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This guide contains examples of common citation formats in MLA (Modern Language Association) Style, based on the 8th edition (2016) of the MLA Handbook. MLA style is widely used in the humanities, especially in writing on language and literature.
Just need a quick citation? Try ZoteroBib.
The 8th edition of the MLA Handbook recommends using the following core elements in every citation. If elements are missing from the source, they should be omitted from the citation.
Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Other contributers,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date
Location.
For online sources:
Include the URL (without http:// or https://). Angle brackets are not used around it.
Use DOIs (digital object identifiers) when possible.
Citing the date when an online work was consulted is optional.
Placeholders for unknown information like n.d. (“no date”) are no longer used.
Note: MLA recommends using hanging indentation for the second and subsequent lines of each entry.
For more information and examples, see the following resources
The 8th edition of the MLA Handbook recommends using the following core elements in every citation. If elements are missing from the source, they should be omitted from the citation.
Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Other contributers,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date
Location.
For online sources:
Include the URL (without http:// or https://). Angle brackets are not used around it.
Use DOIs (digital object identifiers) when possible.
Citing the date when an online work was consulted is optional.
Placeholders for unknown information like n.d. (“no date”) are no longer used.
Article in a monthly magazine:
Swedin, Eric G. “Designing Babies: A Eugenics Race with China?”The Futurist, May/June 2006, pp. 18-21.
Article in a magazine article from an online database: ProQuest
Poe, Marshall. “The Hive.” Atlantic Monthly, Sept. 2006, pp. 86-95. ProQuest, search.proquest.com/docview/223086760/1FF29321A1C34D09PQ/1?accountid=13158.
Article in a weekly magazine:
Will, George F. “Waging War on Wal-Mart.” Newsweek, 5 July 2004, p. 64.
Article in a daily newspaper:
Dougherty, Ryan. “Jury Convicts Man in Drunk Driving Death.” Centre Daily Times, 11 Jan. 2006, p. 1A.
Article in a scholarly journal:
Stock, Carol D. and Philip A. Fisher. “Language Delays Among Foster Children: Implications for Policy and Practice.” Child Welfare, vol. 40, no. 3, 2006, pp. 445-462.
Article in an online magazine:
Schumaker, Erin. "What's the Deal with 'Natural' Sunscreen?" Huffington Post, 5 July 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/does-natural-sunscreen-work_us_57767571e4b0a629c1a98df8.
Book Review:
Rifkind, Donna. “Breaking Their Vows.” Review of The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2005, p. T6.
The 8th edition of the MLA Handbook recommends using the following core elements in every citation. If elements are missing from the source, they should be omitted from the citation.
Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Other contributers,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date
Location.
For online sources:
Include the URL (without http:// or https://). Angle brackets are not used around it.
Use DOIs (digital object identifiers) when possible.
Citing the date when an online work was consulted is optional.
Placeholders for unknown information like n.d. (“no date”) are no longer used.
Print book:
Rollin, Bernard E. Science and Ethics. Cambridge UP, 2006.
Book by a group author:
American Medical Association. American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, 4th edition, Wiley, 2004.
Article or chapter within an edited book:
Winne, Philip H. “Self-regulated Learning Viewed from Models of Information Processing.” Self-regulated Learning and Academic Achievement, edited by Barry J. Zimmerman and Dale H. Schunk, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001, pp. 153-190.
Translation:
Tolstoy, Leo. War and Peace. Translated by Anthony Briggs, Viking, 2006.
E-Reader book (such as Kindle):
Tetlock, Phillip E., and Dan Gardner. Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction. Kindle edition, Crown, 2015.
Note: For more information on citing e-books see the MLA Style Center.
Film
Hidalgo. Directed by Joe Johnston, performance by Viggo Mortensen, Zuleikha Robinson, Omar Sharif, and Louise Lombard, Touchstone/Disney, 2004.
DVD
Ballroom Dancing. Directed by Steve Kemsley, performance by Angela Rippon and Ian Waite, DVD edition, American Home Treasures, 2006.
Television Series
Seinfeld. Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, performance by Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1989-1998.
Episode in Television Series
"The Chinese Restaurant." Seinfeld, created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, performance by Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, season 2, episode 11, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1991.
Personal interview:
Smith, John. Personal interview. 31 Aug. 2007.
If you refer to or quote from a source that is cited in another source, list only the source you consulted directly (the secondary source) in your works cited list. Name the original source in the text of your paper, and cite the secondary source in parentheses:
Wallace argues that "prior experience with nonnative speech facilitates comprehension" (qtd. in Smith 203).
In this example, only the Smith source, which was consulted directly, would be included in the works cited list.
Whenever possible, try to find and consult the original source. If the Holt Libraries does not have the original source, fill out the Holt Library Interlibrary Loan form to request that we get the book or article for you from another library. Turnaround time is about a week to ten days. This is a free service!
