This page uses MLA 8th Edition. Check with your faculty member to verify which style he/she would like you to use. MLA requires that you identify the core elements — facts common to most works — and then assemble those elements in a specific order. When the source you are citing is part of a larger piece, think of that larger piece as a container that holds the source.
The container is an important piece to include when identifying the source. Containers can be a book, a periodical, TV series, website, or any other kind of source.
(Source: Modern Language Association. “What’s New in the Eight Edition.” The MLA Style Center. 2016, https://style.mla.org/whats-new.)
Parenthetical Citations
MLA format uses a parenthetical citation, which is brief mention in the text of your paper that leads the reader to the complete information about that reference. It usually appears at the end of a sentence. A parenthetical citation involves placing relevant source information in parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase. The author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your works cited page.Examples
Seed says of Dracula “in short, he is a combination of Gothic villain, Regency rake, and monster” (62).
OR
Dracula, “…is a combination of Gothic villain, Regency rake, and monster” (Seed 62).OR
Seed believes that Dracula is a mix of scoundrel, ogre, and devilish man (62).Works Cited Page
MLA uses a works cited page: a list of works cited at the end of an article, paper, or chapter. References are listed in alphabetical order, using the author’s last name (if there are multiple authors, follow the order provided in the source). Each reference citation will include the author’s name, date of publication, title, publisher, and place of publication.Interactive Example
Move your mouse over the different parts of the citation to see what they represent:
More Citation Examples
MLA Formatting Resources
- The MLA Style Center
- MLA Formatting and Style Guide (OWL Purdue Univ.)
Citation & Writing Help
Vermont Tech students can get writing help through the Center for Academic Success. CCV students can get help with citation and paper writing through Tutor.com – On-Demand Tutoring (within your Canvas courses) or at a local Learning Center.
