To cite sources in MLA format, you need to create two types of citations: in- text citations and a full citation on the Works Cited page.
In-Text Citations (Author-Page Style)
- Include the author's last name and the page number(s) where the information was found.
- This can appear in the sentence or in parentheses immediately after the quote or paraphrase.
- Example: (Wordsworth 263) or Wordsworth states that "..." (263)
Works Cited Page Format
- List all sources alphabetically by the author's last name.
- Follow this general format with core elements in this order: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Source." Title of Container , Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location (such as page numbers or URL).
- For example, a book citation looks like: Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Vintage International, 2007.
- For a book chapter or essay in an anthology: Andrews, Kehinde. “The Challenge for Black Studies in the Neoliberal University.” Decolonising the University , edited by Gurminder K. Bhambra et al., Pluto Press, 2018, pp. 149–164.
- For online sources, include the URL (without "https://") and date of access if available: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Website Title , Publisher, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Key Points
- The in-text citation’s author name must correspond exactly to the first word of the Works Cited entry.
- Titles of books and websites are italicized; titles of articles or chapters are in quotation marks.
- If there are multiple authors, list up to two authors; for three or more, use "et al." after the first author.
- Include as much information as is available to help readers locate the source.
This approach follows MLA 9th edition guidelines and the MLA Handbook's core principles for citing diverse sources consistently.
