Creating Vertical Lists in MLA Style
By Jennifer RappaportIn some types of material, a vertical list may be preferable to a run-in list
Published 7 December 2018
When should citation information in captions be separated by commas instead of semicolons?
If you provide full bibliographic details in a caption, convert the periods normally used after the elements of a works-cited-list entry into semicolons: Fig. 1. Vincent van Gogh; The Olive Trees; 1889; Museum of Modern Art, 2001; postcard. Otherwise, use commas: Fig. 5. Mary Cassatt, Mother and Child, Wichita Art Museum.
Published 6 December 2018
When I use too in the sense of “also,” should I use a comma before it?
In most cases, you need not use a comma before too at the end of a sentence or commas around it midsentence: She likes chocolate chip cookies too. She too likes chocolate chip cookies. But, as usage experts note, you must use commas when too separates the verb from its object (Cook 126): I note, too, that . . .
Published 20 November 2018
Does MLA style allow the use of slashed terms?
The slash is rarely necessary in formal prose. It mainly appears when two terms are paired as opposites or alternatives and used together as a noun: The writer discussed how fundamental oppositions like good/evil or East/West affect the way cultures view historical events. When two terms paired as opposites precede and modify a noun, use . . .
Published 29 October 2018
When is a comma used before et al. in MLA style?
In MLA style, a comma is generally only used before et al. in the “Author” slot of works-cited-list entries when the author’s first and last names are reversed: Burdick, Anne, et al. Digital_Humanities. MIT P, 2012. The comma tells your reader that the name Anne is out of normal position and that the abbreviation attaches to . . .
Published 11 September 2018
When I am quoting, do I need to indicate if italics are in the original?
No. In MLA style, italics in a quotation are assumed to be in the original unless otherwise indicated. See the MLA Handbook for more details on quoting sources exactly (75) and on italics added for emphasis (86). Work Cited MLA Handbook. 8th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2016.
Published 28 August 2018
Should I use hyphens in compounds with adverbs ending in ly?
No. Since a compound formed by an adverb ending in ly cannot be misread, no hyphen is used: She had a politically transformative experience.
Published 16 August 2018
If a sentence ends with an abbreviation followed by a period, should I insert another period to mark the end of the sentence?
No. A sentence should never have two periods at the end. If a sentence ends with an abbreviation followed by a period, do not add an additional period: She explained the rules for periods, commas, semicolons, etc.
Published 12 July 2018
If a title includes a period at the end, do I include the period?
Yes. If a title ends with a punctuation mark, include the mark: The Band Perry opened their set with the song “Done.,” the second track on their album Pioneer. For examples of titles ending in punctuation marks other than a period, see our previous post.
Published 28 June 2018
Are names of groups like African American and Native American ever hyphened in MLA style?
In MLA style, if each part of the name of an ethnic or national group is an independent term, no hyphen is used, regardless of whether the name appears as a noun or an adjective: Many Native Americans live in California. I am studying African American literature. If the name includes a combining form, however, . . .
Published 5 June 2018