How do I cite numbered poems from an anthology?

Some poetic works are conventionally referred to using an established numbering system that allows readers using any edition of the work to easily locate the… Read More

How do I format a quotation of song lyrics?

Format a quotation of song lyrics the same way you would format a quotation of poetry. Read More

How do I cite a virtual poetry reading?

Alphabetize a work by a solo performer under the performer’s name. Include the event title or a descriptive label, name the sponsoring organization in the… Read More

How do I indicate that a line has been omitted from a run-in poetry quotation?

Use three ellipsis points bracketed by forward slashes to indicate that one or more lines have been omitted from a run-in poetry quotation. 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 I am citing two poems, each by a different poet, should I use the word line or lines the first time I quote from each poet’s work?

Yes. The MLA Handbook says that “in your first citation” of a poem, “use the word line or lines and then, having established that the numbers designate lines, give… Read More

How do I cite a poem quoted in a journal article?

If in your essay you use a quotation from a poem that you found in a journal article, your in-text citation should include “qtd. in.”… Read More

How should I style my parenthetical citation the first time I quote lines from a poem if I have not mentioned the author’s name in my prose?

The MLA Handbook explains that if you are citing line numbers instead of page numbers in your parenthetical citation, you should “in your first citation, use the word… Read More

How do I cite a phrase from a poem quoted in the published version of a speech?

To cite a poem quoted in the published version of a speech, create a works-cited-list entry for the speech since it is your source. You… Read More

How do I show the blank space between stanzas when quoting from a poem?

Use a single line space to separate stanzas of poetry, as in this excerpt from Felicia Hemans’s “The Image in Lava”: Thou thing of years… Read More