How do I alphabetize Irish surnames in the works-cited list?

This post explains how to alphabetize Irish surnames Read More

How do I alphabetize a works-cited-list entry that begins with a hashtag or another symbol?

The MLA recommends that writers should “ignore symbols when alphabetizing” (“How”). This includes hashtags. Thus, if an entry begins with a hashtag or another symbol,… Read More

How should I order the sources in a parenthetical citation?

The order of sources in parenthetical citations is up to you. Read More

Does including a first initial with a last name affect the order of names in a parenthetical citation?

No. When more than one name appears in a parenthetical citation, the order of those names should correspond to the quotations that precede the citation. Read More

Which comes first in a works-cited list? An entry for an encyclopedia article titled “Christie, Agatha” or an entry for a work listed under the name Christie, Agatha?

It depends on what, if anything, follows the author’s name in the title of the encyclopedia entry. If the title of the encyclopedia entry is… Read More

How do you alphabetize a works-cited-list entry that begins with a title starting with an article?

As the MLA Handbook notes, titles should be alphabetized in works-cited lists “letter by letter, ignoring any initial A, An, or The or the equivalent in other languages” (115). Read More

If more than one source for a paraphrased idea is cited in a parenthetical citation, in what order do I list the sources?

If you paraphrase a single idea from more than one source and the sources are equally important, the order in which you list them is… Read More

When creating a sortable list of alphabetized titles, where should the initial article be placed?

In an index or sortable list of titles, MLA style follows the The Chicago Manual of Style, which recommends placing initial articles at the end of the… Read More

How do I alphabetize several letters by the same author written to different recipients?

In a works-cited-list, when you list several letters by the same author to different recipients, alphabetize the letters according to the names of the recipients. Read More

How do I alphabetize tweets in my works-cited-list?

Ignore symbols when alphabetizing. Thus, to alphabetize tweets in a works-cited list, ignore the @ and start with the first letter of the username: Works Cited @humcommons. Read More