Should et al. be italicized in MLA style?
Only italicize et al., meaning “and others,” if it is referred to as a term, as the examples in this sentence and the question above show. In… Read More
Posts related to abbreviations
How do I abbreviate the name of a corporate author in my in-text citation?
Use either the first few words of the name or, if not cumbersome, the entity’s initials. For example, Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on… Read More
When is a comma used before et al. in MLA style?
In MLA style, a comma is generally only used before et al. in the “Author” slot of works-cited-list entries when the author’s first and last names… Read More
If a sentence ends with an abbreviation followed by a period, should I insert another period to mark the end of the sentence?
No. A sentence should never have two periods at the end. If a sentence ends with an abbreviation followed by a period, do not add… Read More
Is a compound subject a noun phrase for the purposes of abbreviating a title, or should I just use the first noun?
As section 3.2.1 of the MLA Handbook explains, when you need to shorten a title for a parenthetical citation, “give the first noun and any preceding… Read More
How do I abbreviate a title for a parenthetical reference if it begins with numbers?
Remember that the goals of parenthetical citation are clarity and concision. Thus, if a title begins with a number–for example: 1066: A New History of… Read More
In an in-text citation, how do I shorten a title enclosed in quotation marks if the title begins with a quotation?
If you need to shorten a title enclosed in quotation marks that begins with a quotation, use the title within the title as the short… Read More
In an in-text citation, how do I shorten a title that appears in quotation marks when it starts with a title in quotation marks?
If you need to shorten a title within quotation marks that begins with a title in quotation marks, use the title within the title as… Read More
When is Press spelled out in a publisher’s name in the new MLA style?
If the name of an academic press contains the words University Press, use the abbreviation UP in the publisher’s name, as indicated in the MLA Handbook (97):… Read More