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ENC2210 - Technical Communications - O'Leary

MLA Citations

MLA Handbook coverThe MLA Handbook (call number LB2369 .M52 2021) is the official guide to MLA style. The Library has multiple copies of this book, both available to check out and for in-library-use. You may also access the MLA Handbook Plus online, which contains the full text of the MLA Handbook, plus other resources.

The following links and tutorials will help you create MLA citations for the sources you need to cite.

Example Article Citations

eBook in Credo Reference

Citation Components

  • Author(s) of Entry: Stirling Habbitts
  • Title of Entry: Greenhouse Gas Protocol
  • Title of Book: The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Editor(s) of Book: Wayne Visser et al.
  • Edition: 2nd
  • Publisher: Wiley
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • eBook Database Name: Credo Reference
  • Permalink: https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileyazcsr/greenhouse_gas_protocol/0?institutionId=4585

MLA Works Cited (Entry Author)

Habbitts, Stirling. "Greenhouse Gas Protocol." The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility, edited by Wayne Visser, et al., Wiley, 2nd ed., 2010. Credo Reference, search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileyazcsr/greenhouse_gas_protocol/0?institutionId=4585.

MLA Works Cited (No Entry Author)

Yeganeh, Hamid, editor. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions." Major Sociocultural Trends Shaping the Contemporary World, Business Expert Press, 2018. Credo Reference, search.credoreference.com/content/entry/bepmajor/greenhouse_gas_emissions/0?institutionId=4585.

In-Text Citations

(Habbits; Yeganeh)

Video Tutorial

View "MLA: Citing Books & eBooks" video tutorial

Journal Article

Citation Components

  • Authors: Christopher Bruno and Benjamin Campbell
  • Article Title: Students' Willingness to Pay for More Local, Organic, Non-GMO and General Food Options.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Food Distribution Research
  • Volume number: 47
  • Issue number: 3
  • Pages: 32-48
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Database: Academic Search Complete
  • DOI or Permalink: 10.1080/01972243.2013.856362

*DOIs can be found in the database record or on the front page of the article. If there is no DOI, use the permalink.

MLA Works Cited (with DOI)

Bruno, Christopher C., and Benjamin L. Campbell. "Students' Willingness to Pay for More Local, Organic, Non-GMO and General Food Options." Journal of Food Distribution Research, vol. 47, no. 3, Nov. 2016, pp. 32-48. Academic Search Complete, https://doi.org/10.1080/01972243.2013.856362.

MLA Works Cited (no DOI)

Bruno, Christopher C., and Benjamin L. Campbell. "Students' Willingness to Pay for More Local, Organic, Non-GMO and General Food Options." Journal of Food Distribution Research, vol. 47, no. 3, Nov. 2016, pp. 32-48. Academic Search Complete, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=120096328&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

In-Text Citations

(Bruno and Campbell 23)

Video Tutorial

View "MLA: Citing Journal Articles" video tutorial

Artwork and Images

If there is no formal title for an artwork or photograph, describe it (e.g. 'Jar with feathered serpent design.')

Template for Art Viewed In-Person

Artist. Title of Artwork. Composition Date, Museum, City. Medium (optional).

Template for Art Viewed Online

Artist. Title of Artwork. Composition Date, Website, URL. Medium (optional).

Template for Art Viewed in a Book

Artist. Title of Artwork. Composition Date, Location of Artwork. Book Title, by Author, Publisher, year, page.

Works Cited List Entries

Degas, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar. Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen. Circa 1922, Philadelphia Museum of Art, www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/82565. Bronze sculpture.

Eberhardt, Anton. Saint George. Circa 1760, Artstor, library.artstor.org/#/asset/AMICO_CHICAGO_1031150789. Sculpture.

Mondrian, Piet. Composition with Blue and Yellow. 1932, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Oil on canvas.

K'ai, Liang. Portrait of the Poet Li Po. Circa 1260-1310, National Museum, Tokyo. Art in World History, by Mary Hollingsworth, Sharpe Reference, 2004, p. 142.

In-Text Citations

When referring to quotes or outside information in your paper, you will need to use an in-text citation. The two main components for MLA in-text citations are the author's last name and the page number. Use in-text citations for both direct quotes and paraphrasing of information.

You may incorporate the names of the author(s) within your narrative or enclose both parts at the end of a sentence or paragraph. In these examples, the in-text citation components are bolded and highlighted.

Direct Quotations

Smith found that "increased library use is correlated with higher grades on research assignments" (12).

Paraphrasing

Students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (Smith 12).

Smith states that students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (12).

Multiple Authors

For two authors, list both last names with the word and between them.

Students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (Smith and Jones 12).

Smith and Jones state that students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (12).

For three or more authors, list only the first author's name and the phrase et al. if enclosed in parentheses, or the phrase and others if spelled out within the text.

Students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (Smith et al. 12).

Smith and others state that students who use the library receive better grades on research papers (12).

How to Cite Words/Quotes in MLA

1. Identify the quote you want to use

Download a PDF with all the steps for citing words/quotes

I am using the highlighted quote from page one of a journal article.

Click the arrows to see the next steps.

Introduction paragraph with a line highlighted

2. Put the quote in quotation marks

Place quotation marks around the quote. You need to include the quote exactly as it is written in your source. If you remove words in the sentence, use [...] to show that there has been an edit.

3. Introduce the quote

It's usually best to introduce the quote with context and the authors' names. The abbreviation et al. is used when there are three or more authors; list the first author's last name and then et al.

Godfrey-Smith et al. state that

4. Include any other needed citation information

For MLA, include the page number (if you have it) in parentheses at the end of the sentence. The period of the sentence goes after the parentheses.

Godfrey-Smith et al. state that

5. Include the full citation at the end of your paper

List the full citation at the end of your paper under the heading Works Cited. Even though you may have multiple in-text citations for a source, you only need it listed once in your Works Cited list. Format each citation with a hanging indent and alphabetize by the first word of the citation.

Works Cited Godfrey-Smith, Peter, et al.

How to Cite Ideas in MLA

1. Identify the information you want to use

Download a PDF with all the steps for citing ideas

Locate the information you want to use from a source. This could be a sentence, a paragraph, or an overall summary of a source.

Click the arrows to see the next steps.

These findings contribute to the growing body of work that explores the nuances of the cell phone addictions that many people currently live with. In this case, the question is whether taking a break with a cell phone in hand serves as a true mental break from actual work tasks, or whether looking at a phone might unintentionally add to the cognitive load of the mind instead of relieving it. The results show that breaks might be better spent without the cell phone, if the goal is to have restored cognitive ability for subsequent work tasks.

2. Rewrite the ideas in your own words

Next, rewrite this to fit your own writing style, using your own words. One tip is to read the information several times, then look away and try to write it out. Remember, though, that while these words are yours, the ideas are not. Don't forget the next steps for properly citing these ideas!

Periodic breaks from focused tasks are important, but research shows that looking at a cell phone during a break can be worse cognitively than no break at all.

3. Include in-text citation information: MLA

If you are citing in MLA, you need to include the author's last name in your in-text citation. The abbreviation et al. is used when there are three or more authors; list the first author's last name and then et al.

This example shows two ways of incorporating this information. The first sentence includes the names as part of the narrative and the second sentence has the names at the end of the sentence in parentheses.

Kang and Kurtzberg looked at the effect of cell phones on cognitive load, particularly in terms of breaks. Periodic breaks from focused tasks are important, but research shows that looking at a cell phone during a break can be worse cognitively than no break at all (Kang and Kurtzberg).

4. Include the full citation at the end of your paper: MLA

In MLA, list the full citation at the end of your paper under the heading Works Cited. Even though you may have multiple in-text citations for a source, you only need it listed once in your Works Cited list. Format each citation with a hanging indent and alphabetize by the first word of the citation.

Works Cited Kang, Sanghoon, and Terri R. Kurtzberg. “Reach for Your Cell Phone at Your Own Risk: The Cognitive Costs of Media Choice for Breaks.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 8, no. 3, 2019, pp. 395-403. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.21

Tips on Introducing Quotes

As you incorporate quotes into your writing, it's usually best to introduce the quote by using a signal phrase. Here are a few signal phrases and signal phrase verbs that might be useful:

  • According to
  • As stated by
  • discusses
  • concludes
  • demonstrates 
  • claims
  • considers
  • found that
  • indicates
  • argues
  • points out
  • explains
  • mentions
  • rejects
  • believes
  • states
  • suggests

Here are three examples of different signal phrases used to introduce the same quote:

  • Krose et al. suggest that "individuals who had poorer self-regulation also reported more bedtime procrastination" (14).
  • According to Krose et al., "individuals who had poorer self-regulation also reported more bedtime procrastination" (14).
  • On the other hand, Krose et al claim that "individuals who had poorer self-regulation also reported more bedtime procrastination" (14).

These examples conform with the MLA in-text citation style; for APA or Chicago, please consult those guides.

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