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MLA Citation Guide

Generic References

You can use the main citation components to create a citation for anything, even if no examples cover your source. View other citation examples and read through the citation components page to see guidelines and formatting tips.

Template

Author. Title of Source OR "Title of Source." Title of Container, Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Date, Location.

Artwork/Photographs

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

Art Viewed In-Person

Template

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

Example

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

(Mondrian)

Art Viewed Online

Template

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

Examples

Bruegel, Pieter, the Elder. The Dutch Proverbs. 1559. Wikimedia, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pieter_Brueghel_the_Elder_-_The_Dutch_Proverbs_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg.

(Bruegel)

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

(Degas)

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

(Eberhardt)

Art Viewed in a Book

Template

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

Example

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.

(K'ai)

See pages 331-332 in the MLA Handbook, Appendix 2 in the MLA Handbook Plus, and How do I cite a museum image that I viewed in person or online? [Ask the MLA]

Museum Wall Text

Template

Wall text for Artwork Name, by Artist. Museum, Location.

Examples

Wall text for Apocalypse II, by Jerry Uelsmann. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL.

("Wall Text for Apocalypse II")

Wall text for qur'anic amulet. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL.

("Wall Text for Qur'anic Amulet")

See Appendix 2 in the MLA Handbook Plus and How do I cite wall text accompanying artwork at a museum? [MLA Style Center]

Illustrated Works or Cartoons

Template

Creator. Cartoon. Location.

Example

Steiner, Peter. Cartoon. The New Yorker, 5 July 1993.

(Steiner)

See Appendix 2 in the MLA Handbook Plus.

Buildings or Monuments

Template

Architect. Name of building or monument. Date, Location.

Examples

Great Pyramid of Giza. Circa 26th century BCE, Cairo, Egypt.

("Great Pyramid")

Lin, Maya. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 1982, Washington, D. C.

(Lin)

See Appendix 2 in the MLA Handbook Plus.

Class Materials

Syllabus

Template

Syllabus for Course Name. Taught by professor name, semester, Institution, City.

Example

Syllabus for College Composition 1. Taught by Jane Smith, fall 2021, Santa Fe College, Gainesville.

(Syllabus)

Uploaded Materials

Template

"Title of Materials." Course Name, taught by professor name. Canvas, Institution, URL.

Example

"Lesson 1 Slides." College Composition 1, taught by Jane Smith. Canvas, Santa Fe College, 12 Aug. 2021, courses.sfcollege.edu/courses/429230/modules/items/11614033.

("Lesson 1")

Item in Course Pack

Template

Author of Item. "Title of Item." Course pack for Course Number: Course Name, compiled by professor name, semester, Institution.

Example

Frost, Robert. "The Path Not Taken." Course pack for ENC1101: College Composition 1, compiled by Jane Smith, fall 2021, Santa Fe College.

(Frost)

See page 341 from the MLA Handbook.

Performances

Single Performer Events (e.g., Concert)

Template

Performer. Type of Event. Date, Venue, City.

Example

Beatles. Concert. 15 Aug. 1965, Shea Stadium, New York.

(Beatles)

Collaborative Performances (e.g., Play)

Template

Author. Performance Name. Directed by Director, Company, Date, Venue, City.

Example

Miranda, Lin-Manuel. Hamilton. Directed by Thomas Kail, 28 Jan. 2017, PrivateBank Theatre, Chicago.

(Miranda)

Recorded Performance

Template

Director, director. Performance Title. By Author. Location, Date. Website, URL.

Examples

Doran, Gregory, director. Hamlet. By William Shakespeare, BBC, 2009. DVD.

(Doran)

Kuo, Jay, et al. Allegiance. Directed by Lorenzo Thione, Longacre Theatre, New York, 13 Dec. 2016. Digital Theatre+, edu.digitaltheatreplus.com/content/productions/allegiance.

(Kuo et al.)

See pages 334-335 in the MLA Handbook.

Government Bills

Template

Author. Title of Bill. Date. Website, URL. Xth Congress, Xth session, passed Date.

Examples

United States, Congress. Public Law 89-236: An Act to Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-79/pdf/STATUTE-79-Pg911.pdf. 89th Congress, passed 3 Oct. 1968.

(United States, Congress)

Florida, Congress. Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 293 (Chapter 2017-55). 2017. State Library and Archives of Florida, laws.flrules.org/2017/55. Passed 2 June 2017.

(Florida, Congress)

See page 345 in the MLA Handbook.

Personal Interviews

Template

Interviewee. Type of interview with the author. Date.

Examples

Smith, John. Zoom interview with the author. 12 Jan. 2015.

(Smith)

Jones, Elizabeth. Telephone interview with the author. 30 June 2021.

(Jones)

See page 336 in the MLA Handbook.

Theses & Dissertations

Template

Author. Title. Date. School, Type. Website, URL.

Example

Ulman, Taylor. Archetype and Brand Congruency in Advertising. 2009. U of Florida, Masters thesis, etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0041325/ulman_t.pdf.

(Ulman)

See page 339 in the MLA Handbook.

Recipes

You may also cite an entire cookbook using the guidelines for citing books.

If citing multiple recipes from the same author, include the first few words of the recipe to differentiate:

(Landis, "Guava Strawberry")

(Landis, "Spiced Persimmon")

Recipe from Cookbook

Template

Author. "Recipe Name." Cookbook Title, by Publisher, Date, pp. XX-XX.

Example

Nosrat, Samin. "Bright Cabbage Slaw." Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, by Simon & Schuster, 2017, pp. 224-225.

(Nosrat)

Recipe Viewed Online

Template

Author. "Recipe Name." Website, Date, URL.

Example

Landis, Lindsay. "Spiced Persimmon Bread." Love & Olive Oil, 9 Dec. 2024, www.loveandoliveoil.com/2024/12/spiced-persimmon-bread.html.

(Landis)

Personal Recipe Card

Template

Author. Recipe for Dish. [Date?]

Example

Smith, Jane. Recipe for Grandma's Lasagna. [1992?]

"Sweet Potato Pie." New Cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens Book, 1996, p. 373.

(Smith)

("Sweet Potato Pie")

See How do I cite a recipe or cookbook? [MLA Style Center]

Commitment to Equal Access and Equal Opportunity

Santa Fe College is committed to an environment that embraces diversity, respects the rights of all individuals, is open and accessible, and is free of harassment and discrimination. For more information, visit sfcollege.edu/eaeo or contact equity.officer@sfcollege.edu.

SACSCOC Accreditation Statement

Santa Fe College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). For more information, visit sfcollege.edu/sacscoc.