LibGuides: Citation Style & Formatting Guide: MLA Style

Basic MLA Formatting Rules

Alphabetize the citations in your references list by the author's last name.
Double space your entire document, including the works cited.
Use a Hanging Indent for all citations in your works cited.
Check the capitalization and italics for each citation in your works cited.

MLA Document Formatting

Font Size/Spacing/Page Margin - 12 point, Double Space, 1" page margins

Title Page & Section Headings

Formatting Figures & Tables

Sample Paper

Sample Works Cited

Microsoft Word - Hanging Indent

MLA Style Guide (Modern Language Association)

MLA Handbook by The Modern Language; The Modern Language Association of America Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbookis published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts--middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields--the ninth edition of the MLA Handbookoffers *New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language *Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project *Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before *A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTubevideos, interviews, and more *Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources *Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work *Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes *Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism *A sample essay in MLA format *Annotated bibliography examples *Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation *Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
Call Number: Reference - Citation Style Guides Shelf
ISBN: 9781603293518
Publication Date: 2021-04-06

How do I cite...

In-Text Citations

In-text citations are abbreviated citations following an idea or quoted text in your writing.

In-text citations must always correspond to an expanded citation in your references list.

Basics of MLA In-text Citations:

Quotes - when you use the exact text from another source, this is defined as "quoted text." Quoted text should always be in parentheses and include an in-text citation with a page number. Example - (Smith 52)
Paraphrase & Summary - when you paraphrase or summarize another author's idea or writing you should give credit to the original source by including an in-text citation. In MLA, you include the page number/s associated with the paraphrased or summarized text. Example - (Smith 52-53)
Multiple Authors - if your source has two or more authors, the formatting of the in-text citation will change. Click here for instructions on how to format in-text citations for two or more authors.