MLA Works Cited/Bibliography Guide

Genesee’s M. L. A. Works Cited/ Bibliography Guide
The Works Cited section or Bibliography section lists all of the sources you have cited in your paper. It is
found at the end of your research paper. Begin your list on a new page (the next page after the text) and
alphabetize your entries.
Guidelines for Works Cited
1. Center the title Works Cited one inch for the top. Double-space before the first entry.
2. Begin each entry flush with the left margin. If the entry runs more that one line, indent additional
lines five spaces.
3. Double-space each entry; also double-space between entries.
4. List each entry alphabetically by the author‟s last name. If there is no author, use the first word of
the title (disregard A, An, The).
The Form for an Entry
An entry generally has three main divisions: author, title, and publication information. A basic entry for a
book would be as follows:
Spitzer, Robert R. No Need for Hunger. Chicago: Interstate, 1981.
(Double-space after the author and title. Single-space the publication information)
A basic entry for a periodical (a magazine) would be as follows:
Whitman, David. “Hope for the Homeless.” U.S. News and World Report 29 Feb. 1988: 26-35.
(Double-space after the author and the title of the article. Single-space the rest of the entry).
Works Cited Entries: Books
The entries which follow illustrate the information needed to cite books, sections of a book, pamphlets, and
government publications.
One Author
Spitzer, Robert R. No Need for Hunger. Chicago: Interstate, 1981.
Two or Three Authors
Ostrander, Sheila, and Lynn Schroeder. Superlearning. Seattle: Delacorte, 1979.
More Than Three Authors
Guerin, Wilfred L., et al. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. San Francisco:
Harper, 1966.
A Single Work for an Anthology
Morris, William. “The Haystack in the Floods.” Nineteenth Century British Minor Poets. Ed.
Richard Wilbur and W.H. Auden. New York: Dell, 1965. 265-79.
Note: If you cite a complete anthology, begin the entry with the editors.
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Two or More Books by the same Author
Von Oech, Roger, A Kick in the Seat of the Pants. New York: Perennial-Harper, 1986.
---. Oh! A Whack on the Side of the Head. New York: Warner, 1983.
Note: List the books alphabetically according to title. After the first entry, substitute three hyphens for the
author‟s name.
A Corporate (group) Author
No Author
Task Force on Education for Economic Growth. Action for Excellence. Washington: Education
Commission of the States, 1983.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts. New York: Newspaper Enterprise Assoc., 1985.
One Volume of a Multivolume Work
Ziegler, Alan. The Writing Workshop. Vol. 2. New York: Teachers and Writers, 1984.
Note: If you cite two or more volumes in a multivolume work, give the total number of volumes after the
title.
An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or Afterword
Callan, Edward. Introduction. Cry, the Beloved Country. By Alan Paton. New York Macmillan,
1987. xv-xxvii.
Note: Give only the author‟s last name after By if he is the author of the piece cited and the complete work.
Cross-References
Abbey, Edward. “The Most Beautiful Place on Earth.” Hall 225-41.
Baldwin, James. “Notes of a Native Son.” Hall 164-83.
Hall, Donald, ed. The Contemporary Essay. New York: Bedford-St. Martin‟s, 1984.
Note: To avoid unnecessary repetition when citing two or more entries from a larger collection, you may
cite the collection once with complete publication information (see Hall). The individual entries (see
Abbey and Baldwin) can then be cross-referenced (listed) by author, title, last name of the editor of the
collection, and page numbers.
An “Edition”
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet-NAL, 1963.
Note: An “edition” refers to the work of one person prepared by another person(s), an editor (Ed.)
A Translation
Vergil. The Aeneid. Trans. Patrick Dickinson. New York: Mentor-NAL, 1961.
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An Article in a Reference Book
“Ethnocentrism.” Webster‟s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary. 2 nd ed. 1983.
Smith, Harold. “Tides.” American Encyclopedia. 1985.
Note: It is not necessary to give full publication information for familiar reference works (encyclopedias
and dictionaries). If an article is initialed, check in the index of authors (in the section of each volume) for
the author‟s full name.
Signed Pamphlet (Treat pamphlets as you would a book.)
Laird, Jean E. The Metrics Are Coming. Burlington: National Research Bureau, 1976.
Government Publications
United States. Congressional Quarterly Service. Congress and the Nation: A Review of
Government in the Postwar Years. Washington: GPO, 1965.
Note: State the name of the government (country, state, etc.) followed by the name of the agency.
Pamphlet with No Author or Publication Information
Pedestrian Safety. [United States]: n.p., n.d.
Note: Give the series name and number (if any) before the publication information.
A Book in a Series
Bishop, Jack. Ralph Ellison. Black Americans of Achievement. New York: Chelsea House,
1988.
Note: Give the series name and number (if any) before the publication information.
A Publisher’s Imprint
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Trans. Ralph Parker. New
York: Signet-NAL, 1963.
Note: The name of a publisher‟s imprint appears above the publisher‟s name on the title page. Give the
imprint followed by a hyphen and the name of the publisher. (Signet-NAL)
Special Note: If more than one city is listed for a publisher, list the first one.
A Book with a Title within a Title
Harte, Bret. “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” and Other Stories. New York: Signet-NAL, 1961.
Note: If the title contains a title normally underlined, do not underline it in your entry.
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Works Cited Entries: Periodicals
The entries which follow illustrate the information and arrangement needed to cite periodicals.
Signed Article in a Magazine
Matthews, Tom. “What Can Be Done?” Newsweek 21 Mar. 1988: 57-58.
Unsigned Article in a Magazine
“Then There‟s Rent Control.” The New Republic 11 Apr. 1988: 2.
An Article in a Scholarly Journal
Cameron, John. “A Proposed Model for Imagination and Creativity.”
Wisconsin Academy Review 34.3 (1987): 33-36.
Note: Journals are usually issued no more than four times a year: 34.3 refers to the volume and issue
number. The issue number is not needed if the pagination in a volume continues from one issue to the next.
Signed Newspaper Article
Lee, Jessica. “Bush Plans to „Build on‟ Budget.” USA Today 10 Jan. 1989: 4A.
Note: 4A refers to page four in section A of the newspaper. Cite the edition of a major daily newspaper (if
given) after the date. (10 Jan. 1989, late ed.: 4A)
Unsigned Newspaper Article
“Some Better Ways to Curb Teen Drinking.” Editorial. Milwaukee Journal 17 June 1979, sec. 2:
15.
Note: For an unsigned story, omit editorial.
A Letter to the Editor
A Review
Stassen, Harold E. Letter. Chicago Tribune 10 Jan. 1989, sec. 1: 16.
Foote, Timothy. “The Eye of the Beholder.” Rev. of Testimony and Demeanor, by John Casey.
Time 7 July 1979: 66.
Note: If you cite the review of a work by an editor or translator, use ed. or trans. instead of by.
Article or Quotation within an Article’s Title
Merrill, Susan F. “‟Sunday Morning‟ Thoughts.” English Journal 76.6 (1987): 63.
Note: Use single quotation marks around the shorter title if it is a title normally punctuated with quotation
marks.
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Other Print and Non-print Sources:
Television and Radio Programs
“An Interview with Sadat.” 60 Minutes. CBS. WITI, Milwaukee. 11 Nov. 1979.
Note: If your reference is primarily to the work of an individual, cite that person before the title.
Otherwise, other pertinent information (writer, director, producer, narrator, etc.) may be given after the
main title of the program (underlined).
Recording
Guthrie, Woody. Woody Guthrie Sings Folk Songs. With Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Sonny
Terry, and Bess Hawes. Intro. By Pete Seeger. Folkways Records, FA 2483, 1962.
Note: FA 2483 refers to the catalog number. A person cited first in a recording (the composer, conductor,
performer, etc.) depends on the reason for the entry. If citing jacket notes, give the author‟s name, the title
of the material (if given), and the words Jacket notes before the regular bibliographic information.
Films
Rebel without a Cause. Dir. Nicholas Ray. With James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, and
Dennis Hopper. Warner, 1955.
Filmstrips, Slide Programs, and Videotapes
Going Back. A Return to Vietnam. Videocassette. Virginia Productions, 1982. 55 min.
Note: Cite the medium (filmstrip, slide program, videocassette, etc.) after the title.
Performances
Les Miserables. By Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Dir. Trevor Nunn and John
Caird. Broadway Theatre, New York. 5 Apr. 1988. Based on Victor Hugo‟s Les Miserables.
Note: If you are citing the efforts of an individual, give the person‟s name first.
Musical Compositions
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93.
Note: Do not underline a composition known only by form, number, and key.
Works of Art
Renior, Pierre-Augusta. Portrait of Claude Monet. Louvre, Paris. Plate 13 in Renoir. By Elda
Fezzi. London: Thames and Hudson, 1968.
Note: If you cite the original work, give the artist, title, and location of the work of art.
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Published Letters
Bottomley, Edwin. “To Father.” 6 Dec. 1843. An English Settler in Pioneer Wisconsin: The
Letters of Edwin Bottomley. Ed. Milo M. Qualfe. Madison: State Historical Society, 1918.
60-62.
Note: “To Father” and 6 Dec. 1843 refer to the cited letter. Letter Received by the Author (Yourself).
Letter Received by the Author (Yourself)
Thomas, Bob. Letter to the author. 10 Jan. 1989.
Published or Recorded Interview
Orbison, Roy. “Roy Orbison: 1938-1988.” By Steve Pond. Rolling Stone. 26 Jan. 1989: 22+.
Note: Type the word Interview after the interviewee‟s name if the interview is untitled.
Personal Interview
Brooks, Sarah. Personal interview. 15 Oct. 1988.
Note: If you spoke to your interviewee by phone, cite the entry as a Telephone interview.
Maps and Charts
Wisconsin Territory. Map. Madison: Wisconsin Trails, 1988.
Lectures, Speeches, and Addresses
Angelou, Maya. Address. Opening General Sess. NCTE Convention. St. Louis, 18 Nov. 1988.
Note: If known, give the speech‟s title in quotation marks instead of Address, Lecture, or Speech.
Cartoons
Trudeau, Garry. “Doonesbury.” Cartoon. Chicago Tribune. 23 Dec. 1988, sec. 5:6.
Angier, Natalie. “Chemists Learn Why Vegetables Are Good for You.” New York Times
13 Apr. 1993, late ed.: New York Times Ondisc. CD-ROM. UMI-
Proquest. Oct. 1993.
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Basic Forms for Electronic Sources
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers provides extensive examples covering a wide variety
of potential sources. If your particular case is not covered here, use the basic forms to determine the
correct format, consult the MLA Handbook.
If no author is given for a web page or electronic source, start with and alphabetize by the title of
the piece and use a shortened version of the title for parenthetical citations.
A web site
Note: It is necessary to list your date of access because web postings are often updated, and
information available at one date may no longer be available later. Be sure to include the complete
address for the site. Also, note the use of angled brackets around the electronic address; MLA requires
them for clarity.
Author(s). Name of Page. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of institution/organization
affiliated with the site. Date of Access .
Web site example
Felluga, Dino. Undergraduate Guide to Literary Theory. 17 Dec. 1999. Purdue University.
15 Nov. 2000 .
An article on a web site
Note: It is necessary to list your date of access because web postings are often updated, and information
available at one date may no longer be available later. Be sure to include the complete address for the
site. Also, note the use of angled brackets around the electronic address; MLA requires them for clarity.
Author(s). “Title of Ariticle." Name of web site. Date of posting/revision. Name of
institution/organization affiliated with site. Date of access .
Article on a web site example
Poland, Dave. "The Hot Button." Roughcut. 26 Oct. 1998. Turner Network Television.
28 Oct. 1998 .
An article in an online journal or magazine
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume. Issue (Year): Pages/Paragraphs.
Date of Access .
Note: Some electronic journals and magazines provide paragraph or page numbers; include
them if available. This format is also appropriate to online magazines; as with a print version,
you should provide a complete publication date rather than volume and issue number.
Online journal article example
Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention." Emerging Infectious Diseases 6.6 (2000):
33 pars. 5 Dec. 2000 .
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E-mail
Author. "Title of the message (if any)" E-mail to the author. Date of the message.
Note: This same format may be used for personal interviews or personal letters. These do not
have titles, and the description should be appropriate. Instead of "Email to John Smith," you
would have "Personal interview."
Article in a reference database on CD-ROM example
"World War II." Encarta. CD-ROM. Seattle: Microsoft, 1999.
Article from a periodically published database on CD-ROM example
Reed, William. "Whites and the Entertainment Industry." Tennessee Tribune
25 Dec. 1996: 28. Ethnic NewsWatch. CD-ROM. Data Technologies. Feb. 1997.
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A Work from a Library Subscription Service (LiLI, for example)
(using MLA Handbook, 6 th edition, 2003)
General Guidelines: Author‟s last name, first name. “Title of article.” Publication
Name date: pages. Database name. Service or host name. Subscribing library‟s name,
City, State of library. Date accessed .
Example of ProQuest‟s Cite This link at the bottom of the article:
Citation style: MLA, Modern Language Association (http://www.mla.org/)
Change citation style:
MLA
Copy citation below & paste into your document:
Mickey Gillmor. "The hazards of stereotyping. " International Journal of Childbirth Education
1 Dec. 2000: 8. ProQuest Family Health. ProQuest. ***INSERT Library name or
system, City, State***. 4 Feb. 2009
! ATTENTION
Ensure the accuracy and completeness of your bibliography by following these instructions. In
particular, the formatting of author names and dates might need to be corrected and missing
information may need to be filled in.
Following the General Guidelines given above, your citation needs to look like this:
Gillmor, Mickey. "The hazards of stereotyping. " International Journal of Childbirth Education
1 Dec. 2000: 8. ProQuest Family Health. ProQuest. Idaho Commission for Libraries, Boise, ID. 4 Feb.
2009 .
NOTE that you must make these changes: author‟s name must be last, first. The red insert is
replaced correctly. The complete citation ends with a period. In the example below, notice that
periods are left out after initials in the name; be sure to add them. Basically, you will need to be
more exact in following the M.L.A. format.
Another example:
The Cite This link looks like this:
Allison G Harvey, Benjamin C Mullin, Stephen P Hinshaw. "Sleep and circadian rhythms in children
and adolescents with bipolar disorder. " Development and Psychopathology
18.4 (2006): 1147-1168. ProQuest Central. ProQuest. ***INSERT Library name or
system, City, State***. 4 Feb. 2009
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Your MLA citation should look like this when you copy, paste, and correct it in your Works Cited:
Harvey, Allison G., Benjamin C. Mullin, and Stephen P. Hinshaw. "Sleep and circadian rhythms in
children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.” Development and Psychopathology
18.4 (2006): 1147-1168. ProQuest Central. . ProQuest. Idaho Commission for Libraries, Boise,
ID. 27 Jan. 2009 .
An example of a scholarly journal:
The source information at the top of the article looks like this:
A Wake-Up Call on Sleep and Health
Anonymous. Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter. New York: Feb 2007. Vol. 24, Iss. 12;
pg. 4A, 5 pgs
Your MLA citation should look like this when you copy, paste, and correct it in your Works Cited:
"A Wake-Up Call on Sleep and Health. " Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter
24.12 (2007): 4A,4B,4C,4D,5. Research Library. ProQuest. Idaho Commission for Libraries,
Boise, ID. 27 Jan. 2009 .
Another example from the Gale database:
The source information at the top of the article looks like this:
Title: Black Church Leaders and Civil Rights
Source: American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, Victor Bondi, Richard Layman, Tandy
McConnell, and Vincent Tompkins. Vol. 6: 1950-1959. Detroit: Gale, 2001. p379-380.
The Source Citation at the bottom should look like this when you copy, paste, and correct it in your Works
Cited:
"Black Church Leaders and Civil Rights." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, Victor Bondi,
Richard Layman, Tandy McConnell, and Vincent Tompkins. Vol. 6: 1950-1959. Detroit: Gale,
2001. 379-380. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Idaho Comm for Lib. 27 Jan. 2009
.
Page number tip: If the full text article is in PDF format, you should be able to list the full page range. If
the service provides only the starting page number of an article‟s original print publication (e.g., “p. 192),
give the number followed by a hyphen a space, and a period: “192-.”
Rev. Feb. 09
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Sample Works Cited
or Bibliography
One inch from top
One inch from top
Alphabetize entries
by author‟s last name
or by the first important
word in the title of an
anonymous work.
Double-space
everything in
the Works Cited.
Indent second
and third lines
five spaces
(hanging indent).
Works Cited
Allen, Thomas B. Vanishing Wildlife of North America. Washington, D.C.:
National Geographic Society, 1974.
Anderson, Katie, et al. "Activity Of Post-Fledging Peregrine Falcons In
Different Rearing And Habitat Conditions." Southeastern Naturalist 8.1
(2009): 93-106. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.
Brandes, Kathleen, et al., eds. Vanishing Species. New York: Time-Life
Books, 1976.
“Falcon.” The Audubon Nature Encyclopedia. The Audubon Society.
12 vols. Philadelphia: Cross, 1985.
Pettingill, Olin Sewall, Jr. “Falcon and Falconry.” World Book
Encyclopedia, 1980.
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