It’s easy to get bogged down in detail with referencing. But having a good overall sense of the system you’re using is important. As such, today we’re looking at MLA referencing in overview, which should give you an idea of how to use MLA citations effectively.
MLA referencing is a citation format developed by the Modern Language Association (MLA). Since the MLA is an association for scholars of language and literature, MLA referencing is most commonly used in the liberal arts and humanities.
Many worry about not having “enough” citations in their work, but it’s more important to know when a citation is required. MLA specifies citing a source when:
However, it isn’t necessary to give a citation when referring to something that is common knowledge, such as “snow is cold” or “people in France speak French.”
The general citation format in MLA requires giving the author’s surname and page numbers (if available) in parentheses after the relevant passage:
Freedom creates “obstacles from which we suffer” (Sartre 495).
If the author is named in the text, simply give the page numbers instead:
According to Sartre, freedom also creates “obstacles” (495).
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This format differs slightly when citing multiple works by the same author. When this occurs, you should also give a shortened version of the source title in the citation instead to avoid confusion:
Sartre says that freedom creates “obstacles” and that this is part of existentialism (Being and Nothingness 495).
We also use the title in citations when a source has no named author.
MLA requires all cited sources to be listed on a “Works Cited” page at the end of your document. This list should:
The information to include in the Works Cited list for any given source depends to some extent on its format. However, it will almost always feature the author’s name, a title, and publication details. For instance, the book used in the examples above would appear as:
Sartre, Paul. Being and Nothingness. Translated by Hazel E. Barnes. Routledge, 1969.
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