how to cite essay in anthology mla

College-wide MLA Citation Guide: 9th edition

• MLA RESEARCH PAPER
• CITING AN ANTHOLOGY
• CITING BOOKS & eBOOKS
• CITING PRINT ARTICLES
• CITING DIGITAL ARTICLES
• CITING POETRY
• CITING NEWSPAPERS
• CITING WEBSITES
• IN-TEXT CITATIONS
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Example Citation for a Work in an Anthology

Print Book

Plath, Sylvia. "Daddy."  The Seagull Reader: Poems,  edited by Joseph Kelly, 4th ed., W. W. Norton, 2017, pp 243-246. 

Thomas, Dylan. "Do Not Go into That Good Night." The Seagull Reader: Poems,  edited by Joseph Kelly, 4th ed., W. W. Norton, 2017,

           p 337. 

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MLA Citation Guide 9th Edition: Citing an anthology / print

• Recent Changes
• Citing a Print Book
• Citing an eBook
• Citing an anthology / print
• Citing a Print Magazine Article
• Citing a Print Newspaper Article
• Citing a Print Journal Article
• Citing Magazine or Newspaper Articles from a Library Database
• CIting Journal Articles from a Library Database
• Citing a Website
• Citing a DVD / Streaming Service
• Citing Blogs & Interviews
• Additional MLA Resources

Chapter, essay or short story in an anthology

Author’s Last Name, First name. "Title of the Work, Chapter, Short Story or Essay." Title of the Anthology ( in italics) ,   edited by First Name, Last Name (s), edition if available (ex: 2nd ed.) ,  Publisher, Year of Publication, Page Numbers of the chapter. 

A short story contained in a multi-volume edition

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Short Story." Title of the multivolume work (in italics) , edited by First Name Last Name , volume number (vol.), Publisher, Year of Publication, Page numbers of the short story. 

Example from the MLA Handbook:

Anthology or edited collection

Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of the Anthology (in italics). Publisher, Year of Publication. 

Entry in a print reference

Last Name, First Name and First Name Last Name. "Title of entry in the reference book." Title of the reference book or the encyclopedia (in italics), edited by First and Last Names, Edition number if given, Volume number if any, Publisher, Date of Publication, Pages of the entry. 

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• How to Cite
• Language & Lit
• Rhyme & Rhythm
• The Rewrite
• Search Glass

How to Cite an Anthology in MLA Style

You can cite an anthology, which is a published collection of literary pieces in a single book, using Modern Language Association format both in-text and on the Works Cited page. You would rarely cite an entire anthology, except in referring to the introduction or a bio, so generally cite a specific literary work within the text.

Works Cited Citation

To cite an entry in an anthology, include the author's name, title of the piece in quotation marks, title of the anthology in italics, editor's name, city of publication, publisher, publication year, page numbers of the entry and medium in the following format:

Wharton, Edith. "The Angel at the Grave." The Norton Anthology of Literature By Women: The Traditions in English. Eds. Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar. New York: Norton, 2007. 31-43. Print.

If the citation takes up more than one line, indent all lines after the first.

In-Text Citation

For in-text citations, include the author's last name and page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence as follows:

"The House stood a few yards back from the elm-shaded village street," (Wharton 31).

If the author's name is mentioned in the sentence, just include the page number like this:

Wharton uses the tool of personification in her writing, stating that the house possessed Mrs. Anson and was conscious of its victory (35).

• Onlince Writing Lab: MLA Works Cited Page: Books

Based in Gatineau, Canada, Kat Walcott has been writing entertainment and informative articles since 2008. Her work has appeared in major publications including Her Campus, Equals6 and Uppercase. She holds an honors diploma in social science from Heritage College and is currently majoring in communication studies and minoring in sexuality studies.

MLA Style Guide, 7th Edition: Parts of Books or Anthologies

• About In-text Citations
• In-text Examples
• How to Paraphrase and Quote
• What to Include
• Editors, Translators, etc.
• Publication Date
• Volume/Issue
• Place of Publication
• Date of Access (when needed)
• Book with Personal Author(s)
• Book with Editor(s)
• Book with Organization as Author
• Work with No Author

Parts of Books or Anthologies

• Multi-Volume Works
• Journal Article
• Newspaper Article
• Magazine Article
• Government Publication
• Web Publications
• Other Common Sources
• Formatting Your Paper
• Formatting Your 'Works Cited' List
• Annotated Bibliography
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MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition

• MLA Style, 9th Edition
• In-text citations
• Books - Multiple Authors
• Books - with editors, translators, etc.
• Book - Essay, Short Story, Poem, etc
• Books - later editions
• Articles - Multiple Authors
• Articles - from scholarly journals
• Articles - from newspapers
• Articles - from magazines
• YouTube Video
• Television Shows
• Images from the Web
• Works Cited: Websites
• Works Cited: Social Media / Informal Communication
• Works Cited: Conference Proceeding/Paper
• Don't See an Example for Your Source?!
• Report an Error / Question

A work (e.g., essay, short story) in an anthology or compilation

When you are citing one work from a book in the text of your paper and the book has many different authors, you will list the information about that work (critical essay, short story from an anthology, etc) first.

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MLA Style Guide 9th Edition

• How To Use This Guide
• What's New in the 9th Edition?
• Ethical Use of Sources & Plagiarism This link opens in a new window
• Introduction to Containers
• Introduction to DOI
• Formatting: Guidelines and Samples
• Formatting: Quotations
• How to Format In-text Citations
• Number and Type of Author(s)
• Multiple Sources with the Same Author Name
• Repeated Use of a Source
• Listing Author Names
• Tips for Online Sources
• Citing Text Content Created by AI
• Citing Image Content Created by AI
• Book Chapter
• Book with 1 Author
• Book with 2 Authors
• Book with 3+ Authors
• Book with Corporate Author
• Book with Editor(s)
• Authored Chapter of a Edited Book
• Translated Book
• Reference Book
• Classical Works
• Referencing: Course Packs
• eBook from Library Database
• eBook from Website
• Image from a Book
• Image from a Website
• Including Images in Your Paper
• Referencing: Indigenous Elders & Knowledge Keepers
• Journal Article, Print
• Journal Article with 1 Author, Online
• Journal Article with 2 Authors, Online
• Journal Article with 3+ Authors, Online
• Magazine Article, Print or Online
• Newspaper Article, Print or Online
• Referencing: Personal Communications
• Referencing: Podcasts
• Reference : Poetry
• Page, Article or Posting on a Website
• Website (General)
• Website, No Author
• Website, Same Author/Publisher
• Website, Same Author/Publisher/Title
• Comment on an Article or Post on a Website
• Television Series
• Streaming websites or Apps
• Secondary Sources
• Helpful Resources
• Take a Quiz

When creating a reference for a story, essay or poem from an anthology or collection, begin with the author of the selection followed by the title of the selection in quotations. Include the date of original publication if known. Then, include reference information for the anthology or collection as a whole (container). Conclude with page numbers of the selection .

*See page 27 of the MLA Handbook, 8th edition, for referencing a selection from a collection that usually appears independently.

Story, Essay or Poem from an Anthology

• Works Cited Format
• In-text Citation Format

There are different ways to format an in-text citation depending on your writing style and sentence structure. Formatting examples are outlined below:

Remember, in-text citation formatting may change depending on a number of factors .

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / How to Cite an Essay in MLA

How to Cite an Essay in MLA

The guidelines for citing an essay in MLA format are similar to those for citing a chapter in a book. Include the author of the essay, the title of the essay, the name of the collection if the essay belongs to one, the editor of the collection or other contributors, the publication information, and the page number(s).

Citing an Essay

Mla essay citation structure.

Last, First M. “Essay Title.” Collection Title, edited by First M. Last, Publisher, year published, page numbers. Website Title , URL (if applicable).

MLA Essay Citation Example

Gupta, Sanjay. “Balancing and Checking.” Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Bob Towsky, Brook Stone Publishers, 1996, pp. 36-48. Essay Database, www . databaseforessays.org/modern/modern-democracy.

MLA Essay In-text Citation Structure

(Last Name Page #)

MLA Essay In-text Citation Example

Click here to cite an essay via an EasyBib citation form.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Sample Paper
• Works Cited
• MLA 8 Updates
• MLA 9 Updates
• View MLA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Website (no author)
• View all MLA Examples

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To cite your sources in an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author’s name(s), chapter title, book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for in-text citations and a works-cited-list entry for essay sources and some examples are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author on the first occurrence. For subsequent citations, use only the surname(s). In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author(s).

Citation in prose:

First mention: Annette Wheeler Cafarelli

Subsequent occurrences: Wheeler Cafarelli

Parenthetical:

….(Wheeler Cafarelli).

Works-cited-list entry template and example:

The title of the chapter is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name. “Title of the Chapter.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Cafarelli, Annette Wheeler. “Rousseau and British Romanticism: Women and British Romanticism.” Cultural Interactions in the Romantic Age: Critical Essays in Comparative Literature , edited by Gregory Maertz. State U of New York P, 1998, pp. 125–56.

To cite an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author(s), the essay title, the book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for citations in prose, parenthetical citations, and works-cited-list entries for an essay by multiple authors, and some examples, are given below:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author (e.g., Mary Strine).

For sources with two authors, use both full author names in prose (e.g., Mary Strine and Beth Radick).

For sources with three or more authors, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Mary Strine and others). In subsequent citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Strine and others).

In parenthetical citations, use only the author’s surname. For sources with two authors, use two surnames (e.g., Strine and Radick). For sources with three or more author names, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.”

First mention: Mary Strine…

Subsequent mention: Strine…

First mention: Mary Strine and Beth Radick…

Subsequent mention: Strine and Radick…

First mention: Mary Strine and colleagues …. or Mary Strine and others

Subsequent occurrences: Strine and colleagues …. or Strine and others

…. (Strine).

….(Strine and Radick).

….(Strine et al.).

The title of the essay is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name, et al. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Strine, Mary M., et al. “Research in Interpretation and Performance Studies: Trends, Issues, Priorities.” Speech Communication: Essays to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Speech Communication Association , edited by Gerald M. Phillips and Julia T. Wood, Southern Illinois UP, 1990, pp. 181–204.

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If I’m citing an entire play reprinted in an anthology, does it appear in italics?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

Yes. As the MLA Handbook explains, the title of an independent work (that is, a work that usually stands alone, such as a play, novel, or artwork) is styled in italics, even when the work is contained in another independent work (27):

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth . The Riverside Shakespeare , edited by G. Blakemore Evans et al., vol. 2, Houghton Mifflin, 1974, pp. 1307-42.

The following example shows an entry for a work of art contained in a website:

Bearden, Romare. The Train . 1975. MOMA , www.moma.org/collection/works/65232?locale=en.

Anthropology: MLA Citation Help

• Career Resources
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• Find Articles
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• Web Resources
• Research Process
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Citing Different Sources in MLA

• AI (Artificial Intelligence like ChatGPT)
• Art (Displayed piece of art)
• Article in a Reference Book
• Bible (Scripture)
• Book with One Author
• Book with Two Authors
• Book with Three or more Authors
• Book with an edition
• Chapter in an Edited Book
• Class Readings from Questia/Cengage
• Course/Assignment information from Blackboard
• Films - Two Options
• Government Documents
• Image from Website
• Journal article, Library Database
• Music, Album or CD
• Music, Song on an Album
• Newspaper Article from the Web
• PDF or Report
• PDF or Report accessed from a website
• Primary Source from a Website
• Primary Source in a Textbook
• Religious Works with Version
• Short Story or Poem
• TV Show Episode
• TV show, Streaming Service
• Webpage with an Author AND a pub date
• Webpage with No Author, contains publication date
• Webpage with NO Author, NO pub date
• Webpage with an Author, no publication date
• Webpage with a Group Author and a pub date

Works Cited

“Explain the green light in the book  The Great Gatsby  by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt.  ChatGPT , 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

In-text citation

("Explain the green light")

Klee, Paul.  Twittering Machine.  1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York.  The Artchive,  www . artchive.com/artchive/K/Klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

Intext would be (Klee).

"Ideology."  The American Heritage Dictionary.  3rd ed., 1997, pp 44-45.

To cite this source, page 44, for example: ("Ideology" 44)

The New Jerusalem Bible.  Henry Wansbrough, general editor, Doubleday, 1985.

In one of the most vivid prophetic visions in the Bible, Ezekial saw "what seems to be four living creatures" ( New Jerusalem Bible,  Ezek. 1.5). John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

**If you are only using one Bible, then you don't have to refer to the Bible's name except in the first intext citation. The rest of the intext citations can be the (Book, verse). 

***MLA Handbook, 2021, p. 247

Choi, Susan. Trust Exercise. Holt, 2019.

To cite entire book: (Choi)

To cite page 25, for example: (Choi 25)

Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring . Allyn and Bacon, 2000. 

If citing the entire book (Gillespie and Lerner)

If citing pages 210-225 (Gillespie and Lerner 210-225)

Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al.  Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition . Utah State UP, 2004.

If citing page 167, for example: (Wysocki et al. 167)

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee.  Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students . 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.

If citing entire book: (Crowley and Hawhee)

If citing page 202, for example (Crowley and Hawkee 202)

Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers."  A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One,  edited by Ben Rafoth, Henemann, 2000, pp. 24-34.

If citing page 34 for example: (Harris 34)

If the original publication date is important for the reader to understand the context of the source, include it.

Franklin, Benjamin. "Emigration to America." 1782.  The Faber Book of America,  edited by Christopher Ricks and William L. Vance, Faber and Faber, 1992, pp. 24-26.

Intext would be (Franklin 24-26). 

Dickinson, Emily. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.”  The Oxford Book of American Verse , edited by F. O. Matthiessen, Oxford UP, 1950, p. 439.  Questia .

This reading is located in the Questia/Cengage compilation but was published in  The Oxford Book of American Verse.  The publishing information  is all located in the copyright box at the bottom of the reading.

The intext citation would still be 

(Dickinson 439)

Plott, Cassie. English 111. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, April 2020, https://rccc.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_51000_1&content_id=_4450030_1.

Washington, Durthy. CliffsNotes on Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl . Cliffs Notes, 2000. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=67062&site=ehost-live.

In-text citation is (Washington)

or in-text citation for page 33 is

(Washington 33)

Author. Title of ebook . Publisher, date. Name of database where you found the book , URL.

Blade Runner.  1982. Directed by Ridley Scott, performance by Harrison Ford, director's cut, Warner Bros., 1992.

Scott, Ridley, director.  Blade Runner.  1982. Performance by Harrison Ford, director's cut, Warner Bros., 1992.

For films, citations begin with the title unless you want to highlight some other aspect, such as the direction. In the first example, Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford are considered "Other contributors". The second example treats Ridley Scott as an "author" with Harrison Ford as another contributor. The Publisher is Warner Bros.

Highlights from the Competition Bureau’s Workshop on Emerging Competition Issues.  Competition Bureau of Canada, 4 Mar. 2016, www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/vwapj/cb-Workshop-Summary-Report-e.pdf/$FILE/cb-Workshop-Summary-Report-e.pdf.  Accessed 6 July 2016

In-text citation is (name of document, can be shortened)

( HIghlights from the Competition Bureau's Workshop)

In-text citation if a direct quote from page 2, for example

( Highlights from the Competition Bureau's Workshop 2)

Doest, Jasper. "Japanese macaques take a hot bath during winter in Jigokudani."  National Geographic,  15 Sept. 2016, nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2016/09/snow-macaque-nice-shot. Accessed 17 Mar 2020.

Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 22 April 2020.

Intext citation is (Smith)

​ Zumla, Alimuddin, et al. "Vaccine Against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus."  The Lancet Infectious Diseases,  vol. 19, no. 10, 2019, pp. 1054-1055.  ProQuest,  https://proxy154.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/2297096029? accountid=13601, doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30477-3.

To cite this article, page 1054, for example: (Zumla et al. 1054)

Chevelle. Wonder What's Next . Epic, 2002.

Intext would be (Chevelle)

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Intext is (Nirvana)

Tavernise, Sabrina. "Disparity of Life Spans of the Rich and the Poor is Growing."  The New York Times,  12 Feb. 2016,  https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/13/health/disparity-in-life-spans-of-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-growing.html . 

(Tavernise)

Note that the URL is linked. This is an option in MLA 8th Edition. Your teacher may choose to allow this or not.

This format should be used for pdfs that you receive electronically but not via accessing a website. Even though you may have received this independently, you still need to find the URL that will lead your reader to the source.

Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) Background Guide, 31st Annual Carolinas Conference, 2020, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58d5280103596edcfc032057/t/5f5937c0642457206e8c3057/1599682499567/SOCHUM+Background+Guide.pdf.

In-text citation is

( Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee)

If a direct quote or statistic is used, from page 3 for example

( Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee 3)

To cite a pdf from a website, you first cite the pdf with author, title, publisher and date and then cite the website with the URL.

For example, the following report doesn't have an author so you start with title, the publisher and date. Then you cite the website Duke Energy and that site's date.End with the URL.

Duke Energy 2019 Annual Report and Form 10-K, Duke Energy, 2019. Duke Energy, 2020, https://www.duke-energy.com/annual-report/_/media/pdfs/our-company/investors/de-annual-reports/2019/2019-duke-energy-annual-report.pdf?la=en.

( Duke Energy 2019 Annual Report)

If direct quote or statistic used, for example from page 4

( Duke Energy 2019 Annual Report 4)

Adams, John. "John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 February 1812." 1812.  Founders Online,  National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-04-02-036. Accessed 1 February 2023

___________

*This website didn't have a publication date. Accessed dates are recommended for websites especially when there is no publication date.

Recomended formatting for primary sources on webpages.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Primary Source Document: Subtitle." Year of creation. Title of Website,  Publisher of Website, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year site was visited.

Jackson, Andrew. "First Inaugural Address." 1829. Out of Many: A History of the American People . John Faragher et al., Pearson, 2020, p. 56. 

Intext is (author's last name page#)

(Jackson 56)

The Bible.  Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

Intext citation is ( The Bible,  John 3:16)

Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl."  The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories , edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.

(Kincaid 306)

If all poems or stories are by the same author, there is typically not an editor-

Carter, Angela. "The Tiger's Bride."  Burning Your Boats: The Collected Stories,  Penguin, 1995, pp. 154-69.

(Carter 157)

"Hush." 1999.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Season,  created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, episode 10, Twentieth Century Fox, 2003, disc 3. 

"Chapter Six: The Monster."  Stranger Things,  season 1, episode 6, Netflix, 15 July 2016.  Netflix,  netflix.com/watch/80077373?trackld=13752289@tctx=0%2C%2Ca7112b65-16b2-46a38b1c-310fcb259da1-8921805

Chappelow, James. "Conflict Theory." Investopedia , 19 May 2019, www.investopedia.com/terms/c/conflict-theory.asp

(Chappelow) is the intext citation

Webpage with Access date

Wise, DeWanda. "Why TV Shows Make me Feel less Alone."  NAMI,  31 May 2019, https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/May-2019/How-TV-Shows-Make-Me-Feel-Less-Alone . Accessed 10 June 2020. 

"Athlete's Foot - Topic Overview."  WebMD,  25 Sept. 2014, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-topic-overview.

("Athlete's")

September 25, 2014 is the publication date. There are no page numbers. The access date is optional. It is ok to shorten the title of the website; keep it in quotation marks.

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America."  Global Warming: Early Signs.  1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

Intext citation is ("Impact of Global Warming")

*The access date is optional. You can shorten the title of long sources. Keep the webpage title in quotation marks.

"Majors and Concentrations." UNC Greensboro, https://admissions.uncg.edu/academics/majors-concentrations/. Accessed 22 April 2020.

* Access date is recommended for sites with no publication date.

("Majors and Concentrations")

Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili."   eHow,  www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html.

To cite the webpage (Lundman)

There are no page numbers. Access date is optional but recommended if the webpage is one that updates regularly.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics. "Librarians." Occupational Outlook Handbook , 20 Dec 2019, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm. Accessed 10 June 2020.  

To intext cite

(U.S. Dept of Labor)

*Group authors can be abbreviated. The access date is recommended for webpages that update regularly.

If author is different from uploader

McGonigal, Jane. "Gaming and Productivity." YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKdzy9bWW3E.

Intext is (McGonigal)

If uploader is same as author

"8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test." YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

Intext is ("8 Hot Dog Gadgets")

MLA Tutorial

Order of core elements.

These are the elements or pieces of information for MLA citations.

•  Author. 
• Title of source. (Books are italicized, Webpages are in quotes, Article names are in quotes, Songs are in quotes)
• Title of container, (Journal names are in italics, websites are in italics, album names are in italics)
• Other contributors, (sometimes used for movies, books with translators, books with introductions, etc.)
• Version, (usually for items that have been updated or in different versions)
• Number,  (usually for items in a numbered series, ie Journal articles, multi-volume book series, TV series, etc.)
• Publisher, (publisher produces the items so is commonly available on books, webpages unless title is same as publisher, production companies for movies, etc. Websites that make things available but don't publish aren't included here, ie Youtube, Wordpress, Proquest .)
• Publication date, (if more than one, go with date that is more relevant)
• Location. (page numbers, URL, doi is recommended if available, physical location of art)
• Date of access. (Recommended for online sources especially if they can change. Your instructor may ask you not to do this however.) I ​​​ f you include an access date it is in this format: Accessed 10 June 2020.

What elements do you see here?

Wise, dewanda. "why tv shows make me feel less alone." nami ,  31 may 2019, http://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/may-2019/how-tv-shows-make-me-feel-less-alone. accessed 10 june 2020. , author - dewanda wise, title of source - "why tv shows make me feel less alone", title of container - nami, publication date - 31 may 2019, location -  http://www.nami.org/blogs/nami-blog/may-2019/how-tv-shows-make-me-feel-less-alone., access date - 10 june 2020, direct quotes.

• APA Block, Long Direct Quotes
• MLA Block, Long Direct Quotes

Guidelines for Direct Quotes

A direct quote uses the exact words of a source. .

Think of the quote as a rare and precious jewel. 

Quotes can be super-effective in getting your point across to the reader. Just be sure you’re not stringing a bunch of quotes together – you want your voice to be stronger than the voice of your sources. You always need to interpret, analyze, add to and explain more about the quote to your reader.  

Here are some guidelines to help you decide when to use quotes:

• Wording that is so memorable, unforgettable or powerful, or expresses a point so perfectly, that you cannot change it without weakening the meaning.
• An important passage is so dense or rich that it requires you to analyze it closely. This requires that the passage be quoted so the reader can follow your analysis.
• A claim you are making is such that the doubting reader will want to hear exactly what the source said. This is mostly when you criticize or disagree with a source. You want your reader to know you aren't misrepresenting the source.
• Your attempts to paraphrase or summarize are awkward or much longer than the source material.

You may choose to quote an entire passage from a source or just words or phrases. Make sure to use signal words (see below) to move between your ideas and the words of your source. Also, always cite your work. 

Direct Quotes (MLA format):

As one of Obama's deputy assistants Yohannes Abraham explains, "It's really important to remember to just be a good person" (Scherer, Miller, and Elliott 36). 

As William Kneale suggests, some humans have a "moral deafness" which is never punctured no matter what the moral treatment (93).

For Charles Dickens, the eighteenth century was both "the best of times" and "the worst of times" (35). 

Direct Quotes (APA format)

As Ali Akbar Hamemi remarked, "There is no doubt that America is a super-power in the world and we cannot ignore them" (Vick, 2017, p. 13). 

Sometimes it may be necessary to include long direct quotes (of over 40 words) in your work if you are unable to paraphrase or summarize. A long quote is treated differently as a block quotation with a .5 inch margin from the left but still double-spaced.  Notice that there are no quotation marks around the block quotations even though these are direct quotes.  Here are two examples:

Block quotation with parenthetical citation:

Researchers found when studying gray wolves that coloring around eyes may change over the lifespan:

Facial color patterns change with growth in many American  canid  species, although no studies have directly examined such developmental changes. For example, all newborn gray wolves observed in the present study had dark-colored bodies and C-type faces with dark-colored irises. (Ueda et al., 2014, p. 4)

Ueda, S., Kumagai, G., Otaki, Y., Yamaguchi, S., & Kohshima, S. (2014). A comparison of facial color pattern and gazing behavior in canid species suggests gaze communication in gray wolves (canis lupus).  PLoS One,  9 (6) doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0098217

Block quotation with narrative citation:

Manning and Kaler (2011) describe the difficulties of using survey methods when observing owls:

Survey  methods with observers outside the vehicle were 3 times more likely to displace an owl than a single vehicle stop where observers remained inside the vehicle. Owls were displaced farther distances by all survey methods compared to control trials, but distances and time displaced did not differ among survey methods.

Manning, J. A., & Kaler, R. S. A. (2011). Effects of survey methods on burrowing owl behaviors.  Journal of Wildlife Management,  75 (3), 525-530. Retrieved from https://proxy154.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/925615280?accountid=13601

For more information, see page 272 of the   Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7 th  ed.

If a quote runs more than four lines long, you must block the quote with a .5 margin on the left. Do not use quotation marks even though it's a direct quote.

At the conclusion of  Lord of the Flies,  Ralph, realizing the horror of his actions, is overcome by

great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. his voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding 186)

So, when using quotes:

• Always have a good reason  for using a direct quote. Otherwise, paraphrase or summarize.
• Do not allow quotes to speak for themselves . Your research paper is about communicating YOUR IDEAS.  Your research simply helps prove or support those ideas.
• Always make sure you  provide an analysis of the quote .  Show your readers that you understand how the quote relates to your ideas by analyzing its significance.
• Do not use quotes as padding . If quotes do not have adequate analysis, readers will feel that you don’t have a grasp on what that quote means, and they also might feel that you are using quotes as “filler” to take up space.
• Use no more than 2 direct quotes per paragraph .
• Carefully integrate quotations into your text so that they flow smoothly and clearly into the surrounding sentences. Use a signal phrase or signal verb, such as those in the following example:

As Thompson (2020) makes clear, Youtube's  algorithms "can’t distinguish between true and false data, except in the most crude way" (para. 5).  

Peas and Carrots

Whenever you have a reference at the end of your paper, you need at least one intext citation to go with it. Every intext citation should point to a reference at the end of your paper.

References and Intext Citations Go Together Like Peas and Carrots.

Your intext citation contains the first word(s) of your reference so the reader can find it easily.

For optimal decomposition, experts believe you should aim for a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 30:1 ( Johnson  29).

Johnson , Lorraine. "Compost Happens: The Secret to Making Quick Gardener's Gold Instead of a Slow, Stinking Mess Requires, Like Everything Else, Balance." Canadian Gardening, vol. 12, no. 1, Feb, 2001, pp. 28-33. ProQuest, https://proxy154.nclive.org/login?

How to Use Titles of Your Sources in the Text (Prose) of Your Paper

If you use the title of a book, play, article, song, or other source in your paper, use the same formatting that you use in the works cited page (list of references)., here are some examples of when to italicize..

​​​​​​ Here are some examples of when to use quotes.

Some sources get no special formatting. 

Examples from MLA Handbook, 9th Edition, 2021. pages 68-73.

Source within a Source, Indirect Source, Secondary Source

I am reading about John Reith in the  Humanities, Society and Technology  textbook by Satterwhite and other authors.

I paraphrased what I read and I wrote this.

John Reith lead the BBC as its first General Manager and wanted to keep the BBC "free from political interference and commercial pleasure" (qtd. in Satterwhite et al. 145). 

Here's what goes in the Works Cited because this is the source I read.

Satterwhite, Robin, et al.  Humanities, Society and Technology . Kendall Hunt, 2015.

*The qtd. in the intext citation shows that the information in the Humanities book was originally somewhere else. 

Maybe this will make it more clear for you.

You are reading about Smith in an article by Kirkey.

Examples of in-text citations:

According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.

Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) states that “even if euthanasia was legal, 42% of doctors would be against this method of assisted dying” (A.10).

Example of Reference list citation:

Kirkey, Susan. "Euthanasia."   The Montreal Gazette , 9 Feb. 2013, p. A.10.  Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies.

MLA Sample Paper and Citation Guides (Updated June 2021, MLA 9)

• MLA Sample Paper - STUDENT USE
• MLA9 Citation Guide
• Social Media Citations MLA

• Running Header, right aligned, Student's Last Name and page number.
• 1" margins for the paper - on all sides
• Left aligned for paragraphs
• Paragraph indentions are .5"
• Most teachers require Times New Roman 12 pt
• No title page
• No bold print in text
• Student's Name
• Instructor's Name
• Class name and number
• Date in format date Month year (ie 11 June 2020) 

Intext Citations

MLA uses Author-page Style for parenthetical intext citations (at the end of the sentence) or the page number goes in the parenthesis at the end of the sentence for narrative intext citations (where the author's name is in the sentence).

• Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
• Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).
• Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
• Wordsworth, William.  Lyrical Ballads. O xford UP, 1967.

Other things to know:

• For sources like webpages with no page numbers, do NOT include page numbers or paragraph numbers , even for direct quotes  (MLA Handbook, Ninth Edition, page 248) . 
• It's recommended to abbreviate long names of corporate or group authors in the intext. For example, Centers for Disease Control can be CDC in the intext citation.
• Page numbers are required for all citations; not just direct quotes.
• Purdue Owl says not to number paragraphs on webpages for the intext citations. 

Personal Interview MLA Style

References for personal interview in mla style follow this format:,      last, first name of interviewed. personal interview. date of interview.,      smith, jane. personal interview. 19 may 2014., intext citations follow this format:,      (last name),      (smith), long block quotes (mla).

great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. his voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (186)

Paraphrasing/Summarizing

• APA Long Paraphrase
• MLA Long Paraphrase

Guidelines for Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Think of Paraphrases and Summaries as your foundations

Paraphrase and summarize long passages where the main point is important to the point you are making, but the details are not . You should use paraphrasing and summarizing much more often than direct quotes. A good balance would be 75% paraphrasing and summarizing and 25% direct quotes.

Paraphrase:  You are paraphrasing when you take someone else’s words and rewrite them in your own words without altering the meaning or providing interpretation. Paraphrases are about the same length as the original. Always cite your paraphrase. Summarize: You are summarizing  when you condense the author's words or ideas without altering the meaning or providing interpretation using your own words -- basically, you’re presenting the original information in a nutshell. Always cite it.

Examples of Paraphrases

Introduce paraphrases clearly in your text, usually with a signal phrase that includes the author of the source. Here is original text and paraphrased text.

Volunteers feel more socially connected, they're less lonely, and suffer from depression less, studies show. Volunteering creates physical benefits too: Regular volunteers are less likely to develop  high blood pressure  and live longer, some studies show. (text is from "Dalai Lama: 5 Things to Keep in Mind for the Next Four Years" from CNN.com, written by Jen Christensen)

Paraphrased text in APA style:

Volunteering has psychological and physical benefits, according to studies. Along with being less depressed and lonely, volunteers also live longer and are less likely to have high blood pressure (Christensen, 2017).

Paraphrased text in MLA style:

Volunteering has psychological and physical benefits, according to studies. Along with being less depressed and lonely, volunteers also live longer and are less likely to have high blood pressure (Christensen).

Examples of Summaries

Summaries, too, need to be carefully integrated into your text.   Make sure to signal the reader that you are summarizing and include the correct citation.

Here is an example of a summary in APA format:

In Christensen's article, she explores Dalai Lama's advice to people who want to find happiness in an uncertain world. His Holiness believes that people should focus on developing compassion, letting go of anger, self-reflecting, helping others, and being playful like children (Christensen, 2017). 

Here's the summary in MLA format:

In Christensen's article, she explores Dalai Lama's advice to people who want to find happiness in an uncertain world. His Holiness believes that people should focus on developing compassion, letting go of anger, self-reflecting, helping others, and being playful like children (Christensen). 

Whenever you include summaries, paraphrases, or quotations in your own writing, it is important that you identify the sources of the material; even unintentional failure to cite material is plagiarism. Be especially careful with paraphrases and summaries, where there are no quotation marks to remind you that the material is not your own.

Often, long paraphrases continue for multiple sentences. Usually you'll intext cite the source in the first sentence. It is not necessary to cite every single sentence IF you've made it clear in the narrative that the information discussed is from the before-mentioned source.

*Note that the bold words show where the information is coming from . Students should NOT bold the words.

Here's an example:

Tucker and Maddey (2020) found that predatory behavior in dogs is due to many different factors. One of the factors is the physical territory of the alleged threat. The research found that "dogs are more willing to attack or defend territory that is considered to be their own" (Tucker & Maddey, 2020, p. 81) . Another factor they discovered is that dogs are more willing to prey on a threat if their human owners are nearby. In an experiment conducted over multiple days using cameras, Tucker and Maddey  discovered that dogs were shown to be much more protective with predatory behavior when their owners were in the vicinity they when the owners were away. In conclusion, the research shows that dogs have innate predatory behavior traits which are enhanced by the dogs' desires to protect their human owners (Tucker & Maddey, 2020) .   

If you're using information from a source more than once in a row (with no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation. The first time you use information from the source, use a full in-text citation. The second time, you only need to give the page number.

Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith 15). It revolves around the idea that the cell is a "fundamental unit of life" (17). Many important scientists have contributed to the evolution of cell biology. Mattias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, for example, were scientists who formulated cell theory in 1838 (20). 

*Thank you to the Library at Columbia College for this example.

Reasons why you would want to paraphrase from a source:

• To change the organization of ideas for emphasis.  You may have to change the organization of ideas in the passages you pull from your sources so that you can emphasize the points  most related to your paper.  Be sure to restate in your own words, but don’t change the meaning.
• To simplify the material.  You may have to simplify complex arguments, sentences, or vocabulary.
• To clarify the material.  You may have rewrite to clarify technical passages or put specialized information into language your audience will be better able to understand.

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because:

• It is better than quoting information from a passage that doesn't have memorable or important words or phrases
• It helps you control the temptation to quote too much
• It allows the writer to put the idea of a source into their own voice (but always cite it to show it is someone else's idea).

Tips on Summarizing:

A summary is a  condensed  version of someone else’s writing. Like paraphrasing, summarizing involves using your own words and writing style to express another author’s ideas. Unlike the paraphrase, which presents important details, the summary presents only the most important ideas of the passage. For example, you could summarize a book in a sentence, or in several paragraphs, depending on your writing situation and audience. You may use the summary often for the following reasons:

• To condense the material. You may have to condense or reduce the source material to pull out the  points that relate to your paper.
• To omit extras from the material. You may have to leave out extra information from the source material so you can focus on the author’s main points.
• To simplify the material.  You may have to simply the most important complex arguments, sentences or vocabulary in the source material.

When you decide to  summarize or paraphrase, avoid the following:

• keeping the same structure of ideas and/or sentence structure
• just changing some of the words
• adding your ideas into the summary - be faithful to the meaning of the source material.
• forgetting to cite your sources and use signal words.

Abbreviations for Months for Works Cited List

Citing more than one source by same author.

If you have more than one work by the same author, use the title or beginning of the title in the intext citation and a page number if available . The sources are both by Maddey Tucker. 

For some dogs, food is a motivator but for other dogs, this isn't true ("Art of a Dog"). Having multiple dogs living together domestically is also a factor in feeding and food motivation ("Food and Your Dog" 45). 

Notice in the Works Cited page, you don't repeat the name of the author but instead use three hyphens (---) to indicate the same author on all the sources after the first one . Both of these sources are by Maddey Tucker.

Tucker, Maddey. "Art of a Dog."  Dog's Life, 4 Aug 2019,    www.dogslife.com/tuck/art

---. "Food and Your Dog." Animals Monthly,  2 Mar 2018, pp. 44-47. 

Citing an Illustration, Figure, or Drawing

Fig. 1. Bill Bamberger.  Deandry , 2001; printed 2005, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.

Bamberger, Bill.  Deandry , 2001; printed 2005, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.

Other Resources

Dealing with Numbers in MLA

When there are few numbers in your text, spell out numbers that can be written in a word or two.

Use numerals when the number requires more than two words

Use numerals when using numbers in text with units behind the numbers. For example, 60 inches or 8 kilograms would be in numerals. 

Abbreviations for Bible Verses

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MLA 9 Citation Style: Two or More Selections from the Same Anthology or Edited Book

• Textbook With One Author
• Textbook With Two Authors
• Textbook With Three or More Authors
• Textbook as an Anthology or Edited Book
• Textbook Work Within an Anthology or Edited Book
• Textbook Two or More from an Anthology or Edited Book
• Textbook with One Author (Mobile)
• Textbook with Two Authors (Mobile)
• Textbook with Three or More Authors (Mobile)
• Textbook as an Anthology or Edited Book (Mobile)
• Textbook Work Within an Anthology or Edited Book (Mobile)
• Textbook Two or More from an Anthology or Edited Book (Mobile)
• Two Authors
• Three or More Authors
• Anthology or Edited Book
• Work in an Anthology or Edited Book
• Two or More Selections from the Same Anthology or Edited Book
• Journal Article (Print)
• Journal Article (Online)
• Newspaper Articles (Print)
• Newspaper Articles (Online)
• Database Article with One Author
• Database Article with Two Authors
• Database Article with More Than Three Authors
• Database Previously Published Scholarly Article (Blooms, MasterPlots, Literary Reference Center)
• Online Government Publication
• Website with an Author’s/Contributor’s Name
• Website with No Author’s/Contributor’s Name
• Web Page with Author
• Web Page with No Author’s/Contributor’s Name
• Art – From a Book
• Art – From a Web Page
• Picture/Photo Online -- General
• Motion Picture -- DVD
• Motion Picture -- Streaming
• Video -- Online (YouTube, etc.)
• An Interview You Conducted
• Lecture Notes, PowerPoints, or Handouts from Class
• In-Text Citations
• Works Cited Page
• Popular vs. Scholarly Sources
• Direct Quotes, Paraphrasing, Summarizing

Note About Citing More Than Two Works From An Anthology

When citing more than one selection from the same anthology, a) cite the anthology in full and b) cite, or cross-reference, the individual sections you are using. Use the citation format for the Anthology or Edited Book , as well as the following citation format for the individual sections that you are referencing.

MLA Citation -- Two or More Selections from the Same Anthology or Edited Book

Works Cited Format

Last name of author, First name of author. “Title of the Part of the Book Being Cited.” Last name of editor(s),

     Page number(s) of work being cited.

In-Text Citation Format 

(Author's Last Name p. # * )

* Please note, the in-text citation should be just the number itself and should not include the p., as in the example below.

Works Cited Example

Boyle, T. Coraghessan. “Greasy Lake.” Kirszner and Mandell, pp. 569-576.

In-Text Citation Example 

(Boyle 570)

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The Zhou Dynasty: a Crucible of Chinese Civilization

This essay about the Zhou Dynasty examines its significant role in shaping Chinese civilization from roughly 1046 to 256 BC. It discusses the dynasty’s key contributions, including the introduction of the Mandate of Heaven, which infused Chinese rulership with a moral and revocable right to govern. The essay also explores the implementation of a feudal system, which, while initially successful in managing a vast territory, eventually led to fragmentation and the era of the Warring States. Additionally, the Zhou period is highlighted as a cultural golden age, advancing literature, arts, and the philosophical richness of the “Hundred Schools of Thought” spearheaded by figures like Confucius. These cultural and political innovations of the Zhou Dynasty are shown to have a lasting impact on subsequent generations, shaping administrative practices and philosophical discourse in China for centuries.

How it works

When we talk about ancient dynasties that have left an indelible mark on their cultures, China’s Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC) is a standout. This wasn’t just a time of kings and conquests, but a pivotal era that fundamentally shaped the philosophical, political, and cultural contours of Chinese civilization. The Zhou Dynasty’s reach extended beyond its time, influencing countless generations with its innovative governance and rich intellectual blossoming.

Let’s start with one of its greatest political innovations: the Mandate of Heaven.

This wasn’t just another divine right to rule; it was a revolutionary idea that introduced accountability to Chinese rulership. According to this doctrine, heaven blessed emperors with the right to rule, but there was a catch—it was based on their ability to govern wisely and justly. Failure meant potential revocation of this divine endorsement, providing a check on the emperor’s power, unlike the absolute divine rights claimed by rulers in other ancient civilizations. This concept was pivotal when the Zhou leaders used it to justify their overthrow of the Shang Dynasty, and it echoed through history as a moral groundwork for challenging despotic rule.

The Zhou period also saw the introduction of a feudal system, where the king’s authority was decentralized, distributed among trusted nobles who managed various regions. This system initially helped manage the expanded territories that the dynasty acquired but eventually led to its own set of challenges. As these feudal states grew in power, their rulers less frequently looked to the central authority, setting the stage for the era of the Warring States that followed the dynasty’s decline. The weakening of centralized power reflected a broader theme in the dynasty’s history—the tension between central authority and local power, a dynamic that has played out in many cultures throughout history.

Culturally, the Zhou Dynasty was a golden age. The period saw significant advancements in literature and the arts. The evolution of Chinese script during this time, moving from the oracle bone script of the Shang Dynasty to a more standardized form, was crucial for administrative and creative expression. Literary achievements included works like the “Book of Songs,” an anthology that provides a window into the life and values of the Zhou people, covering themes from political affairs to personal emotions.

Philosophically, the Zhou era was nothing short of transformative. The latter part of this dynasty, known as the Eastern Zhou, was characterized by the “Hundred Schools of Thought,” an intellectual flourishing that saw the rise of major philosophical frameworks such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. These were not merely academic exercises; they were deeply practical philosophies that aimed to answer pressing questions about ethics, governance, and human nature. Confucius, perhaps the most renowned philosopher from this period, taught principles of ethics and leadership that emphasized moral rectitude and societal harmony. His teachings would permeate Chinese thought and governance for millennia.

Despite these cultural booms, the Zhou Dynasty faced continuous internal strife and external pressures, which eventually culminated in its fragmentation and the rise of regional powers that fought relentlessly for dominance in what is known as the Warring States period. However, the legacy of the Zhou did not simply fade away. The political theories, philosophical thought, and cultural achievements of the Zhou era deeply influenced subsequent Chinese dynasties. The administrative practices, the emphasis on moral governance, and the intellectual pursuits initiated during the Zhou continued to be revered and adapted through successive generations.

Reflecting on the Zhou Dynasty today, it’s clear that this wasn’t just another sequence of rulers; it was a crucible in which much of Chinese civilization was forged. From introducing crucial political doctrines that promoted a form of governance accountable to moral standards, to fostering a renaissance of philosophical and cultural expression, the Zhou Dynasty offers profound lessons on how a society’s formative periods can cast long shadows, influencing the course of its future. In many ways, the story of the Zhou Dynasty is a narrative about how the seeds of ideas planted in the past can flourish and shape the ethos of a nation long after their originators have passed on the torch.

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