Citing sources correctly is a cornerstone of academic integrity and effective research. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used in humanities disciplines to format papers and cite sources. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of MLA citation, focusing on the 9th edition, to help you create impeccable Works Cited pages and in-text citations.
The MLA 9th edition shifts from rigid rules to a principle-based approach, acknowledging the evolving landscape of digital texts and diverse source types. Instead of memorizing specific formats for each source, understanding the core elements of MLA citation empowers you to cite any source effectively. This flexible system prioritizes clarity and accessibility for your readers, enabling them to easily locate your sources.
Understanding the Core Elements of MLA Citations
At the heart of MLA 9th edition lies a set of core elements. These are the fundamental pieces of information needed for any citation, arranged in a specific sequence. Think of these elements as building blocks; mastering them is key to constructing accurate and comprehensive citations. The nine core elements are:
- Author.
- Title of source.
- Title of container,
- Other contributors,
- Version,
- Number,
- Publisher,
- Publication date,
- Location.
Each element is followed by specific punctuation, primarily periods and commas, simplifying the process compared to earlier editions. Let’s delve into each element with examples to illustrate their application.
1. Author
Begin your Works Cited entry with the author’s name. Present the last name first, followed by a comma, and then the rest of the name as it appears in the source. Conclude this element with a period.
Example:
Bhabha, Homi K.
2. Title of Source
The title of the source comes next, formatted with either italics or quotation marks depending on the source type.
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Italics are used for titles of self-contained works like books, journals, and websites.
Example:
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House.
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Quotation marks enclose titles of shorter works that are part of a larger whole, such as articles, web pages, and songs. The larger whole (container) will be italicized later.
Example:
Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.”
3. Title of Container
The “container” concept is central to MLA 9th edition. Containers are the larger publications or platforms that hold your source. A book chapter’s container is the book itself; a journal article’s container is the journal. Websites, streaming services, and databases also act as containers. The container title is usually italicized and followed by a comma.
Examples:
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Book as Container:
Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl.” The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories, edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.
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Website as Container:
Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.” NAMI, 31 May 2019, www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/May-2019/How-TV-Shows-Make-Me-Feel-Less-Alone.
alt text: Image of DeWanda Wise, actress, from NAMI blog post about TV shows and mental health, relevant to MLA citation examples.
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Nested Containers (Website within Netflix):
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21, NBC, 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031?trackId=200256157&tctx=0%2C20%2C0974d361-27cd-44de-9c2a-2d9d868b9f64-12120962.
4. Other Contributors
Acknowledge individuals beyond the author who significantly contributed to the source. This includes editors, translators, directors, performers, and illustrators. Include their names if their role is relevant to your research or essential for source identification.
Examples:
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Translator:
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard, Vintage-Random House, 1988.
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Editor (for an annotated edition):
Woolf, Virginia. Jacob’s Room. Annotated and with an introduction by Vara Neverow, Harcourt, Inc., 2008.
5. Version
If your source is a specific version or edition of a work (like a revised edition of a book), include this information.
Examples:
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Edition:
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.
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Version (like King James Version of the Bible):
The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.
6. Number
For sources that are part of a numbered sequence, such as journal volumes, issues, or multi-volume books, include these numbers.
Examples:
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Journal with Volume and Issue:
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, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362.
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Episode Number:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.
alt text: Image of the cast of Parks and Recreation at PaleyFest 2012, a popular TV show used as citation example.
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Volume Number:
Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980.
7. Publisher
The publisher is the entity responsible for producing or distributing the source. If there are multiple relevant publishers, list them separated by a forward slash (/).
Examples:
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Book Publisher:
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House. MacMurray, 1999.
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Website Publisher (when different from website title):
Women’s Health: Problems of the Digestive System. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2006.
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Production Company:
Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.
Note: You can often omit the publisher for periodicals, works published by the author or editor, websites with the same title as the publisher, and platforms like YouTube, WordPress, or JSTOR which host content but don’t publish it themselves.
8. Publication Date
Include the date the source was published. Use the date most relevant to your research, especially if multiple dates exist (e.g., original air date and streaming release date). If unsure, use the original publication date.
Examples:
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General Date (Year):
Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.
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Specific Date (Day, Month, Year for a TV episode airing):
“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, episode 10, WB Television Network, 14 Dec. 1999.
9. Location
Be as precise as possible when indicating the source’s location.
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Page Numbers: For essays in books or articles in journals, provide the page range.
Example:
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. “On Monday of Last Week.” The Thing around Your Neck, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, pp. 74-94.
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URL: For online works, include a stable URL. Remove “http://” or “https://” from the beginning.
Example:
Wheelis, Mark. “Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article.
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Physical Location: For physical objects you experienced firsthand (like artwork in a museum), identify the place.
Example:
Matisse, Henri. The Swimming Pool. 1952, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Optional Elements in MLA Citations
While the nine core elements are fundamental, MLA 9th edition allows for optional elements to enhance clarity and provide context. Use these judiciously when they add valuable information for your reader.
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Date of Original Publication: Useful when a source has multiple publication dates and the original date is relevant.
Example:
Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine. 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.
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City of Publication: Generally not required but may be useful for works published before 1900 or when the city is significant.
Example:
Thoreau, Henry David. Excursions. Boston, 1863.
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Date of Access: Recommended for online sources as content can change.
Example:
Bernstein, Mark. “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.” A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.
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URLs and DOIs: Always include URLs for online sources, or DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) when available, especially for journal articles. DOIs are preferred as they are more stable than URLs.
Example (DOI):
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi: 10.1002/tox.20155.
Creating MLA In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within your paper that point to the full citations in your Works Cited page. MLA uses the author-page style for in-text citations. Typically, this includes the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the cited material is found, enclosed in parentheses.
Examples:
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Author and Page Number:
Imperialism is “the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory” (Said 9).
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Author Named in Sentence, Page Number Only:
According to Edward W. Said, imperialism is defined by “the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory” (9).
For media with runtimes (like movies or podcasts), use timestamps (hours, minutes, seconds) instead of page numbers.
Example (Runtime):
(00:02:15-00:02:35)
The goal of in-text citations is to be concise and unobtrusive, guiding readers to your sources without disrupting the flow of your writing.
Citing Websites like Purdue OWL in MLA
To cite an entire website in MLA, you’ll generally include the website name, publisher, and publication year. For specific resources within a website, include the author (if available), title of the resource, website name, publisher, and access date.
Example (Entire Website – using Purdue OWL):
The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2019.
Example (Individual Resource – MLA Formatting Guide on Purdue OWL):
“MLA Formatting and Style Guide.” The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018.
Note: As websites are updated, access dates become important for showing when you consulted the material.
Mastering MLA citations, especially the 9th edition, is a valuable skill for academic writing. By understanding the core elements and applying them consistently, you ensure proper attribution, enhance your credibility, and guide your readers effectively through your research. Remember to consult the official MLA Handbook for the most detailed and up-to-date guidance.
