How should the term Black Lives Matter be styled?

We follow our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style and capitalize the term Black Lives Matter. No italics or quotation marks are necessary.  … Read More

How do I cite a press release?

How you cite a press release depends on its format and where you found it. As always, follow the MLA format template. If you received… Read More

What date should I give in the header of my paper—the date I started the paper, the date I finished it, or the due date?

Follow your teacher’s instructions, but if you do not receive guidance, list the date you finished writing the paper. Read More

How do I cite an article in an electronic textbook?

If you are citing an article from an electronic version of a textbook that does not have page numbers, do not provide page numbers in… Read More

If I am analyzing the lyrics of a song performed by a cover band, how do I credit the lyricist-composer?

List the lyricist-composer in the “Other contributors” element in your works-cited-list entry: Peter, Paul, and Mary. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Music and lyrics composed by Bob… Read More

How do I cite a work published anonymously if the author’s name is now known?

As the MLA Handbook notes, “When a source does not indicate necessary facts about its publication . . . , supply as much of the missing… Read More

Does a pronoun in a quotation need to be integrated into the surrounding text?

No. In MLA style, when you are quoting a work, you should maintain the integrity of the original text whenever possible. If the pronoun in… Read More

If I am discussing a story collection that uses line numbers, should the page numbers or the line numbers be cited?

In general, the page numbers should be cited. Line numbers, if provided, are most helpful to readers for citations of “commonly studied poems and verse… Read More

How do you cite a working paper in MLA style?

A working paper is a draft or an early version of a piece of writing, usually one that either has been or will be submitted… Read More

If I am discussing two authors with the same last name, do I always need to provide the first name when I refer to the authors in my prose?

If you discuss two authors who have the same last name, provide both the first and last names at first mention. Thereafter, provide both the… Read More