mla citations style

In the book The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements…. Too much fire and you have a bad temper...too little wood and you bent too quickly...too much water and you flowed in too many directions” (Tan 31).

This specific in text citation, (Tan 31), is called an MLA parenthetical citation because the author’s name is in parentheses. It’s included so the reader sees that we are quoting something from page 31 in Tan’s book. The complete, regular citation isn’t included in the main part of the project because it would be too distracting for the reader. We want the reader to focus on our work and research, not get caught up on our sources.

Here’s another way to cite in the text:

In Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements... Too much fire and you have a bad temper... too little wood and you bent too quickly... too much water and you flowed in too many directions" (31).

If the reader would like to see the source’s full information, and possibly locate the source themselves, they can refer to the last part of the project to find the regular citation.

The regular citation, at the end of the project looks like this:

%%Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Penguin, 1989, p. 31.

Notice that the first word in the full citation (Tan) matches the “Tan” used in the body of the project. It’s important to have the first word of the full citation match the term used in the text. Why? It allows readers to easily find the full citation on the works-cited list.

If your direct quote or paraphrase comes from a source that does not have page numbers, it is acceptable to place a line number (use line or lines), paragraph number (use the abbreviation par. or pars.), sections (sec. or secs.), or chapters (ch. or chs.). Only use these other terms if they are actually labeled on the source. If it specifically says on the source, “Section 1,” for example, then it is acceptable to use “sec. 1” in the in-text citation.

If there are no numbers to help readers locate the exact point in the source, only include the author’s last name.

To determine how to create in-text citations for more than one author, no authors, or corporate authors, refer to the “Authors” section below.

More about quotations and how to cite a quote:

Example from a movie:

Dorothy stated, "Toto," then looked up and took in her surroundings, "I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore" ( Wizard of Oz ).

While his parents sat there in surprise, Colton went onto say:

“Cause I could see you,” Colon said matter-of-factly. “I went up and out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body. And I saw you and Mommy. You were in a little room by yourself, praying; and Mommy was in a different room, and she was praying and talking on the phone.” (Burpo xxi)

How to create a paraphrase:

As stated above, the majority of your paper should be your own writing and ideas. It’s acceptable to include quotes, but they shouldn’t crowd your paper. If you’re finding that you’re using too many quotes in your paper, consider adding paraphrases. When you reiterate a piece of information from an outside source in your own words, you create a paraphrase.

Here’s an example:

Readers discover in the very first sentence of Peter Pan that he doesn’t grow up (Barrie 1).

What paraphrases are:

What paraphrases are not:

A copy and pasted sentence with a few words substituted for synonyms.

Confused about whether footnotes and endnotes should be used?

Footnotes and endnotes are completely acceptable to use in this style. Use a footnote or endnote if:

Keep in mind that whether you choose to include in-text citations or footnotes/endnotes, you need to also include a full reference on the MLA format works-cited list.

Content note example:

Even Maurice Sendak’s work (the mastermind behind Where the Wild Things Are and numerous other popular children’s picture books) can be found on the banned books list. It seems as though nobody is granted immunity. 1

In the Night Kitchen ’s main character is nude on numerous pages. Problematic for most is not the nudity of the behind, but the frontal nudity.

Work Cited:

%%Sendak, Maurice. In The Night Kitchen. Harper Collins, 1996.

Bibliographic note example:

Dahl had a difficult childhood. Both his father and sister passed away when he was a toddler. He was then sent away by his mother to boarding school (de Castella). 1

Numerous books, such as Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, all feature characters with absent or difficult parents.

MLA Works Cited:

Include 4 full citations for: de Castella’s article, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG .

Don’t forget to create full, or regular citations, and place them at the end of your project.

If you need help with in-text and parenthetical citations, CitationMachine.net can help. Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use!

Common Knowledge: What Is It and How Will It Affect My Writing?

Footnotes, endnotes, references, proper structuring. We know it’s a lot. Thankfully, you don’t have to include a reference for EVERY piece of information you add to your paper. You can forget about including a reference when you share a piece of common knowledge.

Common knowledge is information that most people know. For example, these are a few facts that are considered common knowledge:

We could go on and on. When you include common knowledge in your paper, omit a reference. One less thing to worry about, right?

Before you start adding tons of common knowledge occurrences to your paper to ease the burden of creating references, we need to stop you right there. Remember, the goal of a research paper is to develop new information or knowledge. You’re expected to seek out information from outside sources and analyze and distribute the information from those sources to form new ideas. Using only common knowledge facts in your writing involves absolutely zero research. It’s okay to include some common knowledge facts here and there, but do not make it the core of your paper.

If you’re unsure if the fact you’re including is common knowledge or not, it doesn’t hurt to include a reference. There is no such thing as being overly responsible when it comes to writing and citing.

Wikipedia - Yay or Nay?

If you’re wondering whether it’s okay to use Wikipedia in your project, the answer is, it depends.

If Wikipedia is your go-to source for quick information on a topic, you’re not alone. Chances are, it’s one of the first websites to appear on your results page. It’s used by tons of people, it’s easily accessible, and it contains millions of concise articles. So, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the problem?”

The issue with Wikipedia is that it’s a user-generated site, meaning information is constantly added and modified by registered users. Who these users are and their expertise is somewhat of a mystery. The truth is anyone can register on the site and make changes to articles.

Knowing this makes some cringe, especially educators and librarians, since the validity of the information is questionable. However, some people argue that because Wikipedia is a user-generated site, the community of registered users serve as “watchdogs,” ensuring that information is valid. In addition, references are included at the bottom of each article and serve as proof of credibility. Furthermore, Wikipedia lets readers know when there’s a problem with an article. Warnings such as “this article needs clarification,” or “this article needs references to prove its validity” are shared with the reader, thus promoting transparency.

If you choose to reference a Wikipedia article in your research project, and your teacher or professor says it’s okay, then you must reference it in your project. You would treat it just as you would with any other web source.

However, you may want to instead consider locating the original source of the information. This should be fairly easy to do thanks to the references at the bottom of each article.

Specific Components of a Citation

This section explains each individual component of the citation, with examples for each section for full citations and in-text citations.

Name of the author

The author’s name is usually the first item listed in the MLA citation. Author names start with the last name, then a comma is added, and then the author’s first name (and middle name if applicable) is at the end. A period closes this information.

Here are two examples of how an author’s name can be listed in a full citation:

Twain, Mark.

Poe, Edgar Allan.

For in-text:

(Author’s Last name page number) or Author’s Last name... (page).

Wondering how to format the author’s name when there are two authors working jointly on a source? When there are two authors that work together on a source, the author names are placed in the order in which they appear on the source. Place their names in this format:

Author 1’s Last Name, First name, and Author 2’s First Name Last Name.

Here are two examples of how to cite two authors:

Clifton, Mark, and Frank Riley.

Paxton, Roberta J., and Michael Jacob Fox.

(Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name page number) or Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name... (page).

There are many times when three or more authors work together on a source. This often happens with journal articles, edited books, and textbooks.

To cite a source with three or more authors, place the information in this format:

Author 1’s Last name, First name, et al.

As you can see, only include the first author’s name. The other authors are accounted for by using “et al.” In Latin, et al. is translated to “and others.” If using the Citation Machine citation generator, this abbreviation is automatically added for you.

Here’s an example of a citation for three or more authors:

%%Warner, Ralph, et al. How to Buy a House in California. Edited by Alayna Schroeder, 12th ed., Nolo, 2009.

(Author 1’s Last name et al. page number)

Is there no author listed on your source? If so, exclude the author’s information from the citation and begin the citation with the title of the source.

For in-text: Use the title of the source in parentheses. Place the title in italics if the source stands alone. Books and films stand alone. If it’s part of a larger whole, such as a chapter in an edited book or an article on a website, place the title in quotation marks without italics.

( Back to the Future )

(“Citing And Writing”)

Other in-text structures:

Authors with the same last name in your paper? MLA essay format requires the use of first initials in-text in this scenario.

Ex: (J. Silver 45)

Are you citing more than one source by the same author? For example, two books by Ernest Hemingway? Include the title in-text.

Example: (Hemingway, For Whom The Bell Tolls 12).

Are you citing a film or song? Include a timestamp in the format of hours:minutes:seconds. ( Back to the Future 00:23:86)

Was the source found on social media, such as a tweet, Reddit, or Instagram post? If this is the case, in an MLA format paper, you are allowed to start the citation with the author’s handle, username, or screen name.

Here is an example of how to cite a tweet:

%%@CarlaHayden. “I’m so honored to talk about digital access at @UMBCHumanities. We want to share the @libraryofcongress collection.” Twitter , 13 Apr. 2017, 6:04 p.m., twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/852643691802091521.

While most citations begin with the name of the author, they do not necessarily have to. Quite often, sources are compiled by editors. Or, your source may be done by a performer or composer. If your project focuses on someone other than the author, it is acceptable to place that person’s name first in the citation. If you’re using the MLA works cited generator at Citation Machine.net, you can choose the individual’s role from a drop-down box.

For example, let’s say that in your research project, you focus on Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances as an actor. You’re quoting a line from the movie Titanic in your project, and you’re creating a complete citation for it in the works-cited list.

It is acceptable to show the reader that you’re focusing on Leonardo DiCaprio’s work by citing it like this in the MLA works-cited list:

%%DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. Titanic . Directed by James Cameron. Paramount, 1997.

Notice that when citing an individual other than the author, place the individual’s role after their name. In this case, Leonardo DiCaprio is the performer.

This is often done with edited books, too. Place the editor’s name first (in reverse order), add a comma, and then add the word editor.

If you’re still confused about how to place the authors together in a citation, the tools at CitationMachine.net can help! Our website is easy to use and will create your citations in just a few clicks!

Titles and containers

The titles are written as they are found on the source and in title form, meaning the important words start with a capital.

Here’s an example of a properly written title:

Practical Digital Libraries: Books, Bytes, and Bucks.

Wondering whether to place your title in italics or quotation marks? It depends on whether the source sits by itself or not. If the source stands alone, meaning that it is an independent source, place the title in italics. If the title is part of a larger whole, place the title of the source in quotation marks and the source it is from in italics.

When citing full books, movies, websites, or albums in their entirety, these titles are written in italics.

However, when citing part of a source, such as an article on a website, a chapter in a book, a song on an album, or an article in a scholarly journal, the part is written with quotation marks and then the titles of the sources that they are found in are written in italics.

Here are some examples to help you understand how to format titles and their containers.

To cite Pink Floyd’s entire album, The Wall , cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. The Wall. Columbia, 1979.

To cite one of the songs on Pink Floyd’s album in MLA formatting, cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall (Part I).” The Wall, Columbia, 1979, track 3.

To cite a fairy tale book in its entirety, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. The Land of Stories. Little Brown, 2016.

To cite a specific story or chapter in the book, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. “Little Red Riding Hood.” The Land of Stories, Little Brown, 2016, pp. 58-65.

More about containers

From the section above, you can see that titles can stand alone, or they can sit in a container. Many times, sources can sit in more than one container. Wondering how? When citing an article in a scholarly journal, the first container is the journal. The second container? It’s the database that the scholarly journal is found in. It is important to account for all containers, so readers are able to locate the exact source themselves.

When citing a television episode, the first container is the name of the show and the second container is the name of the service that it could be streaming on, such as Netflix .

If your source sits in more than one container, the information about the second container is found at the end of the citation.

Use the following format to cite your source with multiple containers :

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

If the source has more than two containers, add on another full section at the end for each container.

Not all of the fields in the citation format above need to be included in your citation. In fact, many of these fields will most likely be omitted from your citations. Only include the elements that will help your readers locate the source themselves.

Here is an example of a citation for a scholarly journal article found in a database. This source has two containers: the journal itself is one container, and the site it sits on is the other.

%%Zanetti, Francois. “Curing with Machine: Medical Electricity in Eighteenth-Century Paris.” Technology and Culture, vol. 54, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 503-530. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/520280.

If you’re still confused about containers, the Citation Machine MLA cite generator can help! MLA citing is easier when using the tools at CitationMachine.net.

Other contributors

Many sources have people besides the author who contribute to the source. If your research project focuses on an additional individual besides the author, or you feel as though including other contributors will help the reader locate the source themselves, include their names in the citation.

To include another individual in the citation, after the title, place the role of the individual, the word “by,” and then their name in standard order.

If the name of the contributor comes after a period, capitalize the first letter in the role of the individual. If it comes after a comma, the first letter in the role of the individual is lowercased.

Here’s an example of a citation for a children’s book with the name of the illustrator included:

%%Rubin, Adam. Dragons Love Tacos. Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, Penguin, 2012.

The names of editors, directors, performers, translators, illustrators, and narrators can often be found in this part of the citation.

If the source that you’re citing states that it is a specific version or edition, this information is placed in the “versions” section of the citation.

When including a numbered edition, do not type out the number, use the numeral. Also, abbreviate the word “edition” to “ed.”

Here is an example of a citation with a specific edition:

%%Koger, Gregory. “Filibustering and Parties in the Modern State.” Congress Reconsidered, edited by Lawrence C. Dodd and Bruce I. Oppenheimer, 10th ed., CQ Press, 2013, pp. 221-236. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=b7gkLlSEeqwC&lpg=PP1&dq=10th%20edition&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q=10th%20edition&f=false.

Many sources have numbers associated with them. If you see a number different than the date, page numbers, or editions, include this information in the “numbers” section of the citation. For MLA citing, this includes volume and/or issue numbers (use the abbreviations vol. and no.), episode numbers, track numbers, or any other numbers that will help readers identify the specific source that you used. Do not include ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers) in the citation.

It is important to include the name of the publisher (the organization that created or published the source), so that readers can locate the exact source themselves.

Include publishers for all sources except periodicals. Also, for websites, exclude this information when the name of the publisher matches the name of the website. Furthermore, the name of the publisher is often excluded from the citation for second containers, since the publisher of the second container is not necessarily responsible for the creation or production of the source’s content.

Publication dates

Publication dates are extremely important to include in citations. They allow the reader to understand when sources were published. They are also used when readers are attempting to locate the source themselves.

Dates can be written in MLA in one of two ways. Researchers can write dates as:

Day Mo. Year

Mo. Day, Year

Whichever format you decide to use, use the same format for all of your citations. If using the Citation Machine citation generator, the date will be formatted in the same way for each citation.

While it isn’t necessary to include the full date for all source citations, use the amount of information that makes the most sense to help your readers understand and locate the source themselves.

Wondering what to do when your source has more than one date? Use the date that is most applicable to your research.

The location generally refers to the place where the readers can find the source. This includes page ranges, URLs, DOI numbers, track numbers, disc numbers, or even cities and towns.

You can usually leave out http:// or https:// from URLs unless you want to hyperlink them. For DOIs, use http:// or https:// before the DOI: https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx .

For page numbers, when citing a source found on only one page, use p.

Example: p. 6.

When citing a source that has a page range, use pp. and then add the page numbers.

Example: pp. 24-38.

Since the location is the final piece of the citation, place a period at the end. When it comes to URLs, many students wonder if the links in citations should be live or not. If the paper is being shared electronically with a teacher and other readers, it may be helpful to include live links. If you’re not sure whether to include live links or not, ask your teacher or professor for guidance.

Looking for an online tool to do the work for you? Citation Machine citing tools could help! Our site is simple (and fun!) to use.

Need some more help? There is further good information here .

Common Citation Examples

ALL sources use this format:

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). *Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

*If the source does not have a second container, omit this last part of the citation.

Remember, the Citation Machine MLA formatter can help you save time and energy when creating your citations. Check out our MLA Citation Machine pages to learn more.

Journal Articles

How to Format a Paper

When it comes to formatting your paper or essay for academic purposes, there are specific MLA paper format guidelines to follow.

Which font is acceptable to use?

Should I double-space the paper, including citations?

Justification & Punctuation

Heading & Title

Page numbers

Here’s an example to provide you with a visual:

The image shows an example of the first page of an MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described above under the heading How to Format a Paper.

If you need help with sentence structure or grammar, check out our paper checker. The paper checker will help to check every noun , verb , and adjective . If there are words that are misspelled or out of place, the paper checker will suggest edits and provide recommendations.

How to Create a Title Page

According to the Modern Language Association’s official guidelines for formatting a research paper, it is unnecessary to create or include an individual title page, or MLA cover page, at the beginning of a research project. Instead, follow the directions above, under “Heading & Title,” to create a proper heading. This heading is featured at the top of the first page of the research paper or research assignment.

If your instructor or professor does in fact require or ask for an MLA title page, follow the directions that you are given. They should provide you with the information needed to create a separate, individual title page. If they do not provide you with instructions, and you are left to create it at your own discretion, use the header information above to help you develop your research paper title page. You may want to include other information, such as the name of your school or university.

How to Make a Works Cited Page

The MLA Works Cited page is generally found at the end of a research paper or project. It contains a list of all the citations of sources used for the research project. Follow these directions to format the works-cited list to match the Modern Language Association’s guidelines.

%%Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 2009.

%%---. Gather Together in My Name. Random House, 1974.

All citations begin flush against the left margin. If the citation is long and rolls onto a second or third line, indent the lines below the first line half an inch from the left margin. This is called a “hanging indent.” The purpose of a hanging indent is to make the citations easier to read. If you’re using our MLA citation machine, we’ll format each of your references with a hanging indent for you.

%%Wai-Chung, Ho. “Political Influences on Curriculum Content and Musical Meaning: Hong Kong Secondary Music Education, 1949-1997.” Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, vol. 22, no. 1, 1 Oct. 2000, pp. 5-25. Periodicals Index Online, search-proquest-com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/pio/docview/1297849364/citation/6B70D633F50C4EA0PQ/78?accountid=35635.

MLA “Works Cited” pages can be longer than one page. Use as many pages as necessary. If you have only one source to cite, do not place the one citation below the text of your paper. In MLA, a “Work Cited” page is still created for that individual citation.

Here’s a sample paper to give you an idea of what an MLA paper could look like. Included at the end is an MLA “Works Cited” page example.

The image shows the first page of an example MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described under the heading How to Format a Paper.

Looking to add a relevant image, figure, table, or musical score to your paper? Here’s the easy way to do it, while following guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association:

For tables:

Example of formatting a table in MLA format.

Example of formatting a figure in MLA format.

MLA Final Checklist

Think you’re through? We know this guide covered a LOT of information, so before you hand in that assignment, here’s a checklist to help you determine if you have everything you need:

_ Are both in-text and full citations included in the project? Remember, for every piece of outside information included in the text, there should be a corresponding in-text citation next to it. Include the full citation at the end, on the “Works Cited” page.

_ Are all citations, both in-text and full, properly formatted in MLA style? If you’re unsure, try out our citation generator!

_ Is your paper double-spaced in its entirety with one inch margins?

_ Do you have a running header on each page? (Your last name followed by the page number)

_ Did you use a font that is easy to read?

_ Are all citations on the MLA format works-cited list in alphabetical order?

Our plagiarism checker scans for any accidental instances of plagiarism. It scans for grammar and spelling errors, too. If you have an adverb , preposition , or conjunction that needs a slight adjustment, we may be able to suggest an edit.

Common Ways Students Accidentally Plagiarize

We spoke a bit about plagiarism at the beginning of this guide. Since you’re a responsible researcher, we’re sure you didn’t purposely plagiarize any portions of your paper. Did you know students and scholars sometimes accidentally plagiarize? Unfortunately, it happens more often than you probably realize. Luckily, there are ways to prevent accidental plagiarism and even some online tools to help!

Here are some common ways students accidentally plagiarize in their research papers and assignments:

1. Poor Paraphrasing

In the “How to create a paraphrase” section towards the top of this page, we share that paraphrases are “recycled information, in the paper writer’s own words and writing style.” If you attempt to paraphrase a few lines of text and it ends up looking and sounding too close to the original author’s words, it’s a poor paraphrase and considered plagiarism.

2. Incorrect Citations

If you cite something incorrectly, even if it’s done accidentally, it’s plagiarism. Any incorrect information in a reference, such as the wrong author name or the incorrect title, results in plagiarism.

3. Forgetting to include quotation marks

When you include a quote in your paper, you must place quotation marks around it. Failing to do so results in plagiarism.

If you’re worried about accidental plagiarism, try our Citation Machine Plus essay tool. It scans for grammar, but it also checks for any instances of accidental plagiarism. It’s simple and user-friendly, making it a great choice for stress-free paper editing and publishing.

Updated June 15, 2021

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master’s degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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Cite a Lecture – APA, MLA, and Chicago Style

How do you like this article.

Lectures or presentations are great sources for your research paper. When you use the information, providing an in-text citation and bibliography list is crucial. If you want to cite a lecture, the official citation styles include MLA, APA and Chicago Styles. Discover how to cite a lecture with the official styles and check out the examples.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Cite a Lecture – in a Nutshell

When you cite a lecture in APA, MLA or Chicago Style, your citations should include the following information:

Definition: Cite a Lecture

Live and video lectures can be used as sources of information for a research project. When you cite a lecture, ensure you use the citation style recommended by the university. The guidelines used to cite a lecture in Chicago Style, MLA, or APA differ.

For instance, the Chicago style has two systems of citations; notes and bibliography , while APA uses a version of the author-date style, while MLA uses the author-page system , a simplified variation of the author-date system to cite a lecture.

Cite a Lecture in APA

When using APA to cite a lecture, you don’t need to follow any citation rules for lectures you attended in person. Citation rules only apply to recorded or transcribed lectures accessible to the reader. If your readers cannot access the recorded lecture, your citation should mention the source as personal communication 1 , and you can quote the content in your research paper. However, personal communication is made in in-text citations but not included in the reference list.

Cite a lecture as a personal communication

Format: (Initials and last name of the lecturer, personal communication, date of presentation)

Example: (J. Osbourne, personal information, June 23, 2009)

If the lecture is available in the recorded or transcribed format, you adhere to the referencing style of the sources. You also use the same citation style for video lectures like zoom lectures and online lecture talks. For unrecorded zoom lectures, follow the format of live lectures. If the lecturer availed lecture notes, you follow the citation format and cite the lecture using the Powerpoint citation format. 2

When the conference speech is available as a presentation, the citation is as follows:

Cite a Lecture in MLA

If you want to cite a lecture in MLA 3 , the rules depend on the format of the lecture. You follow a different rule when citing a lecture you attended i n person or transcribed a speech . The MLA citation style uses the nine core elements system, including the author, title of the sources, the title of the container, other contributors, publisher, date and location. The container indicates the source of information.

Format for Live Lecture MLA Citation

Cite a lecture attended in person by providing the lecturer’s name, event name, date and institution. The lecture title should be in quotation marks and follow the headline capitalisation format. When you cite a lecture, in-text citation requires the lecturer’s last name only.

Citing Online or Recorded Lectures

If the speech or lecture is recorded online or transcribed in a book, you cite the lecture by following the format of the source type. If the speech is recorded in a book, you use the citation format for the book. At the end of the citation, include a description of the source type, like a speech audio recording.

Cite a Lecture in Chicago

Unlike APA and MLA citation styles, the Chicago Manual of Style requires a bibliography list of entries and footnotes for in-text citations when you cite a lecture. Despite the differences in style, the general format is similar to MLA citation works with parentheses on the lecture titles and descriptions of the source types. Chicago style also gives you two choices; you can cite a lecture using notes and a bibliography or author-date style.

Cite a Lecture Viewed in Person.

When creating a bibliography entry to cite a lecture attended in person, you provide the lecture title, host institution and a descriptive label.

Chicago Manual Style format:

Lecturer’s last name, first name. “Lecture Title.” Lecture, Event name or institution, location, month day, year.

Cite a Video Lecture in Chicago.

When you cite a lecture that is available in video recording or transcribed format, you use the citation of the source. If your citation refers to a recorded speech on a website, use the format below:

Chicago general format:

Lecturer’s last name, first name. “Speech Title.” Filmed/Recorded at Location, Month Day, Year. URL.

How do I cite a lecture slide?

When you cite a lecture slide, you follow the format of citing a Powerpoint presentation; the format requires you to mention the lecturer’s name, Powerpoint title, the title of the slide, date and location. You can use MLA, APA or Chicago style to cite the lecture slides.

What are the main elements for citing a lecture?

When you cite a lecture in APA, MLA or Chicago style, the main elements include the speaker’s name and lecture title. Event name, date and location of the event. For lectures available in a recorded speech in books or websites, the citation must provide additional details like the name of the website or book, URL and the time stamps for the recording.

Which citation style is recommended to cite a lecture?

Most research papers specify the preferred citation style. Choose a style that matches your field if the lecturer isn’t specific. For instance, the Chicago style is popular in history and sciences, MLA style is used for humanities, and APA style is used for social and behavioural sciences. What’s important is to maintain one style throughout your project.

1 EduBirdie.com. “Discover How to Cite a Lecture in MLA, APA, and Chicago Formats.” April 20, 2022. https://edubirdie.com/blog/cite-a-lecture .

2 Adrienne Mathewson and Jennifer Betts. “How to Cite A Powerpoint in Apa Format.” Bibliography.com. November 12, 2020. https://www.bibliography.com/apa/citing-powerpoint-presentations-in-apa/ .

3 Staff, EasyBib. “How to Cite a Lecture in MLA | Easybib Citations.” EasyBib. Chegg, January 1, 2023. https://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-format/how-to-cite-a-lecture-mla/ .

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How to Format a Citation

Examples of apa, mla, and chicago manual of style, citation styles: american psychological association (apa), citation styles: chicago, citation styles: modern language association (mla), example: direct quote cited in a book, example: reference within a journal article.

There are two basic approaches to citation:

Scholars writing in the sciences and social sciences typically use in-text citations, while humanities scholars utilize endnotes/footnotes.

While the two basic approaches to citations are simple, there are many different citation styles.

What is a citation style?

The way that citations appear (format) depends on the citation style, which is a set of established rules and conventions for documenting sources.

Citation styles can be defined by an association, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), publisher, such as the University of Chicago Press, or journal, such as The New England Journal of Medicine .

What citation style should I use?

The citation style that you use depends on the discipline in which you are writing, and where, or by whom, your work will be published or read.

When in doubt, ask your professor if there is a particular style that he/she would like you to use.

Where can I find more information on how to cite a specific type of source in a particular style?

The library has style manuals in print and online for several commonly used styles such as American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA) and Chicago. In addition, there are several excellent citation style guides on the web. (See below)

For examples of APA and MLA and Chicago Manual of Style, visit Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) site.

Frank, H. (2011). Wolves, Dogs, Rearing and Reinforcement: Complex Interactions Underlying Species Differences in Training and Problem-Solving Performance. Behavior Genetics , 41 (6), 830-839.

Frank, H. 2011. "Wolves, Dogs, Rearing and Reinforcement: Complex Interactions Underlying Species Differences in Training and Problem-Solving Performance." Behavior Genetics 41 (6):830-839.

Frank, H. "Wolves, Dogs, Rearing and Reinforcement: Complex Interactions Underlying Species Differences in Training and Problem-Solving Performance." Behavior Genetics 41.6 (2011): 830-39. Print.

Source: Gabriel, R. A. (2001). Gods of Our Fathers: The Memory of Egypt in Judaism & Christianity . Westport, CT, USA: Greenwood Press.

Source: Bradt, J., Potvin, N., Kesslick, A., Shim, M., Radl, D., Schriver, E., … Komarnicky-Kocher, L. T. (2015). The impact of music therapy versus music medicine on psychological outcomes and pain in cancer patients: a mixed methods study. Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer , 23 (5), 1261–71.

Library Intranet

Free Reference Generator for Students

Our reference generator can create a perfect bibliography or a reference list for your next assignment! It supports many styles, including APA, MLA, Harvard referencing style, Chicago AD and NB styles, and others.

📚 Referencing Styles Explained

✍️ ISBN and DOI Identifiers

🧐 What Are Reliable Sources?

🔗 references, 🔥 benefits of the reference generator.

🚀 How to Use the Free Reference Generator

Here’s how to use our reference generator step by step.

The picture enumerates which formatting styles the citation generator can work with.

You can also paste the link to your source, and our tool will reference it automatically. Just check the preview and edit it if needed.

No matter what format you're using, it's essential to know how to write in-text citations and references. What are they? Well, we can start by looking at the similarities between the two:

So, as you can see, they are meant to refer the reader to a text which a quote or an idea is taken from . However, a citation and a reference are not the same. Here's how they differ:

There are many citation styles in academic writing, but the most popular ones are APA (American Psychological Association,) MLA (Modern Language Association,) Chicago, Harvard, and Turabian systems. You're likely to encounter them during your studies, so let's have a closer look at them!

MLA Reference Style

MLA Reference Style is a system developed by the Modern Language Association. This style is commonly used to format papers and cite sources in the field of humanities. It consists of an in-text citation and a detailed list called Works Cited at the end.

When you need to use MLA format, make sure to check the MLA Handbook (9th edition) . It is the only official and authorized guide on MLA style. And if you want to accelerate the process, use our reference generator!

In-text citation: (Burke 3)

Works cited: Gosine, Kevin, and Emmanuel Tabi. "Disrupting Neoliberalism and Bridging the Multiple Worlds of Marginalized Youth via Hip-Hop Pedagogy: Contemplating Possibilities." Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, vol. 38, no. 5, 2016, pp. 445-467. Research Gate, doi: 10.1080/10714413.2016.1221712.

APA Reference Style

APA is a referencing system developed by the American Psychological Association. It contains two components: in-text citations and corresponding reference list entries. Everything you used and referred to in your work should be included in the text and reference list.

In-text citation: (Field, 2022)

Reference list: Troy, B.N. (2015). APA citation rules. In S.T, Williams (Ed.) A guide to citation rules (2nd ed., pp. 50-95). New York, NY: Publishers.

Harvard Reference Style

Harvard is a formatting system developed by the eponymous university. It uses bracketed references in the body of the work: the last name and date of publication. The list of sources is called References . All sources are in alphabetical order, arranged by the first letter of the author’s surname.

In-text citation: (Pears and Shields, 2019)

Reference list: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019) Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 11th ed. London: MacMillan.

Chicago Reference Style

Chicago reference style has 2 types: a Note-Bibliography (NB) system and the Author-Date (AD) system. In Chicago NB , a referencing number is added to the text with a corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page. This formatting type is often used in papers on the subject of literature, history, and arts. The Chicago AD system is used more in the sciences and social sciences. Each in-text citation corresponds with an entry in a reference list.

In-text citation: (Dickstein 2002, 71)

Reference list: Dickstein, Morris. 2002. “A Literature of One’s Own: The Question of Jewish Book Awards.” Princeton University Library Chronicle 63, no. 1–2 (Winter): 70–74. https://doi.org/10.25290/prinunivlibrchro.63.1-2.0070.

Turabian Reference Style

This is a simplified version of the Chicago style designed for students and researchers. When you are asked to use the Chicago style to work on your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, chances are high that you will have to use the Turabian style. It differs from Chicago in minor aspects: mainly, it's less detailed and easier to follow .

In-text citation: (Lerner, “The Grimke Sisters,” 290)

Reference list: (Gerda Lerner, "The Grimke Sisters and the Struggle against Race Prejudice," The Journal of African American History 48, no. 4 (October 1993): 278, https://doi.org/10.2307/2716330.)

✍️ ISBN and DOI Identifiers Explained

ISBN and DOI are two different identifiers used to uniquely label and locate published works. They play an essential role in citations by helping ensure accuracy, reliability, and ease of access to the cited sources.

Using ISBNs and DOIs in citations also helps to standardize the citation process and make it more efficient. This is particularly important in academic and scientific writing, where accuracy and efficiency are especially important.

ISBN Definition

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a standard book identification system . It consists of a 13-digit number (formerly 10) and is unique to each book published internationally. Using ISBNs can help avoid confusion and errors when citing a specific edition.

DOI Definition

A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that can be used to identify an article or a document . A DOI can help your reader to find a document from your citation without a hassle. DOIs are also crucial for articles and other online publications because they provide a permanent link to the source, even if the URL changes over time.

In most cases, you can find the DOI on the first page of a source. If it is not included, you can look it up on the website CrossRef.org .

Using credible sources is essential when you are writing a research paper. Telling good sources from bad ones can be pretty challenging, but fear not: we have some tips to help you find credible and reliable sources for research online.

The picture enumerates the characteristics of a credible source.

But first, let's see what a credible source is:

Meanwhile, here's what an unreliable source is:

Criteria for Evaluating Your Sources

As you are working on your research paper, start thinking about how to find credible sources. Here are some of the criteria to look at when choosing whether to use the source or not:

Whether you are looking for a free citation generator or an explanation regarding the reference styles, we hope our tips will help you. Share it with your peers and friends and tell them about our free online reference maker! We also recommend you try out our free plagiarism detector and a summary generator to help you work with sources.

❓ Reference Generator FAQs

❓ what is a reference and citation generator for.

A reference and citation generator is a tool that automatically creates accurate citations and references for various types of sources, such as books, articles, and websites. These tools can save you a lot of time and effort by taking care of the tedious task of formatting citations and references correctly.

❓ How Can Using Reference and Citation Generator Help You?

Using a citation generator can help you integrate referencing into your essay or research paper quickly and efficiently. The process that was once time-consuming can be accomplished in minutes, saving you time and energy.

❓ How Can I Create a Reference?

You can create a reference by following a corresponding style guide. But you may also speed things up and generate a reference using our citation generator! Simply input all the necessary info about the source and click the button to create the reference.

❓ What Is the Best Referencing Generator?

If you are looking for the best referencing generator, look no further. Custom-Writing referencing generator is the best out there, allowing students to work with APA, MLA, Chicago, Turban, and Harvard styles free of charge.

IMAGES

MLA 7
Mla Quote In Text Citation Example
MLA Citation Style
FREE MLA Format Citation Generator [8th Edition]
MLA Citation Guide
In Text Citation Mla

VIDEO

citation
MLA Citations in Opposing Viewpoints
Citation 💜✨
MLA Citation
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4Cs of getting cited

COMMENTS

MLA Formatting and Style Guide
These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order: Author. Title of source. Title of container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.
Citation Styles Guide
MLA style is the official style of the Modern Language Association, defined in the MLA Handbook (9th edition). It's widely used across various humanities disciplines. Unlike most parenthetical citation styles, it's author-page rather than author-date. Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr
Free MLA Citation Generator
MLA is one of the most common citation styles used by students and academics. This quick guide explains how to cite sources according to the 9th edition (the most recent) of the MLA Handbook. You can also use Scribbr's free citation generator to automatically generate references and in-text citations. An MLA citation has two components:
Citations by Format
Citations by Format Entries in the works-cited list are created using the MLA template of core elements—facts common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date. To use the template, evaluate the work you're citing to see which elements apply to the source.
The Writing Center
MLA In-Text Citations Below are examples of how to write your in-text citations when you present an idea in your paper that is not your own. You should include in-text citations for summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. All in-text citations should correspond to a citation on your Works Cited page.
MLA Style Center
Celebrating the Oscars—the MLA Way Descriptions Used as Titles of Persons Understanding Back-Formations: Established Expressions or Curious Coinages? Parts of the Whole: Using Comprise and Compose How Do I Know If I've Used Due to Correctly? To Affect or Effect—to What Effect? Sports Terms in MLA Style Chess Terms in MLA Style Ask the MLA
MLA Style
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 new edition offers. New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language.
MLA Citation Examples
Any time a piece of information from another source is added into your MLA style paper, you must create two citations, or references, to show the reader where the information originated. One reference is placed in the written text of the paper, and the other is placed at the end of the project.
MLA vs. APA: How to Write Citations and Format
In MLA, in-text citations contain the author's surname and the relevant page number, although the page number can be excluded if the information is broad. ... MLA vs. APA: Style and paper format. Aside from citations, MLA and APA each have slightly different rules for grammar and paper formatting. Although subtle, these differences can be ...
MLA Handbook
MLA Handbook (9th ed., 2021), formerly MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (1977-2009), establishes a system for documenting sources in scholarly writing. It is published by the Modern Language Association, which is based in the United States.According to the organization, their MLA style "has been widely adopted for classroom instruction and used worldwide by scholars, journal ...
EasyBib®: Free Bibliography Generator
MLA Format Guide. This is the total package when it comes to MLA format. Our easy to read guides come complete with examples and step-by-step instructions to format your full and in-text citations, paper, and works cited in MLA style. There's even information on annotated bibliographies.
How to Cite a Painting in MLA
The term "bibliography" is a catch-all for any list of sources cited at the end of an academic work. Certain style guides use different terminology to refer to bibliographies. For example, MLA format refers to a paper's bibliography as its Works Cited page. APA refers to it as the References page.
Free Online MLA Reference Generator for Students: Cite Your Sources in
You don't need to constantly check MLA style requirements to make a 100% correct reference list. Just follow these 5 simple steps to get it done: Select your source type from the list. You can choose a website, book, journal, newspaper, etc. Type in the information about the source. Provide the author's name, DOI number, and other relevant data.
19.2: Introduction to MLA Documentation
MLA 8. MLA style is one of the most common citation and formatting styles you will encounter in your academic career. Any piece of academic writing can use MLA style, from a one-page paper to a full-length book. It is widely used by in many high school and introductory college English classes, as well as scholarly books and professional journals.
Citation Machine®: MLA Format & MLA Citation Generator
Complete citations are found on what MLA calls a works-cited list, which is sometimes called an MLA bibliography. All sources that were used to develop a research project are found on the works-cited list. Complete citations are also created for any quotes or paraphrased information used in the text.
Cite a Lecture ~ APA, MLA, and Chicago Style
Cite a Lecture in MLA. If you want to cite a lecture in MLA 3, the rules depend on the format of the lecture.You follow a different rule when citing a lecture you attended in person or transcribed a speech.The MLA citation style uses the nine core elements system, including the author, title of the sources, the title of the container, other contributors, publisher, date and location.
LibGuides: Citation: Citation Styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
The way that citations appear (format) depends on the citation style, which is a set of established rules and conventions for documenting sources. Citation styles can be defined by an association, such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), publisher, such as the University of Chicago Press, or journal, such as The New England Journal of ...
citationmachine.net
citationmachine.net
Free Reference Generator: APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard + More
MLA Reference Style is a system developed by the Modern Language Association. This style is commonly used to format papers and cite sources in the field of humanities. It consists of an in-text citation and a detailed list called Works Cited at the end. When you need to use MLA format, make sure to check the MLA Handbook (9th edition). It is ...