Welcome to your comprehensive guide to mastering MLA (Modern Language Association) formatting, brought to you as a content creator for conduct.edu.vn. As experts in academic writing and style guidelines, we understand the importance of clear, accurate, and effective citation. This guide focuses on the Purdue Owl Mla Style Guide, a definitive resource for students and researchers worldwide. We will delve into the nuances of MLA 9th edition, ensuring you can confidently format your papers and cite your sources with precision.
This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, offering a deeper understanding and more practical advice than the original Purdue OWL page itself, while remaining true to the spirit and guidelines of MLA. We aim to optimize this information for English-speaking users seeking clarity and SEO benefits, making it easier to find and utilize the essential information on MLA style.
Understanding the Core Principles of MLA 9th Edition
The Modern Language Association’s style of documentation is widely used across various disciplines, particularly in the humanities. The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook marks a significant shift from rigid rules to guiding principles. This evolution reflects the increasingly digital nature of texts and the diverse platforms where information is found. Instead of memorizing countless specific rules, MLA 9th edition emphasizes a flexible, universally applicable method based on understanding core elements.
This principle-based approach empowers writers to document virtually any type of source, be it a traditional book or a dynamic online media, across any field of study. By grasping these fundamental principles, you gain a robust and adaptable system for all your citation needs. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide perfectly encapsulates this approach, offering clear explanations and examples to navigate the nuances of MLA 9th edition effectively.
Decoding the Core Elements for MLA Citations
When constructing your Works Cited list, MLA 9th edition revolves around nine core elements. These are the fundamental pieces of information that MLA recommends including in every citation entry. Arranged in a specific sequence and punctuated accordingly, these elements provide a standardized and comprehensive way to credit your sources.
Here are the nine core elements, in order, as defined by the MLA and elaborated upon by the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide:
- Author.
- Title of source.
- Title of container,
- Other contributors,
- Version,
- Number,
- Publisher,
- Publication date,
- Location.
Each element is followed by a specific punctuation mark, simplifying the process compared to previous editions. Commas and periods are primarily used to separate these elements, streamlining the citation process and focusing on the essential information. Let’s explore each element in detail.
1. Author
The citation begins with the author’s name. As guided by the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide, always start with the last name, 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.
This straightforward format ensures clarity and consistency in author attribution across your Works Cited page. Remember to accurately transcribe the name from your source to maintain bibliographic integrity.
2. Title of Source
Following the author, the title of the source is the next crucial element. The formatting – italics or quotation marks – depends on the nature of the source itself. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide provides clear rules for differentiating source types.
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Books: Titles of books are always italicized.
Example:
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House.
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Individual Webpages: Titles of individual webpages are enclosed in quotation marks. Crucially, the parent website’s name, considered a “container” in MLA terms, is italicized subsequently.
Example:
Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.” eHow,
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Periodical Articles: Articles from journals, magazines, or newspapers also use quotation marks for their titles.
Example:
Bagchi, Alaknanda. “Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi’s Bashai Tudu.” Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature,
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Songs or Music Tracks: Song or musical piece titles from albums are in quotation marks, while the album title is italicized.
Example:
Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade,
It’s important to meticulously distinguish between source types to apply the correct formatting, as clearly outlined in the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide.
3. Title of Container
The concept of “containers,” introduced in the 8th edition and further refined in the 9th, is central to MLA citation. Containers are the larger wholes that house your source. Understanding containers is key to accurate citation, and the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide offers excellent explanations and examples.
For instance, a poem within a poetry collection has the poem as the “source” and the collection as the “container.” Container titles are usually italicized, followed by a comma, as subsequent information will further describe the container.
Example:
Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl.” The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories,
Containers can also be:
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Television Series: Where individual episodes are sources within the series container.
Example:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation,
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Websites: Hosting articles, blog posts, and other works.
Example:
Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.” NAMI,
Sometimes, sources exist within containers within containers. For example, a journal article accessed through JSTOR or a TV series watched on Netflix. Citing these nested containers ensures your reader can precisely locate your source. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide highlights the importance of this layered citation when necessary.
Example of Container within a Container:
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21, NBC, 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix,
Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal, vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest,
4. Other Contributors
Beyond the primary author, other individuals might have contributed to the source. These “other contributors” could include editors, illustrators, translators, and more. If their contributions are relevant to your research or essential for source identification, they should be credited. Refer to the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide for guidance on when and how to include these contributors.
Examples:
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard,
Woolf, Virginia. Jacob’s Room. Annotated and with an introduction by Vara Neverow,
5. Version
If your source is a specific edition or version of a work, this information is included in the citation. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide emphasizes the importance of version details for accuracy, especially with frequently updated works.
Examples:
The Bible. Authorized King James Version,
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed.,
6. Number
For sources that are part of a numbered sequence, such as multi-volume books or journals with volume and issue numbers, these numbers are essential citation elements. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide clearly illustrates how to incorporate these numbers.
Examples:
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,
“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21,
Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2,
7. Publisher
The publisher is the entity responsible for producing or distributing the source to the public. According to the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide, if multiple publishers are relevant, list them separated by a forward slash (/).
Examples:
Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Women’s Health: Problems of the Digestive System. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios,
Note: The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide specifies exceptions where the publisher’s name is not required, such as for periodicals, works published by their author or editor, and certain websites.
8. Publication Date
A source can have multiple publication dates, especially online versions of original works. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide advises using the date most relevant to your writing. If unsure, default to the original publication date.
Examples:
“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mutant Enemy, 1999.
“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, WB Television Network, 14 Dec. 1999.
9. Location
Be as precise as possible when specifying a source’s location. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide provides guidelines for various source types.
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Essays or Journal Articles: Include page numbers.
Example:
Adiche, Chimamanda Ngozi. “On Monday of Last Week.” The Thing around Your Neck, pp. 74-94.
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Online Works: Include a URL. Remove “http://” or “https://” from the URL’s beginning.
Example:
Wheelis, Mark. “Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article.
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Physical Objects: Identify the physical location.
Example:
Matisse, Henri. The Swimming Pool. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Optional Elements for Enhanced Citations
MLA 9th edition prioritizes conciseness and relevance. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide outlines optional elements that can be included at the writer’s discretion to further clarify or enhance a citation.
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Date of Original Publication: Useful when a source has multiple publication dates, providing historical context.
Example:
Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine. 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.
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City of Publication: Generally unnecessary, but may be relevant for pre-1900 works.
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: While recommended by the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide, always check instructor preferences.
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DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers): Preferred over URLs for online journal articles due to their permanence.
Example:
Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, doi: 10.1002/tox.20155.
Mastering MLA In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within your paper that point readers to the full citation in your Works Cited list. The Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide emphasizes clarity and conciseness in in-text citations to avoid disrupting the flow of your writing.
The most common format is the author-page number style: (Said 9). If the author’s name is already mentioned in the sentence, only the page number is needed: (9).
Examples:
Imperialism is “the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory” (Said 9).
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, include the time range: (00:02:15-00:02:35).
The goal is always to provide source attribution efficiently and without unnecessary interruption, guiding readers to your Works Cited page for complete bibliographic information.
How to Cite the Purdue OWL in MLA Style
As we consistently reference the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide, it’s essential to know how to cite this valuable resource itself. The Purdue OWL provides specific examples for citing both the entire website and individual resources within it.
Citing the Entire Website:
The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 2019.
Citing Individual Resources:
For individual pages, like the MLA Formatting and Style Guide itself, use the following format. Note that author names and publication dates are often absent in the new OWL format, so citations often begin with the resource title.
“MLA Formatting and Style Guide.” The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018.
By following these guidelines, meticulously detailed and exemplified by the Purdue OWL MLA Style Guide, you can confidently navigate MLA 9th edition and ensure the accuracy and integrity of your academic writing. Remember to always consult the Purdue OWL for the most up-to-date information and comprehensive examples.
