How do I cite from a play that has both verse and prose sections?
Citing from a play that has both verse and prose sections—whether the play is William Shakespeare’s Macbeth or August Wilson’s Fences—is no different from citing… Read More
Finding Publication Facts Online: An Unusual Case
Finding publication information on a website or other digital source can be a challenge . . . Read More
How do I incorporate lists into my essay in MLA style?
In humanities essays, lists are generally run into the text rather than set vertically. A colon is often used to introduce a run-in list:… Read More
If I am quoting the first few words of one line of poetry and the last few words of the next line of poetry, should I use two sets of ellipses with a slash between them?
Yes. Clarity is worth the trouble of more punctuation. Let’s say you quote the following two lines of poetry: He had forty-two boxes, all carefully… Read More
How do I cite a sign?
If you quote unique language from a sign, create a works-cited-list entry for it. A sign advises you to “shout, wave arms, throw stones” if you… Read More
If an online source becomes defunct before I turn in or publish my paper, what do I do?
The primary goal of documentation is not to ensure perpetual access to a source but to verify the publication facts of the version you consulted. Read More
When I am citing a biographical entry in a reference book that reverses the person’s name in the entry title (e.g., “Roosevelt, Teddy”), should I reverse the name in the works-cited list?
Yes. Read More
If I incorporate published materials in an online course, should I include the original publication details?
Yes. Read More
How do you cite the electronic portion of a print textbook?
To cite the electronic portion of a textbook, follow the MLA format template. Begin with the title of the material or a description of it. Read More
Why do periods and commas go inside quotation marks in MLA style?
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma… Read More