mla citation for dissertation found online

How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

A dissertation is a unique type of source. It is a finished, stand-alone work written under the auspices of an institution. In a change from the previous edition of the MLA Handbook ,    we do not distinguish between published and unpublished dissertations. To cite a dissertation, include in the entry the author, title, and date of publication as core elements. As an optional element, list the institution granting the degree and a description of the work.

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation.

If you accessed the dissertation through an online repository, include this fact as the title of the second container:

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

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How to cite a dissertation in MLA

To cite a dissertation in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

• Author(s) name: Give the last name and name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For three or more authors, list the first name followed by et al. (e. g. Watson, John, et al.)
• Thesis title: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
• Year of publication: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• University: Give the name of the institution.
• Degree: Type of degree.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a dissertation in MLA style 9th edition:

Author(s) name . Thesis title . Year of publication . University , Degree .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

A doctoral dissertation with one author

Guo, Jia . Trust-based Service Management of Internet of Things Systems and Its Applications . 2018 . Virginia Tech , Doctoral dissertation .

Neel, Breta L . Three Flute Chamber Works by Alberto Ginastera: Intertwining Elements of Art and Folk Music . 2017 . Nebraska-Lincoln U , Doctoral dissertation .

This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

• MLA 8th ed. Style Guide: Dissertations, Theses
• MLA, 8th Edition: Master's Thesis or Project
• How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

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Mla 8th ed. style guide: dissertations, theses.

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Essential Elements

Citations for dissertations/master's theses should include the following:

1. Name of Author 

2. Title of dissertation/thesis (italicized)

3. Date of Publication

5. Institution granting the degree (optional)

6. Description of the work (optional)

7. Database and URL if accessed through a database or repository

Sample Citation - Dissertations

Dissertations

The institution granting the degree and description of the work are optional. If you accessed the work online, include that information. 

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MLA 9th Edition Style Guide: Dissertation/Thesis

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Dissertation/Thesis

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Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U,

MA thesis.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

Dissertation

PhD dissertation.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

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Dissertation and Theses: Unpublished

Dissertation and theses: published, contact kelly.

• In-Text Citations
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General, Electronic:

Last-name, First-name. “Title of Dissertation.” Diss. Place of Study, Year. Title of Database . Web. Date Month Year of Access.

Forrester, Pearl. “Psychological Distress and Repeated Television Viewing.” Diss. Miskatonic University, 1990. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses . Web. 13 May 2010.

General, Print:

Last-name, First-name. “Title of Dissertation.” Diss. Place of Study, Year. Print.

Forrester, Pearl. “Psychological Distress and Repeated Television Viewing.” Diss. Miskatonic University, 1990. Print.

General Rule:

Author's Last-name, First-name. Title of Disstertaion . Diss. Place of Study, Year. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Format.

Diamond, Oscar. How to Care for Your Diabetic Cat . Diss. West Virginia University, 1999. New York: Knopf, 2000. Print.

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Cite a Dissertation in MLA

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Consider your source's credibility. ask these questions:, contributor/author.

• Has the author written several articles on the topic, and do they have the credentials to be an expert in their field?
• Can you contact them? Do they have social media profiles?
• Have other credible individuals referenced this source or author?
• Book: What have reviews said about it?
• What do you know about the publisher/sponsor? Are they well-respected?
• Do they take responsibility for the content? Are they selective about what they publish?
• Take a look at their other content. Do these other articles generally appear credible?
• Does the author or the organization have a bias? Does bias make sense in relation to your argument?
• Is the purpose of the content to inform, entertain, or to spread an agenda? Is there commercial intent?
• Are there ads?
• When was the source published or updated? Is there a date shown?
• Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented to your argument?
• Does the source even have a date?
• Was it reproduced? If so, from where?
• If it was reproduced, was it done so with permission? Copyright/disclaimer included?
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MLA (9th ed.)

The mla style comes from the modern language association and is primarily used in the humanities and arts., mla handbook plus is available online through the library to help you cite every source..

Log into Okta if prompted.

• Works Cited List
• Works Cited: Books & Articles

Works Cited: Online Sources

• Works Cited: MLA Core Elements Template

In-Text Citations

Works cited.

Your Works Cited page includes every item you have cited in text and provides as much bibliographic information as you're able to find so your readers can locate the sources themselves.

Page Format

• Title: Works Cited
• Page title is center-justified on the page, entries are left-justified with a hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented) of a half-inch.
• Entries listed alphabetically by author, or title of source if no author name.

Reference Format

The core elements of a journal/periodical article citation:, author. “article title.” journal title , vol. n , no. n , [year], pp. n-n . [location]..

Note that if the article is from the publisher website (which is considered self-contained) the URL falls within the punctuation following the page number(s).

Common Questions

• If you're citing an online source, note that including the date you accessed the website is encouraged only when there's no publication date and you can't guarantee the website will still be there in the future. (See Supplemental Elements .)
• A platform such as Canvas is only the container if the item has been published through it: a Library database publishes the full text of an article, but Canvas is only the means through which you might read it. However, a lecture posted to Canvas would be considered published through Canvas and you'd then include the platform as the "container" in your citation. (See Journal/Source Title .)
• PDFs are not considered a separate source type in MLA as instead they're the medium through which you're reading the source itself, such as a book chapter or journal article. In general, the Location field will direct your reader to the primary version of the document through URL or DOI. But if there are multiple versions of the document, include "PDF download" at the end of your citation in the Supplemental Element field to tell your reader which version you are citing.

More info about...

Author | document title | journal/source title (container) | contributor | version | number | publisher | publication date | location | supplemental elements.

Find more about these topics at the MLA Handbook sections mentioned throughout.

More info: MLA Handbook 5.3-22

• Smith, Max.
• Smith, Max, and Sam Jones.
• Smith, Max, et al.
• Matsuo, Bashō.
• Ngũgĩ wa Thiongʼo.
• Online handles: add in square brackets after author name, unless author name and handle are similar.
• U.S. Department of Education.

DOCUMENT TITLE

More info: MLA Handbook 5.23-30

• “Tapping the Youth Vote.”
• No title? Write a “concise but informative description of the work” (MLA Handbook)
• Subtitle? Sometimes not obvious, so check the copyright page if available.

JOURNAL/SOURCE TITLE (which MLA calls the Container of the document)

More info: MLA Handbook 5.31-37

• Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
• 1 container : article read in print journal, tv show aired on tv, short story read in an anthology
• 2 containers : journal article in database, tv show on platform, chapter in edited anthology read on a website
• Works considered self-contained : book read in print, manuscript read in person, movie watched in a theater
• What is not a container - things that didn’t publish the thing you’re reading. That is to say, Canvas is not a container of a link to article but it IS the container for a lecture video published in the course shell.

CONTRIBUTOR if applicable

More info: MLA Handbook 5.38-47

• Translators, editors

VERSION if applicable

More info: MLA Handbook 5.48-50

• Edition, if an e-book

NUMBER if part of a sequence

More info: MLA Handbook 5.51-53

• vol. 12, no. 1,
• season 3, episode 4,

More info: MLA Handbook 5.54-67

• Website platform
• It's ongoing - you don't need to list a publisher for a journal because it's an ongoing periodical
• The website and publisher names are the same
• It's a platform others use to put their stuff up (such as YouTube)

PUBLICATION DATE

More info: MLA Handbook 5.68-83

• 4 Aug. 2022.

LOCATION if applicable

More info: MLA Handbook 5.84-99

Location makes reference to the container(s) of the work:

• Journal articles from a publisher website have one container - the journal, made available by the publisher, and the location is the DOI or permalink.
• Journal articles from a Library database have two containers - the journal and the database.

Formatting notes:

• No further location information needed if in print.
• PDF or found online? Add DOI/permalink/URL.
• But if you can't find the DOI or one doesn't exist, use the article permalink : https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abo3420
• Online sources considered SELF-CONTAINED (such as from the publisher's website) : As the DOI/URL/permalink is the location of the self-contained work, it falls within the punctuation following the page number(s).
• MLA Handbook . 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.
• E-books you read through a database or platform will use the database or platform and URL as the location.

SUPPLEMENTAL ELEMENTS if applicable

More info: MLA Handbook 5.105-119

• Contributor, original publication date, section of a work
• Date of access for online item but only if there's no given publication date or if the website/item might disappear
• More details about the document type (publication status, whether it's a thesis or dissertation, etc.)
• PDF : "[I]f you view a file type, such as a PDF, other than the one presented as the default version of the work on a page where other versions of the work are available, include PDF download, supplementary material , or a similar description in the supplemental element." ( MLA Handbook, 5.112 )

Works Cited: Books and Articles

These are some commonly used source types and how they're formatted. Remember that your Works Cited references will require a hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented) of a half-inch.

Source type: Print book | E-book | Scholarly article | Newspaper article | Magazine article

Newspaper article from the website; one author.

Astor, Maggie. “What’s on the Minds of 12 Young Voters.” The New York Times , 19 Oct. 2022. NYTimes.com , https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/us/politics/young-voters.html.

E-book from a database; one author

Cahill, Cathleen D. Recasting the Vote : How Women of Color Transformed the Suffrage Movement . E-book. The University of North Carolina Press, 2020. EBSCOhost , https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=2432685&site=ehost-live.  

Newspaper article from a database; one author

Gross, Neil. “Does College Make You Vote?” Chronicle of Higher Education , vol. 59, 24 Nov. 2012, p. B2. EBSCOhost , https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=83623976&site=ehost-live.  

Scholarly article from a database; multiple authors

Larson, Lincoln R., et al. “The Future of Wildlife Conservation Funding: What Options Do U.S. College Students Support?” Conservation Science & Practice , vol. 3, no. 10, Oct. 2021, pp. 1–12. EBSCOhost , https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.505.  

Magazine article from a database; one author

Padilla, Dynahlee. “Tapping the Youth Vote.” Diverse: Issues in Higher Education , vol. 37, no. 18, Oct. 2020, pp. 20–21. EBSCOhost , https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=146573844&site=ehost-live.  

Print book ; two authors

Shea, Daniel M., and John Clifford Green. Fountain of Youth: Strategies and Tactics for Mobilizing America's Young Voters . Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.  

Scholarly article from a database; two authors

Spagnuolo, Natalie, and Fady Shanouda. “Who Counts and Who Is Counted? Conversations around Voting, Access, and Divisions in the Disability Community.” Disability & Society , vol. 32, no. 5, June 2017, pp. 701–19. EBSCOhost , https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2017.1324765.  

Wolfe, Rob. “America’s Best Colleges for Student Voting.” Washington Monthly , vol. 54, no. 9/10, Sept. 2022, pp. 60–63. EBSCOhost , https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=158554880&site=ehost-live.

These are some commonly used online source types and how they're formatted. Remember that your Works Cited references will require a hanging indent (second and subsequent lines indented) of a half-inch.

• Access date : If you're citing an online source, note that including the date you accessed the website is encouraged only when there's no publication date and you can't guarantee the website will still be there in the future.
• Containers : For online sources, the MLA handbook states "A website is a container only when it serves as the platform of publication of the particular version of the work you consult" ( MLA Handbook 5.34 ; emphasis added). In that case, you will include the URL/DOI/permalink within the punctuation of the original container (such as a newspaper or website).

Section of a website

“New Jersey.” Ballotpedia , https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey. Accessed 18 Oct. 2022.  

Entire website

Ballotpedia , https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page. Accessed 18 Oct. 2022.  

Government info from a government website

“Electoral College History.” National Archives , 18 Nov. 2019, https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/history.  

Newspaper article from the newspaper website

Astor, Maggie. “What’s on the Minds of 12 Young Voters.” The New York Times , 19 Oct. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/us/politics/young-voters.html.

MLA Core Elements

MLA formats each work cited using a set of core elements that are included in the citation if applicable and punctuated appropriately.

Find more details about the core elements in the MLA Handbook Plus or use the fill-in template below.

• MLA Interactive Practice Template (MLA 9) "The template is a tool for teaching and learning MLA style, not a citation generator. To verify that your entry is correct, consult the MLA Handbook."

In-text citations are a brief parenthetical reference within the text of your paper that includes the author name and page number so your reader knows where to find the source of your information.

The author name points your reader to the source citation on the works cited list, and the page number shows where in the source you found the quotation or text you used.

More info on in-text citations: MLA Handbook 6.31-77

Example article used throughout : Niemi, Richard G., and Michael J. Hanmer. “Voter Turnout Among College Students: New Data and a Rethinking of Traditional Theories.” Social Science Quarterly , vol. 91, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 301–23. EBSCOhost , https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2010.00694.x.

Quoting or paraphrasing the source

Parentheses are placed within the sentence punctuation and include author's last name and the page number where the relevant text is found..

• Quote: “ Traditional theories about voter turnout do not always fit well with the unique characteristics of college students" (Niemi and Hanmer 303).
• Paraphrase: The voting habits of college students sometimes conflict with more general ideas about voters (Niemi and Hanmer 303).

Articles with more than 3+ authors are referred to in the parenthetical with the first author surname and et al. : (Larson et al. 2).

Attributing the author in text

Parentheses are placed within the sentence punctuation and include only the page number as the author is mentioned in text through use of a signal phrase ..

In the case of 3+ authors , "you may list all the names or provide the name of the first collaborator followed by 'and others' or 'and colleagues.'" ( MLA Handbook Plus 6.5 )

In 2010, Niemi and Hanmer noted that college students are not studied as often as older voters (303).

• Signal and Lead-in Phrases (Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)) A handy list of words and phrases from the Purdue OWL you can use to signal to your reader that you're about to cite a source.

Long quotations (more than 4 lines of prose or 3+ lines of verse)

Indent quotation half an inch from left margin. if the author name is used in text, put just the page number in parentheses following sentence punctuation. if the author name is not used in text, include in parentheses following sentence punctuation..

Niemi and Hanmer observe that

[w]ith the age of college students almost invariant and the meaning and measurement of their education and mobility questionable, several key variables used in models of voter turnout may well not account for varying rates of turnout among college students. Though there is considerable variation among students in hours worked, most student jobs do not mirror the careers they will ultimately obtain, so labor force participation may also be of limited explanatory power. (304)

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Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition) UNDER CONSTRUCTION

• Theses and Dissertations
• Title of source
• Title of container
• Contributor
• Publication date
• Supplemental Elements
• Advertisements
• Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
• Class Notes & Presentations
• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
• Government Documents
• Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables
• Interviews and Emails (Personal Communications)
• Journal Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Religious Texts
• Social Media

Citation Templates

Print versions, electronic versions.

• Videos & DVDs
• When Information Is Missing
• Works Quoted in Another Source
• In-Text Citations
• Sample Works Cited List
• Sample Annotations This link opens in a new window
• Plagiarism This link opens in a new window

Dissertations and theses

Dissertations and theses are written to fulfil an academic degree requirement, usually at the Masters or PhD level. They usually have only 1 author.

For the most part, treat them like books with supplemenal elements.

• Since dissertations and theses are often re-worked into articles and books, it is important to note when your source was written to fulfill an academic degree requirement
• The publisher is the degree-granting instution
• Do not include the program, department, school, division, or similar information
• Usually placed before the container of the online repository which houses the publication
• Automatic citation generators often treat online theses and dissertations as websites or journal articles, so will be missing the key information

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle. Publication Date. University name, Degree conferred .

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle. Publication Date. University name, Degree conferred . Online Repository , URL.

In-Text Citation

(Author's Last Name ##)

Replace ## with page number(s) for quotes or where the idea is discussed.

Smith, Kate Elizabeth. The Influence of Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy on American Fashion, 1952-1965 . 2001. Michigan State University, MA Thesis.

Austin, Katherine. Rasquache Baroque in the Chicana/o Borderlands . 2012. McGill U, PhD thesis. eScholarship , https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/8p58ph61j. Accessed 6 Jan. 2023.

• eScholarship is McGill University's online repository of dissertations and theses
• Followed McGill's lead and used "thesis" instead of "dissertation"

Grullon, Jaymi Leah. Campy Musical Black Queer Forms: Finding Utopia in Lil Nas X's World of "Montero ". St. John's University, MA Thesis. St. John's Scholar , https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/477

• St. John's Scholar is the university's online repository of dissertations and theses

Hutchinson, Jennifer. Emotional Response to Climate Change Learning: An Existential Inquiry . 2021. Antioch University, Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=ddu&AN=29DBEAFBF585BC45&site=eds-live&scope=site.

• Found record in OwlCat, so used EBSCOhost as the repository
• Could be more specific and replace the EBSCOhost info with: OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center , http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1602019356792951.
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Generate accurate citations in MLA format automatically, with MyBib!

😕 What is an MLA Citation Generator?

An MLA citation generator is a software tool designed to automatically create academic citations in the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format. The generator will take information such as document titles, author, and URLs as in input, and output fully formatted citations that can be inserted into the Works Cited page of an MLA-compliant academic paper.

The citations on a Works Cited page show the external sources that were used to write the main body of the academic paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an MLA Citation Generator?

MLA style is most often used by middle school and high school students in preparation for transition to college and further education. Ironically, MLA style is not actually used all that often beyond middle and high school, with APA (American Psychological Association) style being the favored style at colleges across the country.

It is also important at this level to learn why it's critical to cite sources, not just how to cite them.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Writing citations manually is time consuming and error prone. Automating this process with a citation generator is easy, straightforward, and gives accurate results. It's also easier to keep citations organized and in the correct order.

The Works Cited page contributes to the overall grade of a paper, so it is important to produce accurately formatted citations that follow the guidelines in the official MLA Handbook .

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's MLA Citation Generator?

It's super easy to create MLA style citations with our MLA Citation Generator. Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form.

The generator will produce a formatted MLA citation that can be copied and pasted directly into your document, or saved to MyBib as part of your overall Works Cited page (which can be downloaded fully later!).

MyBib supports the following for MLA style:

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: How to Cite: Other

• Introduction to MLA Style
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Videos/DVDs/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• 9th Edition Updates
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Chatgpt or other ai language tool, class handouts, cochrane review.

Conference Proceedings or Presentation

Dissertations

Eric document, images / artwork.

Jazz Discography

Lecture Notes (taken by a student or otherwise not public)

Lippincott Advisor

Mintel or Other Corporate Report

Mobile Software Application (App)

Music Score

Natural medicines (online monograph), personal/unpublished works/blogs, powerpoint slides, review of book, play, movie, poem, etc., simplyanalytics, song or album.

Sound recording / Booklet from Naxos Music Library

Twitter (Tweets)

Note: For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Guidance for citing ChatGPT and similar AI tools is emerging while continuing to be debated ( more from MLA ).

"Prompt." Tool Name, Version, Producer, Date,   URL.

Works Cited List Example:

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT , 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

"What is Carrie Mae Weems' most influential work and what are its themes?" prompt. Gemini . 8 Feb. 2024 version, Google, 16 Feb. 2024, https://gemini.google.com/app.

In-Text Citation Example:

(Shortened version of prompt)

Examples: ("Describe the symbolism") 

("What is Carrie")

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Handouts/Notes." Name of Course, Date handout was received, University/College, URL. Access date. Class handout.

Easton, Todd. “Model Paper.” Economics 121, 10 Apr. 2019, University of Portland, learning.up.edu/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=544855. Accessed 15 May 2019. Class handout.  

 (Instructor's Last Name)

 Example: ( Easton )

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Handouts/Notes." Name of Course, Date handout was received, University/College. Class handout.

Doe, Mark. "Critical Analysis." English 100, 4 Sept. 2016, University of Portland. Class handout.

 Example: (Doe)

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,  vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, pp. First Page Number-Last Page Number. https://doi.org/doi number.

Work Cited List Example:

Lane, Deirdre A., and Gregory Y. H. Lip. "Treatment of Hypertension in Peripheral Arterial Disease."  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4 Dec. 2013,   https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003075.pub3.

(Author's Last Name)

Example: (Lane & Lip)

Cochrane reviews follow the journal article format.

Provide the name of the database (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) in italic title case in the works cited list. Do not italicize it elsewhere in your paper. 

Different versions of Cochrane reviews include different information, which means the works cited list might vary too. Follow the principle of citing what you see.

• Full-text versions of Cochrane reviews do not include volume numbers, issue numbers, or article numbers. The full-text version displays when you visit the DOI of the article.
• However, the article PDFs show the year as the volume number, an issue number, and an article number.
• It is fine to omit the volume, issue, and article number from the Cochrane review works cited list if the information is missing from your version of the article, but if you do see this information, include it just as you would for any journal article .

Conference Proceedings or Paper

Published Conference Proceedings

Author's Last Name, First Name.  Conference Title,  Conference Date and Location, Publisher, Date of Publication.

Chang, Steve S., et al., editors.  Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society, February 12-15, 1999: General Session and Parasession on Loan Word Phenomena. Berkeley Linguistics Society, 2000.

Oral Presentation at Conference

Speaker's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Title of Conference or Meeting , Day Month, Year, Location of Conference. Descriptor (i.e. Keynote Address, Guest Lecture, Conference Presentation, Address, Lecture, Reading). 

Stein, Bob. “Reading and Writing in the Digital Era.” Discovering Digital Dimensions, Computers and Writing Conference , 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.

Dissertation from Database

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). Title of Dissertation: Subtitle if Given. Year. PhD dissertation. Database Name.

Smith, Junette A. A Bridge to Neuroeducation: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Educators of Adult Learners . 2017. PhD dissertation. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

(Author's Last Name Page Number)

Example: (Smith 33)

Dissertation Abstract

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). Title of dissertation: Subtitle if given. Dissertation Abstracts International, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, pp. First Page Number-Last Page Number. Name of Database, URL.

Brooks, Mary Patrice. (2008). The History of St. Joseph School and Challenges of Catholic Education in Oregon. Dissertation Abstracts International , vol. 69, no. 6, 2008, pp. 2184–2185. America: History & Life, login.uportland.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ahl&AN=46957249&login.asp%3fcustid%3ds8474154&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

(Author Page Number)

Example: (Brooks 2185)

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). "Title of document: Subtitle if given." Date of Publication. Database Name. (ERIC document number).

Kubota, Kenichi. “‘Soaking’ Model for Learning: Analyzing Japanese Learning/Teaching Process from a Socio-Historical Perspective.” 2007. ERIC (ED498566).

Example: (Kubota 4)

Note: this document is a PDF so page numbers are available.

Image from a Website

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work, URL.

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800. Museo del Prado, museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

(Artist's Last Name)

Example: (Goya)

Note: For images found online, do not list a page number.

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title").

Image from a Book

When you refer to a photographic reproduction of an artwork, the citation is made up of two parts:

• Part 1: Lists the original artist's name, the name of the work, and the date the work was created. 
• Part 2: Cites where you found the reproduction of the work such as a book. 

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work.  Book Title , by Author's First Name Last Name, Publisher Name often shortened, Year of publication, p. number.

Cassatt, Mary. Mother and Child . 1889, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS. American Painting,1560-1913 , by John Pearce, McGraw, 1964, Slide 22. 

(Artist's Last Name, Page Number)

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title," Page Number).

Example: (Cassatt, slide 22)

Image from a Library Database

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work. Database Title , URL.

Monet, Claude. The Parc Monceau . 1878. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Artstor , library.artstor.org/library/secure/ViewImages?id=%2FDFMaiMuOztdLS0wdD5%2BR3su&userId=gDhMeDUs&zoomparams=.

Example: (Monet)

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title"). Example: ("Sunday Afternoon")

Beck, Aaron T., et al. “Beck Depression Inventory–II.” PsycTESTS, 1996. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/t00742-000.

 Example: (Beck et al. 1996)

Jazz Discography (by Tom Lord)

The Jazz Discography uses session numbers (example: E1254) to refer to recording sessions. Include the session number in your citation.

Lord, Tom. "F2031: The Duke Ellington Song Book."  The Jazz Discography,  www.lordisco.com/tjd/WordDetail?id=7&mode=detail&rid=49863.

Example: (Lord)

Since this is an online source page numbers are not needed.

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Lecture." Name of Course, Date lecture occurred, University/College. Class lecture.

Aihiokhai, Simon. “Christian Spirituality.” THE 105, 18 Jan. 2017, University of Portland. Class lecture.

 Example: (Aihiokhai)

Lippincott Advisor (7th ed)

"Title of Article." Date Month Year of Latest Update,  Lippincott Advisor . Retrieved Date, URL.

Note: include "Retrieved" followed by the date for web pages that may be updated over time and that are not archived

"Anemia (Aplastic)". 12 Jul. 2019,  Lippincott Advisor. Retrieved 17 Oct. 2019, advisor.lww.com/lna/document.do?bid=4&did=791392.

("First Word Or Two of Article Title," Year)

Example: ("Anemia (Aplastic)," 2019)

Note: Because online resources typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Lippincott Advisor mobile app:

"Title of Article." Date Month Year of Latest Update,  Lippincott Advisor . Retrieved Date, advisor.lww.com. Mobile App. 

"Anemia (Aplastic)". 12 Jul. 2019,  Lippincott Advisor. Retrieved 17 Oct. 2019, advisor.lww.com. Mobile App. 

Note: Because mobile apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Mintel or Other Corporate Report

Mintel Group Ltd. “Car Rentals – US.” Mintel Reports , July 2018, clients.mintel.com. 

 Example: (Mintel)

Mobile Application Software (App)

Name of Company that created the application or Creator's Last Name, First Name. Middle Initial if given. Name of Application,  Publisher Name or App Store, Version number if given, Release Date of Current Version of the Application, Mobile App, URL application was downloaded from.

National Geographic Society.  National Parks by National Geographic,  App Store, vers.1.2, 2012, Mobile App. www.apple.com/itunes/.

(Name of Company or Author's Last Name)

Example: (National Geographic Society)

Note: Because apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Composer Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Version, Publisher, Publication Date. 

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Corolian Ouverture: op. 62 . Heugel, 1951. 

(Composer's Last Name Page Number)

(Beethoven 11)

"Guided Imagery." Natural Medicines , 2015, Monograph ,  naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ health-wellness/professional.aspx?productid=1238.

(Author, if none then name of monograph)

Example: ("Guided Imagery")

Note: Because online monographs from Natural Medicines typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Author's Last Name, First Name or Username if real name not provided. "Title of Blog Post."  Name of Blog,  Blog Network/Publisher if given, Day Month Year of blog post, URL of blog post. Accessed Day Month Year blog was visited.

Brussat, Frederic. “Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing.” Civility & Spirituality , 11 Dec. 2014, www.spiritualityandpractice.com/blogs/posts/civilityspirituality/301/beyond-ideas-of-wrongdoing-and-rightdoing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2017.

 Example: (Brussat)

Host's Last Name, First Name, host. "Title of Podcast Episode."  Title of Overall Podcast , season number if given, episode number if given, Web Site Hosting If Different From Podcast Title, Day Month Year of Episode, URL of episode. Accessed Day Month Year podcast was downloaded/played.

Orton, Tyler, and Patrick Blennerhassett, hosts. "Lessons From the Brexit."  BIV Podcast , episode 18, Business Vancouver, 28 June 2016, www.biv.com/article/2016/6/biv-podcast-episode-18-lessons-brexit/. Accessed 2 July 2016.

(Host's Last Name Start Time of Revelant Section-End Time of Section)

(Orton and Blennerhassett 00:01:15-00:02:22)

PowerPoint Slides from Moodle

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of PowerPoint Presentation." Title of Course,   Date of PowerPoint presentation, Name of University. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. 

Works Cited List Example

 Smith, John. "BIO 110: Week 2: Cells." Biology 110, 15 Jan. 2016, University of Portland. Microsoft PowerPoint   presentation.  

In-Text Citation Example

 Example: (Smith, slide 5)

 Note: include the slide number in your in-text citation if you know it. If not, leave it out

PowerPoint Slides from a Website

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of PowerPoint Presentation." Website publisher, Creation Date, URL. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. 

 Kunka, Jennifer Liethen.. "Conquering the Comma." Purdue University Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/conquering_the_comma_presentation.html. Microsoft PowerPoint   presentation.  

 (Author's Last Name)

 Example: (Kunka, slide 2)

You can find reviews in multiple source types (newspapers, magazines, journals, etc.); please see elsewhere on this guide for guidance on creating a citation for a specific source. The below citation example is for a play review that appeared on a newspaper website.

This template is for a review in general:

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review: Subtitle if Any." Review of Play (Book, Movie, etc.) Title , by Playwright (Author, Director, etc.). Name of Periodical , Date of Publication, p. Page number. 

Note: Titles of plays, books, and movies are italicized as shown here; do not italicize titles of articles, poems, and short stories. Instead, put them in quotation marks, e.g., Review of "The Revenant," by Billy Collins.

Note:  If the author's name is not listed, begin the citation with the title of the article.

Brantley, Ben. "Dear Audiences of 'Tiny Beautiful Things,' Prepare to Cry." Review of Tiny Beautiful Things , by Nia Vardalos. New York Times , www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/theater/tiny-beautiful-things-review.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2020.

Following guidance for a newspaper article from a website : (Review Author's Last Name)

Note : If there is no author listed, the in-text citation would include the first word or words of the title of the article in quotation marks, e.g. ("Dear Audiences").

"Name of Data File."  SimplyAnalytics Database.  Producer, date of data file.

Works Cited List Examples:

"Census 2010 Current Estimates Data."   SimplyAnalytics Database.  Geographic Research, Inc., 2013.

"2016 Current Estimates Data." SimplyAnalytics Database.  U.S. Census, 2017.

"Map with 2016 consumer expenditure data."  SimplyAnalytics Database . SimplyAnalytics, 2017.

• Obtain the data file name from the Metadata
• If you produced a map, SimplyAnalytics is the producer.

Music can be cited multiple ways. Mainly, this depends on the container that you accessed the music from. Generally, citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers or performers. Otherwise, list composer and performer information after the album title. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date.

If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.

Spotify Example:

Rae Morris. “Skin.”  Cold , Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify, open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album Example:

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.”  Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

CD Example:

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit."  Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Sound recording / Booklet from Naxos Music Library

Sound Recording:

Orff, Carl. “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi: O Fortuna.” Carmina Burana. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Hans Graf, LPO, 2012, Naxos Music Library , portland.naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=5099960230652.

(Creator's Last Name)

Example: (Orff)

If there is no creator, use a shortened form of the title (just one or two significant words): (“Title")

Cite the author of the booklet / liner notes (the author's name often appears at the end of the text).

Works Cited List Example:  

Prince, David. Booklet.  Sophisticated Lady , by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Pablo Records, 2001, Naxos Jazz Music Library , cdn.naxosmusiclibrary.com/sharedfiles/booklets/FAC/booklet-PACD-5310-2.pdf.

Example: (Prince 2)

Source of data. Title of document: Subtitle if given . Date of publication, Statista , URL.

Note: since Statista is the name of the publisher and the name of the database, cite Statista only as the database name at the end of the citation.

National Park Service. Most visited national parks in the United States in 2018. 13 May 2019,  Statista , www.statista.com/statistics/378920/most-visited-national-parks-us.

(Source of data)

Example: (National Park Service)

Twitter Handle (First Name Last Name if Known). "The Entire Tweet Word-for-Word." Twitter, Day Month Year of Tweet, Time of Tweet, URL.

@ReallyVirtual (Sohaib Athar). "Helicopter Hovering Above Abbottad at 1AM is a Rare Event."  Twitter,   4 Jan. 2013, 3:58 p.m., twitter.com/reallyvirtual/status/64780730286358528?lang=en.

Note: Write out the actual Tweet in the citation and keep spelling and grammar the same as in the original, even if there are errors. When quoting the Tweet, beside grammatical and spelling errors in the original Tweet, write [sic] in square brackets to indicate the errors are not your own. E.g., if the Tweet was "It isn't you're fault the media is violent", write: "It isn't you're [sic] fault the media is violent."

(Twitter handle)

(@ReallyVirtual)

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Consider your source's credibility. ask these questions:, contributor/author.

• Has the author written several articles on the topic, and do they have the credentials to be an expert in their field?
• Can you contact them? Do they have social media profiles?
• Have other credible individuals referenced this source or author?
• Book: What have reviews said about it?
• What do you know about the publisher/sponsor? Are they well-respected?
• Do they take responsibility for the content? Are they selective about what they publish?
• Take a look at their other content. Do these other articles generally appear credible?
• Does the author or the organization have a bias? Does bias make sense in relation to your argument?
• Is the purpose of the content to inform, entertain, or to spread an agenda? Is there commercial intent?
• Are there ads?
• When was the source published or updated? Is there a date shown?
• Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented to your argument?
• Does the source even have a date?
• Was it reproduced? If so, from where?
• If it was reproduced, was it done so with permission? Copyright/disclaimer included?
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Bibcitation is a free citation generator that creates bibliographies, references and works cited. Automatically generate MLA, APA, Chicago and other citations and create an accurate bibliography in one click.

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Our Complete Guide to Citing in MLA 9 Format

In academia, citations help you avoid plagiarism and demonstrate your credibility as a researcher. The MLA format is widely used for this purpose, particularly for writing papers in literature and humanities.

Our comprehensive MLA guide will walk you through the process of citing various types of sources in MLA, as well as formatting your Works Cited list. With plenty of specific examples and step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to master the art of MLA citation in no time.

Get ready to master the art of MLA citations!

Discover More Bibcitation Guides

Mla format overview.

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format is a widely used citation style for academic papers in the humanities and liberal arts. Designed to provide a clear and consistent method of citing sources, the MLA format helps writers avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to their sources. This citation style uses two main components: in-text citations and the Works Cited page.

In-text citations appear within the body of the paper, providing a brief reference to the source, usually including the author's last name and the page number where the information was found. In-text citations correspond to the full citation found on the Works Cited page, which is organized alphabetically by the author's last name.

The Works Cited page in the MLA citation format provides a comprehensive list of all sources used in the paper, offering detailed information about each source to help readers locate them. The format varies slightly based on the type of source, such as a book, journal article, or website. The MLA citation style prioritizes clarity and simplicity, making it easy for both writers and readers to understand and navigate the sources used in a paper.

Insert MLA In-text Citations

In the MLA citation format, in-text citations are brief references within the body of a paper that guide readers to the full citation in the Works Cited page. They typically include the author's last name and the page number where the information was found. Here you can find detailed examples of in-text citations in the MLA format:

Basic in-text citation: The most common in-text citation includes the author's last name and the page number(s) in parentheses, placed at the end of the sentence before the period. For example: (Smith 42) .

Multiple authors: If a source has two authors, include both last names in the citation, separated by "and." For example: (Smith and Johnson 58) . If a source has three or more authors, include the first author's last name followed by "et al." For example: (Smith et al. 22) .

Multiple works by the same author: If citing multiple works by the same author, include a shortened version of the title to differentiate between the sources. For example: (Smith, "A Journey into the Universe" 12) and (Queen, Rose Water 35) .

No author: If the source has no author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks for articles or in italics for longer works, such as books or websites. For example: ("Article Title" 5) or ( Book Title 32) .

Citing multiple sources in one sentence: If referencing multiple sources in one sentence, separate each citation with a semicolon. For example: (Smith 42; Bart 78) .

Indirect citations (quotations within a source): If citing a quotation from a source that is itself quoting another source, use the abbreviation "qtd. in" before the indirect source. For example: (qtd. in Smith 15) .

Electronic sources without page numbers: When citing electronic sources without page numbers, use the author's last name only or a shortened version of the title if no author is available. For example: (Smith) or ("Article Title") .

Audiovisual sources: If citing a film, television show, or other audiovisual source, use the title (italicized) and a timestamp (hours, minutes, and seconds) instead of a page number. For example: ( Citizen Kane 01:22:15) .

For long quotations, use a block quote format. Indent the entire quotation one inch from the left margin and do not use quotation marks. Place the in-text citation after the closing punctuation.

Smith emphasizes the importance of proper citation:

Citing sources correctly is essential for maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. By giving credit to the original authors, you demonstrate respect for their work and allow readers to locate the sources you used. (25)

Format Your MLA Works Cited

A Works Cited page is an essential part of any research paper or academic work using the MLA citation format. It provides a comprehensive list of all sources cited in the paper, allowing readers to locate and verify the sources used.

Here are detailed instructions on how to format a Works Cited page in MLA format:

• Choose placement and title: The Works Cited page should begin on a separate page at the end of your paper. Center the title "Works Cited" (without quotation marks) at the top of the page. Do not bold, italicize, or underline the title.
• Use correct spacing and margins: Use double-spacing throughout the Works Cited page. Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides of the page. The first line of each citation should be flush with the left margin. Indent any additional lines by 0.5 inches (a hanging indent).
• Organize citations: Sort the list of sources in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If a source does not have an author, use the title to alphabetize the entry. Ignore articles ("a," "an," "the") when alphabetizing by title.
• Format entries correctly: Follow the general format for each source type (e.g., books, articles, websites) as specified in the MLA Handbook. Include the author's name, the title of the work, the container (if applicable), and other relevant information such as the publisher, publication date, and location.
• Don't forget about punctuation and capitalization: Use title case for titles, capitalizing the first word, the last word, and all other major words. Use punctuation marks consistently, following the guidelines in the MLA Handbook.
• Check for accuracy: Be sure to check each reference for accuracy, including spelling and punctuation, as well as proper capitalization and italics.

Remember to consult the MLA Handbook for specific guidelines and examples for various source types. As you add sources to your Works Cited page, be sure to double-check the formatting to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Cite Books in MLA

To cite a book in your Works Cited list, follow this format:

For example:

If the book is an edited volume, use the word "editor" or "editors" after the editor's name, depending on whether it is a single or multiple editors.

Citing an edited book:

For books with multiple editions, specify the edition after the title, using ordinal numbers (e.g., "2nd ed.").

Citing a book with multiple editions:

If a book is part of a series or multivolume set, include the volume number after the title, preceded by "vol." In cases where a book has no author, the citation should begin with the title.

When citing a book that has been translated, include the translator's name after the title, preceded by the word "Translated by."

Citing a translated book:

When citing a specific chapter or essay within an edited book or anthology, start with the author's name, followed by the title of the chapter or essay in quotation marks, then the title of the book, the editor's name, and the page numbers of the cited section.

Citing a specific portion of a book:

These examples cover various scenarios and exceptions for citing books in MLA format. Remember to consult the MLA Handbook for more information and specific guidelines when formatting your citations.

Cite Journal Articles in MLA

When citing a journal article in MLA format, follow this template:

For the journal articles that you accessed online, from JSTOR or a different online database, make sure to include the DOI or the URL if the DOI is unavailable.

Citing a journal article accessed online:

If an article has two authors, include both authors' names separated by "and."

Citing an article with two authors:

If an article has three or more authors, list only the first author, followed by "et al."

Citing an article with three authors:

In some cases, the journal article may not have an official author or some other elements, like the volume or issue number. In this situation, the title of the article is used in place of the author's name, while the volume and issue are omitted.

Citing an article without an author, volume or issue number:

Cite Websites in MLA

Citing a webpage on your MLA Works Cited page? Use the following format:

However, web pages may often not have an identified author. In this situation, the title of the article is used in place of the author's name. For example:

Citing a web page without an author:

When citing a website with an organization as the author, you can use the organization's name as both the author and the website name if they are the same.

Citing a website with an organization as the author:

If no publication date is available, use the abbreviation "n.d." (no date).

Moreover, for online sources without a publication date or for sources that can be updated or changed without notice (like web pages), it is recommended to include the "Accessed" date. This provides a clearer timeline of when the researcher viewed the material and ensures accuracy, as the content might have been updated or removed since that date. Using the "Accessed" date is especially useful for materials that are subject to change or when a source's stability cannot be guaranteed.

Cite Book Chapters in MLA

Citing a book chapter in MLA format requires you to include the chapter author and the book editor(s). The format is:

If the book is a translation, include the translator's name after the editor's name (if any), preceded by the phrase "translated by."

Citing a chapter in a translated book:

If the chapter has a unique title within a larger work, such as a play within an anthology or a collection of works by different authors, include the title of the larger work in italics, followed by the editor's name (if any) and the page numbers of the cited section.

Citing a chapter from a collection of works:

If the book is a multivolume set, include the volume number after the book title and edition (if available), preceded by "vol."

For chapters with supplementary materials or appendices, include the relevant page numbers or identifiers in the citation.

Cite Ebooks in MLA

Citing an ebook in MLA format follows similar guidelines to citing a printed book, but with a few additional details. The basic format for citing an ebook is as follows:

If the ebook has a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), the citation should include it at the end of the reference.

Citing an ebook with a DOI:

If your ebook was only available on a tablet, e-reader, or a reading app such as Kindle, all you need to do is to include the words "E-book ed."after the title.

Citing an ebook from a personal device:

In some scenarios, additional elements need to be included in the citation. If the ebook is part of a series, provide the series name and volume number after the publisher and before the publication date.

If the ebook is a translation, include the translator's name after the editor's name (if available), preceded by the phrase "translated by." For ebooks with supplementary materials, include the relevant page numbers or identifiers in the citation.

Cite Magazine Articles in MLA

To cite a magazine article in your MLA Works Cited page, use the following format:

If the magazine article is found online, you should also provide the URL or DOI at the end of the citation.

If the magazine is published seasonally (e.g., Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall) rather than monthly, include the season and year as the publication date (e.g., Winter 2021).

Cite Newspaper Articles in MLA

For newspaper articles, the MLA citation format is similar to magazine articles:

If the article is found online, include the URL or the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available, but do not include the page numbers.

If the newspaper isn't widely recognized or is a local paper, include the name of the city in parentheses following the newspaper's title.

If the article is available in both print and digital formats, the citation should be identical for both, but for digital articles, you should also include a DOI or a URL at the end of the citation.

Cite Conference Papers in MLA

To cite published conference proceedings in MLA, use the following format:

After the author's name, make sure to include the title of the paper in quotation marks, followed by the title of the conference (italicized), the date and location of the conference, and any relevant publication information (for instance, whether the paper has been published).

When a conference paper is part of a published conference proceedings, include the editor's name (if available) preceded by "edited by," the title of the proceedings (italicized), the publisher, and the publication date.

For online conference papers, provide the URL or DOI (if available) at the end of the citation.

Citing an edited conference paper available online:

Remember that each specific conference paper may require additional information or variations in the citation format.

Cite Audio & Visual Media in MLA

For audiovisual materials like films, television series, and YouTube videos, include the contributor(s) most relevant to your source, such as the director, or if not available, then producer, or writer. The MLA citation format for films materials is:

However, there are some exceptions to this format. When citing a TV-show episode, make sure to include the show title, as well as the season and episode numbers.

Citing a TV-show episode:

If you’re looking to cite a song, your citation should include the song title, as well as the name of the album and format (if applicable), or URL or DOI (if available).

Citing a song:

Remember that different scenarios and exceptions may require you to adapt these structures. Always consult the MLA Handbook for more information and specific guidelines when formatting your citations for audio and visual materials.

Cite Podcasts in MLA

To cite a podcast episode in MLA format, use the following citation structure:

If the podcast episode does not have an episode number, omit it from the citation.

If you need to cite a specific guest on the podcast, include their name and the description "guest" after the title of the podcast.

Keep in mind that you may need to adapt your citation based on the specific information available for the podcast and the focus of your discussion.

Cite Social Media Posts in MLA

For social media posts, use the following format in your MLA Works Cited:

Citing an Instagram post:

If the account name and its corresponding handle are similar (e.g., @aliciakeys and Alicia Keys), it is generally recommended to exclude the handle when including a URL in the entry. However, if you are not providing a URL, such as when referencing a mobile version of the site, it is advisable to include the handle, as it can assist your reader in locating the specific post.

Citing a Twitter post:

Citing a Facebook post:

Moreover, if you are accessing a post on the mobile version of a social media site and the copyright date is not visible, it is recommended to include the date you accessed the post as an additional element at the end of the entry.

Cite Images & Artworks in MLA

To cite an online image or artwork in your MLA citation list, the format is:

For digital images or artwork viewed online, begin with the artist's name, the title of the artwork in italics, the date of creation (if known), the website hosting the artwork or the name of the database, and the URL or DOI (if available).

Citing an image or artwork viewed online:

In cases where the creation date or author name is unknown, you can make adjustments to the citation format to account for the missing information.

If the creation date of the artwork is unknown, you can use the abbreviation "n.d." (no date) in place of the date.

If the author of the artwork is unknown, you can start the citation with the title of the artwork in italics. If it's necessary to provide context or specify that the author is unknown, you can use the term “Unknown Artist”, “Anonymous” or “Anon.”.

Citing an artwork with an unknown author and creation date:

Remember that citation requirements may vary depending on the context and the focus of your work. Always consult the MLA Handbook for more information and specific guidelines when formatting your citations with unknown information.

Cite Theses & Dissertations in MLA

When citing a thesis or dissertation in your MLA paper, use the following format:

For a digital thesis or dissertation, begin with the author's name, the title of the work in italics, the year of completion, the institution where the work was completed, the description of the work as a thesis or dissertation, and the URL or DOI (if available).

Citing a thesis or dissertation published online:

Cite Databases & Data Sets in MLA

When citing datasets or statistical data, include the author, publication year, title of the dataset, version, publisher, and the DOI or URL in your MLA Works Cited page:

If you are citing a specific work within a database or using data from a data set, you should first cite the work or the data following the appropriate citation format for that type of source (e.g., a journal article, a book, a newspaper article), and then add the database or data set as a supplementary source at the end of the citation.

Cite Mobile Applications in MLA

Citing mobile applications in MLA format requires the author, the app's release year, the app's title, the version, and the platform in your reference list entry:

Keep in mind that you may need to modify these examples based on the specific information available for the mobile application and the focus of your discussion.

Cite Classical Works

Citing classical works in MLA format involves various scenarios, depending on factors such as the type of source (print or digital), the specific edition or translation being cited, and the availability of specific information (author, title, date, etc.).

Keep in mind that classical works often have unique citation requirements due to their historical context and the numerous editions, translations, or versions available.

Here is the general structure for citing classical works in MLA format:

N.B. When referencing classical works, the original publication year is often unknown or irrelevant; instead, provide the year of the translation or version you are using in parentheses, followed by a period.

Cite Legal Documents

For a legal document as the main focus of your MLA citation, provide the title of the document in italics, the document number or code, the name of the authority issuing the document, the publication date, and the URL or DOI (if available).

For court cases , the citation structure is a bit different:

When citing the Constitution , you can use the following format: Title of Constitution, jurisdiction or authority, publication date, URL or DOI (if available).

For more information and examples on how to cite different government documents in the MLA format, we suggest that you follow these guidelines from the MLA Style Center.

Cite Online Lectures & TED Talks

When citing online lectures, webinars, or TED Talks, include the speaker, the date, the title of the talk, and the URL in your APA reference list entry:

Cite Course Materials & Lectures in MLA

Course materials are considered unique academic sources and should be cited according to the guidelines for educational or instructional materials. Here is the general structure for citing course materials in MLA format:

Cite Personal Communications in MLA

In MLA format, personal communications, such as interviews, emails, letters, or personal conversations, are considered unpublished sources and are not typically included in the Works Cited list because they cannot be accessed by your readers.

Instead, you should provide a parenthetical citation within the text of your document, giving credit to the source.

When citing personal communications in your text, mention the source of the communication, the type of communication (e.g., email, letter, personal interview, etc.), and the date the communication took place.

Here is the general structure for citing personal communications in MLA format:

(Source's Last Name, Type of Communication, Date)

Keep in mind that you should only cite personal communications in the body of your text, as they cannot be accessed by your readers and, therefore, should not be listed in the Works Cited page.

• Personal interview: According to John Smith , the use of renewable energy has increased dramatically in the last decade (personal interview, 7 May 2023) .
• Email: Jane Doe mentioned in an email that her research findings support the use of electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (12 April 2023) .
• Letter: She recently expressed her concerns about the environmental impact of deforestation (Sarah Johnson, letter, 10 June 2022) .

Always ensure that you have the permission of the person you are citing to include their personal communication in your work, as this information is not publicly accessible and may involve privacy concerns.

MLA Style: Final Notes

As you can see, the MLA citation format provides a consistent and clear method for citing various types of sources in your research. By mastering the MLA citation style, you will not only make your work more professional but also help your readers easily locate the sources you have used.

We hope this comprehensive guide on MLA citation style has provided you with a solid foundation for citing sources in your research. Remember that Bibcitation is here to help you with your academic needs, offering accurate and easy-to-use tools.