Modern Language Association (MLA) referencing style , Ko tā MLA tāera tohutoro

The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook is based on principles rather than rigid rules. This allows you to consider the perceived needs of your intended readers and cite sources accordingly. If your primary aim is to acknowledge a source, include sufficient information for your reader to locate the source such as:

• attributing the source of your ideas
• enabling the reader to find the cited source
• consistency in your description.

More detail may be needed if you are discussing the finer details of a source, such as the nature of a particular manifestation of a work. Consider what your readers need to know and whether they want to find or more fully understand your source.

MLA uses the term 'container' to describe the entire source of the information you're citing. For example, a book contains chapters, a magazine has articles, a website, web pages, and a blog, blog posts.

Generally, the source will have only 1 container. Sometimes, the source may be nested in a larger container. For example:

• An older book may be held in an online repository.
• A collection of artworks may be held in a museum.
• An excerpt from a novel may sit with a collection of readings.

Only include the larger container in the citation if it is critical to understand the source or if you cannot locate it without knowing the larger container. For example, Netflix and YouTube are unique larger containers.

MLA Style Center – Works Cited: A Quick Guide

Author and Title of source: put a full stop after the first 2 elements, then commas after all the other elements until the final full stop.

Title of the source: put in double quotes. For example: "Chapter title." "Article title." "Web page title." "Song title." "TV episode."

Title of the container: put in italics. For example: Book title, Journal title, Website name, Album name, TV show

For missing information, such as a publication date, skip this detail.

Detailed examples of the application of these principles, including the use of containers, are illustrated on the in-text citations and list of works cited pages for MLA style.

In-text citations and list of works cited

It is common to use abbreviations in the list of works cited and in-text citations, although less common in your writing.

The first time you write an abbreviation, write it in full, followed by the abbreviation in brackets. You don't need full stops or spaces in abbreviations comprised mostly of capital letters. For example, PhD, US, DVD and FBI.

Do not put a space after a full stop in abbreviations made up of lowercase letters, where each letter represents a word, for example, e.g., i.e., a.m.

Names

Put a full stop and space between each initial in a person's name when it includes the full surname, for example, A. A. Milne.

Don't use full stops or spaces between names entirely made up of letters, for example, JFK.

Months

Abbreviate the names of months that are longer than 4 letters. For example, Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

MLA Style Centre: Abbreviations

Discover how to cite sources, improve your writing and format your research project in MLA Style 9th edition.

Using MLA format

You can also access the MLA Handbook (9th edition) through the Massey Library. The handbook provides detailed guidance on headings, tables, figures, language and tone.

Find the handbook using the Library Discover search (Massey library login required)