Should the comma after an italicized element appear in italics?

Publishers differ in their practice. In its publications, the MLA’s preference is not to italicize commas that appear after italicized elements. However, we are open… Read More

How should I style the name of an artwork with an ascribed title?

Many works of art, especially older ones, were not given formal titles by their creators or were given one that is no longer known and… Read More

How should I style the name of an earthwork, such as the Great Serpent Mound?

Names of earthworks, like names of buildings, should not be italicized: We took a trip to see the Great Serpent Mound. Read More

How should I style a web address like google.com?

As the MLA Handbook (2.5.2) notes, “When giving a URL,” or web address, “copy it in full from your web browser.” Thus, a web address should… Read More

Should names of apps and other software programs be italicized in MLA style?

Yes. Titles of software programs, including apps (e.g., Kindle, Instagram, and Facebook), are italicized in MLA style.  … Read More

How do I style genus and species names, such as Homo sapiens, in MLA style?

MLA style was developed to be used by writers in the humanities, so we defer to our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style regarding how… Read More

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

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

Should individual tale titles in The Canterbury Tales be set in quotation marks?

Yes. Student writers should place the titles of individual tales in quotation marks. This follows from the MLA Handbook’s general guideline for the styling of titles:… Read More

If a book title within an essay title is not italicized in the source, should I italicize it in my works-cited-list entry?

Yes. A title within a title should be styled according to the guidelines in section 1.2.4 of the MLA Handbook, regardless of how a title within… Read More