MLA HANDBOOK
Citation Examples
1. MLA style uses brief parenthetical citations in the text which are keyed to an alphabetical list of “Works Cited List” at the end of the paper. 2. MLA style contains only enough information to enable the reader to find the source in the “Works Cited List.” For example, if an authors name is used in the text, only the page number appears in the parenthetical citation; if more than one work by the same author is cited, a shortened version of the title is given. 3. MLA style strives to keep the text as free from disruptions as possible. 4. MLA style includes these basic elements in each “Works Cited List” citation: author’s name in full (last name first), the title and subtitle underlined(every important word is capitalized), place of publication, publisher (usually shortened if more than two words), publication date.
Example:
Gorman, Michael. Our Singular Strengths: Meditations for Librarians. Chicago: ALA, 1998.
Following is a list of parenthetical citation and “Works Cited” examples. Numbers in parenthesis indicate the appropriate paragraphs in MLA Handbook (6th ed.) where explanation and examples can be found (first set indicates works cited, second set indicates parenthetical citation).
1. Book with one author (5.6.1; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation, author mentioned in text: Zornberg writes.... (120)
Parenthetical citation: (Zornberg 120)
Works cited:
Zornberg, Avivah Gottlied. Genesis: The Beginning of Desire. Philadelphia: Jewish Pub. Soc., 1995.
2. Book with one author and a translator (5.6.13; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Westermann 223)
Works cited:
Westermann, Claus. Joseph: Eleven Bible Studies in Genesis. Trans. Omar Kaste. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
3. Book with two authors (5.6.4; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Kikawada and Quinn 24)
Works cited:
Kikawada, Isaac M., and Arthur Quinn. Before Abraham Was: The Unity of Genesis 1-11. Nashville: Abingdon, 1985.
4. Book in an un-numbered series, two works by same author (5.6.16; 6.4.6)
Parenthetical citation: (Brueggeman, Genesis 96)
Works cited:
Brueggeman, Walter. Genesis. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Atlanta: John Knox, 1982.
5. Book in a numbered series (5.6.16; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Speiser 276)
Works cited:
Speiser, E. A. Intro., Trans., Notes. Genesis. Anchor Bible 1. Garden City: Doubleday, 1964.
6. Essay in a book of collected essays which is part of a series (5.6.7; 5.6.16; 6.4.3)
Parenthetical citation: (Schottroff 31)
Works cited:
Schottroff, Luise. “The Creation Narrative: Genesis 1.1-2.4a.” A Feminist Companion to Genesis. Ed. Athalya Brenner. Feminist Companion to the Bible 2. Sheffield, Eng.: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993. 24-38.
7. Article in a reference book (dictionary or encyclopedia) (5.6.8; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Bird 5:956)
Parenthetical citation, author mentioned in text: According to Bird...(5:956).
Works cited:
Bird, Phyllis A. “Women (OT).” Anchor Dictionary of the Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
8. Article in a journal with continuous paging (5.7.1; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Levison 467)
Works cited:
Levison, John R. “Judith 16:14 and the Creation of Woman.” Journal of Biblical Literature. 114 (1995): 467-469.
9. Article in a journal, each issue numbered and paged separately (5.7.3; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Bultmann 29)
Works cited:
Bultmann, Christoph. “Creation at the Beginning of History: Johann Gottfried Herder’s Interpretation of Genesis 1.” JSOT (or Journal for the Study of the Old Testament) 68 (1995):23-32.
10. Article in a magazine (5.7.6; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Wall 740)
Works cited:
Wall, James M. “Making Theology Cinematic.” Christian Century 12-19 Aug. 1998:739-41.
11. A book review (5.7.7; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Pinches 758)
Works cited:
Pinches, Charles. “Eco-Minded: Faith and Action.” Rev. of Earth Community, Earth Ethics by Larry L. Rasmussen. Christian Century 12-19 Aug. 1998: 755-57.
12. Non-Periodical publication on CD-ROM (5.9.5a; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Long 94)
Parenthetical citation if no paging is provided: Give the author’s name in the text of the paper, no parenthetical citation required.
Works cited:
Long, Charles H. “Cosmogony.” Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Mircea Eliade. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan, 1985. 94-99. CD-ROM. Provo: Infobases, 1995.
13. WWW professional or academic site (5.9.2; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: (Grassian 3)
Parenthetical citation if no paging is provided: Give the author’s name in the text of the paper, no parenthetical
citation required.
Works cited:
Grassian, Esther. Thinking Critically about Discipline-Based World Wide Web Resources. 6 September 2000. UCLA College Lib. 13 September 2005. <http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/discipline.htm>.
14. Part of an online book (5.9.3b; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation: Author is cited in text, no citation required.
Works cited:
Atkinson, John. Introduction. The Treasury of Proverbs: An Analytical Look at Proverbs Chapter 1. n.p., n.d. 13 September 2005 <http://www.christianquill.com/bible_studies/pdf/TreasuryofProverbs.pdf>.
15. Article from a Library serials database (5.9.7a; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation (unpaged) (Schramm par. 3)
Works Cited:
Schramm, Brooks. “Uncertain Terms: The Title of the First Volume of the Christian Bible.” Seminary Ridge Review Autumn 2001. ProQuest. Lancaster Theological Seminary, Philip Schaff Lib. 29 Sept. 2003. <http://www.proquest.com>
16. Article in an on-line scholarly journal (5.9.4; 6.4.2)
Parenthetical citation (if paged): (Kimelman 5)
Parenthetical citation (if unpaged use paragraphs or screens): (Kimelman pars. 10-11) or (Kimelman screen 3)
Works cited:
Kimelman, Reuven. “The Seduction of Eve and Feminist Readings of the Garden of Eden.” Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary Journal 1 (1998). 18 Oct. 1998 <http//www.utoronto.ca/wjudaism/eve.html>
17. Email source (5.9.9j)
Parenthetical citation: Cite author in text, no parenthetical required
Works cited:
Beldan, Chris. “Web Resources.” E-mail to Richard Berg. 19 Oct. 1998.
18. ListServ source (5.9.9k)
Parenthetical citation: Cite writer in text, no parenthetical citation required.
Works cited:
Crump, Eric. “Re: Preserving Writing.” Online posting. 15 February 1995. Alliance for Computers and Writing Listserv. 31 March 1995. acw-@unicorn.acs.ttu.edu (31 March 1995)
19. Bibles (6.4.8)
Parenthetical citation, if book, chapter and verse are not included in text: (NRSV, Gen. 2.10-15) If NRSV is used for all succeeding quotes, include only book, chapter and verse in the citation.
Works cited:
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. New York: Nelson, 1992.
R. Berg, 10/26/1999; revised 10/17/2001, 10/23/2001, 9/29/2003, 10/15/2003, 09/13/2005