Arts >> Books >> Literature

How to Put Titles of Movies in an English Paper Format

When writing an English paper, you may need to refer to and quote movies. Referencing these sources correctly acknowledges ideas that are not your own and helps you avoid being accused of plagiarism. The Modern Language Association has specific, simple rules about how to do this, and most English teachers and professors expect you to follow MLA guidelines carefully.

Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Use the full title of the movie the first time that you mention it in the paper, either italicizing or underlining it.

    • 2

      Shorten the movie title for each time you mention it thereafter, using the first main word (not "the" or "a").

    • 3

      Differentiate multiple movies with the same title by specifying the year of release or the last name of the director.

    • 4

      Specify which character is speaking when you quote from the movie, and put the title of the movie in parentheses immediately following the quote.

    • 5

      When listing a movie in a reference list or bibliography, list the title first, in italics, followed by a period. Then list the director, using the abbreviation Dir. and the full name, followed by a period. Then list the distributor, followed by a comma, and the year of release, followed by a period. Then comes the format, such as DVD, VHS, or whatever you consulted, and another period. Only the movie title should be in italics.

+:
+:

Literature

Related Categories