MLA Reference Guide
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The following charts provide a general sense of which information to include and in what order to include it. More comprehensive examples can be found in the MLA Handbook, 7th ed.
In-Text DocumentationWorks Cited: BooksPeriodicals/NewspapersElectronic SourcesOther Sources
In-Text Documentation
| If you: | Example | |
| Quote directly | “Semicolons are often undervalued” (Markham 172). | |
| Cite in the essay two or more sources by the same author | “Semicolons are often undervalued” (Markham, Grammar 172). | |
| Cite an edited, multi-volume source | “Clearly, semicolons have been undervalued for many centuries” (Markham et al., eds. 2: 172-3). | |
| Cite Web journal | Give semicolons a chance” (Markham, “Comma Splice Crimes, para. 7). | |
| Cite poetry | “Artful link/ Of independent clauses” (Markham 23). | |
| Cite a play | “I’ve had enough of this semicolon nonsense. I’m leaving” (Markham 3.1.46). | |
| Cite an indirect source (quote an author whose words appear in a second source) | In Memoirs, Markham confesses “I never understood parentheses” (qtd. in Caffrey 63). | |
Works Cited: Books
| Source | Example | ||
| One author | Markham, Howard. Grammar: The Key to Happiness and Power. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1982. Print. |
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| Anthology or compilation | Caffrey, Liz, ed. The Complete Howard Markham. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1999. Print. | ||
| Multiple authors | Caffrey, Liz and Howard Markham. Reinventing Grammar. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1996. Print. | ||
| Editions other than the first | Markham, Howard. Grammar: Key to Happiness and Power. 3rd ed. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1989. Print. | ||
| Introduction (also applies to foreword or preface) | Caffrey, Liz. Introduction. Memoirs. By Howard Markham. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1998. 2-7. Print. | ||
| A work in an anthology | Markham, Howard. “Comma Splices and Other Crimes.” Minor Consequences. Ed. Liz Caffrey. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1995. 47-61. Print. | ||
| Translation | Marceau, Julie. Language Anxiety. Trans. Liz Caffrey. Kingston: Stauffer Press, 1991. Print. | ||
| e-book* (Kindle, Nook, iPad)
*provide type of electronic file, e.g., Kindle file, PDF file |
Marvin, James. Exciting Citing. Toronto: Acme, 2014. Kindle file. | ||
Periodicals/Newspapers
| Article in a journal | Markham, Howard. “Crimes of the Comma.” Journal of Canadian Languages 24.2 (1986): 67-81. Print. | |
| Article in a newspaper | Caffrey, Liz. “Small Publishers Hit the Big Time.” Kingston This Week, 14 May 1995: A12-13. Print. | |
| Article in a magazine published monthly | Caffrey, Liz. “Small Publishers Hit the Big Time.” BackIssues. Oct. 1995: 14-17. Print. | |
Electronic Sources
1) Name of author, editor, etc.; 2) title of work; 3) title of Web site; 4) publisher or sponsor; 6) date of publication; 7) medium (Web); 8) date of access. Note that the url is optional.
| Work cited only on the web | Markham, Howard. “Comma Splice Crimes.” Journal of Canadian Languages. MLA, 25 Sept. 2007. Web. 5 June 2009. |
| Publication in online database | Markham, Howard, and Liz Caffrey. “Lost Points.” Grammarworld 46.4(2009) 17-18. LexisNexis. Web. 5 June 2009. |
| Scholarly journal on the Web | Caffrey, Liz. Rev. of Voices of Experience, ed. Rex Murphy, FAQs and Arguments.” Grammar Forum Home Page 3.2 (2007):1-37. Web. 9 December 1999. |
Other Sources
| Film | Bad Fiction. Dir. Quentin Caffrey. Perf. John Markham and Uma Caffrey. Educational Media Resources, 1997. Film. |
| Television | “Bad Punctuation.” Social Crimes. Narr. John Markham. Dir. Liz Caffrey. Arts and Entertainment Network. 6 Apr. 2006. WCBS. Television. |
| Lecture or Speech | Caffrey, Quentin. “Grammar on Film.” Annual General Meeting. Society for Technical Details. Kingston Public Library, Kingston. 13 October 2009. Lecture. |