MLA Citation Guide

Introduction

This guide is based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. (Modern Language Society, 2003. Works Cited items are listed alphabetically at the end of the research paper. In the body of the paper these items are referred to using Parenthetical references.
For additional examples, please refer to the MLA Handbook.

Book
(one author)

Bibliography:
Johnson, Charles Richard. Middle Passage. New York:
.....Atheneum, 1990.

In-Text:
(Johnson 176)

Book
(two to three authors)

Bibliography:
Leakey, Mary D. and Louis S. B. Leakey. Some String Figures?? from
.....North East Angola. Lisboa: Museu do Dundo, 1949.

In Text:
(Leakey and Leakey 12)

For more authors, use:
(Leakey et al.)

Anthology

Bibliography:
McNally, John, ed. Humor Me: An Anthology of Humor
.....by Writers of Color. Iowa City: U of Iowa P, 2002.

In-Text:
(McNally xv)

Work in an Anthology

Bibliography:

James, Henry. "The Friends of the Friends." The Norton
.....Book of Ghost Stories. Ed. Brad Leithauser. New
.....York: Norton, 1994. 40-60.

In-Text:
(James 47)

Encyclopedia Article

Work Cited:
“Magna Carta.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed.
.....1998.

In-Text:
("Magna Carta")

Journal Article

Bibliography:
Myerson, Joel. ?A Calendar of Transcendental Club Meetings.?
.....American Literature 44 (1972): 197-207.

In-Text:
(Myerson 199)

Magazine Article

Bibliography:
Cook, Mariana. ?Cousin Kay.? Victoria. Nov.
.....2001: 27-28.

In-Text:
(Cook 28)

Newspaper Article

Bibliography:
Johnston, David Cay. "Got Game? Got Old Game?" New
.....York Times 11 July 2003, late ed., F1+.

In-Text:
(Johnston F3)

Review

Bibliography:
Barth, Melissa E. Rev. of The Summons, by John Grisham.
.....Magill Book Reviews 1 Nov. 2002: 221.

In-Text:
(Barth)

Work of Art (photograph of)

Bibliography
Ingres, Jean Auguste Dominique. Apotheosis of Homer. Musee
.....du Louvre, Paris. Gardner's Art Through the Ages.
.....10th ed. By Helen Gardner. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace,
.....1996. Plate 22.

In-Text:
(Ingres)

Television Program

Bibliography:
“Popularity of Fur on Rise Again.” Narr. Virginia Cha.
....Sunday Today. NBC. WNBC, New York. 9 Feb.
....2003.

In-Text:
(“Popularity of Fur”)

Sound Recording (CD)

Bibliography:
Copland, Aaron. Long Time Ago: American Songs. Saint
.....Paul Chamber Orch. Cond. Hugh Wolff. Teldec,
.....1994.

In-Text:
(Copland)

Web Home Page

Bibliography:
The Edith Wharton Society. Ed. Donna Campbell.
.....5 Aug. 2003. Gonzaga U. 14 Aug. 2003
.
In-Text:
(Edith)

Document from a Website

Bibliography:
Oates, Joyce Carol. ?The Magnanimity of Wuthering Heights.?
.....Critical Inquiry 9 (1982): 435-449. Celestial Timepiece:
.....A Joyce Carol Oates Home Page. Ed. Randy Souther.
.....2003. U of San Francisco. 14 Aug. 2003
.
In-Text:
(Oates)

Item from a Library Database

Bibliography:
Clark, Zsuzsanna. ?From Saturday-Night Poetry to Big Brother.?
.....New Statesman 21 July 2003: 32. Academic Search Premier.
.....EBSCOHost. Ohio State U Libs., Columbus. 14 Aug. 2003.

In-Text:
(Clark)

E-Mail Communication

Bibliography:
Grisham, John. E-mail to the author. 14 July 2002.

In-Text:
(Grisham)

Source:
MLA Citation Guide. University Libraries. Ohio State University. March 8, 2006. http://library.osu.edu/sites/guides/mlagd.php


Notes
Arrange the items on your reference list alphabetically by author, interfiling books, articles, etc.
Doublespace all lines.
Indent the second and following lines 5 spaces (or one half inch).
If no author is given, start with the title.
Abbreviate the names of all months except May, June, and July.
If the paging of a magazine or newspaper article is continued elswhere in the issue, include only the first page followed by a plus sign (ex. 25+.).
If the encyclopedia does not arrange its articles alphabetically, treat the encyclopedia article as if it were a book article. Specific volume and page numbers are cited in the text, not in the list of references.
Gale Reference Book: cite the original source being reprinted as shown under Book, Journal Article, Newspaper or Magazine Article, etc. The example shows a Magazine Article. Then include the citation information for the reference book.
Websites: include the title of the web page, the name of the entire web site, the organization that posted it (this may be the same as the name of the website). Also include the full date the page was created or last updated (day, month, year if available) and the date you looked at it.
Internet Magazine Articles: Include:
The name of the database (underlined) and the company that created it and its home webpage;
The full date of the article (day, month, year if available) and the date you looked at it;
If you are citing a journal instead of a magazine, include the volume (and issue number) and date as shown under the Journal Style above.
The library or other organization (and its location) that provided you with access to the database.
As for page numbers, different databases will provide different information. Include the range of pages (ex. 25-28.); or the starting page followed by a hyphen, a blank space, and a period (ex. 64- .); or the total number of pages or paragraphs (ex. 12 pp. or 33 pars.). If no page information is given, then leave it out.
The rules concerning a title within a title are not displayed here for purposes of clarity. See the printed version of the manual for details.
For documents and situations not listed here, see the printed version of the manual.

Source:
Delaney, Robert. MLA Citation Style: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th edition in C.W. Post Campus, B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library. Jan. 3, 2006. http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/cita.htmml