MLA (Seventh Edition): Citation Style Examples
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Provided below are sample basic citations based on the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook. The numbers in the { } refer to the section of the Handbook upon which each example is based. For further examples and for guidelines about sources not covered, please consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: MLA, 2009. Print.(HIL-REFDSK LB2369 .G53 2009). You may also wish to consult the “Frequently Asked Questions about the MLA Handbook,“ available through http://www.mla.org/handbook_faq
NOTE: The 7th edition of MLA no longer recognizes print as the default medium and requires the medium of publication to be listed for every entry (including Print).
Print Sources
For each entry in the List of Works Cited, you need to provide specific information about the source to enable another person to locate it. For print sources, you need to identify the author(s), title, place of publication, publisher, and date of publication, and you may need to provide more details, such as information about a specific edition or page numbers. Finally, you need to indicate the medium of publication.
- A Book by a Single Author {5.5.2}
- Franke, Damon. Modernist Heresies: British Literary History, 1883-1924. Columbus: Ohio State UP, 2008. Print.
- An Anthology or Compilation [Single Editor or Compiler] {5.5.3}
- Shell, Marc, ed. American Babel: Literatures of the United States from Abnaki to Zuni. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 2002. Print.
- Davis, Anita Price, comp. North Carolina during the Great Depression: A Documentary Portrait of a Decade. Jefferson: McFarland, 2003. Print.
- A Book by Two or More Authors [Editors, or Compilers] {5.5.4}
- Broer, Lawrence R., and Gloria Holland. Hemingway and Women: Female Critics and the Female Voice. Tuscaloosa: U of Alabama P, 2002. Print.
- MacLaury, Robert E., Galina V. Paramei, and Don Dedrick, eds. Anthropology of Color: Interdisciplinary Multilevel Modeling. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2007. Print.
- Two or More Works by the Same Author(s) {5.3.4; 5.3.5}
- Borroff, Marie. Language and the Poet: Verbal Artistry in Frost, Stevens, and Moore. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1979. Print.
- ---, trans. Pearl. New York: Norton, 1977. Print.
- A Book by a Corporate Author {5.5.5}
- National Research Council. Beyond Six Billion: Forecasting the World's Population. Washington: Natl. Acad., 2000. Print.
- An Anonymous Book {5.5.9}
- American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style. Boston: Houghton, 2005. Print.
- A Book Published before 1900 {5.5.23}
- Dewey, John. The School and Society. Chicago, 1899. Print.
- A Chapter in a Book {5.5.6}
- Gough, Melinda J. “Women's Popular Culture? Teaching the Swetnam Controversy.” Debating Gender in Early Modern England, 1500-1700. Ed. Cristina Malcolmson and Mihoko Suzuki. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. 79-100. Print.
- An Introduction, a Preface, a Foreword, or an Afterword {5.5.8}
- Felstiner, John. Preface. Selected Poems and Prose of Paul Celan. By Paul Celan. Trans. Felstiner. New York: Norton, 2001. xix-xxxvi. Print.
- A Translation {5.5.11}
- Murasaki Shikibu. The Tale of Genji. Trans. Edward G. Seidensticker. New York: Knopf, 1976. Print.
- A Work in an Anthology {5.5.6}
- More, Hannah. “The Black Slave Trade: A Poem.” British Women Poets of the Romantic Era. Ed. Paula R. Feldman. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1997. 472-82. Print.
- Fagih, Ahmed Ibrahim al-. The Singing of the Stars. Trans. Leila El Khalidi and Christopher Tingley. Short Arabic Plays: An Anthology. Ed. Salma Khadra Jayyusi. New York: Interlink, 2003. 140-57. Print.
- An Article in a Reference Book {5.5.7}
- “Azimuthal Equidistant Projection.” Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. 2003. Print.
- “Noon.” Def. 4b. The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. Print.
- Allen, Anita L. “Privacy in Health Care.” Encyclopedia of Bioethics. Ed. Stephen G. Post. 3rd ed. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan-Thomson, 2004. Print.
- An Article in a Scholarly Journal {5.4.2}
- Brueggeman, Brenda Jo, and Debra A. Moddelmog. "Coming-Out Pedagogy: Risking Identity in Language and Literature Classrooms." Pedagogy 2.3 (2002): 311-35. Print.
- MLA Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession. "Women in the Profession, 2000." Profession (2002): 191-217. Print.
- An Article in a Magazine (published every week or every two weeks) {5.4.6}
- McEvoy, Dermot. "Little Books, Big Success." Publishers Weekly 30 Oct. 2006: 26-28. Print.
- An Article in a Magazine (published every month or every two months) {5.4.6}
- Kates, Robert W. "Population and Consumption: What We Know, What We Need to Know." Environment Apr. 2000: 10-19. Print.
- An Article in a Newspaper {5.4.5}
- McKay, Peter A. "Stocks Feel the Dollar's Weight." Wall Street Journal 4 Dec. 2006: C1+. Print.
- A Government Publication {5.5.20}
- Great Britain. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. Our Countryside, the Future: A Fair Deal for Rural England. London: HMSO, 2000. Print.
Electronic Sources
For electronic sources, you need to identify the author(s), title, and publication details, including the medium of publication consulted (Web); however, you must also provide additional information, such as the date on which the source was accessed or the internet address (URL). Note: Only include the URL as supplementary information when a reader probably cannot locate the source without it or if your instructor requires it; if the URL is required, give the full URL within angle brackets immediately following the date of access, a period, and a space.
- An Entire Web Site {5.6.1}
- Eaves, Morris, Robert Essick, and Joseph Viscomi, eds. The William Blake Archive. Lib of Cong., 28 Sept. 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2007. <http://www.blakearchive.org/blake/>.
- A Daily Newspaper Article {5.9.4b}
- Bernhardt, Darren. "Union Calls for Rules to Curtail Online Attacks against Teacher." Saskatoon StarPhoenix 1 Oct. 2001. 1 Oct. 2001 <http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix>.
- An Online Review (Book, Movie, Music, etc.) {5.9.4d}
- Ebert, Roger. Rev. of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. dir. Kerry Conran. rogerebert.com 17 Sept. 2004. 2 Nov. 2004 <http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=REVIEWS>.
- An eBook (e.g., from ebrary) {5.9.3a}
- Rose, Susan. Medieval Naval Warfare, 1000-1500. Florence, KY, USA: Routledge, 2002. ebrary. Harriet Irving Lib., U. of New Brunswick. 1 Nov. 2004 <http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unblib>.
- An Online Government Publication {5.9.3d}
- United Nations. Human Rights Division. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1998. 2 Nov. 2004 <http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html>.
- An Article from an e-Journal {5.9.4a}
- Zatkalik, Milos. "Is There Music in Joyce and Where do We Look for it?" Joyce Studies Annual 12 (2001). Project Muse. 2 Nov. 2004 <http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/joyce_studies_annual/v012/12.1katzalik.pdf>.
- An Article from a Full-Text Database (e.g., Academic Search Elite) {5.9.7a}
- Gibbins, David, and Jonathan Adams. "Shipwrecks and Maritime Archaeology." World Archaeology 32.3 (2001). Academic Search Elite. EBSCOhost. Harriet Irving Lib., U. of New Brunswick. 1 Nov. 2004 <http://search.epnet.com>.
Other Sources
Each source may require slightly different information. Please refer to the MLA Handbook for additional guidance.
- A Television or Radio Broadcast {5.7.1}
- "Frederick Douglass." Civil War Journal Narr. Danny Glover. Dir. Craig Haffner. Arts and Entertainment Network. 6 Apr. 1993. Television.
- "Death and Society." Narr. Joanne Silberner. Weekend Edition Sunday. Natl. Public Radio. WUWM, Milwaukee, 25 Jan. 1998. Radio.
- A Sound Recording [musical or spoken-word recording] {5.7.2}
- Holiday, Billie. The Essence of Billie Holiday. Columbia, 1991. CD.
- A Film or a Video Recording [DVD, videocassette, laser disc, slide program, filmstrip] {5.7.3}
- Like Water for Chocolate [Como agua para chocolate]. Screenplay by Laura Esquivel. Dir. Alfonso Arau. Perf. Lumi Cavazos, Marco Lombardi, and Regina Torne. Miramax, 1993. Film.
- A Performance [play, opera, dance, concert] {5.7.4}
- Heartbreak House. By George Bernard Shaw. Dir. Robin Lefevre. Perf. Philip Bosco and Swoosie Kurtz. Roundabout Theatre Company. Amer. Airlines Theatre, New York. 1 Oct. 2006. Performance.
- A Musical Score or Libretto {5.7.5}
- Donizetti, Gaetano. Don Pasquale: An Opera in Three Acts with Italian-English Text. 1842. New York: Belwin, 1969. Print. Kalmus Vocal Scores.
- A Work of Visual Art [painting, lithograph, sculpture, photograph] {5.7.6}
- Evans, Walker. Penny Picture Display. 1936. Photograph. Museum of Mod. Art, New York.
- Perutz, Dolly Hellman. Bird Flying Machine. 1973. Bronze. Central Park, New York.
- An Interview {5.7.7}
- Breslin, Jimmy. Interview by Neal Conan. Talk of the Nation. Natl. Public Radio. WBUR, Boston. 26 Mar. 2002. Radio.
- Gordimer, Nadine. Interview. New York Times 10 Oct. 1991, late ed.: C25. Print.
- Wiesel, Elie. Interview by Ted Koppel. Nightline. ABC. WABC, New York. 18 Apr. 2002. Television.
- A Map or Chart {5.7.8 and 5.6.2b (Web)}
- Japanese Fundamentals. Chart. Hauppauge: Barron, 1992. Print.
- Michigan. Map. Chicago: Rand, 2000. Print.
- "Maplewood, New Jersey." Map. Google Maps. Google, 15 May 2008. Web. 15 May 2008.
- A Cartoon or Comic Strip {5.7.9}
- Karasik, Paul. Cartoon. New Yorker 14 Apr. 2008: 49. Print.
- An Illustrated Book or Graphic Narrative {5.5.12}
- Baum, Frank L. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Introd. Regina Barreca. Illus. W. W. Denslow. New York: Signet-Penguin, 2006. Print.
- Pekar, Harvey, writer. The Quitter. Art by Dean Haspiel. Gray tones by Lee Loughridge. Letters by Pat Brosseau. New York: Vertigo-DC Comics, 2005. Print.
- An Advertisement {5.7.10}
- Air Canada. Advertisement. CNN. 15 May 1998. Television.
- The Fitness Fragrance by Ralph Lauren. Advertisement. GQ Apr. 1997: 111-12. Print.
- A Lecture, Speech, Address, or Reading {5.7.11}
- Matuozzi, Robert. "Archive Trauma." Archive Trouble. MLA Annual Convention. Hyatt Regency, Chicago. 29 Dec. 2007. Address.
- A Manuscript [MS] or Typescript [TS] {5.7.12 and 5.6.2d (Web)}
- Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. 1400-1410. MS Harley 7334. British Lib., London.
- Jones, Celia. "Shakespeare's Dark Lady Illuminated." 1988. TS.
- "Protest on Behalf of Southern Women." 1932. Mary Cornelia Barker Papers. Robert W. Woodruff Lib., Emory U. Online Manuscript Resources in Southern Women's History. Web. 5 June 2008.
- A Letter, Memo, or E-mail Message {5.7.13}
- Woolf, Virginia. "To T. S. Eliot." 28 July 1920. Letter 1138 of The Letters of Virginia Woolf. Ed. Nigel Nicolson and Joanne Trautmann. Vol. 2. New York: Harcourt, 1976. 437-38. Print.
- Hatch, James C. Letter to the author. 5 Apr. 2008. TS.
- Cahill, Daniel J. Memo to English dept. fac., Brooklyn Technical High School, New York. 1 June 2000. TS.
- Harner, James L. Message to the author. 20 Aug. 2002. E-mail.
- A Legal Source {5.7.14}
- Aviation and Transportation Security Act. Pub. L. 107-71. 115 Stat. 597-647. 19 Nov. 2001. Print.
- Brown v. Board of Educ. 347 US 483-96. Supreme Court of the US. 1954. Supreme Court Collection. Legal Information Inst., Cornell U Law School, n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2007.
- An Article in a Microform Collection of Articles {5.7.15}
- Chapman, Dan. "Panel Could Help Protect Children." Winston-Salem Journal 14 Jan. 1990: 14. Microform. NewsBank: Welfare and Social Problems 12 (1990): fiche 1, grids A8-11.
- A Publication on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM {5.7.17}
- Afro-Louisiana History and Genealogy, 1699-1860. Ed. Gwendolyn Midlo Hall. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 2000. CD-ROM.
- The Complete New Yorker. New York: New Yorker, 2005. DVD-ROOM. 8 discs.
- A Digital File [PDF, Microsoft Word, JPEG, MP3, XML] {5.7.18}
- American COuncil of Learned Societies. Commission on Cyberinfrastructure for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our Cultural Commonwealth. New York: ACLS, 2006. PDF file.
- Delano, Jack. At the Vermont State Fair. 1941. Lib. of Cong., Washington. JPEG file.
- Hudson, Jennifer, perf. "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture. Sony BMG, 2006. MP3 file.
NOTES
ATTENTION STUDENTS: The MLA Handbook is a guide for scholars preparing articles for publication. Consult your course instructor as the final authority for the application of MLA guidelines to university papers.
For more citation style examples and additional details see:
You can use RefWorks to automatically format citations: As you conduct your online research you can export citations to your own RefWorks database, and later use RefWorks to automatically
format your bibliography using any of the standard citation styles.