If I cite sources with the same lead author but different coauthors, do I use et al.?
Yes. In MLA style, when a work has more than two authors or editors, the works-cited-list entry provides the name of the lead author or… Read More
Posts related to using sources
If my paraphrase consists of several sentences, should a citation for the original source appear after each sentence?
No. The citation should appear only after the final sentence of the paraphrase. If, however, it will be unclear to your reader where your source’s… Read More
If I cite a source quoted in another source, am I obligated to check that the quotation is correct?
No, but it’s always best to consult the original and quote from it directly, if possible. Read More
Should my student provide both English and Chinese versions of a works-cited-list entry when citing a work in Chinese?
In its publications, the MLA prefers to provide works-cited-list entries in the original script, along with a translation and sometimes a transliteration, for works not written in… Read More
How do I create an in-text citation for a film?
The in-text citation for a film should key to a works-cited-list entry. If you list a film under its title, you must refer to the title in… Read More
Is it acceptable to begin an essay with a block quotation?
Yes, an essay may start with a block quotation. The quotation should be important to your discussion and referred to in your prose. This distinguishes it… Read More
Can a building be cited as a source?
Although it is not conventional to document a building as if it were a work, if you are discussing many buildings in detail–for example, analyzing their… Read More
How do I cite an author who has transitioned?
Authors may write and publish under different names—by adopting pseudonyms or changing their names. When you are aware that an author has published under different… Read More
Do you have to provide the author’s name in a parenthetical citation for a work of common literature such as The Iliad?
Yes, unless you have already mentioned the author’s name in your prose. Just because a work is famous doesn’t mean you can omit the name of its… Read More
What You Can Omit When Quoting Sources
There is an entire category of material that you do not reproduce . . . Read More