What should I do if an author’s last name is not provided in a source?

If an author’s last name is not provided in the source you are consulting, you may opt to follow the guidance provided in section 5.122… Read More

Where should the original author’s name appear when citing indirect sources?

When citing indirect sources, the name of the author of the original quotation can appear in the prose, in the in-text citation, or in an… Read More

How do I represent an author’s name that is partly illegible in the source?

If an author’s name is partly illegible in the source, and you do not know the name, then in your works-cited-list entry you may type… Read More

Should I include a religious leader’s title in my works-cited-list entry?

Following the guidance found in section 2.83 of the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook, religious titles, such as Reverend or Saint, should generally be… Read More

Should I include “Jr.” in an in-text citation?

The MLA Handbook advises, in section 6.2, “In parenthetical citations, use only the part of an author’s name—usually the surname only—necessary to find the entry… Read More

If an author’s name in my source is in all capital or lowercase letters, how should I style it in my paper?

In prose and works-cited-list entries, the first and last names of authors should begin with a capital letter. All other letters should be lowercase. Let’s… Read More

Should I use a person’s full name in prose if the full name has already appeared in a note or in a parenthetical citation?

The names of persons should be given in full when they first appear in the body text of your essay; subsequent mentions of the person… Read More

How do I adapt MLA running heads in my paper?

We appreciate hearing from readers with suggestions for adapting MLA style to specific cases. Here, one reader finds a way to clarify a potentially ambiguous… Read More

How should I order the sources in a parenthetical citation?

The order of sources in parenthetical citations is up to you. Read More

Is it OK to use characters’ nicknames when discussing a work in MLA style, and if so, how should I style them?

If a character is predominantly referred to by a nickname in a work, then you may use that nickname in your paper. For example, in… Read More