supplemental notes like footnotes and endnotes .

Although the three styles have some common approaches to citing sources, each format has its own unique way of doing things for each source type. Make sure you understand the rules for the format you’re using so you don’t follow another style’s rules by mistake.

How to set up your paper in MLA format

Mla formatting rules.

1 The sources page is referred to as the works cited page. It appears at the end of the paper, after any endnotes.

2 The entire paper is double-spaced, including block quotations and the references on the works cited page.

3 Use block quotes for quotations that are four lines or longer.

4 Abbreviations do not include periods between the letters (e.g., US instead of U.S. ).

5 The paper is printed on 8½-by-11-inch paper .

6 Place a 1-inch margin along all sides of the paper (with the exception of the running head).

7 Write in Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica font. The text size should be between 11 and 13.

8 Each page must include a running head with the author’s last name and the page number in the top-right corner. The running head follows the right margin but is only 1.5-inch from the top of the page.

9 A title page is not required.

10 The heading on the first page is left-justified and includes:

MLA style rules

1 MLA format uses the Oxford comma , aka the serial comma.

2 Spell out numbers or fractions that can be written in one or two words (e.g., eighty-eight , five million , or two-thirds ). Use numerals for when more than two words are needed (e.g., 101 ; 2,981 ; or 2 ½ ). However, when these numbers are mixed together, or when numbers are discussed frequently, use numerals (e.g., between 3 and 125 people ).

3 Use numerals for items in a series (e.g., chapter 6 , page 12 , or room 34 ).

4 Always spell out a number if it begins a sentence. Even better, try rephrasing the sentence with a different opening.

5 Do not abbreviate dates. You can use either the month-day-year or day-month-year formats, but be consistent throughout the entire work.

6 Use a person’s full name the first time they are mentioned, unless they are commonly referred to by their surname alone, like Cervantes or Cicero. Any subsequent mentions of the person use only their surname, including particles like de , O’ , or von .

How to cite sources in MLA: citation examples

For every academic paper you write, you need to cite sources—that is, mention where your evidence or points came from. This is necessary not only to avoid plagiarism but also to validate your ideas with proof.

According to the MLA Handbook , you must cite sources “when the work of others informs your ideas.” That means every idea that is not your own requires its own citation, even if there are two in the same sentence.

How to present evidence and quotes in MLA

There are two ways to reference another work: paraphrasing and direct quotes.

Paraphrasing involves restating the original idea in your own words. However, your paraphrased text must be fundamentally different from the source text—you must do more than just replace a few words with synonyms. It’s best to change both the wording and the sentence structure.

You can also directly quote a passage from a source, especially if the original wording is important. However, relying too heavily on direct quotes might suggest you’re relying too much on others’ ideas rather than your own. It’s best to use them sparingly and only when they’re truly necessary. Furthermore, when you do use quotations, try to keep the quotes as brief as possible, even as short as a single word.

Regardless of whether you use paraphrasing or quotations, you still need to cite the source.

In-text citations in MLA

MLA format prefers in-text citations, which involves citing the source directly in the text right next to its reference. There are two types of in-text citations: parenthetical and narrative.

Parenthetical citations are miniature or condensed citations that include only the bare minimum of information. In MLA format, they include only the author’s or creator’s last name, although a page number, line number, or time stamp is optional.

The Greek myth of Sisyphus provides the perfect analogy for humankind’s struggle of living with the absurdity of life (Camus 78).

Narrative citations are when you mention the author’s name in the text, which makes the second mention of it in the citation redundant. In this case, parenthetical citations are necessary only if you’re mentioning the page number or location.

Camus finds the Greek myth of Sisyphus to be the perfect analogy for humankind’s struggle of living with the absurdity of life (78).

Both kinds of in-text citations still require a full citation for the source in the works cited page.

If the author’s name is unavailable, use whatever comes first for that entry in the works cited page, which is typically the work’s title.

Footnotes and endnotes in MLA

Footnotes and endnotes are not common in MLA format, which prefers in-text citations instead. However, there are few situations when they are called for:

Papers written in MLA format use either footnotes or endnotes but not both. Make sure to choose one form and stick with it. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page they reference, endnotes are written on a separate page titled “Notes” or “Endnotes” at the end of a section, chapter, or entire work.

To signal a note, place a superscript number ( 1 ) at the end of the sentence the note refers to. If a note is needed in the middle of a sentence, place it after a punctuation mark like a comma, colon, or semicolon. The exception is the dash; note numbers come before a dash.

Certain translations use an alternative word choice. 1

Although some have disagreed with this assessment, 2 Camus seems to almost admire Sisyphus’s determination.

Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra 3 —now known as Corinth.

Each note number in the text corresponds to either a footnote or an endnote later in work.

Notes are written in the order of their numbers. Each note begins with the superscript number corresponding to its place in the text.

1 Thomas Warren suggests Camus’s use of la mesure should be translated into English as “measurement” instead of the popular translation “moderation.”

2 See Thomas Nagel’s paper, “The Absurd.”

3 Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the land that connects the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, according to Wikipedia.

MLA prohibits the abbreviation ibid .

Works cited page for MLA

According to MLA format guidelines, any source used in your paper must have a corresponding full citation in the works cited page , a page at the end of a book or paper that lists all the sources and their bibliographic information.

The works cited page comes at the end of a work, after any endnotes. This page is titled simply “Works Cited” and mostly follows the same text and formatting guidelines as the rest of the work. For example, it has one-inch page margins and size 11 to 13 text.

Entries are listed in alphabetical order by the first word of each entry, usually the author’s or creator’s last name.

The one particular formatting rule about the works cited page is the use of the hanging indent. Basically, every line after the first one in a single entry is indented by a half-inch .

Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O’Brien, New York, Random House, 1955.

How to cite different types of sources in MLA format

Each type of source, like books, journal articles, documentaries, etc., has its own particular rules for MLA citations. Feel free to check out our previous guides below, which cover the details of how to cite each source in MLA.

MLA format FAQs

MLA format is the academic style developed by the Modern Language Association. It’s the standard format for academic papers in the arts and humanities. MLA has specific guidelines for citing books , films , TV shows , newspaper articles , PDFs , and other types of sources.

How is it different from other formats?

There are numerous differences between MLA format and other academic formats. One of the most notable is how sources are cited.

What are some examples of MLA citations?

In-text citation: (Lamott 28).

Reference listed on the works cited page: Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me . Spiegel & Gray, 2015.

Grammarly helps you cite with confidence

Grammarly is meeting students’ needs by simplifying the citation process. Our citation features expand on Grammarly’s trusted support for students, which includes grammar and spelling suggestions and plagiarism detection that identifies missing citations. Auto-citations generates citations for online sources in seconds, without your having to enter any info manually or even leave the web page. And when you’re ready to edit your paper, citation style formatting will proofread your in-text and full citations to ensure they’re mistake-free and consistent.

I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Writing FAQ

How to cite a pdf without a date in mla.

May 25, 2022

Asked by: Heather Mitchell

How do you cite a pdf with no date in mla.

If a source has no author, start the MLA Works Cited entry with the source title. Use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation.

How do you cite no date in MLA?

If no date is provided, skip that information . It’s recommended that you add the date you accessed the work at the end of the citation. Access date is given by putting the word “Accessed” followed by the Day Month (Shortened) Year the work was accessed/viewed.

How do you cite a PDF in MLA format?

Last name, First name. “Article Title.” Magazine/Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, pp. Pages, URL, PDF file or PDF download .

How do you cite only a PDF?

In a MLA citation, to cite a downloaded PDF, change the medium description to “PDF download.” To cite a PDF file available to view online, change the location description to the URL leading to the PDF. In an APA citation, cite a PDF the same way you would cite a webpage, including the URL leading to the PDF.

How do you cite with no date?

Provide the author, write “n.d.” for “no date,” and then provide the title and source . Author. (n.d.).

How do you in text cite without a date?

If no author or date is given, use the title in your signal phrase or the first word or two of the title in the parentheses and use the abbreviation “n.d.” (for “no date”) . Another study of students and research decisions discovered that students succeeded with tutoring (“Tutoring and APA,” n.d.).

What if a source does not have a date?

If a source is missing both the author or publication date, the citation will include the title, “n.d.” for “no date,” and the source . Make sure that there is no identifiable author. Sometimes the author is a company or other group rather than an individual.

What should you do if you cite a work that does not list a publication date?

The MLA Style Center

If the web source you are citing does not list a publication date, omit the “Publication date” element from your entry . You may, however, wish to include an access date in the optional-element slot. Read more on including access dates for online works.

How do you cite a website with no author and no date?

Use title in place of author. Use “n.d.” (“no date”) in place of date . No author, date, or title.

How DOI cite a PDF from a website?

Citing a PDF Document

PDFs can be referenced and cited similarly to printed articles and books. This means that the reference entry will include the author, publication date, title, publisher name, and a source URL or DOI .

How do you cite a PDF with no author or date in APA?

Proper Bibliographic Reference Format:

How do you cite a PDF with no author?

Citing in APA a Periodical in PDF

(Date). Title of article (PDF). Title of the online Periodical, volume number (issue number where it is available), pages, and the URL address or DOI where the information is retrieved.

How do you in-text cite MLA with no author?

In-Text/Parenthetical Citation

If no author is listed, use a shortened title of the work . Put the title in quotation marks if it’s a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it’s a longer work (such as books or entire websites), and include page numbers (if there are any).

How do you find the author of a PDF?

First, right-click anywhere in the PDF and select Document Properties . Then check the details on the Description tab . In this example, the full title was listed (1), along with the correct authoring body at the time the document was created (2), and the date it was created (3).

How do you remove the date from a PDF?

Right-click on your PDF file, select “Properties,” open the “Details” tab and then click the “Remove Properties and Personal Information” link .

How do you find the date of a PDF?

View document properties.

How do I remove metadata from a PDF?

How to Remove Metadata from a PDF Using Adobe Acrobat

How do you hide that a PDF has been edited?

Click on ‘Edit’ in the upper toolbar. Click on the ‘Redact’ option. Choose the way to hide content: ‘Blackout’ or ‘Erase’. Drag over and select the fragment of text you want to hide.

How do I save a PDF without metadata?

To create a PDF without metadata, print your document to a PDF printer . If you have any PDF program installed on your computer, your printer list will include a PDF printer. The print to PDF method “flattens” the PDF document, removing any content not visible on the screen. No metadata is saved.

Can you tell if PDF has been edited?

If you go to the document properties of a PDF file (control or command d), if the proper metadata is available, it will list the creation date and time and modified date and time. This can help you determine if a pdf file has been modified since creation.

Can you track changes made to a PDF?

Did you know that you could actually track changes and monitor your PDF ? Coding is not required and these changes can be as simple as showing markups on the review tab similar in Word. The software you will need for this is Adobe Reader, free software that can read, open, and annotate your PDF file.

How do I change metadata in a PDF?

Choose File > Properties, click the Description tab, and then click Additional Metadata . Select Advanced from the list on the left. To edit the metadata, do any of the following, and then click OK. To add previously saved information, click Append, select an XMP or FFO file, and click Open.

Does PDF have metadata?

In simple words, PDF metadata is data about a PDF document . It provides additional information about a PDF document, including but not limited to, file name of the document, its title, date of creation, author, title, copyright information and what application was used to create the file.

How do I remove metadata?

Windows: How to Easily Remove Metadata from Files via File…

Using MLA Format

Document Sources

Works cited quick guide.

Learn how to use the MLA format template.

Digital Citation Tool

Build citations with our interactive template.

In-Text Citations

Get help with in-text citations.

Endnotes and Footnotes

Read our guide about using notes in MLA style.

Set Up Your Paper

Setting up a research paper.

Get our guidelines for setting up academic research papers.

Formatting Captions

Learn how to format captions.

Sample Papers

Read sample papers written in MLA style.

Annotated Bibliographies

Learn how to set up an annotated bibliography.

Get Writing and Teaching Tips

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Writing Tips

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Teaching Resources and Advice

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Cite a born-digital text that later appeared in print the same way you would cite any other republished work. Remember that you should always cite… Read More

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How to Write MLA Citations Without Going Crazy
FREE MLA Format Citation Generator [8th Edition]
How To Do In Text Citations Mla 8 For S
Citing an Anthology in MLA Works Cited Pages
mla citation format graphic
MLA Citation Style Overview

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Making MLA Citations
MLA 9: In-Text Citation Basics
MLA Citation
How to write MLA & project
MLA Citation Style, 9th edition
MLA Citations 9th Edition

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MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics
In-text citations: Author-page style MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number (s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.
MLA Formatting and Style Guide
In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order: Author. Title of source. Title of container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location. Each element should be followed by the corresponding punctuation mark shown above.
MLA Format
Scribbr's free MLA Citation Generator can help you cite your sources in MLA Style. All you need is the website URL, book ISBN, or journal article DOI, and the citation generator does the rest. Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr Webpage Book Video Journal article Online news article Cite
The Writing Center
MLA Works Cited Page Sources contain the following core elements: The following are examples of entries for some sources you may use in your research: PRINT SOURCES PRINT BOOK: Author Last name, First. Title of Book. Version, Publisher, Publication date. One author: Toffler, Alvin. The Third Wave. Bantam, 1981. Two authors:
How to Cite a Website in MLA
An MLA website citation includes the author's name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date, and the URL (without "https://"). If the author is unknown, start with the title of the page instead.
MLA Citation Examples
Any time a piece of information from another source is added into your MLA style paper, you must create two citations, or references, to show the reader where the information originated. One reference is placed in the written text of the paper, and the other is placed at the end of the project.
How to Cite a Lecture
The first element of the in-text citation in MLA or APA format is the lecture's title. For example, if you are citing a live lesson, include the lecturer's name and an indication that this was a live event. For example: [Lecture Title] by [Lecturer's Name]. On Day, Month, Year at Time: Hour: Minute AM/PM (if applicable).
How to Cite Wikipedia in MLA Format
Instead, begin the entry on your works cited page with the Wikipedia page name in quotation marks. For the container name, use Wikipedia's full name. Here's what a Wikipedia citation looks like in MLA format: "Page name.". Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year last updated, permalink.
How to Do MLA Format on Google Docs [Step-by-Step Guide]
Step 3: Set Font and Font Size. Step 4: Set Line Spacing. Step 5: Add a Header. Step 6: Add a Title. Step 7: Add In-Text Citations. Step 8: Create a Works Cited Page. Format Citations in the Works Cited Page. Step 10: Check Your Formatting. How to Use MLA Format Google Docs Template.
How do I MLA cite a Word document?
How do I MLA cite a Word document? Add a citation after a quote. In your Word document, click on the References tab in the Ribbon. In the Citations & Bibliography group, click the arrow next to Style. Click the style that you want to use for the citation and source. Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite.
How to Write in MLA Format (with Pictures)
Type your heading in the upper left corner. The heading essentially includes all the information a cover page would include when used. Type your full name, instructor's name, course name, and due date in the upper left corner. [8] Type your full name FirstName LastName on the first line. On the next line, type your instructor's title and name.
Creating an MLA Bibliography
Use the first letter of the title when considering alphabetical order in your MLA bibliography. Capitalization Use MLA title case when citing titles of sources. Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, and subordinating conjunctions should be capitalized. Articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions should not be capitalized.
14.1: Formatting a Research Paper
Exercise 14.1. 1. Write an abstract summarizing your paper. Briefly introduce the topic, state your findings, and sum up what conclusions you can draw from your research. Use the word count feature of your word-processing program to make sure your abstract does not exceed one hundred fifty words. Tip.
Add citations in a Word document
Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite. On the Reference tab, click Insert Citation and then do one of the following: To add the source information, click Add New Source, and then, in the Create Source dialog box, click the arrow next to Type of Source, and select the type of source you want to use (for example, a book ...
A Guide to MLA Format and Citations
How to set up your paper in MLA format MLA formatting rules 1 The sources page is referred to as the works cited page. It appears at the end of the paper, after any endnotes. 2 The entire paper is double-spaced, including block quotations and the references on the works cited page. 3 Use block quotes for quotations that are four lines or longer.
How to cite a pdf without a date in MLA?
To cite a PDF file available to view online, change the location description to the URL leading to the PDF. In an APA citation, cite a PDF the same way you would cite a webpage, including the URL leading to the PDF. How do you cite with no date? Provide the author, write "n.d." for "no date," and then provide the title and source. Author.
Using MLA Format
Get started with MLA style. Learn how to document sources, set up your paper, and improve your teaching and writing. Document Sources Works Cited Quick Guide Learn how to use the MLA format template. Digital Citation Tool Build citations with our interactive template. In-Text Citations Get help with in-text citations. Endnotes and Footnotes Read our …