How to Cite Sources Using MLA Documentation Style


Academic papers require exact documentation. For our purposes, we will use MLA (Modern Language Association) documentation style. Any handbook goes into detail about how to cite traditional sources on your Works Cited page. (A Works Cited page is the last page of your essay. It lists in alphabetical order the author, title, and page numbers, among other things. Click here to see an example.) Below you will find help with citing non-electronic sources. These are the most common. For a more detailed list, please refer to your handbook.

Use the following to help with citing sources.

Form:

1. Book by one author

Author. Title of Book. Place of publication: publisher, date.

1a. Book with more than one author

Authors. Title of Book. Place of publication: publisher, date.


Examples:

1. Book one author

Rich, A. Diving Into the Wreck: Poems 1971-1972. New York: Norton, 1973.

1a. Book with more than one author

Smith, Richard J. , and Mark Gibbs. Navigating the Internet. Indianapolis: Sams, 1994.


2. Periodicals, one author

Author . "Title." Title of Periodical. Date: Pages.


2. Periodicals, one author

Brown, J. "Documentation Unbound." Atlantic. 5 June 1995: 23-25.


3. Journals, continuous pagination

Author . "Title." Title of Periodical. Volume (issue) Date: Pages.


3. Journals, continuous pagination

Niece, M. "Using MLA Documentation." College English. 65 (3): 23-25.


4. Personal Interviews

Interviewee. Interview . Date.


4. Interviews

Smith, J. Telephone Interview. 17 July 1995.


5. Book with author and editor

Editor. Book Title. by Author. Place of publication: publisher, date.


5. Book with author and editor

Jones, E. Life and Times. by Sharon Oldhouse. New York: Norton, 1993.


Embedding Quotations

Citing Internet Sources

Bibliography


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