MLA (Modern Language Association) citation format

MLA citation format is a commonly used citation style in the humanities and liberal arts. It is important to properly cite sources in academic writing to give credit to the original creators of the information and to allow readers to locate the sources for themselves.

In-text citations

When you use a quote or paraphrase from a source in your paper, you should include an in-text citation. The citation should include the author's last name and the page number, and it should be placed within the text of your paper. For example: (Smith 123). If the source has no page numbers, you can include the author's name and the title of the work instead. For example: (Smith, “Title of Work“). If you are citing a work with no author, use the title of the work in place of the author's name. For example: (“Title of Work“ 123).

Works Cited page

At the end of your paper, you should include a Works Cited page that provides full details about all the sources you have cited in your paper. The Works Cited page should be alphabetized by the first word of each entry. The formatting of the entries will depend on the type of source being cited.

Formatting

The Works Cited entries should be formatted according to the specific type of source being cited. Some common source types and their formatting are as follows:

• Books: Include the author's last name, first name, title of the book, publisher, year of publication, and the medium of publication. For example: Smith, John. The History of Time. Random House, 2020. Print.
• Journal articles: Include the author's last name, first name, title of the article, title of the journal, volume number, issue number, publication date, and page numbers. For example: Jones, Sarah. “The Impact of Social Media on Society.“ Journal of Communication, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019, pp. 35-50.
• Websites: Include the author's last name, first name (if available), title of the webpage, website name, publication date (if available), URL, and the date you accessed the webpage. For example: Smith, John. “The Benefits of Meditation.“ Healthline, 20 Dec. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-meditation. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

Quotations

If you use a direct quote from a source, the quote should be placed in quotation marks and the page number should be included in the in-text citation. For example: “Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall well-being“ (Smith 123).

Multiple works by the same author

If you are citing multiple works by the same author, list the works alphabetically by title. For example:

• Smith, John. The History of Time. Random House, Print.
• Smith, John. “The Benefits of Meditation.“ Healthline, 20 Dec. 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-meditation. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

By following these guidelines, you can properly cite your sources using MLA citation format. It is important to be consistent and thorough in your citations to ensure the credibility and reliability of your work.