Library Research and Resources: MLA Citations

• If a citation takes up more than one line on your document, the second and any subsequent lines should be indented.
• Entries should be organized alphabetically by the authors' last names. If a work has no author, the title should be used instead.
• If you have multiple works by the same author, list the author's name in the first entry and in following entries use three hyphens (---).

For more information on formatting your works cited page, see pages 111-116 in the MLA Handbook.

Whenever you use someone else's ideas in your own work, whether it be a direct quote or paraphrase, you must cite that source in your text.

Your in-text citation should include the author's last name and the page number where the quote or information can be found.

(Casey 194)

If you use the author's last name in the sentence, just include the page number.

According to Casey, "libraries are a space for inquiry and learning" (194).

There are many ways to cite an author or authors within your text. For more information on in-text citations, see pages 54-58 and 116-127 in the MLA Handbook.

Online Help

​MLA Style Center - This website is created by the Modern Language Association and contains the most up-to-da information on MLA formatting and is considered a companion to the physical text.

Purdue Owl - This source can be helpful if you are still unsure about formatting in MLA. Full examples and in-depth explanations are included alongside the information provided by the MLA Style Center.

For examples and more detailed information about MLA formatting please see the following research guide, MLA Citations.