Owens Community College Writing Center 1

Documenting in MLA Style

Revised 4/1/09

MLA format provides a way for students to identify, and incorporate information in the humanities
(except history) and fine arts. This handout offers the most common features of an MLA document;
however, before writing your final draft, be sure to check your instructor’s requirements.

Last name
Heading for and page
a paper not General Features number in
needing a the header
title page
Double spaced Jones 1
12-point font
Cindy Jones throughout Centered
informative title
Dr. Jerry Jaguar not underlined,
bold or put into
English 111 quotes

10 Jan. 2009

Indent 5 Emily Dickinson’s Daring Punctuation

spaces, or
½ inch (tab Although Emily Dickinson enjoys an honored place in the canon of American
once) per
paragraph poets, specialists in correct grammar emit only slightly muffled screams when
and
keep a confronted with her punctuation choices, especially her use of the dash. Her
1-inch
margin freestyle use of the dash creates problems in representing her handwritten poems in
around
your entire typed text. How long should the dashes be, or how many are needed to duplicate the
page
meaning she intended? Dickinson’s poems can be reproduced more faithfully and

sensitively in artistically crafted chapbooks than they can in ordinary typeset

anthologies.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 2
In-text Citations
Parenthetical References serve two purposes: to reflect the source of your research and to give credit to that
source. The following examples model incorporating the source into the sentence and accurately documenting
the source. Cite both quotations and paraphrases when using MLA.
Author mentioned in the sentence

Fitzgerald writes that “the caddies were poor as sin and lived in one-room houses” (407).

Author’s name not given in the text

“Writing to learn has different goals from” other forms of writing (Gere 5).

Author mentioned in a paraphrase

Gere maintains that writing to learn strategies alter the roles of teachers and students (5).

No Author
Frequently, no author is given for a reference. In this case, use an abbreviated title in the in-text citation.

Some 100,000 Japanese died in one bombing attack on Tokyo (“Bombing Japan” 79).

Indirect Quotations
The phrase, “qtd.in” is used to cite a primary source found in a secondary source. Note that in the
example Jones would appear on the Works Cited page and the original passage written by Smith is
located within the Jones article. Note: Jones appears on the Works Cited page not Smith.
Smith claims that colleges are pressured to act as if they are “the center for life change, and they
are short on funding to succeed” (qtd. in Jones 234).
Smith advocates the need for funding in colleges if they are to be the center for a changing society
(qtd. in Jones 234).

Two Authors
When two or more authors share the same last name, list both authors’ first initials (and even his or
her full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. If you cite more than one work by a
particular author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to
distinguish it from the other work by that same person.
Two authors with the same last name
While some studies reveal the need for further study of embryonic fluid (J. Hart 678), others feel that

current statistics concretely prove the value of stem cell transplantation (A. Hart 568).

Two works by the same author

Dunn has argued that reading is imperative for preschool children (“Head Starts” 38), though she has

acknowledged that early exposure to simple games and songs does lead to expanded language

development in a child’s second and third year (“Early Language Development” 17).
 Owens Community College Writing Center 3

Short Quotations
When your quote is fewer than four lines long, then the quote will be blended into the text with the
citations placed in an unobtrusive manner to maintain the flow of the writing.

Author’s name not given in the sentence

Some researchers feel that stem cell research is “imperative to combating Parkinson’s disease” though
others maintain that it is immoral (Hopkins 79).

Author’s name given in the sentence

As revealed in a study by leading researcher Dr. Hopkins stem cell research is “capable of combating
Parkinson’s disease” (79).

Block Quotations and Modifying Quotations

With quotations longer than four lines, or for more than three lines of poetry, indent the quoted lines ten
spaces in a freestanding block. Use the original line breaks of poetry or songs. Do not use quotation marks.
Place the punctuation at the end of the quote before the parenthetical citation. Double-space all material in
MLA style papers. When adding word(s) to a quotation to clarify meaning or to improve the sentence’s
grammar, put brackets around the added word(s). When leaving out word(s) or one or more sentences of a
quoted selection, use ellipsis marks. See Little, Brown Handbook for a complete description of ellipsis usage.

Herbert Mishap, in a New York Times article, ponders the role of conflict in democracy:

With all the talk we are hearing about unity of purpose and unanimity of voice, it is good to be

reminded that conflict is essential to the democratic process . . . In asserting their right to access

[following 9/11] the firefighters claimed it for everyone. The sky did not fall . . . Seventh

Avenue wasn’t immediately mothballed. Though the firefighters acted emotionally, theirs was

the voice of reason – one of the few . . . heard thus far. (239)

Sacred Writings
Titles of sacred writings, such as the Qu’ran or the Bible, are only capitalized. They are not put in
quotation marks, nor are they italicized. When quoting from the Bible, in the first parenthetical
citation, state the translation or version of the Bible quoted. Then give the name of the book within
the Bible, but do not italicize or underline it, and follow this with chapter and verse numbers.
However, the title of a particular translation of the Bible should be italicized.

The Qur’an affirms Mary’s purity: “Behold! The angel said: ‘O Mary! God hath chosen thee and
purified thee— chosen thee above the women of all nations’” (3.42).

Ezekiel saw “what seemed to be four living creatures,” each with faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an
eagle respectively (New Jerusalem Bible, Ezek. 1.5-10).

In all further citations using the same version of the Bible, give only the book, chapter and verse.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 4
Works Cited
At the end of a research paper you will need to include a list of all materials that you have quoted,
summarized or paraphrased within your paper; this list is called a Works Cited. Some instructors
may also ask for bibliography, or works consulted list, of all materials you used in creating the paper
whether you cite them or not. Keep in mind, for MLA, every entry on the Works Cited page has a
corresponding citation within the paper.

Guidelines for the Works Cited list

1. Center at the top of a separate page the title—Works Cited— using no quotation marks or
underlining.
2. Use hanging indent and left justify the margin.
3. Double-space all entries; do not skip spaces between citations.
4. As of 2009, italicize all book, periodical, film, etc. titles.
5. As of 2009, note the medium in which you found the material: Web (for all on-line sources).
Print, Film, LP.
6. Alphabetize the Works Cited list by the first word in each entry (usually the author’s last
name) When a work has more than one author, invert only the first author’s name, follow it
with a comma, and then continue listing the rest of the authors. For four or more authors, list
only the first and use the Latin abbreviation et al.
7. If several of your sources are by the same author, order the sources alphabetically by title
and substitute three hyphens for the author’s name in subsequent entries for that author.
8. Anonymous works are alphabetized by the title of the piece; use an abbreviated version of
the title for in-text citations.
9. Capitalize all important words in the titles of books, articles, etc.
10. As of 2009, do not include URL if enough information is given to retrieve the source.

If you are looking for more help with MLA format, see a Writing Center tutor or The Little, Brown
Compact Handbook.
Books
General Format Author(s). Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Print.
Examples Books with a single author
Power, Austin. The Spy Under My Nose. New York: Mac Shane, 2008. Print.

Two books by the same author

Holliday, Dock. Dickens and the Outlaws. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.
---. The Films of West: A Social History. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 2007.
Print.

Book with multiple authors

Glick, Paul, and Noah Willie. A Mentoring Handbook. Cambridge: Houghton
Mifflin, 2008. Print.

(Note: when the source has more than three authors, you list only the first author
followed by et al. (“and others”) or list all of the authors in the same order in which
their names appear on the title page.

Souza, Jill, et al. Strong Study Habits of Great Students. New York: Allyn &
Bacon, 2009. Print.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 5
Book with an organization or corporate author
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington: APA, 2008. Print.

Book or article with no author named

Chronicles of Ohio. Columbus: Ohio State UP, 2008. Print.
Anthology or collection
Collins, Thomas, ed. Henry James: Modern Critical and Theoretical Approaches.
Boston: Bedford P, 2007. Print.

A Part of a Larger Work (such as an essay in an anthology)

General Format Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Collection. Ed. Editor’s Name(s). Place of
Publication: Publisher, Year. Pages. Print.
Example Smith, Daniel. “Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Listeners.” A Mentor’s Guide. Ed.
Scott Swinney. Toledo: Owens College P, 2007. 24-34. Print.

Government Publication
General Format Name of government department. Title of Publication. City: Publisher, Year of
Publication. Print.
Example U.S. Department of Natural Resources. Catching Salmon. Washington: GPO,
2007. Print.

Pamphlet
General Format Author. Title of Pamphlet. City: Publisher, Year of publication. Medium.
Example Pollick, Steve. Catching Salmon. Toledo: The Blade, 2009. Print.

Article from a reference book

General Format “Title of the article.” Title of book. (For familiar reference books only list the
edition and year of publication). Print.
Example “Great Britain.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 2005 ed. Print.

The Bible (specific editions)

General Format Title. Editor. City: Publisher, Year. Print.
Example The New Jerusalem Bible. Susan Jones, gen ed. New York: Doubleday, 1985.
Print.

Samples for periodical articles

Article in a periodical (such as a newspaper or magazine)
General Format Author(s). “Title of article.” Title of Source. Day Month Year: pages. Medium.
NOTE: To cite the date, put the day before the month; indicate the month with a
three-letter abbreviation for the month (e.g. Feb., Sep., Oct.). If necessary, clarify
which edition—for instance, a newspaper’s late or early edition—after the date
(e.g. 13 Sept. 2007 early ed.) If article continues non-sequentially on other pages,
use + after first page number. Print.
Examples Magazine or newspaper article
Homes, Oliver. “Selling Our Freedom.” Newsweek. 19 Sep. 2007: 60-65. Print.

“Terrorists Hit New York.” New York Times. 11 Sep. 2001: A17+. Print.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 6

Article in a scholarly journal

General Format Author(s). “Article Title.” Name of Journal Vol. Issue (Year): pages. Medium.
NOTE: “Vol” indicates the volume number of the journal. Scholarly journals have
volume numbers as part of their citation. In all cases, the volume, issue and year
need to be listed followed by medium.

Example Black, Jack. “If You Write It, They Will Read.” American Review of Literature
14.2 (2009): 451-521. Print.

Samples for electronic sources

Citing an entire web site or individual resources
General Format Author(s), director, narrator, performer, editor, compiler, or producer of the work.
“Title of smaller work within a larger one.” Title of Work. Title of the Web Site.
Date of Posting/Version. Name of Institution/Organization publishing or
affiliated with site (if none- N.p.). Date of publication (for no date-n.d.)
Medium. Date of access.
Article from a Jeffries, Susan, et al. “Dynamic Duos.” Mixed Media. 10.3 (2008): 45-50.
database Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Oct. 2008.

Blog Brians, Paul. “Common Errors in English.” HousemanPost. HousemanPost.com, 12

Apr. 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2007.

Book accessed Rosencrantz, John. Guide to Grammar and Writing. Toronto: Cheswick, 2005.
from a Scholarly Rosencran Archive. U of Toronto. Web. 3 May 2008.
Project

Business Site Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company. n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2009.
Citing a page on a Web Site
General Format Author (or alias if known) “Article Title.” Name of web site. Date of Posting/Revision
Medium. Date of Access.
Example "Learn How to Sail the Easy Way for Beginners. Your Step by Step Guide to
Learning How To Sail The Easy Way.” GreatLakeSailing.com. N.p., n.d.
Web. 22 Jan. 2009.

Article in an online journal or magazine

General Format Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume. Issue (Year):
Pages/Paragraphs (if no pages- n. pag.). Medium. Date of Access.
Examples Vorkov, Alexi. “Hydraulic Dynamics in Chaotic Systems.” Hydraulic Applications
Monthly 25.3 (2003): 56 pars. Web. 22 Jan. 2009.

Christopher, Sandra. “Excavating the Euphrates River.” Archaeology Journal. 4.3

(2006): n. pag. Web. 27 Aug. 2007.
E-mail (or other personal communications)
General Format Author. “Title of the Message (if any).” Message to person’s name. Date of the
Message. Medium.
NOTE: This same format should be used for personal interviews or personal
letters. These do not have titles, and the description should be appropriate. Instead
of “Message to John Smith,” you would have “Personal interview.”
Examples E-mail to you
Crane, Dennis. “Re: Law in Review.” Message to the Author. 15 Nov. 2007. E-mail.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 7
E-mail communication between two parties, not including the author
Teague, George. “Re: Online Tutoring.” Message to Sarah Abbot. 1 Dec. 2007.
E-mail.

Online Image Resources

General Format Artist if available. Image Title. Resource date. Site Title. Medium of publication
Date of access
Example Kaplan, Michael. Gorilla: Los Angeles Zoo. 25 Jan. 2008. LZOO.org. Web. 26
May 2008.
Government Document accessed from a database
General Format Author. Department. Title. Date of Posting/Revision. Database. Medium. Date of
Access.
Example United States. Extension Service. Detainees from Iraq. N.d. Government Postings
from Iraq. Web. 23 Jan. 2008.

Citing a Federal Legal Source- Now part of the Works Cited list!
U.S. Code Title number U.S.C., section number. Medium.

Case Names involved in the case. Case number. Name of court that decided the case. Date
of decision. Medium.
Examples 42 U.S.C., Sec. 1983. Web.

Roe v. Wade. No. 70-18. Supreme Ct. of the U.S. 22 Jan. 1973. Print.

Samples for other miscellaneous sources

Film
General Format Title. May add director, writers and actors. Distributor, and the year of release.
Medium.
Example All the Little Animals. Dir. Kellog Framingham. Perf. Blix Devoe and Kina
Flaschtreib. More Movies, 2004. Film.

Television or radio program

General Format “Title of episode.” Title of the program. Title of the Series. Name of the network.
Call letters and city of the station. Broadcast date. Medium.
Example “The Final Elision.” Flawed Thinking. CBS. WTOL, Toledo. 5 Feb. 2009.
Television.

Sound recording
General Format (Composer, conductor, or performer depending on emphasis.) Title. The artist,
manufacturer, year of issue. Medium.
Example The Six-FingeredTuba Brigade. Oompa Music for Raves (Trance Tuba). Rec. 1994.
Mind Zone Entertainment. LP.

Advertisement
General Format Name of product. Company. Descriptive label and publication information.
Medium.
Example Dark Cherry Diet Pepsi. Pepsi. Advertisement. Newsweek 20 Dec. 2005: 151. Print.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 8

Interview
General Format Personally conducted interview:
Name of interviewee. Personal Interview. Date of interview.
Published interview:
Speaker’s name. “Title.” By author. Publication. Date: pages.
Example Rice, Pam. Personal Interview. 23 May 2007.

Jett, Kevin. “Collecting China.” By Peggy Star. Ceramics Journal Jul. 2004: 8.
Print.
Digital File (follow format for hard copy)
General Format For PDFs, Word documents, JPEGs, MP3s, etc., not accessed through a Web site or
database. Follow format for the kind of work respresented (film, image, sound
recording, book). For medium, give the file type followed by the word file. Use
Digital file if you don’t know what kind of file it is.

Examples Mandolino, Raphael. “Master Violin-making.” 2006. Microsoft Word file.

Roswell, Cerise. Today’s Kitchen. New York: Vantage P, 1998. JPEG file.
 Owens Community College Writing Center 9

Name and page

number
Sample Works Cited Page- final full page(s) of the essay,
continue the 1-inch margins.

Same Hoffman 10
author
for both Works Cited
sources
Jones, Daniel. “Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Listeners.” A Mentor’s Guide. Ed. Scott Swinney.

Toledo: Riverside, 2008. 24-34. Print.

---. “Capturing the Writer’s Voice.” A Mentor’s Guide. Ed. Scott Swinney. Toledo: Riverside, 2008.

13-18. Print.

Marsh, Samantha, Delucia McGinnis, and Stewart Polaris. “Videogames as Educational Tools.”

Middle School Education. Oct. 2007: 68-73. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Jun. 2008.

O’Dell, Patrick, perf. Urban Witchcraft. SK Entertainment, 2009. DVD.

Alphabetized Smith, Greg. “Rhesus Monkeys in the Zoo.” N.d. Online Image. Monkey Picture Gallery.
by last name
of author Web. 3 May 2009.

Sprinkle, Russ. “Welcome!” Writing.com. Professional Writing Bulletin Board. 23 Oct. 2009.

Web. 12 Nov 2009.

“Tomorrow’s Troubles.” Sundown. Exec. Prod. Richard White. MTV Overdrive. MTV Networks, 20

Apr. 2008. Web. 5 Nov. 2008.