How do I style examples of grammar principles?
Examples of grammar principles can be styled in various ways. They can be italicized, enclosed in quotation marks, or set as extracts, to name a… Read More
If a parenthetical reference does not fit on the final line of a block quotation, where do you place it?
If a parenthetical reference does not fit on the final line of a block quotation, place it at the start of the next line. Read More
Should punctuation following a link be included in the linked text?
Publishers practices vary. On the MLA’s websites, when linked text is distinguished with color and underlining, the MLA does not link the punctuation—including quotation marks—before… Read More
Should I include a time stamp for time-based media when I am paraphrasing rather than quoting?
The MLA recommends making your citations useful to your reader. A time stamp could help your reader locate the scene in a movie, video, or… Read More
If an author’s name appears in a foreign script, such as Cyrillic, how should the name appear in the works-cited-list entry?
Use either the transliterated or the familiar form of the name in prose, in-text citations, and works-cited-list entries. If an author is likely to be… Read More
How should I style brand names?
The styling of brand names depends on whether they are trademarked. Always check the dictionary, which lists many brand names. Trademarked brand names are capitalized… Read More
How do I format a Q and A in MLA style?
Practices for formatting a Q and A vary. The Style Center includes some examples of the MLA’s practice. See, for instance, our posts on digital… Read More
How do I cite the table of contents of a journal?
If you are making a passing reference to the contents page of a journal, a citation is not needed. If, however, you are treating the… Read More
Do I need to use quotation marks around numerical data that I quote from sources?
No. For an example, see our post on citing raw data. Read More
How should I style the names of Chinese dynasties in MLA style?
The MLA follows the guidance given in The Chicago Manual of Style for capitalization. The manual lowercases names of eras (“Descriptive Designations”), so when styling the… Read More