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
If a character is predominantly referred to by a nickname in a work, then you may use that nickname in your paper. For example, in… Read More
Last names in English composed of more than one element are usually shortened to the final element, so a name like Harriet Beecher Stowe would… Read More
Follow the MLA’s general rule for styling numbers (MLA Handbook, sec. 1.4.1). In discussions where few numbers appear, spell out those that can be written… Read More
Examples of grammar principles can be styled in various ways. They can be italicized, enclosed in quotation marks, or set as extracts, to name a… Read More
To cite the main idea of a work, key your reference to the first element of your works-cited-list entry. This element—usually the author or title—could… Read More
In prose and works-cited-list entries, the first and last names of authors should begin with a capital letter. All other letters should be lowercase. Let’s… Read More
Semicolons should be used before coordinating conjunctions—that is, terms such as and, or, and but joining independent clauses—when the clauses are long and have internal punctuation, as… Read More
No. But if the information is useful for your argument—for example, because it signals the importance of the article’s topic—you can mention it in your… Read More
The MLA follows Merriam-Webster, which states that media can be treated as singular or plural when the reference is to mass media (“Media”). So you may choose… Read More