Crafting accurate citations is a cornerstone of academic integrity and a skill every student and researcher must master. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is one of the most widely used citation formats in the humanities. This article provides a comprehensive guide to MLA citations, covering everything from in-text citations and Works Cited pages to helpful tools like the Scribbr MLA Citation Generator.
MLA style is a set of guidelines for formatting papers and citing sources, primarily used in the humanities. Adhering to MLA standards ensures consistency and allows readers to easily locate the sources you've used in your research. The MLA Handbook is the official guide, currently in its 9th edition.
An MLA citation comprises two main parts:
The Works Cited list is an alphabetized compilation of all sources you used in your paper. Each entry follows a specific format, built from nine core elements:
Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.
This template can be adapted for various source types, including books, journal articles, and websites.
Sometimes, sources lack certain information. Here’s how to handle common scenarios:
In-text citations are essential for giving credit to your sources within the body of your paper. They should be included whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source.
The basic format for an MLA in-text citation includes the author's last name and the page number:
(Author's Last Name, Page Number)
If you mention the author's name in your sentence, you only need to include the page number in the parenthetical citation:
Smith and Morrison claim that “MLA is the second most popular citation style” (17) in the humanities.
For sources without page numbers, use alternative locators or omit the page number:
Manually creating MLA citations can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Scribbr offers a user-friendly MLA Citation Generator that automates the process. Simply enter the source information, and the tool will generate accurate citations in seconds.
Scribbr also provides a convenient Chrome Extension that allows you to cite webpages and articles directly from your browser.
Beyond citation generation, Scribbr offers a suite of tools to enhance your writing and research:
Mastering MLA citations is crucial for academic success. By understanding the core principles and utilizing tools like Scribbr's MLA Citation Generator, you can ensure the accuracy and integrity of your research.
