The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition. "MLA" stands for Modern Language Association, and this style of citations is mainly used in literature and the study of world languages.
We recommend that you create all your citations in NoodleTools because that will ensure your citations are in proper MLA format.
In lieu of NoodleTools, we suggest you visit the MLA website, which includes specific examples of citations, Works Cited pages, and sample papers.
MLA references are formatted in a standard way so they can be quickly understood, just like a common language. Think, for example, about mathematical symbols: the plus sign tells you to add numbers, and the minus sign tells you to subtract them. In the same way, the various elements of documentation and citation tell you how to understand and find a source.
Citations are required for any work that you quote from or paraphrase; that you refer to substantively, whether the reference is to a specific place in the source (i.e., a page or chapter), or to the source as a whole; or that you acknowledge as the source of facts you provide or ideas you formulate.
Citations are not required for common knowledge (i.e., basic biographical facts about prominent persons or the dates of major historical events), passing mentions of particular works, or allusions for rhetorical effect.
MLA style papers have one inch margins, are double spaced, and use size 12 Times New Roman font.
Paper Sections:
Instead of a title page, you should include your name, your teacher's name, the name of the class, and the date on the first page of your paper. These are double spaced and go at the top left, with each item getting it's own line.
MLA style papers also include page numbers. These should be at the top right, and are formatted like so: [Your Last Name] 1
You can see an example of an MLA style paper here.
General parenthetical format when paraphrasing or quoting: Sentence (Author Last Name page number).
When the author appears directly in the text of your paper, the page number appears alone in the parenthetical citation.
When referencing a work without a named author, use the name of the work and page number.
Italicize the titles of books, plays, movies, television series, documentaries, or albums.
The titles of short stories, poems, journal articles, specific web pages, and song titles go in quotation marks.
Block quote only when the quote is four or more lines long. The full block quote should be indented from the left margin and be without quotation marks. The parenthetical citation for block quote comes after the closing punctuation, and does not have any punctuation after it.
When quoting poetry, add a slash to indicate when there is a line break. When there is a stanza break, add two slashes.
If block quoting poetry, follow the line breaks of the poem. Include whichever is given to make finding the poem easiest: page numbers, line numbers, or stanza numbers.
When quoting from multiple works, separate them with a semicolon.
The Works Cited section of your paper only includes those sources that are cited directly in the paper. If you looked at other sources but ultimately did not end up paraphrasing or quoting them, remove them from the Works Cited.
The Works Cited should begin on a new page, be double spaced, and be organized alphabetically by author last name.
Book:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.
Specific Poem or Chapter in a Book:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem or Chapter." Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year, p. number.
Republished Book
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Original Publication Year. Publisher, Publication Year.
Webpage with an author:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publication Day Mo., Year, URL.
Webpage without an author:
"Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publication Day Mo., Year, URL.
Journal article from a database:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Journal Article." Title of Journal, vol. number, issue no., pp. numbers. Name of Database, URL.
