MLA Handbook (9th ed., 2021) by
Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts--middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields--the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook offers *New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language *Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project *Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before *A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more *Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources *Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work *Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes *Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism *A sample essay in MLA format *Annotated bibliography examples *Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation *Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
(From Purdue OWL):
Below is the general format for any citation:
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 URL or DOI). 2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).
MLA style originates from the Modern Language Association (hence its name) and is used primarily in the liberal arts and humanities. It was revised as of April 2016 into a simpler, format- and medium-neutral style. The order of elements and punctuation was standardized to fit any resource: print/physical format or electronic, or text or audiovisual. The MLA template of core elements is meant to provide flexibility in citation.
Its premise is that we need to know the same core elements to identify, locate, and evaluate a source. These are embodied in the questions:
There is less emphasis on a "correct" citation than a complete-as-possible one. There could be more than one correct entry for a particular source, depending on how elements such as authors and containers are identified (for example: volumes in a series, or episodes of TV shows). The MLA Handbook offers detailed different scenarios. You can also find examples at the MLA Style Center page called "Works Cited: A Quick Guide" and Purdue University's Online Writing Center's (Purdue OWL) MLA Guide
Generally, if you can identify the following core elements, then you are in good shape. Not all resources will use all elements.
MLA Handbook by
