One format of citation that you may be asked to provide in assignments is MLA Style. This citation format is primarily used in the humanities, including English, modern languages, and literature. The most current edition of MLA style is the 9th edition, which was published in 2021.
When referring to a source in the body of your paper in APA, there are two ways to cite them: parenthetically or in the narrative of your text.
Parenthetical Citations are placed at the end of the first sentence that the work is being referenced in, and are written as (Author Page). Include all author names in the citation if there are 1 or 2 authors. For works with 3 or more authors, include the first author's surname followed by 'et al.' and the page number.
|
Citation Type |
Template |
Example |
|
Single Author |
(Author Page) |
(Burke 3) |
|
Two Authors |
(Author and Author Page) |
(Best and Marcus 9) |
|
Three or More Authors |
(Author et al. Page) |
(Franck et al. 327) |
Narrative Citations are an alternative option to citing in the body of your work. In this case, the author's surname appears in the text of your sentence, with the page number listed in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
|
Citation Type |
Template |
Example |
|
Single Author |
Author __________________________ (Page). |
Burke describes human beings as "symbol-using animals" (3). |
|
Two Authors |
Author and Author _________________ (Page). |
Marx and Engels described human history as marked by class struggles (73). |
|
Three or More Authors |
Author et al. ______________________ (Page). |
Franck et al. noted that United States agricultural policies are directly responsible for negative health outcomes for many Americans (327). |
Bibliographies in MLA should be alphabetized by the first author's surname. Additionally, all citations should have a hanging indent. Learn more about how to set a hanging indent in Microsoft Word here (Opens in New Tab).
The first author listed in a citation is formatted as Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Any following authors are listed as First Middle Last
If a book has more than 2 authors, list only the first author's name followed by 'et al.'
Title of books and book chapters should be fully capitalized except for articles (i.e. the, and, of, on, etc.)
Book titles should be italicized, while book chapter titles should be surrounded in quotations
Citation Type |
Citation Template |
Citation Example |
|
Whole Book (1 Author) |
Last Name, First M. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. |
Davis, Angela Y. Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday. Pantheon, 1998. |
|
Whole Book (2 Authors) |
Last Name, First M., and First Last. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. |
Dorris, Michael, and Louise Erdrich. The Crown of Columbus. HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. |
|
Whole Book (More than 2 Author) |
Last Name, First et al. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. |
Charon, Rita et al. The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine. Oxford UP, 2017. |
|
Chapter in an Edited Book |
Last Name, First M. "Title of Book Chapter." Title of the Book, edited by Editor E. Editor, vol. XX, Publisher, Year, pp. XX-XX. |
Fernandez-Souza, Lilia. "Grinding and Cooking: An Approach to Mayan Culinary Technology." Cooking Technology: Transformations in Culinary Practice in Mexico and Latin America, edited by Steffan I. Ayora-Diaz, Bloomsbury Academic, 2015, pp. 15-28. |
The first author listed in a citation is formatted as Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Any following authors are listed as First Middle Last
Article title should be surrounded in quotations and fully capitalized except for articles (i.e. the, of, and, etc.)
Journal title should be italicized
Volume number is abbreviated to 'vol. __'
Issue number is abbreviated to 'no. __'
Citation Type |
Citation Template |
Citation Example |
|
Journal Article (1 Author) |
Last Name, First M. "Title of Journal Article." Name of Journal, vol. XX, no. XX, Year, pp. XX-XX. DOI or Publisher URL. |
Crenshaw, Kimberle. "Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color." Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, 1991, pp. 1241-1299. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039 |
|
Journal Article (2 Authors) |
Last Name, First M, and First M. Last Name. "Title of Journal Article." Name of Journal, vol. XX, no. XX, Year, pp. XX-XX. DOI or Publisher URL. |
Stenlid, Jan, and Marten Gustafsson. "Are Rare Wood Decay Fungi Threatened by Inability to Spread?" Ecological Bulletins, no. 49, 2001, pp. 85-91. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20113266. |
|
Journal Article (More than 2 Authors) |
Last Name, First M. et al. "Title of Journal Article." Name of Journal, vol. XX, no. XX, Year, pp. XX-XX. DOI or Publisher URL. |
Bainum, Charlene K. et al. "The Development of Laughing and Smiling in Nursery School Children." Child Development, vol. 55, no. 5, 1984, pp. 1946-1957. https://doi.org/10.2307/1129941. |
The first author listed in a citation is formatted as Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Any following authors are listed as First Middle Last
Website titles should be italicized and fully capitalized except for articles (i.e. the, and, of, but, etc.)
Date of publication or most recent update should be formatted as Day Month Year
If publication date is not available, include Accessed Date in its place
Citation Type |
Citation Template |
Citation Example |
|
Website with Author and Publisher |
Last Name, First Name. Name of Website. Domain Name, Day Month Year, URL. |
Stryker, Cole, and Eda Kavlakoglu. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? IBM, 16 August 2024, https://www.ibm.com/topics/artificial-intelligence. |
|
Website Written and Published by an Organization |
Name of Website. Organization Name, Day Month Year, URL. |
Integumentary System. Cleveland Clinic, 25 April 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22827-integumentary-system. |
Citation Type |
Citation Template |
Citation Example |
|
Film |
Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, Studio Name, Year. |
Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, 1997. |
|
Online Video |
"Title of Video" Name of Platform, uploaded by Username, Day Mo. Year, URL. |
"I Melted Every Yankee Candle Together into a Giant Candle." YouTube, uploaded by Safiya Nygaard, 31 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9nBhv0lq1s. |
|
Song |
Artist Name. "Song Title." Album Title, Studio Name, Year, URL or platform. |
Beyoncé. "Texas Hold 'Em." Cowboy Carter, Parkwood, 2024, Spotify app. |
The Franco Library keeps the MLA Manual of Style 9th edition at the library circulation desk. Students are welcome to use the manual during staffed library hours upon request. The manual is for in-library use only.
