52 MLA Format and Citation
Katelyn Burton
What is MLA?
Different fields prefer different methods of documenting the use of sources. In English, the citation style is called MLA, from the initials of the Modern Language Association. When it comes to documentation, learn to notice and apply the particular style that you are asked to use. Brown Library has online citation guides (http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/citations) for several styles.
Writing at Work
Citations aren’t just for research papers and schoolwork. Any time you use outside sources, including in a speech or PowerPoint presentation, you should cite your sources. When you give credit to others, your work is strengthened!
How do I format references?
References record bibliographic information about sources that have been cited in the text. The necessary information is author, title, and details about publication (when the source was published and who published it). The order of the information and the punctuation, abbreviation, and spacing conventions may differ depending on the documentation style, but the purpose of the references will be the same: to allow a reader to easily track down your sources.
Basic MLA style reference for a book:
Author(s). Title of the Book. Publisher, Date.
Example:
Burton, Katelyn. The Best Librarian in the World. Oxford Press, 2016.
Basic MLA style reference for a journal article:
Author(s). “Title of the Article.” Title of the Journal, Volume number, Issue number. Date, including month or season if you have it, Page numbers. Database Title, URL/Link to the article.
Example:
Burton, Katelyn. “Librarians Are Amazing.” Library Journal, vol. 22, no. 3. Spring 2016, pp. 7-28. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/61245.
Basic MLA style reference for a webpage:
Author(s). “Title of the Webpage.” Title of the Website, Date, including day and month if you have it, URL/Link to the webpage.
Example:
Burton, Katelyn. “Tips for Citing Sources.” Brown Library Website, 14 June 2016, http://http://www.virginiawestern.edu/library/index.php.
What should I do if my source differs from the basic pattern for a reference?
The basic pattern is easy to recognize, but it is impossible to memorize all the variations for different sources. Some sources are available online; some sources are audiovisual instead of print; some sources have translators and editors. These and other details find their way into references. Learn to consult resources that illustrate some of the variations, and then ask yourself which examples seem closest to the source you are trying to document. Creating helpful references for your readers requires attention to both the basic pattern and to details, as well as problem-solving skills and creativity.
Tip
Brown Library has some MLA examples on our MLA InfoGuide (https://tinyurl.com/y9fxlz7d). Virginia Commonwealth University maintains a VCU Writes! website (https://rampages.us/vcuwrites/) with many more examples of correct MLA citations for different materials. Librarians and Writing Center Consultants at Brown Library can also help you create MLA citations for sources that don’t follow the basic pattern.
How do I format in-text citations?
In-text citations point readers toward a source that a writer is using in her own article or essay. They are placed inside your paragraphs, a position that explains why they are called “in-text.” In-text citations are also called parenthetical citations because information identifying the source will be placed inside parentheses ( ). A writer using MLA style will provide the following in-text information for her readers:
- Author’s last name or the name of the organization that created the source, unless it is previously mentioned in the text.
- Page number if available
Example: In the first half of the nineteenth, century people worked hard to spread information about how to prevent disease but did not emphasize how to treat diseases (Murphy 141).
Key Takeaways
- Different fields require different citation styles. In English, we use rules developed by the MLA.
- Don’t panic when it comes to learning MLA. Just find an example that closely matches your source and use the pattern to help you decide what to do.
- Librarians and Writing Center (http://infoguides.virginiawestern.edu/writingcenter) Consultants can help you figure out how to cite a source that doesn’t match the common examples.
