Should the initial article in periodical titles be retained in both prose and works-cited-list entries?
Yes. The styling of titles should be consistent in your prose and in your works-cited list. Since, as the MLA Handbook notes, “[t]itles are given in… Read More
Adopting Writing Center Practices in Teaching
I encourage my tutors to consider the action of writing as much as the product of writing . . . Read More

How do I cite a work by an author with a Dutch name that includes the word van?
Particles in Dutch surnames—such as van, van den, van der, de, and ter—are lowercased in prose when the whole name is given: Joost van… Read More
How do I cite the works-cited quick guide from The MLA Style Center ?
Cite the works-cited quick guide from The MLA Style Center by following the MLA format template described in the guide. If you are referring to the guide… Read More
How should I cite a theme park attraction?
A theme park attraction does not generally require a citation, but if you need to create one, follow our guidelines for citing a building. Read More
How do I cite a handbook or adventure module for a tabletop role-playing game such as Dungeons and Dragons?
If you are citing a published handbook or adventure module for a tabletop role-playing game such as Dungeons and Dragons, treat the work as you would any… Read More
If I am citing an essay by an author in a collection, do I need to include in my works-cited-list entry the page number for the author’s biography on the contributors’ page?
No. The contributors’ page is not part of the essay, so list only the page range for the essay. Read More
Is it acceptable to list both a DOI and a URL in the same works-cited-list entry if one leads to a chapter and the other to the book as a whole?
No. If you are citing a chapter of a book from a novel or monograph, create an entry for the book as a whole and list… Read More
How should I style a web address like google.com?
As the MLA Handbook (2.5.2) notes, “When giving a URL,” or web address, “copy it in full from your web browser.” Thus, a web address should… Read More
Should names of apps and other software programs be italicized in MLA style?
Yes. Titles of software programs, including apps (e.g., Kindle, Instagram, and Facebook), are italicized in MLA style. … Read More