How do I cite a term in an online or print dictionary that lists several numbered definitions?

Follow the MLA format template and begin with the headword (as it appears) as the title of the source. Note that this may include parts… 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

How do I cite a museum image that I viewed in person or online?

Page 49 of the MLA Handbook demonstrates how to create a works-cited-list entry for an artwork viewed firsthand at a museum. Include the name of… Read More

Can I look at source code to determine a publication date for online materials that don’t publicize a date?

When doing so is useful to readers, specialists often supply missing publication dates, using a range of methods. For example, a medievalist with expertise in… Read More

When an organization is the author and the publisher of a work, the handbook advises writers to begin the works-cited-list entry with the title of the source. Is it OK to use the organization’s name in a signal phrase or in the in-text citation even though the name does not begin the works-cited-list entry?

No. The text should always key to the list of works cited. You can provide the key in the parenthetical citation or in your text. Read More

How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

A dissertation is a unique type of source. It is a finished, stand-alone work written under the auspices of an institution. In a change from the… Read More

When citing a print dictionary in MLA style, do I include a page number?

Yes. Cite an entry in a print dictionary like a section of a larger work. Include the page number in the “Location” element of the… Read More

How do I document an interview in MLA style?

Create a works-cited-list entry for an interview as you would for any other source: follow the MLA format template. In general, treat the person being… Read More

When a work by three or more authors is mentioned in the text of a research paper (rather than in a parenthetical citation), should the names of all the authors be included or only the first one, followed by et al.?

Reserve the use of the abbreviation et al. for the list of works cited and parenthetical citations. In the text, spell out the authors’ names… Read More

Must quotations always be introduced with wording like “So-and-so writes”?

No. There are innumerable ways to weave a quotation gracefully into your prose. As long as the quotation’s purpose and source are clear, you need… Read More