Works Cited are the full citations of sources used in your paper. At the end of your paper, you'll have a list of sources called Works Cited that will include all of the full citations of sources referenced in your paper.
MLA citations follow a very particular system that must be adhered to exactly. This consistency helps your professor and future readers efficiently and accurately access the materials you used. This page includes:
For information on how to format your reference list, check out the Formatting Page on this guide.
For any source you cite, you will need to record where you found the information. For digital and online sources, this means including a DOI or Permalink URL.
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique identifier for a digital object (such as an online article or e-book) similar to an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) on a book. DOIs are used to permanently link documents on the web and help readers find them even if the document's physical location changes.
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the string of data that tells your internet browser where to go (literally an internet address). However, when using search engines or databases, temporary session URLs are created. Permalinks (or stable URLs) are links that remain constant and stable over time. Permalinks are the best way to return to an e-resource at a later date and should be used in citations. All library databases provide a way to generate or copy a permalink to aid in the retrieval of digital resources.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial if given. Title of Book: Subtitle. Edition if given and is not first edition., Publisher, Year of Publication.
Examples:
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Suzuki, Koji. Ring. Vertical, 2016. Willse, Craig. The Value of Homelessness: Managing Surplus Life in the United States. University of Minnesota Press, 2015. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial if given, and Second Author's First Name Middle Initial if given. Last Name. Title of book: Subtitle if given. Edition if given and is not first edition. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Examples:
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Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Schmidt, Nola A., and Janet M. Brown. Evidence-based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research. 4th ed., Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2017. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
If there are three or more authors, list only the first author followed by the phrase et al.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial if given., et al. Title of book: Subtitle if given. Edition if given and is not first edition. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Examples:
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Charon, Rita, et al. The Principles and Practices of Narrative Medicine. Oxford UP, 2017. Morgan, Philip D., et al. Sea and land: An environmental history of the Caribbean. Oxford University Press, 2022. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial if given. Title of book: Subtitle if given. Edited by First name Last name, Publisher, Year of Publication.
Examples:
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Lincoln, Abraham. The Literary Works of Abraham Lincoln. Edited by Carl Van Doren, Easton Press, 1942. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Edited by Stephen Orgel and Johnathan Goldberg, Oxford UP, 2008. |
If the book has only an editor or editors listed and no author use the same format as you would for a book with an author, placing the editor's name(s) where you would the author's name(s) and 'editor' after the name.
Editor's Last Name, First Name Middle Initial if given., editor(s). Title of book: Subtitle if given. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Example:
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Zeadally, Sherali and Mohamad Badra, editors. Privacy in a Digital, Networked World: Technologies, Implications and Solutions. Springer, 2015. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
According to MLA guidelines The term "e-book" refers to publications formatted specifically for reading with a device designed to read e-books (e.g., a Kindle)
eBook for Kindle or other eBook Reader:
Citation Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial. Title of Book: Subtitle if Any. Edition if given and is not first edition., E-Book, Publisher Name, Year of publication.
Examples:
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Davis, Angela Y., et al. Abolition. Feminism. Now. E-Book, Haymarket Books, 2022. Silva, Paul J. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing. E-Book, American Psychological Association, 2007. |
E-Book from a library database:
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial. Title of Book: Subtitle if Any. Edition if given and is not first edition, Publisher Name, Year of publication. Name of Database, DOI number/URL/Permalink.
Example:
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Richard K. Fenn. The American Culture of Despair: The Sacred, Secularity, and the Test of Time. E-Book, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=cee8d722-f85c-39d2-81b0-b38d0ba0cb69. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author. "Title." Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs and/or URL, DOI or permalink). 2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).
Citation Format:
Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. “Article Title.” Journal Title, volume number, issue number, date of publication, page numbers if available. Database name, DOI or stable URL. Accessed date.
Examples:
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Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20155. Accessed 26 May 2009. Chan, Evans. “Postmodernism and Hong Kong Cinema.” Postmodern Culture, vol. 10, no. 3 May 2000. Project Muse, https://doi.org/10.1353/pmc.2000.0021. Accessed 11 Jan. 2011. García Baigorri, Anaraida, et al. “Leveraging Urban Water Distribution Systems with Smart Sensors for Sustainable Cities.” Sensors (14248220), vol. 24, no. 22 Nov. 2024, p. 7223. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.3390/s24227223. Accessed 14 June 2025. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, pages. Accessed date if online newspaper.
Example:
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Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients." Washington Post, 24 May 2007, p. LZ01. Smith, John. "Climate Change Impact." The New York Times, 15 July 2024. p. A14. www.nytimes.com, Accessed 20 July. |
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article: Subtitle if Any." Title of Website, Date of Publication, Name of Database, Stable URL/Permalink. Accessed date.
Examples:
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Binder, Alan, et al. "Why Harvard decided to fight Trump." New York Times, 16 April 2025. ProQuest, https://ctcsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/why-harvard-decided-fight-trump/docview/3190701690/se-2. Accessed 23 April 2025. Reich, Robert B. "Putin, Trump, and tyranny." Hartford Courant, 03 July 2023. ProQuest, https://ctcsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/putin-trump-tyranny/docview/2832208987/se-2. Accessed 24 April 2025. Santora, Marc, and Tyler Hicks. "In Eastern Ukraine, Terrifying Bombardment and Near Total Destruction: Ukraine Dispatch." New York Times, 27 Aug. 2024. ProQuest, https://ctcsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/blogs-podcasts-websites/eastern-ukraine-terrifying-bombardment-near-total/docview/3097273096/se-2. Accessed 23 April 2025. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First name, Middle Initial. "Title of Article." Name of Site, day Month year, URL. Accessed date.
Examples:
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Cherry, Kendra. "The 7 Most Influential Child Development Theories." verywell mind, 27 Jan. 2025, www.verywellmind.com/child-development-theories-2795068. Accessed 24 April 2025. Decker, Fred. "Pasta 101: Solutions to Your Most Pressing Pasta Problems." ehow, 26 May 2023, www.ehow.com/13777213/pasta-problems. Accessed 24 April 2025. |
If no author is listed begin the citation with the "Name of the Article".
Example:
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“Athlete's Foot - Topic Overview.” WebMD, 25 Sept. 2014, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-topic-overview. Accessed 12 May 2017. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Author's Last Name, First name, Middle Initial. Name of Site, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site, day Month year (Creation date), URL. Accessed day Month year.
Examples:
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Kenworthy, Lane. The Good Society, www.lanekenworthy.net. Accessed 10 Sept. 2021. The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008. |
Remember: All principle words of the title and subtitle are capitalized.
Citation Format:
Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, Uploaded by Username, Date Created, URL.
Examples:
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“4K Deep Forest - 8 Hours NO LOOP Birdsong - Robin & Blackbird Singing - Relaxing Nature Ambiance.” YouTube, Uploaded by TheSilentWatcher, 7 June 2021. https://youtu.be/FxAgAyZYXJ8?si=gyjTm_Sl1OzAhTU0. “American Conversations: Senator Angus King (I-ME), on Paul Revere's Ride.” YouTube, Uploaded by Heather Cox Richardson, 17 April 2025. https://www.youtube.com/live/5YHvpx3vzCE?si=f-SvQmxGqeR7-nP3. McCabe, Jessica. “The Unexpected Side Effects of Pushing Yourself to the Limit.” YouTube, Uploaded by How to ADHD, 13 June 2023, https://youtu.be/9m8yVhf0Bt8?si=Re5Rjo4j7wwjmddW. |
Citation Format:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s First name Last Name, Name of Publishing Company, Year Released. Streaming/Website Name, URL.
Example:
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Conclave. Directed by Edward Berger, Universal, 2024. Amazon Prime Video, https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DLKMHW18/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r. |
Example:
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Spaceballs. Directed by Mel Brooks, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Brooksfilms, 1987. Apple TV, https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/spaceballs/umc.cmc.17pxetcaeese7bguoz84qncnx. |
Citation Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. “Image Title.” Date created. Website, URL.
Examples:
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Aparnaag. “Kitten.” 16 July 2014. Flicker Commons, https://flic.kr/p/oou418. Galvez, Jose. “Father and Daughter.” 1988. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.13911939. |