Should I add a serial comma when I reproduce the title of a source?

If the title displayed on the title page of your source contains a serial comma, include the comma when you reproduce the title. For example,… Read More

How should the title of an opera waltz be styled?

An opera waltz, like any portion of a larger musical work, is styled roman, in quotation marks. The Chicago Manual of Style explains, “Titles of… Read More

How should I refer in my prose to a film or TV show that has an original foreign language title and an international title?

When writing about a work known by more than one title, consider your audience. If you are writing for an audience that will know the… Read More

How should I capitalize the title of a handout?

Capitalize the title of a handout title style; that is, “capitalize the first word, the last word, and all principal words” (MLA Handbook 67). Below… Read More

How do I cite an individual hymn in a hymnal?

Cite a hymn in a hymnal as you would a poem in a collection: Conder, Josiah. “Bread of heaven, on thee we feed.” The Hymnal… Read More

In a title like Gardner’s Art through the Ages, should Gardner be listed as an author or a contributor?

To determine what to list in the Author or Contributor element of a works-cited-list entry for a book, consult the book’s title page. The title… Read More

How do I style the title of a segment from a television news, talk, or comedy show?

As the MLA Handbook notes, “A title is placed in quotation marks if it is part of a larger work” (25). Thus, enclose in quotation marks… Read More

Can a title include a note number or symbol?

In our books, we follow our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style for note numbers and symbols in titles: “In books, a note number should… Read More

Should the acronym of an italicized title be set in italics?

Yes. If you use an acronym in place of an italicized title, italicize the acronym, as shown in the example below: In his recent book,… Read More

How do I style a title or short title enclosed in parentheses in my parenthetical citation?

If a title or short title in parentheses must be given in a parenthetical citation, do not nest parentheses within parentheses. Instead, change the parentheses… Read More