MLA Citation Guide - 9th edition

This is a basic guide to the MLA style of citation. For more in-depth information, please see:
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (9th Ed.) - Brescia General Collection PN147.M68 2021

THE CORE ELEMENTS

The ninth edition of MLA focuses on 1 A uth or. W ood, Peter.
pieces of information which are
2 Title o f source. "Jo h n B arleycorn : The E volution o f
common to most sources (core a Folk-Song F a m ily ."
elements).
C O N T A IN E R I
Determine which pieces of information
are relevant for documenting your 3 Title o f co n tain er, Folk Music Journal,
source, and fill in the template
4 O th er con tributors,
accordingly. Not all sources will use each
core element. See pp. 208-216 for 5 V ersion,

supplemental elements. 6 N um ber, vol. 8, n o . 4,

Things to note: 7 Publisher,

In this guide, the term 'container' refers 8 P u b lication d ate, 2004,

to the larger whole that contains a L ocation . pp, 438-55.

9
source, and a source is what is being
cited. For more information, see pp.
C O N T A IN E R 2
134-145.
3 Title o f co n tain er, JSTOR,
The MLA Handbook 9th Edition has been
4 O th er con tributors,
expanded to include full chapters
regarding MLA writing standards such as 5 V ersion,

using inclusive language, proper

6 N um ber,
punctuation, and other helpful
guidelines. Please consult the handbook 7 Publisher,

for more information. 8 P u b lication d ate,

9 L ocation . w w w .jsto r.o rg /sta b le /4 5 2 2 7 1 8 .

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 Books

In-text citation Works Cited

Single author (Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
(H a rb o rd 127) H a rb o rd , Ja n e t. T h e E v o lu tio n o f F ilm : R e th in k in g Film S tu d ie s . Po lity, 2 0 0 7 .

(Author and Author Author, First Name, and Second Author. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
Page #)
Two authors
(L a rse n a n d Z u b e r n is 249) L a rs e n , K a th e rin e , an d Lyn n S. Z u b e r n is . F a n g a s m : S u p e rn a t u ra l F a n g irls. U o f Iow a
P, 2 0 1 3 .

Three or more (Author, et al. Page #) Author, First Name, et al. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
authors (P la g , e t al. 109) P lag, In go , et al. In tro d u c tio n to E n g lis h L in g u is tic s . M o u to n , 2 0 0 7 .

(Editor Page #) Editor, First Name, editor. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
Editor in place
(M c R a e 69 3 ) M c R a e , M u rd o W illia m , e d ito r. T h e L ite ra tu re o f S c ie n c e : P e rs p e c tiv e s o n P o p u la r
of author
S c ie n c e W ritin g . U o f G e o rg ia P, 1 993.

Author(s) and (Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Edited by Editor, Publisher, Date.
Editor(s) (A u s te n 94) A u ste n , Ja n e . S e n s e a n d S e n s ib ility . Ed ite d b y C la u d ia Jo h n s o n , N o rto n , 2 0 0 1 .

(Abbreviated title #) Title. Organization, Date. Report title and report number.
Organization as
(R e a d in g 3) R e a d in g a t R isk : A S u rv e y o f L it e ra ry R e a d in g in A m e ric a . N a tio n a l E n d o w m e n t fo r
author
th e A rts , Ju n e 2 0 0 4 . R e se a rch D ivisio n R e p o rt 46.

Introduce group name in text Group. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.

and include (Page #)
OR When the organization is also the publisher, begin with the title.
Group/
(Group Page #)
corporation as
A c c o rd in g to th e N a tio n a l N a tio n a l R e se a rch C o u n cil. B e y o n d S ix B illio n : F o re c a s tin g th e W o rld 's P o p u la tio n .
author R e se a rch C o u n c il... (3 7 8 ) N atl. A c a d ., 2 0 0 0 .

OR

(N a tl. R e s e a rch C o u n c il 3 7 8 )

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container, edited by First
Editor and Second Editor, Publisher, Date, pp-pp.
Chapter in a
(B o rd o 102) B o rd o , S u sa n . "T h e M o ral C o n te n t o f N a b o k o v 's L o lita ." A e s t h e t ic S u b je c ts , e d ite d
book
b y P a m e la R. M a tth e w s a n d D avid M c W h irte r, U o f M in n e s o ta P, 2 0 0 3 , pp.
1 2 5 -5 2 .

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Publisher, Date. Title of Container,
Ebook or Location.
* if a DO I o r p e r m a lin k is a v a ila b le fo r th e w o rk , u se th a t in ste a d o f th e b a sic U R L
Electronic
version of print (C o p e la n d 101) C o p e la n d , E d w a rd . The S ilv e r F o rk N o v e l: F a sh io n a b le F ic tio n in th e A g e o f R e fo rm .
C a m b r id g e U P, 2 0 1 2 . G o o g le B o o k s, b o o k s .g o o g le
book .c a / b o o k s ? id = 3 T 0 x S D Jv -1 M C & p rin ts e c = fro n tc o v e r# v = o n e p a g e
& q & f= fa ls e .

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 (Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Version, Publisher, Date.
Multiple
(B a k e r 5 94) B ak e r, N a n c y L. A R e se a rc h G u id e f o r U n d e rg ra d u a te S tu d e n ts : E n g lis h a n d
editions
A m e ric a n L it e r a t u r e . 6th e d., M LA , 2 0 0 6 .

Multiple (Author Volume #: Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Number, Publisher, Date.
volumes (W e lle k 5: 9 87) W e lle k , R e n e . A H is t o r y o f M o d e rn C riticism , 1 7 5 0 -1 9 5 0 . V o l. 5, Y a le U P , 1 9 8 6 .

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Translated by Translator, Publisher,
Translation Date.
(M a n k e ll 3 31) M a n k e ll, H e n n in g . F ir e w a ll . T ra n s la te d b y E b b a S e g e rb e rg , V in t a g e -R a n d o m , 2 0 0 3 .

("Title", def. #) "Title of source." Title of Container, Version, Date, Location.

("Noon", def. 4b) "Content." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Merriam-
Webster, 2003, p. 269.
Dictionary
Online: "Content." Collegiate Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, 2016,
http://www.unabridged.merriam-webster.com/
collegiate/content.

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container, edited by Editor,
Version, Number, Publisher, Date, Location.

(Allen 247) Allen, Anita L. "Privacy in Health Care." Encyclopedia of Bioethics, edited
Encyclopedia
by Stephen G. Post, 3rd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan-Thompson, 2004, p.
247.
Online: use URL for Location element

Journal Articles and Other Periodicals

)[(
Any journal article obtained through a database or website should have the secondary container (name of the database or
website) and a permanent/stable link added to the end of the citation.

In text citation Works Cited

(Author Page #) A u th o r, F irst N a m e . "T itle o f S o u rc e ." T itle o f C o n ta in e r, N u m b e r, D a te , L o c a tio n .

Single
(T a k a c s 18) T a k a c s , S ta c y . " M o n s te rs , M o n s te rs E v e ry w h e re : S p o o k y T V an d th e P o litic s o f F e a r in P o s t-9 / 1 1
author A m e r ic a ." S c ie n c e F ic tio n S tu d ie s , v o l. 3 6 , no. 1, fa ll 2 0 0 9 , pp. 1 -2 0 . JS T O R ,
*
h ttp s :/ / w w w .js to r .o r g / s ta b le / 2 5 4 7 5 2 0 5 .

(Author and Author A u th o r, F irst N a m e , an d L a st A u th o r. "T itle o f S o u rc e ." T itle o f C o n ta in e r, N u m b e r, D a te , L o c a tio n .

Page #)

Two authors (S h a h an d A h m a d 72) S h a h , P a rilah M o h d , an d F a u zia h A h m a d . "A C o m p a ra tiv e A c c o u n t o f th e B ilin g u a l E d u ca tio n

P r o g r a m s in M a la y s ia an d th e U n ite d S ta te s ." G E M A O n lin e J o u r n a l o f L a n g u a g e S tu d ie s ,
*
vo l. 7, no. 2, 2 0 0 7 , pp. 6 3 -7 7 . C ite S e e rX ,
h ttp :/ / c ite s e e rx .is t.p s u .e d u /v ie w d o c / d o w n lo a d ? d o i= 1 0 .1 .1 .4 8 3 .8 3 4 5 & r e p = re p 1 & ty p e = p d f.

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 (Author et al. Page #) A u th o r, F irst N a m e , e t al. "T itle o f S o u rc e ." T itle o f C o n ta in e r, N u m b e r, D a te ,
L o c a tio n .
Three or more
(C h e n e t al. 6 8) C h e n , Y a o c h e n g , e t al. " P o s tm o d e rn is m and H o n g K o n g C in e m a ." P o s tm o d e rn
authors
C u ltu re , vo l. 10 no. 3, 2 0 0 0 . P r o je c t M U S E , d o i:1 0 .1 3 5 3 / p m c .2 0 0 0 .0 0 2 1 .
*

Magazine or (Author Page #) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container ( Magazine Title),
Date, Location.
newspaper
(M c E v o y 27) M c E v o y , D e rm o t. "L ittle B o o k s, B ig S u c c e s s ." P u b lis h e rs W e e k ly , 2 7 O ct. 2 0 0 6 ,
article - online
w w w .p u b lis h e rs w e e k ly .c o m / p w / p rin t / 2 0 0 6 1 0 3 0 /
version 9 2 8 1 -little -b o o k s -b ig -s u c c e s s .h tm l

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. Review of Title of Original Work, by Original Author.
Title of Container (Magazine/Journal), Date, Location.
Review
(M e n d e ls o h n 4 4) M e n d e lso h n , D a n ie l. R e v o f U n ite d 9 3 , b y Pau l G re e n g ra s s . N e w Y o rk R e v ie w o f
B o o k s, 21 S e p t. 2 0 0 6 , pp. 4 3 -6 .

Informally Published Material - Reports, Theses, etc.

In text citation Works Cited

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Date. Granting Institution, PhD dissertation/thesis. Title
of Container, Location.
Dissertation-
(D u n p h y 8 3) D u n p h y , H e a th e r V ic to r ia . T rust, F rie n d sh ip a n d H o g w a rt s H o u se s: A n E t h n o g ra p h y o f H a rry P o t te r
from database
F a n s. 2 0 1 1 . U o f C a lg a ry , th e sis. P ro Q u e s t, s e a rc h .p r o q u e s t.c o m /
*
d o c v ie w / 9 1 3 0 0 6 3 1 9 ? a c c o u n t id = 1 5 1 1 5 .

(Author Page #) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Institution, Physical location, Date. Digital format
Course (PDF, JPED file, etc.).
material (e.g.
D o rsc h e ll, M a ry F ra n c e s . "C a n d id e ." B re sc ia U n iv e rs ity C o lle g e , L o n d o n , O n ta rio , 2 0 1 1 . M ic ro s o ft
handouts) P o w e rP o in t s lid e s.

(Speaker) Speaker, First Name. "Title of Source (Lecture Topic)." Institution, Physical location, Date.
Lecture.
Class lectures
(D o e lm a n ) D o e lm a n , Ja m e s . " V e rs ific a tio n ." B re sc ia U n iv e rs ity C o lle g e , L o n d o n , O n ta r io , 2 8 O ct. 2 0 1 1 . L e ctu re .

Personal (Interviewee) Interviewee, First Name. Type of interview. By Interviewer. Date.

interview (Reed) Reed, Ishmael. Personal interview. By Heather Cromby. 10 Dec. 2007.

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 Webpages and Websites

In text citation Works Cited

(Author) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container (Site), Publisher,
Webpage/ Date, Location.
Section of
(G re e n ) G re e n , Jo s h u a . "T h e R o ve P re s id e n c y ." T h e A t la n tic .c o m , A tla n tic M o n th ly G ro u p ,
Website S e p t. 2 0 0 7 , w w w .t h e a tla n tic .c o m / m a g a z in e /
a rc h iv e / 2 0 0 7 / 0 9 / th e -ro v e -p r e s id e n c y / 6 1 3 2 .

(Author) Author, First Name. Title of Source. Publisher, Date, Location.

Entire website (E a ve s) E a ve s, M o rris. The W illia m B la k e A rc h iv e . Lib. o f C o n g ., 2 8 S e p t. 2 0 0 7 ,
w w w .b la k e a r c h iv e .o r g / b la k e .

Email (Author) Author, First Name. "Title of Source." Received by Recipient, Date.
* N o te : title o f e m a il is (B o y le ) B o yle , A n th o n y T. "R e: U to p ia ." R e c e ive d b y D a n ie l J. C a h ill, 21 Ju n e 1 9 9 7 .
th e s u b je c t line

(Author) Author, First Name. "Title of Source". Title of Container (Blog Name), Date,
Location.
(C a m p b e ll) Po st: Fo le y, Je n n ife r. " G e t tin g R e le v a n t R e su lts: K e y w o rd s ." C le v e r R e s e a r c h e r

Blog post or B lo g , 14 S e p t. 2 0 1 7 , b e r y liv e y lib r a ry .w o rd p re s s .c o m / 2 0 1 7 / 0 9 / 1 4 / g e ttin g -

re le v a n t -re s u lt s -k e y w o r d s /
comment
C o m m e n t: C o m m e n t on "T h e R e a d in g B rain : D iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n D ig ita l a n d
P rin t." S o M a n y B o o k s, 25 A p r. 2 0 1 3 , 1 0 :3 0 p .m .,
s o m a n y b o o k s b lo g .c o m / 2 0 1 3 / 0 4 / 2 5 / th e -re a d in g -b ra in -d iffe re n c e s -
b e tw e e n -d ig ita l-a n d -p rin t / # c o m m e n t-8 3 0 3 0 .

(Name or Username) Author (Author Username). "Entire text of tweet." Twitter, Date, Time,
URL.
Social media
(Je s sic a Jo n e s ) Jo n e s , Je s s ic a (p e rs ia n k iw i). "W e h a ve re p o rt o f la rg e stre e t b a ttle s in e a s t & w e s t
(e.g. Twitter)
o f T e h ra n n o w - # Ira n e le c tio n ." T w itte r, 2 3 Ju n e 2 0 0 9 , 1 1 :1 5 a.m .,
tw itte r.c o m /p e rs ia n k iw i/ s ta tu s / 2 2 9 8 1 0 6 0 7 2 .

Government Documents

In text citation Works Cited

(Country) Country, Government Department(s). Title of Source. Publisher, Date. Title

of Container, Location.
Government
(C a n a d a ) C a n a d a , E n v ir o n m e n t C a n a d a , T ra n s p o rta tio n D iv isio n . F le e t A v e r a g e N O x E m is sio n
report - online P e rfo rm a n c e o f 2 0 0 7 M o d e l Y e a r L ig h t-D u t y V e h ic le s, L ig h t-D u t y T ru ck s
version a n d M e d iu m -D u ty P a s s e n g e r V e h icle s. E n v ir o n m e n t C a n a d a , 2 0 0 9 .
E n v iro n m e n t C a n a d a , w w w .e c .g c .
c a / lc p e -c e p a / d e fa u lt .a s p ? la n g = E n & n = 4 4 0 A B C F F -1 .

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 Media

In text citation Works Cited

W h e re o p tio n s a re g ive n (i.e. c h o o s in g b e tw e e n c o m p o s e r, c o n d u c to r o r p e rfo rm e r f o r s o u n d re co rd in g ), c h o o s e th e m o s t

a p p ro p ria te e n t r y f o r y o u r p a p e r. S e e pp . 1 4 5 -1 5 4 f o r a lis t o f o t h e r c o n trib u to rs w h o s e ro le s y o u ca n h ig h lig h t.
Motion picture
or video (Short Title) Title of Film. Contributors, Publisher, Date.
(W o n d e rfu l Life ) It's a W o n d e rfu l L if e . D ire cte d b y F ra n k C a p ra , p e rfo rm a n c e s b y Ja m e s S te w a rt,
D o n n a R e e d , Lio n e l B a rry m o re , an d T h o m a s M itch e ll, R K O , 1 9 4 6 .

(Composer/Conductor/ Author (Composer/Conductor/Performer), First Name. "Title of Source."

Sound recording Performer) Title of Container (Album), Publisher, Date.
- single track (B e y o n ce ) B e y o n ce . " P re tty H u rts." B e y o n c e , P a rk w o o d E n te rta in m e n t, 2 0 1 3 ,
w w w .b e y o n c e .c o m / a lb u m / b e y o n c e / ? m e d ia _ v ie w = s o n g s .

(Composer/Conductor/ Author (Composer/Conductor/Performer), First Name. Title of Source

Sound recording Performer) (Album). Publisher, Date.
- entire album
(H o lid a y ) H o lid a y , B illie . T h e E s s e n c e o f B illie H o lid a y . C o lu m b ia , 1 991.

Single episode ("Short Title") "Title of Source." Title of Container, Contributor, Number, Publisher, Date.
from a (" U n d e r th e G u n ") "U n d e r th e G u n ." P r e tty Little L ia rs , c re a te d b y M a rle n e K in g, se a s o n 6, e p is o d e 7,

television series A B C F a m ily , 16 J u ly 2 0 1 3 . N e t flix , w w w .n e tflix .c o m / w a tc h / 5 1 1 3 1 8 .

Additional rules

In text citation Works Cited

Use secondary citations as your last choice: it is preferable to find the original work.
List the secondary source (where you actually read it) in the reference list. Name the original work in the text,
and give a citation for the secondary source.
Secondary
citations Reference original work (qtd. in Use citation format appropriate to work.
Author Page #). Example below is a book.
...w a s an " e x tra o r d in a r y m a n " B o sw e ll, Ja m e s . The L ife o f Jo h n s o n . E d ite d b y G e o rg e B irk b e c k H ill a n d L. F. P o w e ll,
(q td . in B o sw e ll 4 5 0 ) C la r e n d o n , 1 9 3 4 -5 0 .

Abbreviate the titles of each Author, First Name. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
work and place them in the —. Title of Source. Publisher, Date.
Two or more citation.
works by the (Author, Abbreviated Title Page
same author #)
(F ry e , A n a t o m y 2 37) Frye , N o rth ro p . A n a t o m y o f C ritic ism : F o u r E s sa y s . P rin ce to n U P , 1 9 5 7 .

(F ry e , D o u b le V isio n 85) — . T h e D o u b le V isio n : L a n g u a g e a n d M e a n in g in R e lig io n . U o f T o ro n t o P, 1 9 9 1 .

(Author Page #) If the date of a work is unknown, insert "n.d." in its place.
No date
Use citation format appropriate to work.

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 Example below is of a book where the supplemental element of the city of
publication has been added. This element is used for books published
prior to 1900. (See pp. 208-216 for more supplemental elements.)

(B ro m e 4 1 ) B ro m e , R ich a rd . T h e D ra m a tic W o rk s o f R ic h a rd B r o m e . L o n d o n , n.d.

(Author, ch. or par.)
No page
(R o w lin g , ch. 2)
If there are no labelled page numbers, use explicit, fixed part numbering
(e.g. “ch. 2"). Do not manually count unnumbered parts.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Kindle ed.,
Bloomsbury, 2007.

Cite each work in one
parenthetical reference and
More than one separate them by a semicolon.
work in a single
(R o w lin g 3 5 7 ; G u n e liu s 104)
in-text citation
Use citation format appropriate to work. Include separate reference list
entries for each work.
Examples below are of books.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Bloomsbury, 2007.
G u n e liu s, S u sa n . H a rry P o tte r ; Th e S t o r y o f a G lo b a l B u s in e s s P h e n o m e n o n .
P a lg ra v e M a c m illa n , 2 0 0 8 .

How to format your works cited

• Begin your works cited list on a new page. Do not bold or underline title of “Works Cited." Double space all entries;
list alphabetically by first author's surname. Indent the second line of each reference.
o Tip: If Word is not indenting properly, try hitting enter followed by tab on the second line.
• See sections 2.89 and 6.9 on how to cite the titles of works within your research paper.
• If a prose quotation is more than four lines within your research paper, begin the quotation on a new line that is
indented half an inch from the left margin. Verse quotations of more than three lines follow this rule. Add the
parenthetical citation after the closing period.
• For electronic sources, you can add the date of access as a supplemental element after the URL (“Accessed on").

Even more rules

• When creating reference lists, abbreviated university press names are used in Works Cited. For example, “Oxford
University Press" becomes “Oxford UP", or “University of Minnesota Press" becomes “U of Minnesota P".
• Lowercase seasons of the year when they are part of a publication date in the works-cited list. For example,
“...Science Fiction Studies, vol. 36, no. 1, fall 2009, pp. 1-20."
• If a URL runs more than 3 full lines, or is longer than the rest of the entry, truncate it; always retain at least the host.
• Always include the internet protocol http:// or https:// (as used) as part of the URL in the works-cited list if you are
hyperlinking your source (e.g. in a PDF document with clickable links).
• Any works consulted but not cited should be listed after endnotes (if any).

• This worksheet does not contain every possible reference or citation example. If you cannot find the appropriate form
of reference or citation for your source, please consult the MLA guide.

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 Example of Works Cited
Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. Edited by Claudia Johnson, Norton, 2001.

Boyle, Anthony T. "Re: Utopia." Received by Daniel J. Cahill, 21 June 1997.

Canada, Environment Canada, Transportation Division. Fleet Average NOx Emission Performance of

2007 Model Year Light-Duty Vehicles, Light-Duty Trucks and Medium-Duty Passenger Vehicles. Environment

Canada, 2009. Environment Canada,

www.ec.gc.ca/lcpecepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=440ABCFF-1.

Green, Joshua. "The Rove Presidency." The Atlantic.com, Atlantic Monthly Group, Sept. 2007,

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/09/the-rove-presidency/ 6132.

Jones, Jessica (persiankiwi). "We have report of large street battles in east & west of Tehran now -

#Iranelection." Twitter, 23 June 2009, 11:15 a.m., twitter.com/persiankiwi/status/2298106072.

Formatting your paper

A research paper does not have a title page.

• maintain a 1" border from the edges of your paper

• choose an easy-to-read font and size it between 11pt to 13pt; use the same font throughout the paper

• on the first page, flush with the left margin, type on separate double-spaced lines your name, your instructor's

name, the course information, and the date

• place a running head at the top right of your paper with your name and the page number

• centre your paper's title, with no special formatting

• type your paper in double-spaced lines

• indent new paragraphs 1/2" from the margin

For more specifications, please consult sections 1.1 - 1.16 of the MLA Handbook 9th Edition.

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 Josephson 1

Laura N. Josephson

Professor Bennett D o u b le - s p a c e

"1 umamties 2710

S May 2016
Indent Vz Ellington's Adventures in Music and Geography

In studying the influence of Latin American, African, and Asian m

usic on

modern American composers, music historians tend to discuss such figures as

Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Henry Cowell, Alan Hovhaness, and John Cage

MLA Handbook 2

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