How do I cite a name like Queen Elizabeth I, John of Gaunt, and Catherine of Aragon?

Use the first name. Some categories of personal names lack a last name–for example, some rulers and members of the nobility and many premodern people, whose name… Read More

Should I capitalize the names of movements such as modernism?

A modern editorial style keeps capitalization to a minimum. In MLA style, a movement or school of thought is only capitalized when it could be confused… Read More

When multivolume works label individual volumes with letters instead of numerals, should the letters be capitalized or lowercased?

In our house style, we capitalize the letter in lettered volumes: The Longman Anthology of World Literature. Edited by Jane Tylus and David Damrosch, vol. C,… Read More

Why is the label before a contributor’s name sometimes capitalized and sometimes lowercase in MLA works-cited-list entries?

Whether the label before a contributor’s name–for example, edited by or translated by–is capitalized or lowercase depends on its position in the MLA format template. In the following… Read More

How do I format the name of a ship in MLA style?

Names of ships, as well as names of aircraft and spacecraft, are italicized in MLA style. If the name has a prefix, such as USS… Read More

Should sun, moon, and earth be capitalized?

When Merriam-Webster indicates that a term is “capitalized” or “usually capitalized,” the MLA capitalizes the term in its publications. When Merriam-Webster indicates that a term… Read More