AppState's University Writing Center has assembled a comprehensive set of MLA resources and is the recommended place to start if you need help.
In the text of your paper, you acknowledge the sources you used with a brief parenthetical citation that refers to an alphabetical Works Cited list at the end of the paper. The brief citation should include just enough information for a reader to find the full citation in the list, as well as a page number, if appropriate. For example, if you are citing a fact found on page 359 of the book Up from History by Robert J. Norrell, the brief citation might be (Norrell 359); it might be (Norrell Up 359) if your list contains two different books by Norrell.
| Electronic Source Type | Example | MLA edition |
|---|---|---|
|
Online book |
Ambler, Tim, and Morgen Witzel. Doing Business in China: Getting Ready for the Asian Century. Routledge, 2000. ProQuest ebrary. Accessed 24 Aug. 2016. |
8th |
|
Magazine article from an Online Database |
Kluger, Jeffrey. “Light Elements: Dr. Sigmund Doolittle.” Discover, vol. 17, no. 2, Feb. 1996, pp. 84-87. ProQuest Central. Accessed 10 Aug. 2016. |
8th |
|
Journal article from an Online Database |
Thompson, Michael D., and Robert O. Riggs. “Institutional Expenditure Patterns and the Facilitation of Mission.” Community College Review, vol. 27, no. 4, Spring 2000, pp. 1-15. Academic Search Complete. Accessed 12 Feb. 2009. |
8th |
|
Newspaper article from an Online Database |
Hook, Janet. "Election 2016: Candidate Takes New Tack on Immigrants." Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, 24 August 2016, p. A4. ProQuest Newstream. Accessed 26 August 2016. |
8th |
| Encyclopedia article or work in anthology from a subscription service |
Howard, Lillie. “Zora Neale Hurston.” Dictionary of Literary Biography: Afro-American Writers from the Harlem Renaissance to 1940, edited by Trudier Harris, Gale, 1987. Literature Resource Center. 26 January 2009. |
8th |
| Website |
Bio. A&E Television Networks, http://www.biography.com/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2009. |
8th |
| Article on website |
Musinsky, Gerald. “Animal Spirits.” Encyclopedia Mythica, http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/animal_spirits.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2009. |
8th |
| Book Type | Example | MLA edition |
|---|---|---|
|
One author |
Fairbanks, Carol. Prairie Women: Images in American and Canadian Fiction. Yale UP, 1986. |
8th |
|
Two authors |
Davidson, William R. and Daniel J. Sweeney. Retailing Management. 6th ed., Wiley, 1988. |
8th |
|
Three or more authors |
Gilman, Sander, et al. Hysteria Beyond Freud. U of California P, 1993. |
8th |
|
Anonymous book |
New York Public Library American History Desk Reference. Macmillan, 1997. |
8th |
| Anthology or compilation |
Feldman, Paula R., editor. British Women Poets of the Romantic Era. Johns Hopkins UP, 1997. |
8th |
| Work in an anthology |
Shutte, Nancy, and Laura Tangley. "Problem Drinkers Can Learn Moderation." Addiction: Opposing Viewpoints. Edited by Jennifer A. Hurley. Greenhaven, 2000, pp. 93-100. |
8th |
| Article Type | Examples | Notes | MLA edition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Magazine articles |
Mathews, Jay. "How to Build a Better High School." Newsweek, 16 May 2005, pp. 52-57. Wright, Karen. "The First Earthlings." Discover, Mar. 2003, pp. 24-25. |
Abbreviate all months except May, June and July. The first article example is from a weekly magazine; the second is from a monthly magazine. |
8th |
|
Journal article |
Cnattingius, Sven, et al. "Pregnancy Characteristics and Maternal Risk of Breast Cancer." JAMA, vol. 294, no.19, 2005, pp. 2474-2480. Albada, Kelly Fudge. "The Public and Private Dialogue about the American Family on Television." Journal of Communication, vol. 50, no. 4, 2000, pp. 79-110. |
There is no distinction made between journals with continuous paging and those with issues paged separately. | 8th |
|
Encyclopedia article |
"Civil Disobedience." The Encyclopedia Americana. 2004 ed. Print. Mohanty, Jitendra N. "Indian Philosophy." The New Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropaedia. 15th ed., 1998. |
Do not cite the editor of the encyclopedia. | 8th |
|
Newspaper article |
Harris, Nicole. “Airports in the Throes of Change.” Wall Street Journal, 27 Mar. 2002, p. B1+. “Elections Could Change the Game for Contractors.” Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2008, p. D2. |
8th |
| Nonprint Source Type | Example | MLA edition |
|---|---|---|
|
Personal Interview |
Prince, Linda. Personal interview. 24 Dec. 2005. |
8th |
|
Tweet |
@Belk Library. "Welcome (and welcome back) students! The library is ready to make your fall semester studious and productive!" Twitter, 16 Aug. 2016, 9:47 a.m., |
8th |
|
YouTube Video |
McGonigal, Jane. "Gaming and Productivity." YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E. |
8th |
