After I’ve given a person’s name in full, should I use last name only thereafter even if I am writing a work with chapters rather than an essay?

Yes, generally follow this guideline, especially for frequently mentioned people or those who are the subject of the work. Read More

Should I reproduce emojis in my essay?

In general it is not necessary to reproduce emojis. However, if an emoji is important to a point you are making in your essay, you… 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

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

Do I need to provide a citation each time I refer to a character’s name?

No. You generally only need to provide a citation if you mention a character’s name in a summary of the work (or portions of it)… Read More

If I am writing about two people with the last name Anderson, and one uses the suffix Sr., where do I place the suffix?

List the full name of each person and provide the suffix after the last name of the person to whom it belongs. In MLA style,… Read More

Should department names be capitalized in MLA style?

In general, the MLA follows The Chicago Manual of Style for the capitalization of academic department names (“Academic Subjects”) and administrative bodies (“Administrative Bodies”). We capitalize… Read More

How do I cite an author whose last name is represented by an initial?

How you cite an author whose last name is represented by an initial depends on what kind of name it is. Authors whose last names… Read More

If you are citing coauthors who share a last name (e.g., husband and wife or brother and sister), should you list the last name twice?

Yes. You should treat each author as an individual with a unique identity. Thus, if you are citing a work by authors who share a… Read More

How does the MLA capitalize names of generations?

In our publications, we follow the recommendations in The Chicago Manual of Style (“Generation”). We generally lowercase generation names such as baby boomers and millennials, but we capitalize… Read More