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How to Properly Cite MLA Style

A reference citation is both a description of the location of the source and an acknowledgement that you are borrowing information from another author. The two most common ways of citing a reference are MLA style, established by the Modern Language Association, and APA citation style, created by the American Psychological Association. When referencing using MLA style, there are three kinds of sources that you might be citing: a book, an electronic citation or a periodical reference.

Instructions

  1. Book

    • 1

      Provide the writer's last and first name. If using a source by Jack Kerouac, for example, you would cite his name as Kerouac, Jack.

    • 2

      Cite the title next as: On the Road. The title should be italicized and title case.

    • 3

      Provide the place of publication, the name of the publisher, the year and the medium of publication. For example: New York: Putnam, 1999. Print.

      The final citation will look like: Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Putnam, 1999. Print.

    Electronic Sources

    • 4

      List the name of the author, last name first, if it's available, followed by the title of the article you borrowed information from, italicized. For example: Childcare Industry "Should" Welcome Men.

    • 5

      Cite the publisher, which in this case will be the website where you found the article, and the date that it was published. For example, BBC News Online: Education.7 June 2003.

    • 6

      Include the date when you came across this information, the medium of publication and the link to the article. For example, 10 Oct. 2005. Web. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/education/2971310.stm.

      An example of an electronic citation MLA style, should look like this (with the title italicized):

      Childcare Industry 'Should Welcome Men. BBC News Online: Education. 7 June 2003. Web. 10 Oct. 2005.

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/education/2971310.stm.

    Periodical

    • 7

      List the article's author, last name first, and the title of the article in quotations marks. For example: Nielsen, Laura Beth. "Subtle, Pervasive, Harmful: Racist and Sexist Remarks in Public as Hate Speech."

    • 8

      Italicize the periodical title. Example: Journal of Social Issues.

    • 9

      Include the volume number, the issue number, the year of publication (in parentheses), the page number and the medium of publication.

      The final citation will look like: Nielsen, Laura Beth. "Subtle, Pervasive, Harmful: Racist and Sexist Remarks in

      Public as Hate Speech." Journal of Social Issues 58.2 (2002): 265. Print.

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