MLA CHEAT SHEET

When you use another person’s work, you must give credit to that source. If you do not do this, it is
considered plagiarism. Use what is called a citation to give credit to or “cite the source.” You must
ALWAYS CITE YOUR SOURCES whether you’ve paraphrased, summarized, or directly quoted the
original idea.

A direct quote is a word-for-word copying of the original idea put in quotation marks.

example from the “Students frequently overuse direct quotations in taking notes, & as a
original passage result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only
about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted
matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact
transcribing of source materials while taking notes” (Lester 46-47).

A paraphrase is the original idea put into your own words. It’s NOT taking the quotation
and changing a few words. It does NOT go in quotation marks.

example of a In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep

legitimate paraphrase quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually
(of the original originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material
passage): recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

A summary is a shortening of the original passage into your own words (by only covering
the main ideas and topics mentioned).

example of an Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to
accepted summary (of help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester
the original passage): 46-47).

Plagiarism is using another person’s work/idea and not giving them credit.

Example of a Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes,
plagiarized version (or resulting in too many of them in the final research paper, in fact,
the original passage): probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly
quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material
copied while taking notes.

A correct in-text (or parenthetical) citation goes after the borrowed material and follows the
following set-up. Notice that the period goes AFTER the citation.

in-text citation example

source with 1 author (Author’s Last Name page #). ex. (Cardwell 9).
sources with 2 authors (1st Author’s Last Name and 2nd Author’s Last Name pg#).
sources with 3 or more authors (1st Author’s Last Name et al. pg#).
sources without an author (Title of Source pg#).
sources without page #s Follow rules for authors above and leave #s out of citation.
You can include chapter, paragraph, or section #s if they are listed.
Never count pages or paragraphs yourself to invent your own #s.
When writing in school, you should always write academically. This means you should write
formally—never write like you’re talking or texting with a friend. Follow the guidelines below
to ensure you’re writing academically and correctly.

WHEN WRITING ACADEMICALLY

DON’T use contractions. Ex: Instead of can’t, use cannot.
DON’T write about what you’re going to Ex: “I am going to tell you about…” OR
say—just say it! “Now, I’ll discuss…”
DON’T use first or second person pronouns. Ex: I, you, we, us, etc.
DON’T ask questions—not even hypothetical Ex: Instead of “Do you think gambling is
ones. Rephrase them as statements or as ethical?” try “Gambling is never ethical
indirect questions. because…” OR “The question arises as to if
gambling is even ethical.”

DON’T write like you’re talking Ex:

WHEN INCLUDING DIRECT QUOTES IN YOUR WRITING:

for 3 lines or more: This is an example of what to do when your direct quote is three lines
or longer. You can introduce the quote with a colon, or just simply
double indent to include it like you would any other time within your paper.
make it stand our “You would indent by hitting enter and the
from the rest of the tab button TWICE. Continue this for each
paragraph line of the direct quote” (Cardwell).
When you are finished with the quote, continue typing the paragraph
like so.
when information is Say the original quote was: “This Friday, we will practice our
left out: punctuation, proofreading marks, and complete a revision workshop,”
but you only need the part about the revision workshop. Set up the
use an ellipses in quote like so:
brackets to
represent this “This Friday, we will [. . .] complete a revision workshop” (Cardwell).
when information is If a direct quote needs clarification because it is taken out of context,
reworded to clarify: just put the words you change in brackets. For example:

write the reworded “This Friday, we [completed] a revision workshop” (Cardwell).

information in
brackets
Not only must you cite your source in your writing, but you must include what is called a works cited
page. Simply plug in the information from your source into the formulas.
The Basic Works Cited Formula Is:
Author’s last name, first name. Title of source. Title of container, Other contributors, Version, Number,

Publisher, Publication date, Location. Date of access.

WORKS CITED CITATION SET-UP example

1. If there are two authors, list them in the
order they are listed in the source with the
Author’s last name, word “and” in between them. The first Cardwell, Kristen.
first name. listed name should be set up as follow:
last name, first name

If there are 3 or more authors, list only the

first author followed by the phrase: et al.
2.
Books and website names should be
Title of source. written in italics
“Mrs. C’s MLA Cheat Sheet.”

Periodicals: journals, magazines, and

newspaper articles should be written in
“quotation marks”

3.
Should be written in italics
Title of container, English Teachers of the World,

4.
Other contributors, Such as editors

5.
Version, Volume numbers vol. 15,

6.
Number, no. 1,

7.
Publisher, If a publisher isn’t listed, assume the
container published itself
8.
Publication date, 2022,

9.
Location. Page numbers/website URL pp. 41-50.

10.
Date of access. The day you found the source
*punctuate EXACTLY as *if any of this information is E Cardwell, Kristen. “Mrs. C’s MLA Cheat
the chart says missing from your source, skip it in
the citation Sheet.” English Teachers of the World,

vol. 15, no. 1, 2022, pp. 41-50.

Common Sources
Works Cited Formulas
source works cited entry in-text citation
 article Author’s last, first name. Title of source. Title of container, (author’s last name
other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication page #).
date, location. Date of access.
blog post Author or complier name. “Posting Title.” Name of site,
Version number, Name of institution/organization (author last name
affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), URL. Date of OR screen name).
access.
book Author’s last, first name. Title of source. Title of container, (author’s last name
publisher, publication date, location. Date of access. page #).
digital image Image Creator’s Last, First name. “Image Title.” Website (image creator’s
Name, Day Month Year Published, URL. last name).
e-book Last name, First name. Book Title. E-book, Title of (author’s last name
Container, Publisher, Publish date. page #).
infographic If the infographic does not have an official title, provide (title of
a description of it. Name of website that infographic is infographic).
on, URL or PDF link.
interview Last and first name of interviewee. Personal interview. (interviewee’s last
(conducted by Date of Interview. name).
you)
interview Last and Frist name of interviewee. “Title of the interview.” (interviewee’s last
(conducted by Location interview is published. Date interview was name).
someone else) published.
movies Title. Directed by Name of Director, performances by (title of the movie
Performer’s names, film studio or distributor, release year. timestamp).
online database Last, First Name. “Article Title.” Publication Title, volume, (author’s last name
number, issue, date published, page numbers. Database page #).
Name, DOI or URL.
page on a Author’s Last, First Name. “Title of Page.” Title of Website, (author’s last
website URL. Date of Access. name).
panel Panel Members/Speaker’s Last, First Name, panelist(s). (panel
discussions/ Title of Discussion. Title of Event. Date, Location. members/speaker’s
Q&As last name).
podcast Host’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of episode.” Title of (Host(s) Last Name
the Program, additional contributors, publisher, date. timestamp).
Website Where Podcast Was Streamed, URL.
song or album Artist Name. “Title of Song.” Album Title, Name of Record (Artist Last Name
Label, Date produced. URL. timestamp).
Ted Talk Speaker Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Talk.” TED, (Speaker Last
Month Year, URL. Name timestamp).
TV Show “Episode Name.” Series Name, written by Authors First
and Last Name, directed by Director’s First and Last (Episode Name).
Name, Distributor name, date of distribution.
Tweet Twitter Handle. “The Tweet in its entirety.” Twitter, Date, (Twitter handle).
time of posting. URL of Tweet.
Youtube Video “Title of the Video.” Youtube, Name of the Youtube (Uploader Last
Channel. Date the Video was Uploaded. URL of Video. Name timestamp).