MLA 8th edition is intended to be a universal set of guidelines to apply to any type of source. Each source in the Works Cited is based on a list of core elements (see image). Not all sources will have all nine elements.
For in-text citing, MLA follows the author-page format. For internet sources, you do not need to include the paragraph number unless part of the source. When there is not an author, use a shortened title of the 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).
MLA Style is not just in-text citing and a list of references. It also includes the formatting of your paper. Here are some of the basics elements. For examples, consult the Purdue OWL's sample paper or the MLA Style Center page with full formatting requirments. Ask your professor about including a title page, they may not require it. If you are formatting your thesis or dissertation, you must use the Graduate School's MLA template.
McCord, Edward LeRoy. The Value of Species. Yale University Press, 2012.
Numerous studies have replicated these results utilizing the same methods (McCord 152).
McCord highlights numerous studies that have replicated these results utilizing the same methods (152).
This guide was adapted from the Citing Sources guide by the Librarians of Milner Library, Illinois State University. Many thanks for their hard work and permission to use this guide.
