Purdue OWL MLA Citation: A Comprehensive Guide
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a widely used formatting and citation style, especially in the humanities. The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) is a valuable resource for learning and applying MLA style. This article provides a detailed guide to MLA citation, drawing upon the principles outlined in the 9th edition of the MLA Handbook (published in 2021) and incorporating examples for various source types. The format for both in-text and Works Cited citations is the same as the 8th edition.
Core Principles of MLA Citation
MLA style emphasizes clarity and consistency in acknowledging sources. The key components of MLA citation include:
- In-text citations: Brief references within the body of your paper that point to the full citation on the Works Cited page.
- Works Cited page: A comprehensive list of all sources cited in your paper, providing full publication details.
Works Cited Page: The Foundation of MLA Citation
A Works Cited page is an alphabetical listing of the resources cited in your paper. It appears at the end of your paper. Here's a breakdown of the essential elements and formatting:
Basic Format
The general format for a Works Cited entry is:
Lastname, Firstname. "Article Title." Journal Title, volume, issue, year, pages (if known). Database Name (if relevant).
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Author Last Name, First Name. Title.
Variations Based on Source Type
The specific information required for a Works Cited entry varies depending on the type of source. Here are examples for some of the most common source types:
Books
Author's Last name, First name. Book Title in Italics. Edition number, volume number.
- Example: Wood, James. How Fiction Works.
- Multiple Authors: Author's Last name, First name and second author's First name Last name. Book Title in Italics.
- Example: Wood, James and Patrick Swayze. How Fiction Works.
- Three or More Authors: Author's Last name, First name, et al. Book Title in Italics.
- Example: Wood, James, et al. How Fiction Works.
- Edited Book (no author): Gilman, Frank, editor. Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. 15th ed., vol.
- Translated Book: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Translated by Translator's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year.
Articles in Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title." Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title, Publication Information [volume, issue/number, year, pages].
- Example: Latartara, John. "The Timbre of Thai Classical Singing." Asian Music, vol. 43, no. 2, 2012, pp. 88-114.
- Example: Leonhardt, David, Ian Prasad Phillbrick, and Stuart A. Thompson. “Thoughts and Prayers and N.R.A. Funding.” New York Times. 4 October 2017.
- Example: Franklin, Ruth M. and Sharon Dotger. "Sex Education Knowledge Differences between Freshmen and Senior College Undergraduates." College Student Journal, vol. 45, no. 1, 2011, pp. 199-213. Academic Search Premier.
Websites
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Page or Document." Name of Website, Date of Publication or Last Modified, URL. Accessed Date.
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- Example: "Vietnam: a Historical Introduction." Center for Global Education, Asia Society, 2017, asiasociety.org/education/vietnam. Accessed 17 Dec.
- No Author Listed: If an author is not listed, begin the citation with the title of the page.
Films
Title of Film. Directed by Director's First Name Last Name, Distributor, Year of Release.
- Example: Blade Runner. Directed by Ridley Scott, Warner Bros., 1982.
Other Media
- Music Album: Beyoncé. Lemonade.
- Online Video: Rhodes, Sonny. "The Ballad of Serenity." Vimeo, Jan. 2013.
- Podcast: "The Unfinished Battle in the Capital of the Confederacy." Codeswitch, www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch. 23 Aug 2017.
- Artwork: Hesse, Eva. Repetition Nineteen III, 1968, Museum of Modern Art. www.moma.org/collection/works/81930.
In-Text Citations: Giving Credit Where It's Due
In-text citations are brief references within your paper that correspond to the full citations on your Works Cited page. They allow readers to easily locate the sources you used.
Basic Format
The basic format for an in-text citation is:
(Author's Last Name Page Number)
- Example: (Wood 45)
Variations
- No Page Numbers: If the source does not have page numbers (e.g., a website), use the author's last name only.
- Example: (Andaya)
- Multiple Authors: (Author's last name et al. Page Number)
- Example: (Wood et al. 72)
- Indirect Citation: Sometimes an author will mention work by another author by using a quotation or paraphrased idea. For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith. The basic rule is that in both the works-cited list and in-text citation, cite Kirkey. Use the words “qtd. in” for the in-text citation.
- Example: According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey 2). The philosopher Alain states that "admiration is not pleasure but a kind of attention. . ." (qtd. in Author's Last Name).
Special Cases and Considerations
Government Publications
Information on citing government print and electronic resources using MLA citation style.
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- Example: United States, Federal Maritime Commission. Hawaiian Trade Study: An Economic Analysis.
Personal Interviews
Note: This depends on the focus of your work.
- Example: Brandt, Deborah. Personal interview.
Citing Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Using generative AI in research is a new thing, and the guidelines for writers are still evolving.
Handling Missing Information
If certain information is unavailable (e.g., publication date, author), use the following guidelines:
- No Author: Begin the citation with the title of the work.
- No Date: Use "n.d." (no date) in place of the publication year.
Examples of Complete Citations
Here are a few more complete examples of MLA citations for various source types:
- Book: Card, Claudia. The Atrocity Paradigm: A Theory of Evil.
- Book: Gaither, Milton. Homeschool: An American History. Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.
- Journal Article: Sherrard-Johnson, Cherene. "'A Plea for Color': Nella Larsen's Iconography of the Mulatta." American Literature, vol. 76, no. 4, 2004, pp.
- Article in a Collection: Dewar, James. "The Cultural Consequences of Printing and the Internet." Agent of Change: Print Culture Studies After Elizabeth L.
- Entry in an Encyclopedia: “Patanjali.” Benét’s Reader’s Encyclopedia, edited by Bruce Murphy, 4th ed., HarperCollins Publishers, 1996, p.
- Online Article: Del Castillo, Inigo. "How Not to Kill Your Houseplants, According to Botanists." Apartment Therapy, 29 Jan.
- Journal Article: Doggart, Julia. "Minding the Gap: Realizing Our Ideal Community Writing Assistance Program." The Community Literacy Journal, vol. 2, no.
- Journal Article: Olsen, Dale A. Music of El Dorado: the Ethnomusicology of Ancient South American Cultures.
- Book: McClean, Shilo T. Digital Storytelling: The Narrative Power of Visual Effects in Film.
- Journal Article: Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition.
- Anthology: Culligan, John, ed. "Biofuels and University Economics." School of Natural Sciences, U of Western Oregon, Oct. 2008. 25 Mar 2009.
- Musical Recording: Nirvana. Nevermind.
- Magazine Article: Kean, Sam. "The End of Thirst." Atlantic, vol. 316, no. 5, 2015, pp.
- Reference Book: Havrenek, Carrie. "Patti Smith." Women Icons of Popular Music: the Rebels, Rockers, and Renegades. Vol. 2, Greenwood Press, 2009, pp.
- Exhibition Catalogue: “Dutch Fashion Designers.” Gemeente Museum, Den Haag, Netherlands.
- Online Media: "eps1.0_hellofriend.mov." Mr. Netflix. 13th.
- Artwork: Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Gardner's Art Through the Ages, 10th ed., by Richard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner, Harcourt Brace, p.
- Portrait: Sherald, Amy. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama.
- Novel: Kingsolver, Barbara. The Lacuna: a Novel.
- Textbook: Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring.
Resources
- Online writing lab with formatting tips and sample papers.
tags: #purdue #owl #mla #citation
