Citing Sources Using
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers format
Print Sources
Books
Authors
Corporate Author
One Editor
Multivolume Work
Book in a Series
Edition or Revision
Graphic Narrative or Novel
No Author or Editor
Work in an Edited Book or Anthology
Article, Essay or Chapter in a Book
Reprinted Article or Essay
Introduction, Preface, Forward or Afterward
Article or Entry in Reference Books
Dictionary Entry
Encyclopedia Entry
Article in Less Familiar Reference Books
Periodicals
Magazine Article
Journal Article
Newspaper Article
Web Publications
Articles
Article from an Online Encyclopedia
Article from an Encyclopedia Accessed through an Online Database
Article from an Online Magazine (accessed directly)
Article in a full-text magazine or journal accessed from a database
Non Periodical Publications
Work Cited only on the Web (including blogs)
Work on the Web with Print Publication Data
Work on the Web with Publication Data Other Than Print
Additional Common Sources
Digital File
Sound Recording
Film
Interview
Letter, Memo or E-mail
Map or Chart
Briar Woods High School Library
MLA Format 2009-2010
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research papers. 7th ed, was used in the preparation of this guide.
All entries should be double-spaced. Entries should be alphabetized by author’s last name.
Include format of each work at the end of the citation.
Print Sources
Take the information about the book from its title page and copyright page. Use a short form of the
publisher's name; omit terms such as Press, Inc., and Co. except when naming university presses
(Harvard UP, for example). If the copyright page lists more than one date, use the most recent one.
Books: References to an entire book should include the following elements:
Author Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book (italicized). Place of Publication: Publisher,
Year of Publication. Print. Series.
No_Author_or_Editor:
The Knowledge Book. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2009. Print.
One Author:
Davis, Michael. Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. New York: Viking,
2008. Print
Gore, Albert. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
2000. Print.
Another Work Same Author:
---. An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming. New York: Rodale, 2007. Print.
Corporate Author:
National Audobon Society. Bird: the Definitive Visual Guide. Ed. Peter Frances. New York:
DK, 2009. Print.
One Editor:
Greenberg, Jan, ed. Heart to Heart. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2001. Print.
Two Authors or Editors (Second author, first name first):
Joachim, David and Andrew Schloss. The Science of Good Food. Toronto: Robert Rose, 2008.
Print.
Three Authors:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg and Steve Jackson. Analyzing American Government:
American Government, Freedom and Power. 3rd ed. New York: Norton, 1994. Print.
More Than Three Authors: “et al” means: and others
You may include all authors or use “et al.”
Fothergill, Alastair, et al. Planet Earth. Berkeley: U of California P, 2006. Print.
Author with Editor: “Ed.” means edited by
Plath, Sylvia. The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. Ed. Karen V. Kukil. New York:
Anchor-Doubleday, 2000. Print.
Teeple, John B. Timelines of World History. Ed. Debra Clapson and Karen Gregory. New York:
DK, 2002. Print.
Author with a Translator: “Trans.”
Allende, Isabel. Daughter of Fortune. Trans. Margaret Sayers Peden. New York: Harper,
2000. Print.
Multivolume Work: If using all volumes
Ness, Immanuel. World War II Almanac. 2 vols. New York: Facts on File, 2008. Print.
Book in a Series: Place series title after format.
Steigerwald, David. “Antiwar Movement.” American Social and Political Movements, 1945
2000: Pursuit of Liberty. Ed. Robert J. Allison. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. Print.
Hist. in Dispute 2.
Wiedenhoeft, Alex C. Plant Nutrition. New York: Chelsea House, 2006. Print. The
Green World.
Edition_or_Revision:
Include the number of the edition after the title (or after any translators or editors after the title):
2nd ed., 3rd ed., and so on.
American Kennel Club. The Complete Dog Book. 20th ed. New York: Ballantine Books,
2006. Print.
Karolides, Nicholas J. Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds. Pref. Ken Wachsberger.
Rev. ed. New York: Facts on File, 2006. Print.
Graphic_Narrative_or_Novel
Spiegleman, Art. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. 2 vols. New York: Pantheon-Random, 1986-91.
Print.
Benoit, Ted, adapt. Playback: A Graphic Novel. By Raymond Chandler. Illus. Francoise
Ayroles. Introd. Philippe Garnier. New York: Arcade, 2006. Print.
Work in an Edited Book or Anthology
References to an essay or chapter in an edited book or compilation must include the following:
Essay or chapter author(s). “Essay or chapter title.” Book title. Book editor(s) or compilers. Edition.
Place of publication: Shortened name of the publisher, Date of publication. Inclusive page numbers of the
cited piece. Print.
Article, Essay or Chapter in a Book: Begin with Author
Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" The Best American Science and Nature Writing
2009. Ed. Elizabeth Colbert. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.19-29. Print.
Reprinted_Article_or_Essay:
Marling, William. "The Falcon and the Key." Dashiell Hammet. 1983: 70-78. Excerpt from
and rpt. in Novels for Students. Ed. Ira Mark Milne and Timothy Sisler. Vol. 21.
Detroit: Gale, 2005. 211-215. Print.
Introduction,_Preface,_Forward or Afterward:
Add By followed by author of the book. Include page numbers after the date.
Giovanni, Nikki. Forward. Harlem Stomp: a Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance.
By Laban Carrick Hill. Boston: Little, Brown, 2003. 2-3. Print.
Articles_or_Entries_in_Reference_Books:
If the article or entry is signed, place the author's name first; if unsigned, give the title first. For
well-known reference works, it is not necessary to include full publication information. Include
only the title of the reference source, edition, and date of publication.
Dictionary_Entry:
"Lighten Up." Def. The American Heritage Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. 2005. Print.
Encyclopedia_Entry: Do not include publisher
Wilmeth, Don B. "Theater." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2005 ed. Print.
Articles_in_Less_Familiar_Reference_Books:
For articles from less familiar reference sources, include the full publication information.
Do not include page number(s) if entries are arranged alphabetically. Volume number follows
editor.
Long, William J. "Aikido." Martial Arts of the World: an Encyclopedia. Ed. Thomas A.
Green. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2001. Print.
Periodicals
References to periodical articles must include the following elements:
Magazine_Article: Do not give volume and issue number.
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: Page(s). Print.
Ephron, Dan. "Who Needs Peace, Love, and Understanding Anyway?: Why Many Israelis Now
Believe That Pursuing Peace is Passé.” Newsweek 11 Jan. 2010: 22. Print.
Journal_Article:
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume. Issue (Year): Page(s). Print.
One Author:
Fischman, Josh. "A Better Life with Bionics.” Science News 217.1 (2010): 211. Print.
Two Authors:
Ginsberg, Benjamin, and Martin Shefter. "Ethics Probes as Political Weapons." Journal of
Law & Politics 11.3 (1995): 497-511. Print.
Newspaper Article:
Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper [City for local paper] Day Month Year,
edition if supplied: Pages. Print.
No Author:
"Study Ties Self-Delusion to Successful Marriages." New York Times 2 Jan. 1998, late ed: A
11. Print.
One Author:
Hendrix, Steve. "Memory Serves Them Well." Washington Post 11 Jan. 2010: A1.
Print.
Wagoner, Jana. “Locals Rally to Help Haiti.” Loudoun Times-Mirror [Leesburg] 20 Jan. 2010:
A1+. Print.
Web Publications
Citations for online sources, like those for print, should provide information that both identifies a
source and allows that source to be located and retrieved again. Citations should include the date
the content was accessed, and a URL - if required by your teacher.
Articles
Author and/or editor names. “Article name.” Title of website, project or book. Version
numbers, revisions, posting dates. Publisher information. Page numbers (or n. pag.).
Web. Date accessed. (URL if required by your teacher).
Article_from_an_Online_Encyclopedia:
Hathaway, Ted. "Snowboarding." Encyclopedia Americana. 2010. Grolier Online. Web. 13 Jan.
2010. <http://ea.grolier.com/article?id=0432681-00>.
Article from an Encyclopedia Accessed through an Online Database
Sappho." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
<http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com>.
Article from a Periodical Accesed through an Online Database
Cite as you would a print article but add the title of the database (italicized), medium of
publication and date accessed.
Murphy, Austin. "The Rise (And Falls) of The Double McTwist Kid." Sports Illustrated 07 Dec.
2010: 120-124. EBSCOHOST. Web. 13 Jan. 2010. <http://search.epnet.com>.
Article_from_an_Online Periodical (accessed directly):
Winant, Gabriel. "The Post Earthquake Scene in Haiti." Salon. Salon Media Group,
13 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.
Tyre, Peg. “Standardized Tests in College?” Newsweek. Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2007. Web. 15 Jan.
2010.
McGrath, Charles. “J.D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91.” New York Times 28 Jan. 2010.
Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
Non Periodical Publications
Work Cited only on the Web
Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of
institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if
available). Medium of publication. Date of access. Use n.p. if no publisher name is given.
Entire Website
Piece of Eight: a Guide to 17th Century Piracy. Peabody Essex Museum, 2001-2003. Web.
13 Jan. 2010. <http://www.pieceofeight.com>.
Page on a Website:
For an individual page on a Web site, list the author or alias if known, followed by the
information covered above for entire Web site. Remember to use N.p. if no publisher name is
available and n.d. if no publishing date is given.
Treadwell, D. Thomas. “How to Recognize a 17th Century Ship.” Piece of Eight: a Guide to
17th Century Piracy. Peabody Essex Museum, 2001-2003. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.
<http://www.pieceofeight.com>.
“The News.” Playing for Change: Peace Through Music. Concord Music Group, n.d. Web.
19 Jan. 2010. <http://www.playingforchange.com/news>.
“Verb Tenses.” Chart. The Owl at Purdue. Purdue U Online Writing Lab, 2010. Web.
28 Jan. 2010. <.http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/1/>.
Blumberg, Alex. “Debt Collector: Tough Job but Someone’s Got to Do It.” National Public
Radio. Natl. Pub. Radio, 29 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. < http://www.npr.org/
templates/story/story.php?storyId=122829405>.
Blog:
Editor, screen name, author, or compiler name (if available). “Posting Title.” Name of Site.
Version number (if available). Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor
or publisher), date of posting. Medium of publication. Date of access.
Musser, George. “Should You Go Solar Now or Wait?” Scientific American. Scientific
American, 3 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2010. < http://www.scientificamerican.com/
blog/solar-at-home/>.
Clarke, Keir. “Immersive Tours with Google Maps.” Google Maps Mania. N.p.
28 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. <http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/>.
Work on the Web with Print Publication Data:
Do not include publisher if copyright date is prior to 1900.
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, 1855. The Walt Whitman Archive. Web.
20 Dec. 2009.
Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Illus. John Tenniel. New York, 1898. Google
Book Search. Web. 20 Dec. 2009.
Work on the Web with Publication Data Other Than Print:
Lange, Dorothea. The Migrant Mother. 1936. Prints and Photographs Div. Lib.of Cong.
Dorothea Lange: Photographer of the People. Web. 7 Jan. 2010.
“Crew of Apollo 8 – A View from Lunar Orbit.” N.d. Eyewitness: American Originals from the
National Archives. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web.
29 Jan. 2010. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/flash.php>.
Ellington, Duke, comp. Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life. Dir. Fred Waller.
Paramount Pictures, 1935. The Red Hot Jazz Archive. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
<http://www.redhotjazz.com/sib.html>.
Additional Common Sources:
Digital_Files (PDFs, MP3s, JPEGs)
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Moonlight Sonata. Crownstar, 2006. MP3.
Muller, Steven. “Summerhouse.” Russia, Summer 1996. St. Petersburg, 1996. JPEG.
DVD_Film_or_Video_Recording:
We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes. Dir. Dustin Craig and Sarah Colt. WGBH,
2009. DVD.
People Like Us. Dir. Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker. 2001. Center for New American Media,
2001. Videocassette.
Avatar. Dir. James Cameron. Perf. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez.
Twentieth Century Fox, 2009. Film.
Sound_Recording:
Springsteen, Bruce. We Shall Overcome: the Seeger Sessions. Columbia, 2006. CD.
Specific Song:
Springsteen, Bruce. “John Henry.” By Pete Seeger. We Shall Overcome: the Seeger Sessions.
Columbia, 2006. CD.
E_mail:
Name of the writer. “Title of message from the subject line.” Description of message.
Date of message. E-mail.
Harris, Susanna. “Re: Reference List Questions.” Message to the author. 22 Jan. 2010. E-mail.
Interview: Begin with the name of the person interviewed.
Wiesel, Elie. Interview with Ted Koppel. Nightline. ABC. WABC, New York. 18 Apr. 2002.
To cite an interview you conducted, give the name of the person interviewed, the kind of
interview (Personal interview, Telephone interview, E-mail interview) and the day or dates.
Rowling, J. K. E-mail interview. 8-12 May 2002.
Map or Chart:
Treat a map or chart like an article in a book but add the label.
Illinois Library Association. Social Networking Tips for Teens. Chart. N.p.: ConnectSafely.org
2006. Print.
Commonwealth of Virginia. Department of Transportation. 2004-2006 Virginia Official State
Transportation Map. Map. Virginia Department of Transportation, 2005. Print.
Tables_and_Illustrations:
Anything other than a table should be labeled Figure (abbreviated Fig.), assigned an Arabic
numeral and given a caption. If the caption provides complete information about the source no
entry is needed in the works-cited list. Separate parts of the caption with semicolons.
(See MLA p. 120)
Figure 1. Russian novelist Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881);
People Disc - HC0150 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images), 1/1/1880;
Web. 2 Feb. 2010. <http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=ivh&AN=imh217527&site=lrc-live>.