MLA Documentation
Credible, responsible writers use documentation in their writing. Accurate acknowledgement of their sources demonstrates writers' professionalism, allows them to use experts to support their research, and ensures they avoid plagiarism.
This guide includes examples of MLA (Modern Language Association) documentation formats for print and electronic sources including books, periodicals, databases and websites. Additional information and examples are available in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th edition) and on the MLA website at http://www.mla.org under MLA Style. The current English 101 handbook, The New Century Handbook will also be helpful.
- Print Sources
- Books
- Parts of a Book
- Periodicals
- Electronic Sources
- Databases
- Websites
- Parenthetical Documentation (Example)
Books
1 author
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author. Title:Subtitle. City of publication: Publisher, publication date.
Nicholson, Robert H. Mathematics for Business and Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1986.
2-3 authors
Last name of author listed first on title page, First Name Middle name or Initial, and followed by the other name [or names separated by a comma and the word and] in natural order First name Middle name or Initial Last name. Title:Subtitle. City of publication: Publisher, publication date.
Bassis, Michael S., Richard J. Gelles, and Ann Levine. Sociology: An Introduction. New York: Random House, 1984.
4+ authors
Last name of author listed first on title page, First name Middle name or Initial, et al. Title:Subtitle. City of publication: Publisher, publication date.
Dube, Anthony, et al. Structure and Meaning: An Introduction to Literature. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1983.
Editor or compiler as author
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial, ed. [or comp.] Title:
Subtitle. City of publication: Publisher, publication date.
Brundage, W. Fitzhugh, ed. Under Sentence of Death: Lynching in the South. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1997.
Parts of Books
Item in an Anthology
Last name, First name Middle name or initial of author of item. "Title of Item." Title of anthology. Ed. (or Comp. Or Trans.) First name Middle name or Initial Last Name of editor, compiler, translator of anthology. City of publication: Publisher, publication date. Range of pages.
Miller, Arthur. "Memory of Two Mondays." One Act: Eleven Short Plays of the Modern Theatre. Ed. Samuel Moon. New York: Grove Press, 1961. 251-313.
Introduction, Foreward, etc.
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of item. "Title of the item." Foreward (or Introduction, Afterword, etc.). Title of book. By First name Last name of author of book if different from author of item or By Last name if same. City of publication: Publisher, publication date. Range of pages.
Borza, Eugene N. "An Introduction to Alexander Studies." Introduction. Alexander the Great. By Ulrich Wilcken. New York: W.W.Norton & Company, 1967. ix-xxviii.
Article in Reference Book
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of article." Title of Reference Book. Ed. First name Middle name or Initial Last name of editor of reference book. Edition. Volume #. City of publication: Publisher, publication date. Range of pages.
Oakes, Jeannie. "Grouping Students for Instruction." Encyclopedia of Educational Research. Ed. Marvin C. Alkin. 6th edition. Vol.2. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992. 562-568.
Previously Published Item Reprinted in Reference Book
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of item. "Title of item." Title of original publication [it may be a book, periodical,etc.] volume # of periodical (publication year): Page range. Rpt. in Title of Reference Book. Ed. First name Last name of editor of reference book. Volume # of reference book. City of publication: Publisher, publication date. Range of pages.
Stewart, J.I.M. "Kipling." Eight Modern Writers (1963): 223-293. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon K. Hall. Vol.8. Detroit: Gale Research Company,1982. 197-201.
Periodicals
Journal article
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of Article." Title of Journal volume number.issue number (publication year): range of pages.
Morman, David A. "New Web Tools Click with Community Colleges." Community College Journal 71.2 (2000): 34-37.
Magazine article
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of article." Title of Magazine date abbreviation of Month year of publication: range of pages or starting page number followed by a plus sign if pages are not consecutive.
Hyman, Mark. "For Big-League Dreamers, Big-League Camps." Business Week 26 Feb. 2001:112-114.
Newspaper article
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper [City of publication of local papers if not included in title] date abbreviation of Month year of publication, edition: page number or starting page number followed by a plus sign if pages are not consecutive.
Schwartzman, Paul. "Unleashing a Danger or Appreciating Pets? Pr. George's May Lift Ban on Pit Bulls." Washington Post 26 Feb. 2001, home ed.: A1+.
Electronic Sources
Databases
Libraries subscribe to databases like Proquest, SIRS, Academic Search Elite, Project Muse, etc., that provide access to periodical articles in journals, magazines and newspapers. Some databases, like Galenet, contain materials previously published in books including articles from encyclopedias and other reference books, excerpts from books, photographs, video and audio clips.
Journal article in a database
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of article."Title of Journal volume number.issue number (publication year): range of pages or total number of pages. Name of database. Name of database service. Library, library location. date Month year of access <URL of database service homepage>.
Heidt, Robert S., Jr. "Avoidance of Soccer Injuries with Preseason Conditioning." American Journal of Sports Medicine 28.5 (2000): 659-662. PA Research II Periodicals. ProQuest. Chesapeake College Learning Resource Center, Wye Mills. 25 Sept. 2000 <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb>.
Magazine article in a database
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of Article." Title of magazine date Month year of publication: page range. Name of Database. Name of database service. Library, library location. date Month year of access <URL of database service homepage>.
Hurley, Kevin. "What are Gamma-Ray Bursters?" Sky & Telescope Aug. 1990: 143-147. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Chesapeake College Learning Resource Center, Wye Mills. 11 Dec. 2000 < http://sirs.com>.
Newspaper article in a database
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of article. "Title of article." Title of newspaper [City of publication if not included in newspaper title] date Month year of publication, edition: page number. Name of database. Name of database service. Library, library location. date Month year of access <URL of database service homepage>.
Gershenson, Adam. "After Eviction, Family Struggles Back to Stability." New York Times 17 Dec. 1998: B4. Academic Search Elite. Maryland Digital Library. Chesapeake College Learning Resource Center, Wye Mills. 11 Dec. 2000 < http://md-diglib.org >.
Previously published essay, chapter of book, etc. in a database
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of item. "Title of Essay, Chapter, etc." Title of Print Source. City of print publication: Print publisher, print publication date. Name of database. Editor of database. Database version number. Electronic publication date. Name of database service. Library, library location. date Month, year of access <URL of database service homepage>.
Greenblatt, Stephen J. "George Orwell." Three Modern Satirists: Waugh, Orwell And Huxley. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965. Literature Resource Center. 2001. Galenet. Chesapeake College Learning Resource Center, Wye Mills. 5 Jan. 2001 <http://galenet.gale.com/ >.
Websites
Entire website
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author. Title of
website. Date of publication or latest update. Name of Institution or Organization associated with site. date Month year of access <URL of website>.
Rickover, Robert. The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique. 2001. Alexander Technique Nebraska, Ontario Centre for the Alexander Technique. 2 Feb. 2000 <http://www.alexandertechnique.com>.
Article, document, etc. within a website
Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of author of document. "Title of document." Title of website. Last name, First name Middle name or Initial of website author or editor preceded by Ed. Date of publication or latest update of website. Name of Institution or Organization associated with site. date Month year of access <URL of document>.
Macy, John A. "Physical Therapy and the Alexander Technique: An Overview." The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique. 2001. Alexander Technique Nebraska, Ontario Centre for theAlexander Technique. 2 Feb. 2001 <http://www.alexandertechnique.com/pt/macy>.
Parenthetical Style (Example)
Whenever you use direct quotations, summaries, paraphrases, statistics, tables, or diagrams, you must acknowledge the source of the borrowed information.
References to an Article
Only one article mentioned the high cost of training radiographers (Harper 47).If the author's name is given in the text, do not repeat it in the citation.
James Harper reported that the cost of training students in health related fields is higher because of the equipment, which must be kept up to date (47).
Harper (1985) reported that the cost of training students in health related fields is higher because of the equipment, which must be kept up to date (p. 48).
Direct Quotation
According to James Harper, "Many students in health related fields find it necessary to seek financial assistance to complete their education" (48).
If there is inaccurate information on this page, please send correction or comments to: lrcdesk@chesapeake.edu