Citing sources correctly is a cornerstone of academic integrity and effective communication in scholarly writing. MLA (Modern Language Association) format is a widely used style, particularly in the humanities, for documenting sources. This guide, drawing upon the expertise of how.edu.vn, will provide you with a clear, step-by-step approach on How To Cite Mla, ensuring your research papers and projects are both credible and properly formatted. Mastering MLA citation not only avoids plagiarism but also strengthens your arguments by giving credit to the voices and research that inform your work.
Understanding MLA Citation: Core Principles
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style has evolved to accommodate the increasingly diverse and digital landscape of sources. The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook focuses on principles over rigid rules, offering a flexible and universally applicable method for documentation. This approach prioritizes the essential elements of a citation, allowing you to adapt to various source types effectively.
Core Elements of MLA 9th Edition
When creating MLA citations, whether for your Works Cited page or in-text references, you’ll work with a set of core elements. These elements provide the fundamental information needed to identify a source. Arranged in a specific order, these elements act as a template for constructing any citation. Remember to use the punctuation exactly as shown below to ensure correct MLA formatting.
Here are the nine core elements of MLA citation in the order they should appear:
- Author.
- Title of source.
- Title of container,
- Other contributors,
- Version,
- Number,
- Publisher,
- Publication date,
- Location.
Let’s explore each of these elements in detail to understand how to apply them when you cite MLA.
Author
The citation begins with the author’s name. Present the name as it appears in the source, starting with the last name, followed by a comma, and then the rest of the name. Conclude this element with a period.
Example:
Bhabha, Homi K.
For corporate authors or organizations, use the full name of the organization as the author.
Example:
American Psychological Association.
An example showing how to format an author’s name in MLA citation, featuring Homi K. Bhabha.
Title of Source
The next element is the title of the source itself. How you format this title depends on the type of source.
- Italicize titles of self-contained works such as books, journals, websites, and films.
- Use quotation marks for titles of parts of larger works, like articles in journals, chapters in books, webpages on websites, and songs on albums.
Examples:
Book Title (Italics):
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House.
Webpage Title (Quotation Marks):
Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.”
Journal Article Title (Quotation Marks):
Bagchi, Alaknanda. “Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi’s Bashai Tudu.”
Song Title (Quotation Marks):
Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.”
Illustrative examples demonstrating the correct formatting for various source titles within MLA citations.
Title of Container
MLA formatting uses the concept of “containers” to describe the larger whole in which a source is located. Think of a container as something that holds your source. For example, a journal article is contained within a journal, a chapter is contained within a book, and a webpage is contained within a website.
- Italicize the title of the container.
- Follow the container title with a comma.
Examples:
Book Chapter Container:
Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl.” The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories,
Television Episode Container:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation,
Website Container:
Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.” NAMI,
In some cases, a source might have multiple containers. For example, you might watch a movie on Netflix (Netflix is a container for the movie). If the container is part of a larger container (like a journal article found on JSTOR), you may need to cite both.
Example of Container within a Container:
Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal, ProQuest,
Examples showcasing how to identify and format container titles in MLA citations for different media types.
Other Contributors
Sometimes, sources involve individuals other than the author who have made significant contributions. These “other contributors” could include editors, translators, directors, performers, etc. If their role is relevant to your citation, include them after the title of the container.
- Introduce contributors with a description of their role (e.g., edited by, translated by, directed by, performance by).
Examples:
Translator:
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard,
Editor:
Woolf, Virginia. Jacob’s Room. Annotated and with an introduction by Vara Neverow,
Creators:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler,
Illustrations of how to properly credit other contributors such as translators and editors within MLA citations.
Version
If your source indicates a specific version, such as an edition of a book or a version of software, include this information.
- Use abbreviations like “ed.” for edition.
Examples:
Edition:
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed.,
Version:
The Bible. Authorized King James Version,
Examples demonstrating the inclusion of version details like edition numbers in MLA format citations.
Number
If your source is part of a numbered sequence, such as volumes of a book, issues of a journal, or episodes in a TV series, include the relevant numbers.
- Use “vol.” for volume, “no.” for number, and “season” and “episode” for television.
Examples:
Journal Volume and Number:
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal, vol. 6, no. 2,
TV Series Season and Episode:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21,
Multi-volume Book:
Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2,
Examples illustrating the correct way to cite numbered sequences like volumes and issues in MLA citations.
Publisher
The publisher is the organization or entity responsible for producing or distributing the source.
- Generally, provide the name of the publisher as it appears in the source.
- For books, you’ll often find the publisher information on the title page or copyright page.
- Omit publisher information for periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers), websites whose titles are the same as their publisher, and websites like YouTube or JSTOR that host content but don’t publish it.
Examples:
Book Publisher:
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House. MacMurray,
Website Publisher (When different from website title):
Women’s Health: Problems of the Digestive System. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
TV Series Production Company:
Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios,
Examples demonstrating how to cite publishers for books, websites, and television series in MLA style.
Publication Date
The publication date indicates when the source was published. Use the most specific date available (year, month, and day if provided).
Examples:
Year Only:
Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. 1994.
Month and Year:
Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.” NAMI, 31 May 2019,
Full Date (Day, Month, Year):
“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 14 Dec. 1999.
When citing sources with multiple dates, use the date most relevant to your research. If in doubt, use the original publication date.
Illustrative examples of citing publication dates with varying levels of specificity in MLA citations.
Location
The location element specifies where the source can be found. The format varies depending on the source type.
- Page numbers for articles in journals or essays in books. Use “pp.” to indicate page range.
- URLs for online sources. Remove “http://” or “https://” from the URL.
- Place of location for physical objects experienced firsthand (e.g., museum name for artwork).
Examples:
Page Numbers:
Adiche, Chimamanda Ngozi. “On Monday of Last Week.” The Thing around Your Neck, pp. 74-94.
URL:
Wheelis, Mark. “Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article.
Physical Location:
Matisse, Henri. The Swimming Pool. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Examples showing how to indicate location in MLA citations using page numbers, URLs, and physical locations.
Creating a Works Cited Page in MLA
The Works Cited page is an alphabetized list of all the sources you have cited in your paper. It appears at the end of your document and provides full bibliographic information for each source, allowing readers to easily locate them.
Key Guidelines for a Works Cited Page:
- Start on a new page after the main body of your paper.
- Center the title “Works Cited” at the top of the page (no bolding, underlining, or quotation marks).
- List entries alphabetically by the first word of each entry (usually the author’s last name).
- Use a hanging indent for each entry: the first line of each citation is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented ½ inch.
- Double-space the entire Works Cited page.
Mastering MLA In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper that indicate the source of information. They direct your reader to the full citation in your Works Cited page. MLA uses the author-page style for in-text citations.
Basic In-Text Citation Format:
The most common MLA in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the information is found, enclosed in parentheses.
Example:
(Said 9)
If the author’s name is already mentioned in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in parentheses.
Example:
According to Edward W. Said, (9).
Citing Works with No Page Numbers:
For sources without page numbers, such as websites or videos, use the author’s name (or a shortened title if there is no author) in the in-text citation.
Example (Website):
(Lundman)
Citing Media with Runtimes:
When citing specific moments in time-based media like movies or podcasts, include the hours, minutes, and seconds in your in-text citation.
Example (Video):
(00:02:15-00:02:35)
Tips for Accurate MLA Citation
- Consistency is Key: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your paper and Works Cited page.
- Double-Check Punctuation: Pay close attention to commas, periods, italics, and quotation marks. Incorrect punctuation can lead to inaccurate citations.
- Use a Citation Tool with Caution: Citation generators can be helpful, but always double-check their output against MLA guidelines to ensure accuracy.
- Consult the MLA Handbook: For complex or unusual sources, refer to the official MLA Handbook for detailed guidance.
- Practice Regularly: The more you practice citing sources in MLA format, the easier it will become.
Conclusion
Mastering how to cite MLA is an essential skill for academic success. By understanding the core elements and applying them consistently, you can effectively document your sources, avoid plagiarism, and enhance the credibility of your work. This guide provides a solid foundation for understanding and implementing MLA 9th edition citation style. For further assistance and more detailed examples, always refer to the official MLA Handbook and resources like the Purdue OWL. By diligently practicing these techniques, you’ll be well-equipped to handle any citation challenge in your academic journey.
