Chat with a Librarian
Skip to Main Content
ask a librarian email questions

PSY 103 - Research Project

5. Cite Your Sources in MLA Format

Here are a few examples to help you cite your sources in MLA format. If your instructor asks you to use APA, see our APA Guide for examples.

How to Cite an Entire Book or Ebook (Print or Electronic)

Format: Author(s). Title of Book in Italics. Edition, Publisher, Year. Database Name in Italics (if electronic), URL.

*Note: if using a print book, skip the database name.


How to Cite Part of a Book or Ebook (Print or Electronic)

Format: Author(s). "Title of Part." Title of Book, edited by Editor, edition, vol. #, Publisher, Year, page number(s). Database Name (if electronic), URL.


How to Cite a Journal Article from a Database

Format: Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, Date of Publication, page number(s). Database Name (if electronic), URL.


How to Cite a Website

Format: Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Website in Italics, Website Publisher (if different than title), Date of publication, URL.

*Note:  Exclude publisher if title of website and publisher are the same.
*Note: If website does not have a date, add an access date at the end after the URL: Accessed 7 May 2016.
*Note: Do not include the http:// or https:// in the URL.

Additional MLA Examples

Citing Images

In MLA , you will cite an image in a presentation/project or paper depending on how it is being used.

 

Image for Decoration Only

If the image is just for illustration or decoration (a stand-alone image) and it is not part of the presentation or discussed in the project or paper, list the entire citation information in the caption of the image. Do not list it on your Works Cited page at the end.

Example of Image for Illustration or Decoration only (not going to talk directly about the image during your presentation or include a mention in your paper or project).

Example of Decotative Image in powerpoint

 

Image is Part of the Presentation/Project/Paper

If you are planning on talking about the image in your presentation or paper, you'll still include a caption for the image, but the caption will only include an in-text citation, and the entire citation information will go on the Works Cited page like you with a regular source.

Example of Image is Part of the Presentation (going to talk about the image specifically during your presentation or mention in your paper or project)

Example of Image in Powerpoint that Talking about

 

If when you're displaying this image of the laser welding, you are planning on talking about this image and what it shows, then you would include the citation information in your Works Cited, and the caption would just include an in-text citation. ​The entire citation information will go on the Works Cited page like you with any regular source.

Example of Works Cited on Powerpoint

 


 

In-Text Citations

This in-text citation information will get you started, but see our full In-text Citation Guide for more information and additional examples.

Basic Format: 1 Author and Page Numbers

Place the author’s last name and page number in parenthesis. If the in-text citation is at the end of a sentence, place the period outside the parenthesis.

Example 1: (Hennessy 81).

Example 2: (Hennessy 81-82).

No Page Numbers

If a source has no page numbers, omit the page number. Keep in mind, most electronic sources do not include pages.

Example 1: ("Everyday Victims")

Example 2: (Jones)

No Author

If the source has no author, your in-text citation will use the title of the source that starts your works cited entry. The title may appear in the sentence itself or, abbreviated, before the page number in parenthesis.

Example 1: (“Noon” 508).

Example 2: (Faulkner’s Novels 25).

Example 3: (“Climate Model Simulations").

2 Authors

If the entry on the Works Cited page begins with the names of two authors, include both last names in the in-text citation, connected by and.

Example: (Dorris and Erdrich 23).

3+ Authors

If the source has three or more authors, include the first author’s last name followed by et al.

Example: (Burdick et al. 42).