MLA Citation Formats

Check with your Instructor to verify the format required for your paper. For additional information, consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers in the Library and Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html for additional information.

Book
MLA Format
Example
 

One Author
Author Last, First.
        Title of work.  Location: Publisher, Date.

Shorris, Earl.  The Life and Times of Mexico. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.

    Two Authors
Author Last, First, and First Last.
Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.

Bernstein, Carl, and Bob Woodward.  All the President's Men.
               New York: Simon and Shuster, 1994.
 

Several Authors
Author Last, First, et al. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.

McArdle, William D., et al.  Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition an Human Performance.
Malvern, PA: Lea & Febiger, 1991.
 

Editor
Editor Last, First, ed.
       Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.

Gifford, Terry, ed. John Muir: His Life and Letters and
Other Writings. London: Baton Wicks, 1996.
 

Works in an anthology
Author Last, First. "Work Title." Anthology
        Title. Volume number. Ed. Editor First Last. Location: Publisher,
        Date. Pages.

Durham, David Anthony.  "The Boy-fish."  Gumbo: A Celebration
of African-American Writing.  Ed. Marita Golden and E. Lynn Harris.  New York: Harlem
Moon Broadway Books, 2002.  43-56.

 

ebook
Last, First.
Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.  Electronic Publisher.  Date Retrieved <url>.

Muir, John.  The Cruise of the Corwin.
Santa Barbara, California: Narrative Press, 2001.  ebrary.  22 Feb. 2005
<http://site.ebrary.com/lib/emcc/Doc?id=5003616>.
 

Encyclopedia
MLA Format
Example
 

Familiar Source
    Author Last, First. "Title of article."
        Title of Encyclopedia. Year ed.

Allen, William Hand.  "Electric Light."
World Book Encyclopedia.  2005 ed.
 

Specialized Source
    Author Last, First. "Article Title."  Encyclopedia Title.
	Ed. Editor First Last.  Number vols.  Location: Publisher, Date.
	

    "Thomas Alva Edison."  Encyclopedia of World Biography.
	17 vols. Detroit: Gale, 1998.
 

Periodical Article
MLA Format
Example
 

Magazine
    Author Last, First.  "Title of article."
	Title of Magazine Date: Pages.
    
Kalb, Claudia.  "When does Autism Start?"  Newsweek
28 Feb. 2005: 45-53.

Journal: continuous page numbers
    Author Last, First.  "Title of article."
	Title of Journal Volume (Year): Pages.

Vaustig, Brian.  "Autism Intervention Comes of Age."
JAMA 291 (2004): 2807-08.

 

Journal: each issue begins page 1
Author Last, First.  "Title of article."
	Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Pages.

Wright, Karen.  "Our Preferred Poison."  Discover
26.3 (2005) 58-64.

 

Newspaper
Author Last, First.  "Title of article."
	Title of Newspaper Date: Pages.

Burton, Thomas.  "Drug Shows Promise for Treating Strokes."
Wall Street Journal 24 Feb. 2005: D1

 

Article in an
  online database
Use print format then add

Database. Vendor. Library, Date Retrieved <url>.

Swanson, Terri Cooper, and Robin H. Lock.
        "Provide Structure for Children with Learning and Behavior Problems."
        Intervention in School + Clinic 40.3 (2005): 182-88. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO.
        Estrella Mountain CC, Avondale, AZ. 23 Feb. 2005 <http://search.ebscohost.com>.

 

Web Page
MLA Format
Example
 

Personal Home Page
Author Last, First.  Title.
Date posted.  Date retrieved <url>.

Saffran, Richard.  ABA Resources for Recovery from Autism, PDD, Hyperlexia.
24 Feb. 2005.  1 Mar. 2005 <http://rsaffran.tripod.com/aba.html>.

 

Edited Web Page
Title.  Date Posted.  Date Retrieved <url>.

Autism. Ed. Anne M. Meduri.  May
 2004. 1 March 2005 <http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/autism.html>.

Book	MLA Format	Example
One Author	Author Last, First. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.	Shorris, Earl. The Life and Times of Mexico. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.
Two Authors	Author Last, First, and First Last. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.	Bernstein, Carl, and Bob Woodward. All the President's Men. New York: Simon and Shuster, 1994.
Several Authors	Author Last, First, et al. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.	McArdle, William D., et al. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition an Human Performance. Malvern, PA: Lea & Febiger, 1991.
Editor	Editor Last, First, ed. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date.	Gifford, Terry, ed. John Muir: His Life and Letters and Other Writings. London: Baton Wicks, 1996.
Works in an anthology	Author Last, First. "Work Title." Anthology Title. Volume number. Ed. Editor First Last. Location: Publisher, Date. Pages.	Durham, David Anthony. "The Boy-fish." Gumbo: A Celebration of African-American Writing. Ed. Marita Golden and E. Lynn Harris. New York: Harlem Moon Broadway Books, 2002. 43-56.
ebook	Last, First. Title of work. Location: Publisher, Date. Electronic Publisher. Date Retrieved <url>.	Muir, John. The Cruise of the Corwin. Santa Barbara, California: Narrative Press, 2001. ebrary. 22 Feb. 2005 <http://site.ebrary.com/lib/emcc/Doc?id=5003616>.

Encyclopedia	MLA Format	Example
Familiar Source	Author Last, First. "Title of article." Title of Encyclopedia. Year ed.	Allen, William Hand. "Electric Light." World Book Encyclopedia. 2005 ed.
Specialized Source	Author Last, First. "Article Title." Encyclopedia Title. Ed. Editor First Last. Number vols. Location: Publisher, Date.	"Thomas Alva Edison." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 17 vols. Detroit: Gale, 1998.

Periodical Article	MLA Format	Example
Magazine	Author Last, First. "Title of article." Title of Magazine Date: Pages.	Kalb, Claudia. "When does Autism Start?" Newsweek 28 Feb. 2005: 45-53.
Journal: continuous page numbers	Author Last, First. "Title of article." Title of Journal Volume (Year): Pages.	Vaustig, Brian. "Autism Intervention Comes of Age." JAMA 291 (2004): 2807-08.
Journal: each issue begins page 1	Author Last, First. "Title of article." Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Pages.	Wright, Karen. "Our Preferred Poison." Discover 26.3 (2005) 58-64.
Newspaper	Author Last, First. "Title of article." Title of Newspaper Date: Pages.	Burton, Thomas. "Drug Shows Promise for Treating Strokes." Wall Street Journal 24 Feb. 2005: D1
Article in an online database	Use print format then add Database. Vendor. Library, Date Retrieved <url>.	Swanson, Terri Cooper, and Robin H. Lock. "Provide Structure for Children with Learning and Behavior Problems." Intervention in School + Clinic 40.3 (2005): 182-88. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Estrella Mountain CC, Avondale, AZ. 23 Feb. 2005 <http://search.ebscohost.com>.

Web Page	MLA Format	Example
Personal Home Page	Author Last, First. Title. Date posted. Date retrieved <url>.	Saffran, Richard. ABA Resources for Recovery from Autism, PDD, Hyperlexia. 24 Feb. 2005. 1 Mar. 2005 <http://rsaffran.tripod.com/aba.html>.
Edited Web Page	Title. Date Posted. Date Retrieved <url>.	Autism. Ed. Anne M. Meduri. May 2004. 1 March 2005 <http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/autism.html>.