What is MLA Style

Modern Language Association (MLA) style is used for formatting and documenting work in English and other disciplines in the humanities. MLA style requires a Works Cited page listing every source referenced in the body of a paper. Using MLA style correctly increases your credibility as a writer and avoids accidental incidents of plagiarism. Always defer to instructor or publication requirements. 
 
For more information, consult our MLA “Formatting” and “In-Text Citation” handouts; an MLA Handbook, 9th edition; the MLA Style Center; or visit the KSU Writing Center for one-on-one help.

    • The Works Cited page follows the body of your paper (and any endnotes). Center the words “Works Cited” at the top of the new page. Maintain double-spacing throughout the Works Cited page.  

    • Begin entries on the line below the Works Cited heading and use a hanging indentation (first line of each entry is flush with the left margin; subsequent lines are indented 0.5”).

    • Include an entry for every work cited in the body of your paper. Do not reference works you have not cited.
       
    • Alphabetize entries by the first term in each entry – typically the last name of a work’s first author. If no author is provided, alphabetize using the next available term (i.e., name of the authoring organization, title, etc.).

    • If listing more than one work by the same author, alphabetize according to source title. Cite the first work as usual; for all subsequent entries, use ---. (three hyphens and a period) in place of the author’s name.
       
    • For sources with two authors, list the first author (last name, first name) followed by “, and” and the second author (first name last name). (e.g., Rice, Anne, and Mary Y. Hallab.)

    • For sources with three or more authors, list only the first author followed by “, et. al.” (e.g., Rice, Anne, et. al.)

    • For untitled sources, provide a short description (no italics or quotation marks; capitalize only the first word and proper nouns).

    • For short untitled texts, like tweets, use the entire text in quotation marks as the title. 

    • If a title begins with a numeral, alphabetize as though the number was written out.

    • Providing the date accessed for online sources is only required when no date of publication is given.

    • Use abbreviations to condense citations as much as possible. Common abbreviations include the following: 
      • volume = vol.
      • issue = no.
      • page = p.  
      • pages = pp.  
      • edition = ed.
      • University Press = UP
      • names of months longer than four letters (only on the Works Cited page – not in the essay itself)

  • Works Cited entries direct readers to your sources and show them that your research is reliable. Entries are organized based on traits common to most works (i.e., author, title, date). By following this standard template (see standard and practice templates at right), you can document sources from any medium.

    Entry Template Practice Template
    Author.  .
    Title of source.  .
    Title of container,  .
    Other contributers,  .
    Version,  .
    Number,  .
    Publisher,  .
    Publication date,  .
    Location.  .

  • Book
    Gordon, Karen Elizabeth. The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed. Pantheon, 1993.

     

    Electronic book – Include book format.
    Hallab, Mary Y.  Vampire God: The Allure of the Undead in Western Culture. E-book Ed., SUNY Press, 2009. http://proxy.kennesaw.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edshlc&AN=edshlc.012117720-3&site=eds-live&scope=site.

     

    Article in a Journal  
    Strielkowski, Wadim, et al. "Intertemporal Model of Co-Existence of Two Rival Species: A Case of Vampires and Humans Co-Habitation." Modern Economy, vol. 3, no. 7, 2012: pp. 826-831. 

     

    Article in a journal from a database (URL and DOI) – Provide DOIs, permalinks, or URLs for online sources.
    Łuksza, Agata. "Sleeping with a Vampire: Empowerment, Submission, and Female Desire in Contemporary Vampire Fiction." Feminist Media Studies, vol. 15, no. 3, 2015, pp. 429-443. MLA International Bibliography, proxy.kennesaw.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct= 
    true&db=mzh&AN=2015872952&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

    Łuksza, Agata. "Sleeping with a Vampire: Empowerment, Submission, and Female Desire in Contemporary Vampire Fiction." Feminist Media Studies, vol. 15, no. 3, 2015, pp. 429-443. MLA International Bibliography, http://doi.org/ 10.1080/14680777.2014.945607.

     

    Magazine or Newspaper Accessed Online
    Piepenburg, Erik. “As if Becoming a Vampire Isn’t Bad Enough.” The New York Times, 28 July 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/movies/lace-crater-and-std-themes-in-movies.html?_r=0.

     

    Website  
    Hollywood Vampires. Epicrights, 2017, http://www.hollywoodvampires.com.

     

    Government Documents
    United States, Federal Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Searching for Vampire Graves, 21 Oct. 2016, www.vampire.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ vp/SO31_CAR21_ 14_2016a1.pdf.

     

    Interview
    Stoker, Bram. Personal interview. 19 June 1911.

     

    Speech, Lectures, or Other Oral Presentations
    Van Helsing, Abraham. Lecture. “How to Kill Vampires.” VAMP 1101, 24 Feb. 2016, Kennesaw State University.

     

    Youtube Video (online video)
    Soldinger, Mark. “American Vampires: Halloween Special (Vampire Documentary) - Real Stories.”  YouTube, uploaded by Real Stories, 28 October 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTewbZrZOoA.

     

    Email – Use the email’s subject line as its title.  
    Dracula, Bill. “Your recent inquiry.” Received by Sturgis T. Owl, 26 Apr. 2016.  

     

    Tweet  
    Anne Rice [@AnneRiceAuthor]. “Anne here: is this the first you've heard of a follow up to "Prince Lestat," a new novel featuring the Brat...”  Twitter, 27 Aug. 2016, https://twitter.com/AnneRiceAuthor/status/7697242437130656.