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MLA (Modern Language Association) is an author-page number style, based on listing core elements of your source in a particular order. It has the flexibility to reference a wide variety of source materials. A summary of this approach is available at Purdue OWL, and a practice template is available at style.mla.org (practice template).
Works Cited
Add a 'Works Cited' list at the end of your essay, citing all sources used in the body of your writing.
Note: this example differs from referencing an e-book, journal article or newspaper accessed online.
MLA 8 recommends adding the URL, even though it may change, as it may still be possible to find the source from an outdated URL. Use a permalink if possible and omit http://www.
Known author
Format
Author. "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Site, publication date or last update, URL.
Example
Kapsenberg, Barbara. "Background Info Victoria Garden." Victoria Garden: Website for Gardeners in Redding (CA) Area, 2015, kapsenbergdesign.com/garden/
introduction.php.
Unknown author
Omit duplicate information, eg this example is missing the publisher or sponsor of the website because it is the same as the title of the website.
Format
"Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Site, publication date or last update, URL.
Example
"Oscar Wilde." Wikipedia, 14 Oct 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde.
Created by an organisation/corporate author
Start with the name of the organisation (if known), including introductory articles, eg ‘A’, ‘The’ or ‘An’ (ignore articles when ordering the bibliography alphabetically). Avoid duplicate information - if the organisation is both the author and publisher, omit the name of the organisation at the beginning and just start with the title.
Format
Name of Organisation. "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Site, publication date or last update, URL.
Example
"The University of Auckland Graduate Profile." The University of Auckland, 2016, auckland.ac.nz/en/about/learning-and-teaching/strategies-goals-and-plans/graduate-profiles.html.
Statistics New Zealand. "How Good Are Our Family Relationships?" New Zealand Government, 20 Aug. 2015. http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/
people_and_communities/Well-being/social-connectedness/social-networks/family-relationships.aspx.
In-text citation
Cite the source when paraphrasing another person's ideas or words. Either add parenthesised author and section number following the cited material, or if you name the author in the structure of your text, just add the section number at the end of your sentence. When citing material from the same author in the same paragraph, only the page number is needed, as long as the work cannot be confused with other citations.
Page numbering is often nonexistent on websites, therefore it may pay to include more explicit numbering to guide the reader to the correct section. This might take the form of sections (sec.), chapter (ch.), part (pt.) or paragraph (par.). See also abbreviations.
Known author
- William Blake's artisic flare was apparent from the age of ten (Vultee et al. sec. 1; par. 3). He honed his talent for stipple engraving in his twenties (sec. 2; par. 1).
- Vultee et al. describes William Blake as having artistic flare from the age of ten (sec. 1; par. 3). He honed his talent for stipple engraving in his twenties (sec. 2; par. 1).
Unknown author
- Frank Harris' account of Oscar Wilde was prone to exaggeration as depicted in his biography Oscar Wilde: His Life and Confessions ("Oscar Wilde" Biographies; par. 1). Furthermore, Neil McKenna's 2003 account of the man, as published in The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, was equally speculative (par. 4).
- In the article "Oscar Wilde," we see that Frank Harris' account of the playwright was prone to exaggeration as depicted in his biography Oscar Wilde: His Life and Confessions (Biographies; par 1.). Furthermore, Neil McKenna's account of the man, as published in The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, was equally speculative (par. 4).
Created by an organisation/corporate author
Use the italicised title or the name of the organisation. You may shorten the title if it appears within parentheses, otherwise, if it is mentioned in the structure of your sentence, write the title out in full.
- A recent study showed this to be the case (Statistics New Zealand "Purpose and Background"; par. 4). Another finding was that quality family time is on the decline (par. 1).
- In a recent study, Statistics New Zealand showed that this was indeed the case ("Purpose and Background"; par. 4). Another finding was that quality family time is on the decline ("Future Work"; par. 1).
Quoting
Direct quotes require quotation marks and section/paragraph numbers.
- Research suggests that "the economy is in decline" (Smith par. 10).
- Smith observed that "the economy is in decline" (par. 10).
See also: more on quoting, including long quotes ...
This material is based on:
MLA Handbook. 8th ed. Modern Language Association of America, 2016.
"MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, 2016. owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/09.
For further information please consult the manual directly.
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