MLA Style, 8th/9th edition Quick Guide
Based on MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Two steps to citing: Every source you use must (1) have an in-text citation and (2) be listed in the Works Cited list.
In the body of your paper, provide in-text, parenthetical citations where you quote from, or use ideas from, a source. For each source, give the author’s last name and page number, if available. Each in-text citation will correspond to a more detailed citation on your Works Cited list (see Step 2).
Examples: Baer and Heron have argued that “social norms evolve in consistent and cyclical patterns” (124).
- OR -
Scholars have argued that social norms consistently and cyclically evolve (Baer and Heron 124).
Gather these elements for each source you cite:
Burdick, Anne, et al.
Book:
Printed
Chapter in |
Example: Connection. Harper Collins, 2015.
Author/Editor of Book (if different from author/editor of chapter), Publisher, Year, Pages. Name of Database, Web address of e-book. Example: Teachers, edited by P. John Williams, SensePublishers, 2012, pp. 55-92. SpringerLink, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-6209-161-0_4. |
Journal /
|
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical, Volume and Issue Number (if provided), Publication Day Month Year or Season Year (according to how the source provides it), page numbers. Name of database, DOI or Web address of article.
Examples (with DOI and with Web address): Skills through Project Based Learning.” Innovative Higher Education, vol. 40, no. 3, Jun. 2015, pp. 279-86. ProQuest, doi:10.1007/ s10755-014-9314-3.
Self-Efficacy." Journal of Developmental Education, vol. 37, no. 3, 2014, pp. 14-16,18-23,33. Education Database, https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/ docview/1635068148?accountid=28371.
|
Web Site:
Page from |
Author Last Name, First Name (if different from organization/company responsible for site). “Title of Page.” Name of Web site, Name of organization or company responsible for Web site (if different from Web site title), Day Month Year of Publication or Last Update (to whatever level of detail the source provides), Web site Address. Date Accessed. Example: 2 May 2016, water.usgs.gov/watuse/wuto.html. Accessed 23 Apr. 2016. |
For More Information...
More detailed citation guides can be found at Excelsior College's Online Writing Lab (OWL).
For additional citation support, please ask a librarian.