Can I look at source code to determine a publication date for online materials that don’t publicize a date?

When doing so is useful to readers, specialists often supply missing publication dates, using a range of methods. For example, a medievalist with expertise in… Read More

When an organization is the author and the publisher of a work, the handbook advises writers to begin the works-cited-list entry with the title of the source. Is it OK to use the organization’s name in a signal phrase or in the in-text citation even though the name does not begin the works-cited-list entry?

No. The text should always key to the list of works cited. You can provide the key in the parenthetical citation or in your text. Read More

I am citing a paginated journal article that appears online. Should I include the page range, the URL, or the DOI as the location element in the works-cited-list entry?

The location of an online work is typically indicated by a DOI or URL, one of which should be included, and, as the MLA Handbook… Read More

Can I use et al. in place of translators’ names in a works-cited-list entry?

Yes. As page 22 of the MLA Handbook notes, the use of et al. for three or more authors extends to other types of creators… Read More

In a works-cited-list entry, how do I indicate that a work is forthcoming?

When documenting forthcoming publications in the list of works cited, use the word forthcoming in place of the date. Read More

How many spaces should I leave after a period?

Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces. Whichever spacing you choose, be sure to use… Read More

When documenting unpublished letters, should the descriptions of the letters that are used in place of a title appear in quotation marks or italics? If I am citing more than one letter written by the same person, how should I distinguish the letters in my in-text citation?

For unpublished letters, provide a generic description in place of the title (see pp. 28–29 of the MLA Handbook); do not enclose the description in… Read More

How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

A dissertation is a unique type of source. It is a finished, stand-alone work written under the auspices of an institution. In a change from the… Read More

How do I cite an e-book in MLA style?

Use the Version element to specify that the work you are citing is an e-book—that is, a book that lacks a URL and that you… Read More

When citing a print dictionary in MLA style, do I include a page number?

Yes. Cite an entry in a print dictionary like a section of a larger work. Include the page number in the “Location” element of the… Read More