MLA works cited Writing a citation

Refer to Bedford Handbook MLA works cited section 56b – pages 604 to 631. Directory to MLA works cited entries on pages 604, 605.

MLA works cited General guidelines for listing authors

The Primary Principles Alphabetize entries in the list of works cited by authors’ last name If a work has no author, alphabetize it by its title The author’s name is important because citations in the text of the paper refer to it and readers will be looking for it at the beginning of an entry in the alphabetized list

Location, Location, Location NAME CITED IN TEXT According to Matt Sundeen.... BEGINNING OF WORKS CITED ENTRY Sundeen, Matt.

Basic Format for a Book Arrange the information into three units, each followed by a period and 1 space: 1. The author’s name. 2. The title and subtitle, underlined or italicized. 3. The place of publication, the publisher, and the date.

Format for a Book Tan, Amy. The Bonesetter’s Daughter. New York: Putnam, Author’s name. 2. The title and subtitle, underlined or italicized. 3. The place of publication, the publisher, and the date.

Locating Information Take the information about the book from its title page and copyright page. You may use a short form of the publisher’s name as long as it is easily identifiable; omit terms such as Press, Inc., and Co. except when naming university presses (Harvard UP, for example). If the copyright page lists more than one date, use the most recent one.

Articles in Periodicals Articles in magazines, scholarly journals, and newspapers There are variations – so refer to the Bedford Handbook to make sure the form is correct.

Basics for Magazines 1. The author’s name. 2. The title of the article, in quotation marks. 3. The title of the magazine, underlined (or italicized) (no punctuation) 4. Then give the date and the page numbers separated by a colon. If the magazine is issued monthly, give just the month and year. Abbreviate the names of the months except May, June, & July.

Magazine Example Kaplan, Robert D. “History Moving North.” Atlantic Monthly Feb. 1997: 21+. (not on consecutive pages) If the magazine is weekly, give the exact date. Lord, Lewis. “There’s Something about Mary Todd.” U.S. News and World Report 19 Feb. 2001: 53.

Basics for Newspaper 1. The author’s name (if given). 2. The title of the article, in quotation marks. 3. The name of the newspaper, underlined (or italics) 4. The date, and the page number (including the section letter). 5. Use a plus sign (+) after the page number if the article does not appear on consecutive pages.

Newspaper Example Murphy, Sean P. “Decisions on Status of Tribes Draw Fire.” Boston Globe 27 Mar. 2001: A2. Editorial in a newspaper: “All Wet.” Editorial. Boston Globe 12 Feb. 2001: 14. Letter to the editor: Shrewsbury, Toni. Letter. Atlanta Journal- Constitution 17 Feb. 2001: A13.