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

How do I cite a performance I watch in person?

To cite a performance you watch in person, follow the MLA format template: Astley, Rick. Concert. 6 Oct. 2016, Town Hall, New York City. If… Read More

When citing a magazine, should I include volume and issue numbers in addition to a date?

The MLA’s system of documentation is based not on publication format but on a template of core elements. For each slot in the MLA template,… 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

When a work has no publication date or page numbers, should I include the abbreviations n.d. (“no date”) and n. pag. (“no pagination”) in the works-cited-list entry?

No. Do not use placeholders for unknown information like n.d. (“no date”) and n. pag. (“no pagination”) unless your teacher asks you to do so. (If facts… Read More

Should writers include the edition of a newspaper (such as “late ed.”) in works-cited-list entries?

Yes. If an edition is named on the newspaper’s masthead, include it as the version in your entry. For more on versions, see section 2.3… Read More

Do I italicize Cyrillic book titles in the list of works cited?

In the past, titles and terms in the Cyrillic alphabet were not italicized, partly because it is based on the Greek alphabet, which traditionally is… 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

I am citing a paginated journal article that appears online. Should I include the page range, the URL, or the DOI as the location element in the works-cited-list entry?

The location of an online work is typically indicated by a DOI or URL, one of which should be included, and, as the MLA Handbook… Read More

Can I use et al. in place of translators’ names in a works-cited-list entry?

Yes. As page 22 of the MLA Handbook notes, the use of et al. for three or more authors extends to other types of creators… Read More