MLA citation is used primarily in literature, art and the humanities.
If you need more information than what is given in this guide, try the following sources:
From Purdue University:
Using Research
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/9/
For the OWL handout on MLA style:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
This is only intended to be a guide. Your professor may have specific or additional requirements not listed in this guide.
Because there are now so many types of sources and it would be nearly impossible to create a citation for every source, MLA 8th edition now has one standard citation format that can be applied to every source.
Standard Format |
Author Lastname, Firstname. "Title." Title of Container. Other contributors (translated by or edited by Firstname Lastname), Version, Number, Publisher info, Date of publication, Location. |
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Two authors | Lastname, Firstname and Firstname Lastname. Example: King, Stephen and Peter Straub. |
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Three or more authors | Lastname, Firstname, et al. Example: Matthews, Graham, et al. |
Book Format |
Author Lastname, Firstname. "Chapter Title." Book Title. Other contributors (translated by or edited by Firstname Lastname), vol. no., City of Publication (Foreign cities only), Publisher name, Date of publication, Page number(s). |
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Book Example |
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Harcourt, 1982. |
Journal Format |
Author Lastname, Firstname. "Article Title." Journal Title, Other contributors (if applicable), vol., no., Publisher name, Date of publication, Page number(s). Title of database (if applicable), URL or DOI (if applicable). |
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Journal Example |
Karra, Shimabukuro. "The Bogeyman of Your Nightmares: Freddy Krueger's Folkloric Roots." Studies in Popular Culture, vol. 36, no. 2, Spring 2014, pp. 45-65. Humanities Source, https://ezproxy.library.astate.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hus&AN=97476687&site=eds-live. |
Website Format |
Author Lastname, Firstname. "Title of article or web page." Title of website, Publisher name, Date of publication, URL. Accessed date. |
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Website Example |
Zapato, Lyle. "Pacific Northwest Tree Octopur." Zapato Productions, Zapato Productions, 17 May 2015, zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/. Accessed 12 October 2016. |
Formatting
Page Number and Name
Top Information
Headings
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Formatting
Page Number and Name
Indentation
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A hanging indent is when the first line of text is flushed with the margin while the other lines within the text are indented in.
Here's how to create hanging indents in Microsoft Word:
Step 1: Select the text you want to be hanging indents |
Step 2:
From the "Page Layout" tab, click on the Paragraph Settings icon.
Step 3: In the middle of this box will be your indentation options. Under "Special" select "Hanging" then hit the "OK" button. |
Success! You have have hanging indents! |