Works Cited: A Quick Guide

How to Cite Book Titles in MLA 8

When citing book titles using the MLA 8 format, always enter the full title, in italics,
followed by a period.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Italicized Title. Publisher, Publication Year.

The full citation might look like this:

Sparks, Nicholas. The Notebook. Warner Books, 1996.

If there is a subtitle, place it after the title, using a colon to separate them. The
subtitle should also be in italics.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Italicized Title: SubTitle. Publisher,
Publication Year.

The full citation might look like this:

Weiland, K.M. Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an
Outstanding Story. PenForA Sword, 2013.

If the source is part of a larger work, such as an essay, chapter, short story, or poem,
place the title in quotation marks, making sure to put a period at the end of the title.
Follow it with the title of the larger work, in italics, with a comma at the end.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. “Title.: Italicized Larger Work Title, Editor first
and last name, Publisher, Publication Year, Page Numbers.

The full citation might look like this:

Langer, A.J. “Lessons in Friendships.” Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul:
101 Stories of Life, Love and Learning, edited by Jack Canfield, et al.,
Simon & Schuster, 1997, pp. 56-62.

How to Cite Periodical Titles in MLA 8

When citing periodicals in MLA 8, place the title of the article in quotes, with a period
at the end of the title. The italicised title of the periodical follows, along with a
comma.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Periodical Title.”
Publication Year, Page Numbers.

The full citation might look like this:

Barack, Lauren. “Y is for Yoga: Libraries Embrace the Practice to
Ease Stress and Promote Literacy.” The School Library Journal,
January 2015, pp. 23-28.

How to Cite Television Shows in MLA 8:

If you’re citing a television show, place the title of the episode first, followed with a
period. The title of the series follows in italics, along with a comma.

The citation format is as follows:

“Title of the Episode.” Title of the Series, Author of the show,
Season Number, Episode Number, Network, Air Date.

The full citation might look like this:

“Dunder, Mifflin, Infinity.” The Office, written by Michael Schur,
season 4, episode 3, NBC, 2007.
How to Cite Web sites in MLA 8:
These days much of our information comes from digital resources, such as web
sites. When citing websites, place the title of the article in quotation marks, with a
period at the end of the title. Follow with the name of the website in italics, followed
by a comma, and ending with the website URL.

The citation format is as follows:

“Title of the Article.” Name of the Website. URL.

The full citation might look like this:

“What are Annotated Bibliographies?.” Easybib, easybib.com.

How to Cite Songs in MLA 8:

If you need to cite a song, place the title of the song in quotation marks, with a period
at the end of the title. Follow with the title of the album in italics, with a comma at the
end.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Title, Record Company, Release Year.

The full citation might look like this:

Sinatra, Frank. “Summer Wind..” Strangers in the Night, Reprise, 1966.

How to Cite Untitled Works in MLA 8:

If a source doesn’t have a title, include the creator of the source and a brief
description. Do not italicize or place this information in quotation marks.

The citation format is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Title of the work. Year, Location of the Work, City, State.

The full citation might look like this:

Johnson, Sarah. Painting of a Horse. 1984, PS 86, Bronx, NY.
How to Cite Email Messages in MLA 8:
When citing email messages in MLA 8, the subject of the email is the title. Place the
title in quotation marks, with a period at the end of the subject.

The citation format is as follows:

Sender Last Name, Sender First Name. “Subject of the Email.” Receiver First Name
and Last Name, Date Sent.

The full citation might look like this:

Morgan, Michael. “Re: Meeting this afternoon.” Received by Michele Kirschenbaum,
18 April, 2016.

How to Format an Author’s Name in MLA 8

It’s vitally important to make sure you correctly cite the last name of the author(s)
whose work you’re referencing. To correctly cite the author, always begin the
citation with the author’s last name, a comma, and the rest of the name as it appears
on the source. Place a period after the author’s name. Here are some examples for
citing one or more authors:

How to Cite One Author:

Patterson, James.
Rowling, J.K.
King, Laurie R.

How to Cite Two Authors:

Place the authors in the order in which they appear on the source. Note that only the
lead author’s name is listed last name first; all additional authors are listed by their
first name, middle initial initial if applicable, and then last name:
Shields, David, and Caleb Powell.

How to Cite Three or More Authors:

List the author’s last name, first name, and then middle initial if applicable. Follow it
with a comma, and then add et. al. in place of the additional authors:
Beck, Isabel L., et. al.

How to Cite Works by Individuals Other Than the Author:

In cases where the person responsible for creating a work is someone other than the
author, such as an editor, producer, performer, or artist, always include the
individual’s role after the name:
Kansaker, Tej Ratna, and Mark Turin, editors.

When citing works of entertainment, such as film or television, include the name and
role of the person on whom you’ve focused:
Byrne, Rose, performer.
*Note: If you are writing about a film or television show that does not focus on an
individual’s role, omit the author’s name and start the citation with the title.

How to Cite Translated Works:

When your focus is on the translated text rather than the original, treat the translator
as the author. Include the name of the original creator after the title, preceded by the
word By:
Rojas, Carlos, translator. The Four Books. By Yan Lianke.

How to Cite Using Pseudonyms in MLA 8:

Usernames and online handles are now acceptable to use as the author’s name.
@New_Fork_City

How to Cite Corporate Authors in MLA 8:

If a corporation is the author of the text, include the full name of the corporation:
The New York City Department of Education.

How to Cite when There is No Author in MLA 8:

When no author is given in a text, omit this section and start the citation with the title.
 How to Format Numbers in MLA8

You may find that your source is numbered, and you’ll want to be sure to include that
information in your citation. Some common examples include episodes of television
shows, volumes of books and journals, and issue numbers. When including numbered
sources, remember:

 Journal issues are often given a volume and issue number

 Always abbreviate volume to vol. and number to no.

How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA 8:

Schaefer, Sara E., et al. “Wearing, Thinking, and Moving: Testing the
Feasibility of Fitness Tracking with Urban Youth.” American Journal of
Health Education, vol. 47, no. 1, 2016, pp 8-16. ERIC, EJ1086821.

How to Cite a Television Show in MLA 8:

“Treehouse.” Modern Family, created by Steven Levitan and Christopher

Lloyd, season 3, episode 7, 20th Century Fox, 2 Nov. 2011.

How to Cite a Book Volume in MLA 8:

The New Cambridge Medieval History. Edited by David Abulafia, vol. 5,

Cambridge UP, 1999. Google Books, https://books.google.com/books

id=bclfdU_2lesC&lpg=PP1&dq=volume%20books&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q=volume%20
books&f=false.

How to Cite a Comic Book in MLA 8:

 Comic books are often given issue numbers. Include the issue number in your citation.

Cameron, Don. The Case Batman Failed to Solve! Batman, vol. 1, no. 14,
DC Comics, Dec. 1942.
 How to Format Publishers in MLA 8

The publisher is the name of the organization or company responsible for making the
work available, and you’ll want to be sure to correctly cite this information. To cite
publishers using MLA 8:

 Include only the name of publishers and omit business words. The business words are usually
found directly after the name of the publisher. This includes words such as company,
corporation, limited, and others. (Example: Use Dream Books NOT Dream Books Company,
LLC.)
 Use UP for University Press (Example: Use Cambridge UP NOT Cambridge University Press)

How to Cite a Book in MLA 8:

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree, Harper & Row, 1964.

Sometimes there will be numerous organizations listed as being responsible for

publishing the source. In this case, just include the company that is most responsible
for the source’s publication.

If two or more organizations are equally responsible, separate the names with a forward
slash.
Bilodeau, Brent L. “Understanding Genderism.” The Art of Effective
Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators, edited by Lisa
M. Landreman, ACPA-College Student/Stylus, 2013, pp. 67-80.

It is not always necessary to include the name of the publisher. For the following
sources, omit this information:

 Any periodicals including journals, magazines, or newspapers

 A website when the name of it is the same as the publisher
 How to Format the Location in MLA 8

In many cases, your readers will want to view your cited sources for themselves. This is
why it’s important to provide the precise location within a source from which you took
your information. The way this information is included in a citation differs by source:

For Print Resources:

 Include any page ranges to help readers locate the specific information themselves.
 When citing one page, place ‘p.’ prior to the page number.
 For a range of pages, use “pp.” prior to the page numbers

Example of a Single Page Location:

Weir, Andy. The Martian, Reprint Edition. Broadway Books. 2014, p. 84.

Example of a Multiple Page Location:

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening, Avon Books, 1994, pp. 18-24.

For Online Sources:

When citing online sources, the location is the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
number. Keep in mind that:

 When there is one available, the DOI is favored over a URL, because while URLs often change,
the DOI will always stay the same..
 When including a URL, use a permalink whenever possible, because it is generally more stable
and shorter in length.

Examples:
Bui, Hoang. “How to Get Financial Freedom When You Can’t Increase Your
Salary.” Elite Daily, Mar. 30, 2016, elitedaily.com/money/financial-
freedom-increase-salary/1375196/.
Sassen, Catherine, and Diane Wahl. “Fostering Research and Publication in
Academic Libraries.” College and Research Libraries, July 2014. ERIC,
EJ1066504.
So

source in a Single Container

An Essay in a Book Collection

Author.Copeland, Edward.
Title of source.“Money.”

CONTAINER 1
Title of container,The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen,
Other contributors,edited by Copeland and Juliet McMaster,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,Cambridge UP,
Publication date,1997,
Location.pp. 131-48.
FINAL WORKS-CITED-LIST ENTRY

Copeland, Edward. “Money.” The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen, edited by

Copeland and Juliet McMaster, Cambridge UP, 1997, pp. 131-48.

e-book Format
Consider an e-book a version according to the MLA Handbook’s template
of core elements:

MLA Handbook. 8th ed., e-book, Modern Language Association of America, 2016.

If you know the type of e-book you consulted (e.g., Kindle, EPUB), specify
it instead of “e-book”:

MLA Handbook. 8th ed., Kindle ed., Modern Language Association of America,
2016.
A Source in a Single Container

A Video on a Web Site

Author.
Title of source.“Curiosity Rover Report (August 2015): Three Years on Mars!”

CONTAINER 1
Title of container,NASA’s Journey to Mars: Videos,
Other contributors,edited by Sarah Loff,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Publication date,30 July 2015,
Location.www.nasa.gov/topics/journeytomars/videos/index.html.
FINAL WORKS-CITED-LIST ENTRY

“Curiosity Rover Report (August 2015): Three Years on Mars!” NASA’s Journey to
Mars: Videos, edited by Sarah Loff, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 30
July 2015,www.nasa.gov/topics/journeytomars/videos/index.html.
A Source in Two Containers

A Journal Article Retrieved from a Database

Author.Lorensen, Jutta.
Title of source.“Between Image and Word, Color, and Time: Jacob
Lawrence’s The Migration Series.”
CONTAINER 1
Title of container,African American Review,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,vol. 40, no. 3,
Publisher,
Publication date,2006,
Location.pp. 571-86.

CONTAINER 2
Title of container,EBSCOHost,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=24093790
&site=ehost-live.
FINAL WORKS-CITED-LIST ENTRY

Lorensen, Jutta. “Between Image and Word, Color, and Time: Jacob Lawrence’s The
Migration Series.” African American Review, vol. 40, no. 3, 2006, pp. 571-
86.EBSCOHost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=24093790&
site=ehost-live.
Terms of Service
A Source in Two Containers

A Journal Article Retrieved from a Database

Author.Lorensen, Jutta.
Title of source.“Between Image and Word, Color, and Time: Jacob
Lawrence’s The Migration Series.”
CONTAINER 1
Title of container,African American Review,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,vol. 40, no. 3,
Publisher,
Publication date,2006,
Location.pp. 571-86.

CONTAINER 2
Title of container,EBSCOHost,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=24093790
&site=ehost-live.
FINAL WORKS-CITED-LIST ENTRY

Lorensen, Jutta. “Between Image and Word, Color, and Time: Jacob Lawrence’s The
Migration Series.” African American Review, vol. 40, no. 3, 2006, pp. 571-
86.EBSCOHost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=24093790&
site=ehost-live.
Formatting a Research Paper
Heading and Title
A research paper does not need a title page. Instead, double-spacE the
lines. On a new, double-spaced line, center the title Do not italicize or
underline your title, put it in quotation marks or boldface, or type it in all
capital letters. Follow the rules for capitalization and italicize only the words
that you would italicize in the text.
Local Television Coverage of International News Events

The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange

The Use of the Words Fair and Foul in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Romanticism in England and the Scapigliatura in Italy

Do not use a period after your title or after any heading in the paper
(e.g.,Works Cited). Begin your text on a new, double-spaced line after the
title, indenting the first line of the paragraph half an inch from the left
margin.

Running Head with Page Numbers

Number all pages consecutively throughout the research paper in the
upper right-hand corner (Ex. 1 of 2) , half an inch from the top and flush
with the right margin. Do not use the abbreviation p. before the page
number or add a period, a hyphen, or any other mark or symbol. Your
writing program will probably allow you to create a running head of this kind
that appears automatically on every page. Some teachers prefer that no
running head appear on the first page. Follow your teacher’s preference.

Placement of the List of Works Cited

The list of works cited appears at the end of the paper, after any endnotes.
Begin the list on a new page. The list contains the same running head as
the main text. The page numbering in the running head continues
uninterrupted throughout. For example, if the text of your research paper
(including any endnotes) ends on page 10, the works-cited list begins on
page 11. Center the title, Works Cited/Bibliography, an inch from the top of
the page (fig. 1). (If the list contains only one entry, make the heading Work
Cited.) Double-space between the title and the first entry. Begin each entry
flush with the left margin; if an entry runs more than one line, indent the
subsequent line or lines half an inch from the left margin. This format is
sometimes called hanging indention, and you can set your writing program
to create it automatically for a group of paragraphs. Hanging indention
makes alphabetical lists easier to use. Double-space the entire list.
Continue it on as many pages as necessary.

Fig.1 The top of the first page of a works-cited list.

Tables and Illustrations

Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the parts of the text to
which they relate. A table is usually labeled Table, given an arabic
numeral, and titled. Type both label and title flush left on separate lines
above the table, and capitalize them as titles (do not use all capital letters).
Give the source of the table and any notes immediately below the table in a
caption. To avoid confusion between notes to the text and notes to the
table, designate notes to the table with lowercase letters rather than with
numerals. Double-space throughout; use dividing lines as needed (fig. 2).
Fig. 2. A table in a research paper.

Any other type of illustrative visual material—for example, a photograph,

map, line drawing, graph, or chart—should be labeled Figure (usually
abbreviatedFig.), assigned an arabic numeral, and given a caption: “Fig. 1.
Mary Cassatt,Mother and Child, Wichita Museum.” A label and caption
ordinarily appear directly below the illustration and have the same one-inch
margins as the text of the paper (fig. 3). If the caption of a table or
illustration provides complete information about the source and the source
is not cited in the text, no entry for the source in the works-cited list is
necessary.

Fig. Fig.3 A figure in a research paper.

Musical illustrations are labeled Example (usually abbreviated Ex.),
assigned an arabic numeral, and given a caption: “Ex. 1. Pyotr Ilich
Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 6 in B, opus 74 (Pathétique), finale.” A label
and caption ordinarily appear directly below the example and have the
same one-inch margins as the text of the paper (fig. 6).
Fig. 4. A musical example in a research paper.

The rules for positioning a parenthetical citation next to a final period seem
different with run-in quotations and block quotations. What is the logic here?
Run-in quotations and block quotations follow the same logic, although the differences in
their formats call for differences in punctuation. First, let’s look at a run-in quotation:

Virginia Woolf describes the scene vividly: “Everything had come to a standstill. The throb
of the motor engines sounded like a pulse irregularly drumming through an entire body” (14).
The writer’s sentence begins with “Virginia Woolf” and ends with the citation, “(14).”
The citation refers to the quotation and thus belongs in the same sentence with it. A
period is needed after the citation to indicate where the writer’s sentence ends. In the
source work by Virginia Woolf, there is a period after “body,” but it’s omitted here
because the following period makes a period after “body” redundant.

Now let’s consider a block quotation:

Virginia Woolf describes the scene vividly:

Everything had come to a standstill. The throb of the motor engines sounded like a pulse
irregularly drumming through an entire body. The sun became extraordinarily hot because the
motor car had stopped outside Mulberry’s shop window; old ladies on the tops of omnibuses
spread their black parasols; here a green, here a red parasol opened with a little pop. Mrs.
Dalloway, coming to the window with her arms full of sweet peas, looked out with her little pink
face pursed in enquiry. (14)
Here, as above, the writer’s sentence begins with “Virginia Woolf” and ends with the
citation. In the block-quotation format, however, no period after the citation is necessary:
the reader knows that the writer’s thought ends at the citation because a block quotation is
not normally inserted in the middle of a sentence.

The period after “enquiry” is not the writer’s final period. It is Virginia Woolf’s period,
found in the source work. It is retained in this format because there is no following period
to make it redundant.

The two examples present the same sentence (except for the contents of the quotations).
But the examples have different formats, which call for different periods to be dropped.

IN-Text Citations

In-Text citations are brief citations found after a direct quote or a paraphrase. They
are located in the body of your work.

In-Text citations are placed in parentheses, and have two components

The first word found in the full citation on the Works Cited page (usually the last name of the
author)

The location of the direct quote or paraphrase (usually a page number)

In-Text citations should be placed directly after the direct quote or paraphrase, or in a
place that is a natural pause and does not cause the reader to become distracted
while reading the body of your work.

Example:
In order to prevent starvation, Watney knew exactly what he needed to do. “My best
bet for making calories is potatoes” (Weir 17).

When using the author’s name in the sentence, only include the page number in the
parentheses.

Example:
Seuss’s use of words such as, “lurk” and “dank” help students understand the type of
character that the Once-ler is (6).
How to Cite a Digital Image

Digital images are pictures that can be viewed electronically by a computer or digital
device. They can include photographs, illustrations, or graphics found on a website,
database, or scanned or saved to your computer.
How to cite a digital image found on a website in MLA 8:
To create a citation for a digital image found on a website in MLA 8, locate the
following pieces of information:
The name of the creator of the digital image
*The title of the digital image
The title of the website that the image was found on
The names of any other contributors responsible for the digital image
Version of the image (if applicable)
Any numbers associated with the image (if applicable)
*The publisher of the image
The date the image was created or published
*The location of the image, such as a URL
*Notes:
If the digital image does not have a title, include a description of the image. Do not
place this information in quotation marks or italics.
If the picture was found using Google Images, do not cite Google Images as the
publisher. Instead, click on the picture and use the information from the website that
is hosting the picture.
When including the URL in the citation, omit “http://” and “https://” from the site’s
address. In addition, if the citation will be viewed on a digital device, it is helpful to
make it clickable. This ensures that readers will be able to easily access and view
the source themselves.
Structure of a citation for an image found on a website in MLA 8:
Creator’s Last name, First name. “Title of the digital image.” Title of the website, First
name Last name of any contributors, Version (if applicable), Number (if applicable),
Publisher, Publication date, URL.
Examples of citations for digital images found on websites in MLA 8:
Vasquez, Gary A. Photograph of Coach K with Team USA. NBC Olympics,USA Today
Sports, 5 Aug. 2016, www.nbcolympics.com/news/rio-olympics-coach-ks-toughest-test-
or-lasting-legacy.
Gilpin, Laura. “Terraced Houses, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico.” Library of
Congress, Reproduction no. LC-USZ62-102170, 1939,
www.loc.gov/pictures/item/90716883/.
How to cite a digital image found on a database in MLA 8:
Many digital images can be found on databases. Perhaps you found an image that is
in a journal article on a database. It is important to include not only the name of the
journal, but also the name of the database. This will allow readers to locate and view
the digital image themselves.
To create a citation for a digital image found on a database in MLA 8, locate the
following pieces of information:
The name of the creator of the digital image
*The title of the digital image
The title of the journal and/or container that the image was found on
The names of any other contributors responsible for the digital image
Version of the image (if applicable)
Any numbers associated with the image (if applicable)
*The publisher of the image
The date the image was created or published
The name of the database or second container that the image was found on
*The location of the image, such as a URL or DOI number
*Notes:
If the digital image does not have a title, include a description of the image. Do not
place this information in quotation marks or italics.
When including the URL in the citation, omit “http://” and “https://” from the site’s
address. In addition, if the citation will be viewed on a digital device, it is helpful to
make it clickable. This ensures that readers will be able to easily access and view
the source themselves.
Structure of a citation for a digital image found on a database in MLA 8:
Creator’s last name, first name. “Title of the image.” Title of the journal or container that
the image was found on, First name Last name of any other contributors responsible for
the image, Version of the image (if applicable), Any numbers associated with the image
(such as a volume and issue number, if applicable), Publisher, Publication date, Title of
the database or second container, URL or DOI number.
Example of a citation for a digital image found on a database in MLA 8:
Huanca Barrantes, Angela. “Questions and statements posted on the wall are reminders
for Ms. Huanca’s students.” English Teaching Forum, U.S. Department of State, vol. 53,
no. 2, 2015, p. 41. ERIC, eric.ed.gov/?q=english+teaching+forum&id=EJ1065702.
How to Cite Newspaper in MLA 8

Newspapers are daily or weekly publications that contain news; often featuring
articles on political events, crime, business, art, entertainment, society, and sports.
Some examples of popular newspapers include The New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, and The Chicago Tribune.
Citations include other components, depending on the medium (print or database),
so check to make sure that your citation type includes all necessary parts.
How to Cite a Newspaper Article in Print in MLA 8:
To create a citation for a newspaper article in print, locate the following pieces of
information:
Author of the article
Title of the article
*Title of the newspaper
Names of any other contributors responsible for the article
The newspaper’s version (such as a “Weekend Edition,” if applicable)
Any numbers associated with the newspaper’s issue (such as a volume or issue
number, if applicable)
The date of publication
*Location (such as a page number or section number, like A8)
*Notes:
Include the name of the city that the newspaper is published in if the name is not
included in the title of the newspaper. For example, it is not necessary to include the
city if you were to cite the Boston Herald. It is also not necessary to include the city
for nationally published newspapers. This information is placed in brackets after the
title of the newspaper. Do not italicize the name of the city.
Example:
The Intelligencer [Doylestown]
When the page numbers are not consecutive, only include the first page number,
followed by a plus sign.
Example:
Pp. 4+
Also note that MLA 8th Edition does not require the name of the publisher to be
included in citations for newspapers and periodicals.
Structure of an MLA 8 citation for print newspapers:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of the article.” Title of the newspaper, First name
Last name of any other contributors, Version, Numbers, Date of publication, Location.
Example of an MLA 8 citation for a print newspaper article:
Tumola, Cristabelle. “NYC Developers Seek to Justify High Prices with New
Amenities.” Metro [New York City], 9 Aug. 2016, p. 4.
How to Cite a Newspaper Article from an Online Database
Many newspapers are published in print, but also found on databases. Many school
and public libraries subscribe to databases that contain newspaper articles. Ask your
librarian for help to access any subscription newspaper databases.
Include these components in an MLA 8 citation for a newspaper article found on a
database:
Author of the article
Title of the article
*Title of the newspaper
Names of any other contributors responsible for the article
The newspaper’s version (such as a “Weekend Edition,” if applicable)
Any numbers associated with the newspaper’s issue (such as a volume or issue
number, if applicable)
The date of publication
*Location (such as a page number or section number, like A8)
Title of the database
*URL
*Notes:
Include the name of the city that the newspaper is published in if the name is not
included in the title of the newspaper. For example, it is not necessary to include the
city if you were to cite the Boston Herald. It is also not necessary to include the city
for nationally published newspapers. This information is placed in brackets after the
title of the newspaper. Do not italicize the name of the city.
Example:
The Intelligencer [Doylestown]
When the page numbers are not consecutive, only include the first page number,
followed by a plus sign.
Example:
Pp. 4+
In previous versions of MLA, researchers were not required to include the URL. In
MLA 8, it is strongly recommended to include the URL in the citation. Even though
web pages and URLs can be taken down or changed, it is still possible to learn about
the source from the information seen in the URL.
When including URLs in a citation, omit http:// and https:// from the website’s
address.
When creating a citation that will be read on a digital device, it is helpful to make the
URL clickable so that readers can directly access the source themselves.
Also note that MLA 8th Edition does not require the name of the publisher to be
included in citations for newspapers and periodicals.
Structure of an MLA 8 citation for a newspaper article found on a database:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of the article.” Title of the newspaper, First name
Last name of any other contributors, Version (if applicable), Numbers (if applicable),
Publication date, Location (generally page numbers, if available). Title of the
database, Location (such as a URL).
Example of a citation for a newspaper article found on a database in MLA 8:
Pelley, Lauren. “Toronto Public Library Opens its 100th Branch.” Toronto Star, 21 May
2015. Newspaper
Source,search.ebscohost.com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cook
ie,ip,url,cpid&custid=nypl&db=nfh&AN=6FPTS2015052133436501&site=ehost-live.