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Milner Library

MLA Style

A quick overview of how to use the MLA Style and examples of in-text citations and references for a variety of different sources.

MLA Style Structure of a Reference and In-text Citation

In Text Citation: Basic Structure

  • Author's (authors) name and page number are in parentheses at the end of the sentence
  • If author (or authors) name is used in the sentence, only the page number is placed in parentheses
    • e.g. - Adams and Brown highlight the use of hieroglyphics in mid-1970s street art (23) .
  • If there is no author, use a shortened title of work
    • Use quotation marks for a short work (e.g. article, blog post) or italics for a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire websites)

References: Basic Structure

  • Second line of a reference is indented .5 inches (Hanging indent)
  • First author's name is listed last name, first name  (e.g. Adams, Samuel)
  • Book and Journal title is italicized; Article title is in quotations
  • Database and stable URL (or DOI) at end

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