How do I cite the Homeric hymns?

The Homeric hymns refer to poems that were once attributed, mistakenly, to the ancient Greek poet Homer. They are Homeric only in the sense that… Read More

How does one cite library realia?

Cite library realia—that is, objects related to classroom teaching—the same way you would cite materials in a physical archive. Read more on citing materials from… Read More

Should I use BC and AD or BCE and CE for era designations?

The choice of era designations is up to the writer. In our publications, we prefer to use BCE (before the common era) and CE (common era),… Read More

How do I cite a GIF?

How you cite a GIF depends on where it appears. If the GIF is part of a larger work, cite the work and refer to… Read More

What is the advantage of MLA-style date format over the format recommended by the International Standards Organization (ISO)?

The International Standards Organization recommends writing dates with numerals in year-month-day format (e.g., 2018-10-24) because it is useful when people need to convey information across… Read More

Do I need to indicate in my works-cited-list entry that I conducted an interview orally?

No, but if it’s important for your reader to know, you can write “Oral interview” as a description in the “Title of source” slot in the… Read More

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

Is it OK to edit out speech tics such as “er” and “um” when I quote from a personal interview?

Yes, you may edit out speech tics from personal interviews, but you should mention in a note the first time you quote from the interview… Read More

How do I identify the title of my digital project when submitting a separate works-cited list?

The MLA Handbook offers suggestions for including information about sources used in digital projects (127–28). If you are unable to include a list of works cited… Read More

How do I cite measures from a musical score?

Measure numbers can point readers to the pertinent section of a source more precisely than page numbers: Mozart supplies a gently rocking melody for Figaro… Read More