How do I cite a sign?

If you quote unique language from a sign, create a works-cited-list entry for it. A sign advises you to “shout, wave arms, throw stones” if you… Read More

How do I refer to works with identical titles?

It’s not uncommon for a writer to discuss two or more works with the same title. For example, a writer may compare different editions or… Read More

Do I introduce an author’s full name and the full title of a work in each chapter of a book or dissertation?

It depends on the focus of your work. In a dissertation on a single author or title—say, Gabriel Marcel’s Being and Having: An Existentialist Diary—it… Read More

How do I format the name of a ship in MLA style?

Names of ships, as well as names of aircraft and spacecraft, are italicized in MLA style. If the name has a prefix, such as USS… Read More

If I’m citing an entire play reprinted in an anthology, does it appear in italics?

Yes. As the MLA Handbook explains, the title of an independent work (that is, a work that usually stands alone, such as a play, novel,… Read More

How do I distinguish works by an author that have the same title?

The eighth edition of the MLA Handbook recommends brevity and clarity in an in-text citation (116)—brevity so that a reference won’t obstruct the flow of… Read More

How do I cite a résumé or a curriculum vitae?

A résumé or a curriculum vitae is a unique type of source that is usually untitled and often undated. You may include the word résumé… Read More

How do I alphabetize a title that starts with a number in my works-cited list?

When you alphabetize your works-cited list, treat numbers in titles as though they were spelled out. Let’s say, for example, you need to alphabetize entries… Read More

Is using ibid. allowed for in-text citations? If so, how is it done?

MLA style avoids ibid. and op. cit., using short titles instead, on the principles that (1) a short title makes your reference clearer to readers,… Read More

When citing a work whose title ends in a question mark or exclamation point, should I also include a period?

The MLA format template calls for a period after the title of a source, but if the title of a source ends in a question mark… Read More