MLA Format

Citing Sources on the Works Cited Page

To see what a completed list of works cited looks like, refer to page 15.  For each entry, follow the order that is listed, including punctuation; however, if information, such as an author’s name, is unavailable, then move to the next required piece of information for the entry.  For example, if there is no author for a web article, then the title of the article or web page becomes the first item of the citation. Finally, if your source is not listed here, or if you have an exception to the listings below, consult an MLA Handbook.

Citing a book with one author:

Author’s last name, First name. Title of book. City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.

Example:

Campbell, Joseph. Heroic Cycles. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1978.

Citing a book with more than one author:

Author’s last name, First name, Second Author’s first and last names, and Third Author’s first and last names. Title of book. City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.

Example:

Campbell, Joseph, Elaine Mann, and Tom York. Heroes, Myths, and Mythmaking. New York: Harper Collins, 1982.

Citing a dictionary or encyclopedia entry:

Author’s last name, first name (if available). “Title of Entry.” Title of Dictionary or Encyclopedia. City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication. Page Number of Entry.

Example:

“Romulus.” Webster’s New World Dictionary of American English. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988. 1165.

Citing a magazine article with a known author:

Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Date of Magazine Publication: Page Number(s) On Which the Article Appears.

Example:

Sunny, Greg. “The Last Stages of Empire.” National Geographic January 1990: 8-16.

Citing an article from a newspaper:

Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper Date of Article, Edition: Page Number(s) On Which the Article Appears.

Example:

Johnson, Janice T. “Caesar and Beowulf.” The Seattle Times 18 Nov. 1999, Eastside ed.: C1+.

Citing an article from a newspaper online:

Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper Date of Article. Date Article Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

Johnson, Janice T. “Caesar and Beowulf.” The Seattle Times 18 Nov. 1999. 14 Mar. 2000 <http://www.seattletimes.com/Rome/Nov.99/caesar.asp>.

Citing an online periodical (magazine):

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”  Title of Magazine Date of Article. Date Article Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

Johnson, Janice T. “Caesar and Beowulf.” US News and World Report 18 Nov. 1999. 14 Mar. 2000 <http://www.usnwr.com/Rome/Nov.99/caesar.asp>.

Citing information from a government web site:

Author of Site. Title of Article or Page. Date Information Last Updated. Date Site Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

National Research Council. New Leadership in the World. 4 Jan. 1989. 12 Mar. 2000 <http://www.natlacadamy.gov/leadership>.

Citing a scholarly web site:

Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). Title of Web Site. Date Information Posted or Updated. Sponsoring University. Date Site Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

Roman Heroes. 12 May 1999. University of Maryland. 12 Mar. 2000 <www.umres.edu/hist/hero>.

Citing a professional web site:

Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). Title of Web Site. Date Last Updated. Date Site Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

Bank of America: Classic Banking. 15 Jan. 2000. 12 Mar. 2000 <http://www.bofa.com/banking/history.html>.

Citing a personal web site:

Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). Title of Web Site. Date Last Updated. Date Site Accessed Online <Web Address>.

Example:

Mack, Johnny. Johnny’s Classics Page. 3 Jan. 2000. 15 Mar. 2000 <johnnyclass.com>.

Citing a pamphlet with no author:

Title of Pamphlet. City of Publication: Publisher, Date Pamphlet Created.

Example:

Amazing Aquaducts. Seattle: World History Museum, 1988.

Citing a personal interview:

Last Name of Interviewee, First Name. Personal interview. Date of interview.

Example:

Posnock, Ross. Personal interview. 22 Nov. 2000.