General Information (MLA 9th ed.) & Citing Generative AI (ChatGPT)
For articles in databases, when a DOI (opens new windowDigital Object Identifier) is not available, use the permalink, if available. A permalink is a URL that is static, persistent, or permanent. To get a permalink in EBSCOhost, click "Permalink" in the right sidebar under "Tools."
In MLA, the accessed date is not required, but may be provided if you wish. Check with your professor's guidelines.
- For an online work, use a DOI, permalink, or URL.
- Precede a DOI with http:// or https://. (i.e., https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.12223.) (MLA Handbook, 9th ed., p. 194 [5.93])
- For a URL https:// or http:// at the beginning may be omitted. (MLA Handbook, 9th ed., p. 195 [5.95])
- For a web source, copy the URL from the browser. The http:// or https:// may be omitted. (MLA Handbook, 9th ed., p. 195 [5.95])
- For articles in EBSCOhost, if the work is available in full text (not just the article abstract or record), use EBSCOhost as the container. Note: Databases within the EBSCOhost platform, such as Academic Search Complete or ERIC, are considered "filters," not the container. (MLA Handbook, 9th ed., pp. 134-137 [5.31-34], for notes on website containers.)
How do I cite ChatGPT and other generative AI?
See the MLA Style Center at https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/
Modern Language Association Style Manual
See Citation Examples: COMP-102 MLA Citations
MLA Handbook, 9th edition
by Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbookis published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts--middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields--the ninth edition of the MLA Handbookoffers *New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language *Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project *Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before *A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTubevideos, interviews, and more *Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources *Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work *Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes *Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism *A sample essay in MLA format *Annotated bibliography examples *Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation *Advanced tips for professional writers and scholarsCall Number: LB 2369.M52 2021 Reference and Reserve - View catalog record.Publication Date: 2021-04-06
MLA Handbook, 8th edition
byCall Number: LB2369.G53 - View catalog record.Publication Date: 2016-04-01The library holds several copies of the MLA Handbook, 8th Edition: one in Reference (LRC-R) and a copy on Reserve (LIB Reserve).
MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing
byCall Number: PN147.G444 Reference - View catalog record.Publication Date: 2008-01-01
The Little, Brown Handbook
byCall Number: PE1112.F644 Reserve - View catalog record.
The book is located on the carousel at the Library Service desk.Publication Date: 2016-07-28
DOIs
Digital Object Identifiers, or DOIs, are persistent links used in scientific and scholarly publishing to provide a permanent electronic address to avoid the problems of broken, outdated or changed links. opens new windowThe DOI System provides a means for managing information in changing digital environments.
A DOI consists of digits and letters that lead to the source location. Journal articles are often assigned DOIs. So, for MLA documentation, if a source has a DOI,use it instead of the persistent link (or URL).
Additional MLA Resources
MLA Style Center (Modern Language Association)
To organize key elements in your citation, use the opens new windowMLA Interactive Practice Template from MLA Handbook (8th ed.), PDF, by the Modern Language Association (style.mla.org),
- opens new windowHow to cite an online video?
- opens new windowUsing MLA Format
- opens new windowWorks Cited: A Quick guide
- FAQs, MLA Style Center
- MLA Citation Style 8th edition HD (Hayden Memorial Library)
- opens new windowCitation Help for MLA, 8th Edition (College of St. Scholastica)
- opens new windowMLA Documentation Guide (The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- opens new windowScribbr - Provides interactive MLA citation generator
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA format for in-text citations follows the author-page method. The author's last name may be included with the page number(s) in parenthesis following the quote or paraphrase, or used in the sentence with the page number(s) following in parenthesis.
Examples:
Smith noted that fake news... (27).
(Smith 27)
When page numbers are not fixed (the numbers are not the same in all formats) or not available, use a label identifying abbreviation for the number reference. Use a comma to separate the author from a reference that is not a page number.
Examples:
(Smith, par. 6) paragraph 6
(Smith, pars. 6-7) paragraphs 6 and 7
(Smith, ch. 4) chapter 4
See:
MLA Handbook, 8th edition (pp. 36, 123-127) - Call #opens new windowLB2369.G53 2016
The Little, Brown Handbook, 13th edition (pp. 638-640) - Call #opens new windowPE1112.F644 2016.
Song Lyrics and TV Scripts Citation Examples (MLA)
The examples below show elements to include in the citation. Use the print style manual and your professor's requirement to correctly format the citations.
SONG LYRICS (from an album or CD)
Writer / lyricist last name, first name. “Song title.” Recording date. Album name. Recording label. Year of release.
Child, Desmond, Jon Bon Jovi, and Richard Sambora. “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Slippery When Wet. Island/Mercury, 2017.
SONG LYRICS (from a website)
Writer / lyricist last name, first name. “Song title.”Website name,URL
Child, Desmond, Jon Bon Jovi, and Richard Sambora. “Livin’ on a Prayer.” SongLyrics, songlyrics.com/bon-jovi/livin-on-a-prayer-lyrics/.
TELEVISION SCRIPT
Writer. "Title of source." Title of container (in italics), series, episode, Title of second container (in italics), publisher, location.
Litt, Davidand Lee Aronsohn. "The Luminious Fish Effect." Big Bang Theory, story by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, series 01, episode 04. Big Bang Theory Transcripts, WordPress, bigbangtrans.wordpress.com/.
"The Big Bran Hypothesis." Big Bang Theory, series 01, episode 02, 5 Oct. 2007. Big Bang Theory Transcripts, Forever Dreaming,
transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=159&t=8537.