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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

If I am writing a paper in a foreign language and my works-cited list contains works in more than one language, should labels such as “edited by” be given in the foreign language or in English? Also, should the works-cited-list entry be punctuated according to the rules of the foreign language?

The language that you use to describe elements in your works-cited list should be the language that your paper is written in, which should also… Read More

In a works-cited-list entry, if a URL ends with a question mark, should a period follow?

If the last element of a works-cited-list entry is a URL ending in a question mark, a period should follow the URL: Krugman, Paul. “Bubble,… Read More

How should I style ellipses in MLA style?

The MLA Handbook explains that you should “[i]dentify an omission within a sentence by using three periods with a space before each and a space… Read More

How do I format and document epigraphs in MLA style?

Epigraphs establish tone, highlight allusions, provide commentary, and mark transitions between parts of a work. Primarily ornamental, they are not discussed subsequently in the text. … Read More

If I need to fit a quotation syntactically into a sentence, can I use empty brackets to indicate that I have removed letters from a verb?

No. In MLA style, brackets are generally only used to add material or show visible alterations, not to indicate omissions.1 So when attempting to fit… Read More

Is a comma needed after a short introductory phrase?

No. For more on when to include and omit commas, see our post. Read More

How should I style a direct question contained in a sentence?

If a direct question contained in a sentence is long or has internal punctuation, set the question off with a comma and begin it with a capital… Read More