The Case of the Thick Black Eyebrows; or, When to Omit Commas between Multiple Adjectives Preceding a Noun
An MLA editor shows you how to decide whether commas are needed between adjectives preceding a noun Read More
How do I style compound modifiers that express number ranges?
The MLA follows The Chicago Manual of Style’s rules for hyphening number ranges in modifiers (“Hyphenation Guide”). When the compound is an adjective, the compound… Read More
If I am citing a work based on another person’s writings, should I cite both authors in my works-cited-list entry?
No. When you cite a work, you should list the creator of the version of the work you are using. Many works are based on… Read More
In MLA style, should an ampersand in a publisher’s name be changed to and?
Yes. Just as you would change an ampersand in a title to and, change an ampersand to and in a publisher’s name in your prose… Read More
If I cite a slide lecture uploaded to an online course, should I list the date the lecture was written or the date of the course?
As the MLA Handbook notes, “When a source carries more than one date, cite the date that is most meaningful or most relevant to your use… Read More
How do I quote English-language sources in a foreign-language paper?
To quote an English-language source in a foreign-language paper, follow the guidelines in section 1.3.8 of the MLA Handbook on translating quotations (90–91). Let’s say you… Read More
Should the serial comma be used before an ampersand?
Omit the serial comma when using an ampersand: Shelley bought all the vintage Earth, Wind & Fire albums she found at the yard sale. Read More
How do I create a vertical list in which each item includes a quoted fragment and a complete sentence?
Follow the guidelines on how to create a vertical list. Since the quotes are fragments, you may lowercase them. Either a colon or a… Read More
If I am citing a film based on a literary work, should I include the name of the literary work’s author in my entry?
No. A film based on a book is a work of art in its own right, separate from the book. The author of the book… Read More
How do I cite the live performance of a play presented as part of a group of plays?
If you are citing a play that was performed along with other plays in the same event, each of which has its own author, you… Read More