Quick Look MLA Citation Guide

 This guide is meant to be a quick reference of the MLA citation style for students preparing a List of Works Cited. More information on the MLA style can be found in the following source:  Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed. New York: MLA, 1999. (Available at the Reference Desk in the Library)

Please Note:  Due to space concerns this handout is single-spaced. The MLA handbook recommends that a List of Works Cited be double-spaced. Remember to check with your instructor if there are any questions regarding variations in format.

Print Materials

Book                                        Author. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.

Single Author Example:              Hawkings, Stephen W. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to  

                                                            Black Holes. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.

Multiple Author Examples:          Spradley, Thomas S., and James P. Spradley. Deaf like me.

                                                            Washington D.C: Gallaudet University Press, 1987.

No Author Example:                  The World Almanac Atlas of the World. New York: World Almanac, 1990.

Editor Example:             Smith, Norris, ed. Changing U.S. Demographics. United States: H.W.Wilson, 2002.

Encyclopedia  Article               Article Author. “Article Title.” Reference Book Title. Edition.

                                                            Date of Publication.

Example:                                   “Electron.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th Edition. 2002.

Journal Article

Weekly/Monthy                       Article Author. “Article Title.” Magazine Title Date: Page Numbers.

Example:                                   Stuart, George E. “Yucatan’s Mysterious Hill Cities.” National Geographic April 2002: 54-69.

Academic  Journal                 Article Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title  Volume Number.

Issue Number (Year of  Publication): Page Numbers.

Example:                                   Anderson, Mark, et al. “School Associated Violent Deaths in the United States, 1994-1999.” JAMA 286. 21. (2001): 26952702.

Newspaper Article                    Article Author. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title Date, edition of given: Page numbers. ( + if  multiple pages)

Example:                                   Anderson, Barbara. “A Struggle to Breathe: Asthma in California.” The Fresno Bee 7 May 2002. late final ed.: A1+.

Electronic Materials
 

Electronic Journal Article        Article Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title Volume

                                                            Number. Issue Number (Year of Publication): page numbers.

Database Name. Date of Access <online address of article>.

ProQuest Example                     Walling, Anne D. “Does Air Pollution affect childhood asthma?.”

                                                            American Family Physician 65.8 (2002) 1685. ProQuest Direct. 10 May 2002

                                                            <http://www.umi.com/proquest>.

Gale Example                           McCann, Donnarae. “Dr. Seuss: An Overview.” Twentieth

Century Children's Writers, 4th ed. edited by Laura

Standley Berger 1995. Reproduced in Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. 10 May 2002 <http://galenet.gale.com>.

CQ Researcher Example             Hansen, Brian. “Cyber Crime: should penalties be tougher?.” CQ 

                                                            Researcher 12.14. (2002). CQ Researcher. Congressional

                                                            Quarterly. 10 May 2002 <http://library.cqpress.com>.

Online Book                            Author. Book Title. Editor, if any. Place of Publication: Publisher,

                                                            Date of Original Print Version if given.

Date of Access <online address of book>.

Example:                                   Austin, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Oxford MS: Project Gutenberg

                                                            Literary Archive Foundation. 10 May 2002.

                                                            < http://www.agoodread.com/Pride/>.

Online Newspaper                    Article Author. “Article Tile.” Newspaper Title Date of Publication. Date of Access. <online address of article>.

Example:                                   Ellis, John. “Radanovich, national park official discuss Yosemite

                                                            Plan.” The Fresno Bee  18 Mar. 2002. 10 May. 2002.

                                                            < http://www.fresnobee.com/parks/story/1485093p-1561792c.html>.          

E-mail                                     Author. “Title of Message (if any)” E-mail to author (or person e-mailed). Date of message.

Example:                                   Doe, Joe. “Re: History Paper” E-mail to author. 10 May. 2002.

Web site                                   Site Author of given. Site Title. Organization Affiliation of any.

                                                            Date of Access <online address of site>.

Example :                                  American Memory from the Library of Congress. Library of Congress,         

                                                            10 May 2002 <www.memory.loc.gov>.