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MLA style: Works Cited

In academic scholarship, researchers have agreed on specific guidelines about how to format their papers and how to cite their sources. This Guide provides an introduction to the MLA style.

Sample Works CIted list

Formatting Notes:

  1. Double-space all lines. Indent one-half inch after the first line.
  2. Arrange in one alphabetical list by author or by title if author’s name is unavailable.
  3. If you have two sources by the same author, sort them alphabetically by title.
  4. For purposes of alphabetizing, A, An, The, and @ are ignored.

Examples of MLA style citations

The Modern Language Association calls the list of sources you consulted Works Cited.

Book,
Single Author

Obama, Michelle. Becoming. Crown, 2018.

Book,
Two Authors

Helmich, Mary and Kevin V. Bunker. A Legacy in Brick and Iron. FYA Publications, 2018.

Note: Authors should be listed in the order they are listed on the title page.

Book,
Three or More Authors

Insel, Paul et al. Nutrition. 4th ed., Jones and Bartlett, 2011.

Book,
with Translator or other contributors

Schneider, Christopher J. Policing and Social Media. Foreword by David L. Altheide, Lexington Books, 2016.

Note: Other common descriptions include: Adapted by, Directed by, Edited by, Illustrated by, Introduction by, Narrated by, Performance by.

A work (e.g., essay, short story) in an anthology or compilation.

Reed, Kit. "The New You." The Future is Female!, Edited by Lisa Yaszek, Library of America, 2018. pp. 123-132.

Book,
Later Edition

Guest, Kenneth J. Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for the Global Age. 2nd ed., Norton & Co, 2018.

Article in an Online Database

“Oakland, CA Makes National Geographic Travel’s Best Trips List for 2019.” PR Newswire US, 27 Nov. 2018. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=n5h&AN=201811271835PR.NEWS.USPR.UN85302&site=ehost-live. Accessed 12 Dec. 2018.

Note: When including a URL, omit the http:// and https://

Article in Print Magazine

Jack, Malcolm. "When the Wall Came Down." Time, vol.30194, no.20, 11 Nov. 2019, pp. 34-40.

Article (Web Page) on a Web Site

Farkas, Meredith. "My Year in Books ( and Podcasts) 2019." Information Wants to Be Free, 31 Dec. 2019, meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2019/12/31/my-year-in-books-and-podcasts-2019/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020.
Website (Whole site) Farkas, Meredith. Information Wants to Be Free. Jun. 2015, meredith.wolfwater.com. Accessed 25 Feb. 2022.
YouTube Video "Dog Turns Roomba Off." YouTube, uploaded by ilovetobamom, 28 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei5H-wd3BIU. Accessed 20 Jan. 2019.
Podcast

Gross, Terry. "Amazon and 'The Rise and Reign' of Jeff Bezos." Fresh Air, 13 Feb. 2020, National Public Radio, www.npr.org/2020/02/13/805666100/amazon-the-rise-and-reign-of-jeff-bezos. Accessed 25 May 2021.
Tweet Mars, Roman [@romanmars]. "I think our Wikipedia pages should be updated, crediting @JustinMcElroy and me as the co-inventors of asynchronous podcasting #smartstuff." Twitter, 10 Oct. 2016, twitter.com/romanmars/status/785568205137817600. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019.
Television Show on Streaming Platform "A Fish Out of Water." Family Guy, season 3, episode 10, Fox Broadcasting Company, 19 Sep. 2001. Hulu, www.hulu.com/watch/171063. Accessed 15 Aug. 2020.

 

Adapted with permission from UWF

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