Citing sources in the text by MLA

In MLA style, writers place references to sources in the paper to briefly identify them and enable readers to find them in the Works Cited list. 

Give only the information needed to identify a source. Usually the author's last name and a page reference are enough.

Place the parenthetical reference as close as possible to its source. Insert the parenthetical reference where a pause would naturally occur, preferably at the end of a sentence.

Information in the parenthesis should complement, not repeat, information given in the text. If you include an author's name in a sentence, you do not need to repeat it in your parenthetical statement.

The parenthetical reference should precede the punctuation mark that concludes the sentence, clause, or phrase that contains the cited material.

Works Cited list

References cited in the text of a research paper must appear at the end of the paper in a Works Cited list or bibliography. This list provides the information necessary to identify and retrieve each source that specifically supports your research.

Arrange entries in alphabetical order by authors' last names (surnames), or by title for sources without authors.

Capitalize the first word and all other principal words of the titles and subtitles of cited works listed. (Do not capitalize articles, prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, or the "to" in infinitives.)

Shorten the publisher's name; for example, omit articles, business abbreviations (Co., Inc.), and descriptive words (Press, Publisher).

When multiple publishers are listed, include all of them, placing a semicolon between each.

When more than one city is listed for the same publisher, use only the first city.

Use the conjunction "and," not an ampersand [&], when listing multiple authors of a single work.

Pagination: Do not use the abbreviations p. or pp. to designate page numbers.

Indentation: Align the first line of the entry flush with the left margin, and indent all subsequent lines (5 to 7 spaces) to form a "hanging indent."

Italics: Choose a font in which the italic style contrasts clearly with the regular style.

Books:

References to an entire book should include the following elements:

author(s) or editor(s)

the complete title

edition, if indicated

place of publication

the shortened name of the publisher

date of publication

medium of publication

Basic Format

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.