How do you punctuate a question that quotes a question?
Do not use two question marks. Use only the question mark contained in the quotation: Which Shakespeare character asked, “Is this a dagger… Read More
If I am listing the name of a government agency as publisher, should I separate out the name of the government?
No. The rules for government agencies as described in the MLA Handbook (2.1.3) do not apply to the “Publisher” slot. List the publisher’s name (i.e., the… Read More
If students omit from their works-cited lists works they have cited in their paper, have they plagiarized?
As our plagiarism guide notes, “Plagiarism is presenting another person’s ideas, information, expressions, or entire work as one’s own.” Citing sources accurately often requires… Read More
How do I quote lyrics from a duet in which the performers take turns singing?
How you quote lyrics from a duet depends on how you accessed them and how many lines you are borrowing. If you quote lyrics from… Read More
Teaching the History of the English Language: An Interview
The study of the history of the English language (HEL) reaches back to the fifth century . . . Read More
How do I cite an infographic?
To cite an infographic, follow the MLA format template. If the infographic does not have an official title, provide a description of it. If… Read More
Teaching Research Skills: An Interview with Librarians
Two librarians discuss undergraduate research in the Internet age . . . Read More
How do I cite a magazine cover in my works-cited list and in my essay?
To cite the cover of a magazine, you can generally create a works-cited-list entry for the issue of the magazine and then key your in-text… Read More
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
