mla citations

In-Text Citations

  • General Guidelines

    • Always give credit where it is due.

    • Most straightforward method for in-text citation: use Author and Page Number.

    • For APA format, include the year as well.

  • When Missing Page Numbers

    • If there’s no page number available, use just the author's name.

    • If the author is unknown, use the title of the work.

  • Citing One or Two Authors

    • Mention both the first name and last name of the authors the first time, then use only the last names for subsequent citations.

    • For example: First mention would be "John Doe and Jane Smith (2020)," and subsequent mentions would be simply "Doe and Smith (2020)."

  • Same Last Names

    • If there are multiple authors with the same last name, include their first name initials to differentiate them.

    • For instance,

    • A. Miller and R. Miller.

  • Citing Multiple Authors

    • Use et al. for works with more than two authors.

    • Example: "Nicholson et al. (2020) page 135."

  • Formatting In-Text Citations

    • Do not use abbreviations like P for page or PP for pages—only write the number or the range.

    • If citing two pages, use a range, e.g., "pp. 20-21".

    • Use CH for chapters, and for literary texts, indicate line numbers or scene (SC) for plays.

  • No Author Citations

    • If there is no author, use the title fully in the text.

    • For organizations as authors, spell out the organization’s name in full when first cited, then use the abbreviated form afterwards.

  • Matching Works Cited with In-Text Citations

    • Ensure every source in the Works Cited has a corresponding in-text citation and vice-versa.

    • Mismatches may result in a loss of points.

Multi-Volume Works

  • When citing multi-volume works, include the volume number in the citation.

Digital and Non-Print Sources

  • Include basic information in in-text citations; do not mention the URL.

  • In the Works Cited, mention the URL and if available, the DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

  • For online sources, only the short URL is needed (e.g., cnm.com). Skip the prefix "https://".

Quoting and Formatting Quotations

  • Short Quotation: If using a short quotation, include the page number, e.g., "Quote here" (Author, 2020, p. 1).

  • Long Quotations: If a quotation is too long (typically more than 40 words), format it as a block quotation:

    • Indent the block quote by half an inch and avoid quotation marks.

    • Example:

    "This is a block quote example. It must be indented and presented without quotation marks."

  • Punctuation and Citation Positioning:

    • Place the punctuation mark (e.g., periods) after the citation parentheses when a page number is included.

    • If there are no page numbers, punctuation can go inside the quotation marks if it concludes the sentence.

Paraphrasing

  • Paraphrases must also include in-text citations.

  • Remember that even for paraphrased content, a citation is necessary.

Works Cited Page

  • Always start the Works Cited page on a new page.

  • Title should be centered and double-spaced.

  • Titles of works should be italicized (books, journals) while the title of an essay in a collection should be in quotation marks.

  • Articles in collections must follow citation rules for essays, where titles reflect their status correctly.

Citing Rules

  • Arrange citations in alphabetical order ignoring initial articles like "a" and "the".

  • Provide essential elements: Author, Title, Contributor (if edited), Publication date.

  • Author names should be presented in the format: Last Name, First Name. Consider using common abbreviations for collections and multiple authors.

    • For example, "Smith, John, and Jane Doe" becomes "Smith, John, and Doe, Jane".

Citing Organizations

  • When an organization is both the author and publisher, treat the organization name as the author and omit the publisher mention.

  • For nonprofit organizations acting as authors, begin the entry with the title of the book.

Journal and Article Citing

  • For journal articles, include the article's title in quotes and then the journal title italicized, alongside the publication date and page numbers.

  • Newspaper articles have similar rules; mention edition if relevant.

  • Citing digital sources requires URL and access date; include DOI when available.

Citation Generator Considerations

  • Check output from citation generators to ensure capitalization is correct; titles should not be all caps unless the source is formally styled that way.

Citing Common Knowledge

  • Common knowledge does not require citation. For instance, widely accepted facts or general statements don’t need citations or references.

  • Utilize discretion: evidence stated should add depth and not state what the audience may already know.

Citation Examples

  1. Common Knowledge:

    • Example text stating common knowledge does not require citation.

  2. Non-Common Knowledge:

    • "Ronald Reagan gave a speech…" requires a citation due to it being an exact quotation.

  3. Formal Tone:

    • In academic writing, avoid colloquial usages and ensure a formal tone is present in writing.

Best Practices in Writing

  • When drafting academic work, aim for precision and clarity in language over casual expressions.

  • Revise initial drafts for better clarity and conciseness in word choice.

  • Specificity is important; hence all vague references should be clarified. Avoid generalizations when possible.

  • Ensure cohesiveness and relevance when discussing complex topics, providing necessary citations where applicable.