C I T A T I O N
G U I D E
MLA Style
PAREN TH ETI C AL
C I TATI ON S
Generally, a parenthetical citation includes the author's last
name and the page number(s) of the information used.
Short Quotations
Place the author’s name either in parentheses or within the
sentence. For example:
According to Jones, "Students often had difficulty using
MLA style" (199). OR
She stated, "Students often had difficulty using MLA
style," but she did not offer an explanation as to why
(Jones 199).
Long Quotations
I NT R O D UCTION
The Modern Language Association (MLA) reference style is
widely used in the humanities. In MLA style, you should first
briefly credit sources with parenthetical citations in the text of
your paper, and then include a complete citation to each source
in works-cited list at the end of your paper.
For additional information and examples, consult the MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. (available at
the Reference Desk on Level 3 of the Main Library) or Ask a
Librarian.
Place long direct quotations (more than four lines) in a block.
Omit quotation marks. For example:
Jones's study found the following:
Students often had difficulty using MLA style,
especially when it was their first time citing sources.
This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that
many students failed to purchase a style manual or
to ask their teacher for help. (199)
T HE
L I ST
O F
W O RKS
CI T E D
Provide specific information to each source cited in preparing
your research paper, such as author, title, and publication
information, in “Works Cited” list.
BOOKS
Last, First M. Title of Book. City Published: Publisher, Year.
Format of Material. (Date of Access).
For an ebook
[A Book by One Author] (MLA 5.5.2)
Flatley, Jonathan. Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the
Politics of Modernism. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 2008.
Print.
[A Book by Two or Three Authors] (MLA 5.5.4)
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M.
Williams. The Craft of Research. 2nd ed. Chicago: U
of Chicago P, 2003. Print.
[A Book by More Than Three Authors] (MLA 5.5.4)
Plag, Ingo, et al. Introduction to English Linguistics.
Berlin: Mouton, 2007. Print.
[A Book with an Editor] (MLA 5.5.3)
Summary or Paraphrase
If you are summarizing or paraphrasing an idea from another
work, indicate the source by the author and the page number(s)
in your parentheses. For example:
According to Jones, MLA style is a difficult citation format
for first-time learners (199).
E b e r l e , Rox a n n e , e d . W o m e n a n d R o m a n t i c i s m ,
1790-1830. London: Routledge, 2006. Print.
Note: To cite a book with two editors, use “eds.”
[A Book Chapter] (MLA 5.5.6)
Bromwich, David. "Literature and Theory." Beyond
Poststructuralism: The Speculations of Theory and
the Experience of Reading. Ed. Wendell V. Harris.
University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1996.
203-33. Print.
[An eBook] (MLA 5.6.2c)
Hart, Kylo-Patrick R., ed. Film and Television Stardom.
Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, 2008. MyiLibrary.
Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
Hong Kong Baptist University Library
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PERIODICAL ARTICLES
When citing an article from a full-text database such as
EBSCOHost or ProQuest, provide the information about the
original print article, and add information identifying the online
database and the date of access.
[A Magazine Article] (MLA 5.4.6 and 5.6.4)
Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Date:
Page(s). Format of Material.
Bartiromo, Maria. "Is China Leading a Global Recovery?"
Business Week 10 Aug. 2009: 11-13. Print.
Baird, Julia. "Privacy, a Forgotten Virtue: Tiger Is an
Athlete, Not a Politician." Newsweek 14 Dec. 2009:
n. pag. ABI/INFORM Global. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
Note: A periodical article from an online database may not include page
numbers. If pagination is not available, give “n. pag.” as in example for
Baird.
[A Scholarly Journal Article] (MLA 5.4.2 and 5.6.4)
Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume.Issue
(Year): Pages. Format of Material.
WEBSITES (MLA 5.6.1 – 5.6.3)
Contributors. “Title of Web Page.” Title of Overall Website.
Website Publisher, Date. Web. Date of Access.
Chen, Stephanie. "Growing up is Hard with Mom in
Prison." CNN.com. Cable News Network, 7 May
2009. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
"How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow.com. eHow, n.d.
Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
Covey, Martin. "Introduction to Time and Families."
Michigan Family Review 13.1 (2009): 1-4. Web. 16
Dec. 2009.
Lehrman, Lewis E. Lincoln at Peoria. Lincoln Institute,
n.d. Web. 17 June 2009.
"The Norwegian Pirate Whaling Fleet." Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, 2009. Web. 17
June 2009. <http://www.seashepherd.org/whales/
norway.html>.
Note:
1. MLA no longer requires the use of a URL. However, if required
by your instructor, include it in angled brackets < > at the end of
citation.
2. Use “n.p.” if no publisher is available.
3. Use “n.d.” if no publishing date is given.
Quincy, Bérnard. "Plato and Shakespeare on Love."
History of Philosophy Quarterly 26.2 (2009): 103-20.
Print.
Butte, G. "Henry James and Deep Intersubjectivity."
The Henry James Review 30.2 (2009): 129-143.
Academic Research Library. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
[Television/Radio Program] (MLA 5.7.1)
“Title of Episode.” Contributors. Title of Program. Network.
Call Letter, City, Date. Medium.
"The Saudi Experience." Prod. Mary Walsh. Sixty Minutes.
CBS. WCBS, New York, 5 May 2009. Television.
[Sound Recording] (MLA 5.7.2)
Contributors. “Song.” Album. Band. Manufacturer, Year.
Medium.
MP3, CD etc.
Corgan, Billy, and Butch Vig. "Today." Siamese Dream.
Smashing Pumpkins. Virgins Records America, 1993.
CD.
[Film] (MLA 5.7.3)
Title. Contributors. Distributor, Year of release. Medium
viewed.
DVD, Film etc.
The Dark Knight. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Christian
Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron Eckhart. Warner
Bros., 2008. DVD.
[Musical Score] (MLA 5.7.5)
If given
Composer. Title. Year. City Published: Publisher, Year
Published. Medium.
[A Newspaper Article] (MLA 5.4.5 and 5.6.4)
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphonies nos. 8 and 9. New
York: Dover, 1989. Print.
Last, First M. “ Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper
Date, edition: Page(s). Format of Material.
NON-PRINT MATERIALS
If any
Broder, John M. "Climate Deal Likely to Bear Big Price
Tag." New York Times 9 Dec. 2009, late ed.: A1.
Print.
Yau, Elaine. "Fine-tuning Gives English a Boost as
Teaching Medium." South China Morning Post 23
Nov. 2009: CITY2. WiseNews. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
Note: If an article starts on B1, skips B2, and runs on to B3, write only
the first page number, followed by a plus sign: B1+.
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For further assistance, please visit the Reference Desk or call
3411-7363 (Main Library), 3411-2714 (CML) or 3411-3170 (SMCL).
The HKBU Library’s homepage is <http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/lib>.
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REF/LL130/11-11/2000
Last updated: Nov 2011