The core of an MLA citation is the author of the source. That person’s last name links your use of the source in your paper with its full description in your list of works cited. The most common addition to this name is a specific location, usually a page number, identifying where the material appears in the original source: (Valero 231). This basic form applies whatever the type of source — article, book, or Web page.
As you check your MLA style, keep in mind these three questions:
Skim the following directory to find sample entries to guide you as you cite and list your sources. Notice that the examples are organized according to questions you might ask and that comparable print and electronic sources are grouped together. See pages 726–34 for a sample paper that illustrates MLA style.
CITING SOURCES IN MLA STYLE
Who Wrote It?
Individual Author Not Named in Sentence
Individual Author Named in Sentence
Two or Three Authors
Four Authors or More
Organization Author
Author of an Essay from a Reader or Collection
Unidentified Author
Same Author with Multiple Works
Different Authors of Multiple Works
What Type of Source Is It?
Multivolume Work
Indirect Source
Visual Material
How Are You Capturing the Source Material?
Overall Summary or Important Idea
Specific Summary or Paraphrase
Blended Paraphrase and Quotation
Brief Quotation with Formal Launch Statement
Brief Quotation Integrated in Sentence
Long Quotation
Quotation from the Bible
Quotation from a Novel or Short Story
Quotation from a Play
Quotation from a Poem
LISTING SOURCES IN MLA STYLE
Who Wrote It?
Individual Author
Two or Three Authors
Four Authors or More
Same Author with Multiple Works
Organization Author
Author and Editor
Author and Translator
Unidentified Author
What Type of Source Is It?
ARTICLE IN A PRINTED OR AN ELECTRONIC PERIODICAL
Article from a Printed Journal
Article from an Online Journal
Article Accessed Online through a Library or Subscription Database
Article from a Printed Magazine
Article from an Online Magazine
Article from a Printed Newspaper
Article from an Online Newspaper
Editorial from a Printed Periodical
Editorial from an Online Periodical
Letter to the Editor
Review
PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC BOOK
Printed Book
Online Book
E-book
Multivolume Work
Revised Edition
Book Published in a Series
Book with Copublishers
Book without Publisher, Date, or Page Numbers
PART OF A PRINTED OR AN ELECTRONIC BOOK
Selection from a Printed Book
Selection from an Online Book
Selection from an E-book
Preface, Introduction, Foreword, or Afterword
Essay, Short Story, or Poem from an Edited Collection
Two or More Works from the Same Edited Collection
Article from a Printed Reference Work
Article from an Online Reference Work
OTHER PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT
Printed Government Document
Online Government Document
Online Document
Pamphlet
Doctoral Dissertation or Master’s Thesis
INTERNET OR ELECTRONIC SOURCE
Personal Web Page
Organization Web Page
Home Page for a Campus Department or Course
Blog or Blog Entry
Publication on CD-ROM
VISUAL OR AUDIO SOURCE
Advertisement
Comic or Cartoon
Photograph
Work of Art
Audiotape or Recording
Program on Television or Radio
Film
Live Performance
CONVERSATION OR FIELD ARTIFACT
Personal, Telephone, or E-mail Interview
Broadcast Interview
Published Interview
Speech or Lecture
Personal Letter
Online Posting