Should Dr. be included when citing a name like Dr. Seuss?

Yes. The MLA Handbook (sec. 1.1.2) provides the following guidance about titles in authors’ names: “If the name of the author of a source you consulted… Read More

How do I cite dialogue spoken by a character in a video game?

To cite dialogue spoken by a character in a video game, transcribe the words you hear or copy the quote from the text box displaying… Read More

If I use a quotation that is already in quotation marks in my source, how many quotation marks should I use?

As the MLA Handbook notes, “When your quotation consists entirely of material enclosed by quotation marks in the source work, usually one pair of double… Read More

In-text citations in MLA style involve authors, titles, and page numbers. Can I also include the date of a work?

In MLA style, you must key works you discuss to the works-cited list. You may do so by mentioning the author in the text or in a… Read More

Supplemental Elements

by Modern Language Association

All you need to know about the optional-element slot on the MLA style template . . . 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 period… Read More

Is it OK to italicize a word for emphasis in my paper?

The MLA style discourages the use of italics in academic prose to emphasize or point, because they are unnecessary—most often, the unadorned words do the… Read More

Five Commonly Misattributed Quotations

by Joseph Wallace

Quotations are frequently misattributed to famous people. This post examines five common examples. Read More

Understanding Back-Formations: Established Expressions or Curious Coinages?

by Erika Suffern

A post describing what back-formations are Read More

Analyzing Rhetorical Appeals: A Lesson for College Students

by Ruth Li

A lesson for college students on rhetorical appeals Read More