How do I cite an essay included as an appendix to a monograph if the essay’s author differs from that of the monograph?

Cite the essay the same way you would cite an essay in an anthology with one difference: whereas for an anthology you would list the… Read More

Should the learning management system through which I access an e-book be listed as a container?

No. As explained in another post on the Style Center, “A website is a container when it is the platform of publication of the particular version… Read More

If a book title within an essay title is not italicized in the source, should I italicize it in my works-cited-list entry?

Yes. A title within a title should be styled according to the guidelines in section 1.2.4 of the MLA Handbook, regardless of how a title within… Read More

How should I cite an e-book version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that uses paragraph numbers instead of line numbers?

If your source uses paragraph numbers instead of page numbers or line numbers, your in-text citation should give the relevant number or numbers preceded by… Read More

Where should authors’ names and affiliations be placed in a book manuscript for an edited collection?

If the publisher provides instructions about where to place authors’ names and affiliations, the volume editor should follow these instructions. Published versions of books typically… Read More

If the name of the publisher is the same as the name of a book, do I list the publisher’s name?

Yes. By convention, the publisher’s name—if known—is generally given for a book, even if it is the same as the title of the book. Read More

How do I cite a chapter in a book written by a single author?

Create a works-cited-list entry only for the book. If you want your readers to know the chapter titles, you can provide them in your text:… Read More

Commas with Because: How to Make Your Meaning Clear

by Jennifer Rappaport

Learn when to insert a comma before a phrase or clause that begins with because Read More

Is it OK to split an infinitive?

Yes, generally. An infinitive is the to form of a verb: to go, to be. Writers are often taught to avoid splitting infinitives—that is, to avoid placing a… Read More

How do I indicate that the editor of a work is also its translator in my works-cited-list entry?

When an individual is both the editor and translator of a work, put the name of the editor-translator in the “Author” slot, followed by the… Read More