MLA Citation Guide—DO NOT THROW OUT!!
Works Cited= the page that lists all of the sources you have cited in your paper. It does not include sources you may have read but did not cite in you paper.
The works-cited list follows the format below:
1. Page Title: Begin your works cited page on a new page (the next page after the text).
§ Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks).
§ Center the title Works Cited one inch from the top.
2. Entries: Begin each entry flush with the left margin.
§ If the entry runs more than one line, indent the second (and any additional lines of the citation) five spaces so that you create a hanging indent.
§ Double-space between all lines on Works Cited page.
§ Single-space between words and after punctuation marks in a Works Cited entry.
§ List each entry alphabetically by the author’s last name. If there is no author, use the first word of the title (disregard a, an, and the).
3. Capitalization and Punctuation:
§ Capitalize each word in the titles of articles, books, etc, but do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), short prepositions (ex. in, of), or conjunctions (and, or, but) unless one is the first word of the title or subtitle. Ex. Gone with the Wind, The Art of War, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, And Then There Were None
§ Use italics or underlining for titles of larger works (books, encyclopedias, website names) and quotation marks for titles of shorter works (articles)
Example:
Sebranek, Patrick, et al. Writers Inc.: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning.
Wilmington: Write Source, 2001.
MLA Citation: Books
Important Elements
§ Author
§ Title of the Book
§ Editor (if available)
§ Publishing City
§ Publisher
§ Copyright Date
§ Publication Medium
One Author
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. Ed. Editor’s Name. Publishing City:
Publisher, Copyright Date. Publication Medium.
Example
Fleming, Thomas. Liberty!: The American Revolution. Ed. Erich Fromme. New York:
Viking, 1997. Print.
Two Authors
First Author’s Last Name, First Name, and Second Author’s First Name Last Name. Title of the
Book. Ed. Editor’s Name. Publishing City: Publisher, Copyright Date. Publication
Medium.
Example
Sennett, Richard, and Jonathan Cobb. The Hidden Injuries of Class. New York: Vintage Books,
1972. Print.
Three or More Authors
First Author’s Last Name, First Name, et. al. Title of the Book. Ed. Editor’s Name. Publishing
City: Publisher, Copyright Date. Publication Medium.
Example
Roberts, Simon, et. al. The Complete Java 2 Certification Study Guide. Alameda: Sybex,
1999. Print.
MLA Citation: Encyclopedias
Important Elements
§ Author (if indicated)
§ Title of Article
§ Title of Encyclopedia
§ Copyright Date
§ Publication Medium
Encyclopedia with an Author
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Encyclopedia’s Name. Copyright Date.
Publication Medium.
Example
Dillard, Jennifer. “Bricks.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1998. Print.
Encyclopedia without an Author
“Article Title.” Encyclopedia’s Name. Copyright Date. Publication Medium.
Example
“Egypt.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 2002. Print
MLA Citation: Anthologies
Important Elements
§ Author (if indicated)
§ Title of Article
§ Title of Anthology
§ Editor (if indicated)
§ Volume Number
§ Publishing City
§ Publisher
§ Copyright Date
§ Publication Medium
Anthology with an Author
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Anthology’s Name. Ed. Editor’s Name.
Vol. Number. Publishing City: Publisher, Copyright Date. Publication Medium.
Example
Chew, Kathryn. “Echo.” Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology. Ed. C. Scott Littleton. Vol. 4.
New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print.
Anthology without an Author
“Article Title.” Anthology’s Name. Ed. Editor’s Name. Vol. Number. Publishing City:
Publisher, Copyright Date. Publication Medium.
Example
“Dido.” Exploring Ancient Cultures. Ed. Terese Wilde. Vol. 3. New York: Marshall
Cavendish, 2005. Print.
MLA Citation: Internet
Important Elements
§ Author
§ Title of the Article
§ Title of the Web Page (do not include “.com”)
§ Date the Site Was Created, Updated, or Copyrighted
§ URL Address of the Site’s HOME PAGE!
§ Date of Access
§ Publication Medium
Internet with an Author
Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). “Page/Article Title.” The Title of the
Website Date the Site Was Created/Updated/or Copyright Date.
Example
Measom, James L. “President Abraham Lincoln.” Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National
Historic Site 22 Dec. 2006.
Internet without an Author
“Page/Article Title.” The Title of the Website Date the Site Was Created/Updated/or
Copyright Date.
Example
“President Abraham Lincoln.” Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site 22 Dec.
2006.
Works Cited
Chew, Kathryn. “Echo.” Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology. Ed. C. Scott Littleton. Vol. 4.
New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print.
“Dido.” Exploring Ancient Cultures. Ed. Terese Wilde. Vol. 3. New York: Marshall
Cavendish, 2005. Print.
Dillard, Jennifer. “Bricks.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1998. Print.
“Egypt.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 2002. Print.
Fleming, Thomas. Liberty!: The American Revolution. Ed. Erich Fromme. New York:
Viking, 1997. Print.
Humble, Sarah Jane. “George Washington (1789-1797).” The White House 3 Apr. 2009.
Roberts, Simon, et. al. The Complete Java 2 Certification Study Guide. Alameda: Sybex,
1999. Print.
Sebranek, Patrick, et al. Writers Inc.: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning.
Wilmington: Write Source, 2001. Print.
Sennett, Richard, and Jonathan Cobb. The Hidden Injuries of Class. New York: Vintage
Books, 1972. Print.
