Must an author be introduced for the first time in prose rather than in parentheses?

No. You do not need to mention an author’s name in your prose before citing the author in a parenthetical citation. Surnames alone are used… Read More

How do I cite one issue of a comic book from a volume containing multiple issues?

How you cite one issue depends on the nature of the source. For example, comic books can be paginated or unpaginated, and the same team… Read More

How do I cite an online poem with no line numbers?

As the MLA Handbook notes, “When a source has no page numbers or any other kind of part number, no number should be given in a parenthetical… Read More

If a parenthetical reference does not fit on the final line of a block quotation, where do you place it?

If a parenthetical reference does not fit on the final line of a block quotation, place it at the start of the next line. Read More

Should I include a time stamp for time-based media when I am paraphrasing rather than quoting?

The MLA recommends making your citations useful to your reader. A time stamp could help your reader locate the scene in a movie, video, or… Read More

How do I cite the main idea of a work?

To cite the main idea of a work, key your reference to the first element of your works-cited-list entry. This element—usually the author or title—could… Read More

How do I embed an MP3 file in my paper? How do I label and cite it?

Embed an MP3 file the same way you’d embed an image. If you refer to the file only once, include a caption that contains all… Read More

How do I cite a quotation from a book’s frontispiece?

A frontispiece in a book is an illustration facing the title page. The illustration may sometimes include text. To cite this text, create a works-cited-list… Read More

How do I cite a commercial?

How you cite a commercial depends on where you found it. As always, follow the MLA format template.  Let’s say you are citing a commercial… Read More

How do I create an in-text citation for a paginated, unpublished work?

Create an in-text citation for a paginated, unpublished work in the same way that you would cite any work with explicit page numbers. As the MLA… Read More