MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

Basic rules

1. Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper.
2. Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.
3. Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.

Proper MLA citations do four things: Be able to retrace your research steps, build credibility, give credit, and avoid the use of plagiarism 3. In-text citations are also sometimes called Parenthetical Notation 4.

Example Citations: Articles

• AuthorLastName, AuthorFirstName. “Article Title.” Journal Title, Version, Number, Publication Date, Page Numbers.
• L’Ambrosch, Zampoun and Teodolinda Roncaglia.
• Newspaper Article from an Online Database.
• Newspaper Article from Web or Print Source.

If no author is credited, leave out this element, and start with the title of the page or article instead. Use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation….Citing web pages with no author or date.

Since most websites begin with this prefix, it is unnecessary to include it in the citation. Last name, First name of author. “Title of Web Page.” Title of Website, Publisher, Date published, URL.

References are usually listed at the end of the paper on a page called References, Works Cited, or Bibliography. Full references always include the author, title, and publication date of the source. They also include other information that helps identify the source.