MLA Quick Reference
Recent MLA Changes:
• Underlining has been fired: Titles of larger texts such as books and magazines are placed in italics.
• Web addresses have been fired: Web addresses for databases and web pages are not needed
unless the professor instructs you to use them. If required, enclose web address in brackets <url>.
• All entries require a listing of the source’s format (print, web, CD-ROM, etc.).
• Missing information is noted: If the date of publication is missing, write n.d. If there is no
publisher, write n.p. If the site doesn’t have page numbers write n. pag.
• All scholarly journal articles now require both volume and issue numbers.
Online Newspaper Article
Johnson, Amber. “Animal Wisdom.” New York Times. New York Times, 15 May 2011. Web. 19 May
2011.
Article on Web Site
Smith, Jennifer. “Academic Research in the 21st Century.” HigherEducation. Higher Education, Inc.
2009. Web. 26 March 2012.
Notice that for online sources we provide the author of the article, the title of the article, the website
name, the sponsor, date of last update, the medium, and the date of access. You may have to search for
some of this information, even returning to the main URL site of the page to find publisher and sponsor.
Online Periodical
Sequoi, Jules. “Birds of a Feather.” New Yorker.com. New Yorker, 14 Sept. 2008. Web. 1 Feb. 2009.
Google Scholar Article or Book Chapter
Smith, John. “Adorno Is the Bane of My Existence.” Google Scholar. Google Books, 30 Oct. 2009.
Web. 15 Nov. 2009.
Scholarly Journal Article from Database
Jenson, Kent, and Holly Kristines. “Understanding Contemporary Horror.” The Journal of Popular
Culture 45.3 (2001): 45-60. JSTOR. Web. 15 March 2012.
Periodical in an Online Database
Hermick, Steve, Saphron, James, and Chelsea Chere. “Obamacare Because Obama Cares.”
Washington Post 15 March 2012, final ed.: A3. EBSCO Host. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.
Online-only Publication (Or Database articles that do not provide page numbers)
Rose, Daniel. “Effects of Reality TV on Young Minds.” Psychology & Society 8.3 (2009): n. pag.
Web. 5 Dec. 2009.
Online Book
Sartre, Charles. Americana in Young Adult Literature. Boston: U of Boston P, 2001. 2 June 2007. Web.
Map
“Spearfish, South Dakota.” Map. Google Maps. Google, 13 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 May 2012.
Book by Two or More Authors
Twist, Michael, Fish, Jason, and Samantha Premish. Monsters of the Midwest in Film and Literature.
Boston: St. Martin’s Press, 2003. Print.
Selection from an Anthology or Edited Collection
Cohen, Jeffery Jerome. “Monster Culture: Seven Theses.” Monsters, Creatures, and Spectres. Ed.
Michelle Spatz. Boston: Houghton, 2010. 48-66. Print.
More Than One Selection from An Anthology or Edited Collection
Phillips, Jane Ann. “The Roller Coaster.” Smith 1-27.
Smith, Jennifer, ed. Best American Reading 2000-2010. Boston: Norton, 2011. Print.
Michaels, John. “In the House of the Rat.” Smith 250-68.
Article in a Reference Work
“Postmodernism.” The Literary Encyclopedia. 5th ed. Boston: Norton, 2011. Print.
Scholarly Publication (Journal)
Malarks, Kent. “Ghosts of Shakespeare’s Past.” Literary 56.8 (1999): 56-70. Print.
Newspaper Article
Ryan, Carrie. “The Health Insurance Crisis.” Rapid City Journal 16 May 2009, final ed.: A2. Print.
Article by an Unknown Author
“Politics Losing Out to Spectacle.” The Globe 8 March 2010: A7. Print.
Government Publication
For government publications that name no author, start with: 1. The name of the government or
government body; 2. The government agency; 3. Use GPO (government printing office) for the
publisher
United States. Cong. House. Committee on Resources. Oil Pipelines in Alaska. 106th Cong., 2nd sess. H.
Rept. 19. Washington: GPO, 2001. Print.
Online Video Clip
YouTubeForU. “Cinnamon Challenge.” Video. YouTube. 9 October 2010. Web. 6 April 2011.
Interview (indicate whether person, email, or phone)
Dyson, Amy. Personal Interview. 10 Oct. 2000.
In-text citations: Introduce source in full at first use, including credentials. For second and
subsequent uses, the last name appears in the citation: (Dyson).
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www.BHSU.edu/WritingCenter
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