MLA Style

MLA (The Modern Language Association) documentation style is used in many research papers, especially in middle and high schools.

This page will help you correctly list your internet sources in MLA style. To document other kinds of sources, please check http://www.thewritesource.com, or a copy of The Write Source in your classroom.

Please see the last page for rules on listing books, encyclopedias, articles, etc.

Single space the information. Sort the entries in alphabetical order.

The second line should be indented 5 spaces, or 1 TAB.

In-Text Citations for All References

Because Internet sources typically have no page or paragraph numbers, and Web sites often list no author, people are often confused about how to refer to these sources within their papers.

The answer is to cite the author's name whenever possible, and use the source's title otherwise (or a shortened version of the title). If no page or paragraph number is provided, leave that portion of the citation blank. Keep in mind that the primary purpose of an in-text citation is simply to point readers to the correct entry on the "Works Cited" page. 

Example: The coach of the basketball team requires all athletes to attend study hall every day. (NCAA) The rules require that all student athletes maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Books, encyclopedias, articles, etc. are cited inside the text in the same way: use parenthesis to surround the author or title being referenced.

Internet Source Cited Rules

If certain items do not apply or are not available, do not include them!

1.      Author or editor (Last name, First name, ed. for editor) NOTE: The editor's name follows the title in an entry for a project or database.

2.      Title of article, page, posting (followed by the description "On-line posting")

3.      Title of book and printed version information (if part of a book)

4.      Title of the site, database, periodical, etc., or a description such as Home page

5.      Version, volume, issue, or other identifying number

6.      Date posted (or last update)

7.      Name of subscription service, and name and location (city) of library where accessed

8.      Listserv or forum name

9.      Number of pages (pp.) or paragraphs (pars.), if numbered

10.  Sponsoring organization

11.  Date accessed

12.  Electronic address (or URL or keyword of the subscription service)
NOTE: If a URL is quite long and complicated, simply give the site's search page or home page URL.

How to format internet sites:

Basic Model:

Author or editor. "Title." Book title. Printed version

        information. Site title. Volume or issue number. Date posted.

Name of subscription service, library name and location.   Listserv name. 00 pp. Sponsoring organization. Date accessed .

Sample Citations:

 Web Site (Professional)

ESPN.com. 10 Nov. 1999. ESPN news. 24 Nov. 1999

        .

Article Within a Web Site

Devitt, Terry. "Flying High." The Why Files. 9 Dec. 1999. University of

  Wisconsin, Board of Regents. 4 Jan. 2000
  .

Article Within a Web Site (Anonymous)

“NCAA Grades.” 6 Mar. 2001. 13 Mar. 2006 .

"Becoming a Meteorologist." Weather.com. 12 Nov. 1999. The Weather Channel. 24 Nov. 1999 .

Note: When line length forces you to break a Web address, always break it after a slash mark.

 Remember:

     If certain items do not apply or are not available

·          include what you have

·          enter the details in the correct order

·          use correct punctuation

Http://thewritesource.com

  How to format Books, Encyclopedias, Articles…

 

One author	Allen, Thomas B. Vanishing Wildlife of North America. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1974.
2 or 3 authors	Searles, Baird and Martin Last. A Reader’s Guide to Science Fiction. New York: Facts on File, Inc, 1979.
More than 3 authors	Brandes, Kathleen, et al., eds. Vanishing Species. New York: Time-Life Books, 1976.
A single work from an anthology	Poe, Edgar Allen. “The Raven.” Selected Stories & Poems. Ed. Joseph Wood Kruth. Danbury: Grolier Enterprises, 1978.
Encyclopedia article	Pettingill, Olin Sewall, Jr. “Falcon and Falconry.” World Book Encyclopedia. 1980.
Signed article in a weekly magazine	Kanfer, Stefan. “Heard Any Good Books Lately?” Time 21 July 1986: 71.
Unsigned article in a weekly magazine	“America on Drugs.” Newsweek 28 July 1986: 48-60.
Unsigned editorial or story	“A School Year Without a Strike.” Editorial. Chicago Tribune 22 July 1986, sec. 1:10.