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How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in MLA

Citing a thesis or dissertation.

Thesis – A document submitted to earn a degree at a university.

Dissertation – A document submitted to earn an advanced degree, such as a doctorate, at a university.

The formatting for thesis and dissertation citations is largely the same. However, you should be sure to include the type of degree after the publication year as supplemental information. For instance, state if the source you are citing is an undergraduate thesis or a PhD dissertation.

MLA Thesis and Dissertation Citation Structure (print)

Last, First M.  Title of the Thesis/Dissertation. Year Published. Name of University, type of degree.

MLA Thesis and Dissertation Citation Structure (online)

Last, First M.  Title of the Thesis/Dissertation. Year Published. Name of University, type of degree.  Website Name , URL.

Wilson, Peggy Lynn. Pedagogical Practices in the Teaching of English Language in Secondary Public Schools in Parker County . 2011. University of Maryland, PhD dissertation.

In-text Citation Structure

(Author Last Name page #)

In-text Citation Example

(Wilson 14)

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Mla 8th ed. style guide: dissertations, theses.

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Essential Elements

Citations for dissertations/master's theses should include the following:

1. Name of Author 

2. Title of dissertation/thesis (italicized)

3. Date of Publication

5. Institution granting the degree (optional)

6. Description of the work (optional)

7. Database and URL if accessed through a database or repository

Sample Citation - Dissertations

Dissertations

The institution granting the degree and description of the work are optional. If you accessed the work online, include that information. 

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MLA Citation Style 9th Edition: Theses & Dissertations

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• No Author/Date/Etc.
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Master's theses are research papers that are submitted by those pursuing Master's degrees. Dissertations are extensive research documents typically submitted by doctoral candidates including those pursuing a Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees.

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MLA 9th Edition Style Guide: Dissertation/Thesis

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Dissertation/Thesis

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• Useful Links

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U,

MA thesis.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

Dissertation

PhD dissertation.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

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Master's Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

Master's theses are research papers that are submitted by those pursuing Master's degrees. Dissertations are extensive research documents typically submitted by doctoral candidates including those pursuing a Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees.

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Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite a dissertation in MLA

To cite a dissertation in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

• Author(s) name: Give the last name and name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For three or more authors, list the first name followed by et al. (e. g. Watson, John, et al.)
• Thesis title: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
• Year of publication: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• University: Give the name of the institution.
• Degree: Type of degree.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a dissertation in MLA style 9th edition:

Author(s) name . Thesis title . Year of publication . University , Degree .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

A doctoral dissertation with one author

Guo, Jia . Trust-based Service Management of Internet of Things Systems and Its Applications . 2018 . Virginia Tech , Doctoral dissertation .

Neel, Breta L . Three Flute Chamber Works by Alberto Ginastera: Intertwining Elements of Art and Folk Music . 2017 . Nebraska-Lincoln U , Doctoral dissertation .

This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

• MLA 8th ed. Style Guide: Dissertations, Theses
• MLA, 8th Edition: Master's Thesis or Project
• How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

More great BibGuru guides

• MLA: how to cite a personal interview
• MLA: how to cite a play
• Chicago: how to cite a tweet

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MLA Citation Style Guide: 7th Edition

• Web Sources
• Journal Articles
• Magazine & News Articles
• Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, & Reference Materials
• Audiovisual Media
• Legal & Government Documents

Dissertation and Theses: Unpublished

Dissertation and theses: published, contact kelly.

• In-Text Citations
• Works Cited Page

General, Electronic:

Last-name, First-name. “Title of Dissertation.” Diss. Place of Study, Year. Title of Database . Web. Date Month Year of Access.

Forrester, Pearl. “Psychological Distress and Repeated Television Viewing.” Diss. Miskatonic University, 1990. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses . Web. 13 May 2010.

General, Print:

Last-name, First-name. “Title of Dissertation.” Diss. Place of Study, Year. Print.

Forrester, Pearl. “Psychological Distress and Repeated Television Viewing.” Diss. Miskatonic University, 1990. Print.

General Rule:

Author's Last-name, First-name. Title of Disstertaion . Diss. Place of Study, Year. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Format.

Diamond, Oscar. How to Care for Your Diabetic Cat . Diss. West Virginia University, 1999. New York: Knopf, 2000. Print.

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MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: How to Cite: Other

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Table of Contents

Chatgpt or other ai language tool, class handouts, cochrane review.

Conference Proceedings or Presentation

Dissertations

Eric document, images / artwork.

Jazz Discography

Lecture Notes (taken by a student or otherwise not public)

Lippincott Advisor

Mintel or Other Corporate Report

Mobile Software Application (App)

Music Score

Natural medicines (online monograph), personal/unpublished works/blogs, powerpoint slides, review of book, play, movie, poem, etc., simplyanalytics, song or album.

Sound recording / Booklet from Naxos Music Library

Twitter (Tweets)

Note: For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Guidance for citing ChatGPT and similar AI tools is emerging while continuing to be debated ( more from MLA ).

"Prompt." Tool Name, Version, Producer, Date,   URL.

Works Cited List Example:

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT , 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

"What is Carrie Mae Weems' most influential work and what are its themes?" prompt. Gemini . 8 Feb. 2024 version, Google, 16 Feb. 2024, https://gemini.google.com/app.

In-Text Citation Example:

(Shortened version of prompt)

Examples: ("Describe the symbolism") 

("What is Carrie")

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Handouts/Notes." Name of Course, Date handout was received, University/College, URL. Access date. Class handout.

Easton, Todd. “Model Paper.” Economics 121, 10 Apr. 2019, University of Portland, learning.up.edu/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=544855. Accessed 15 May 2019. Class handout.  

 (Instructor's Last Name)

 Example: ( Easton )

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Handouts/Notes." Name of Course, Date handout was received, University/College. Class handout.

Doe, Mark. "Critical Analysis." English 100, 4 Sept. 2016, University of Portland. Class handout.

 Example: (Doe)

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,  vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, pp. First Page Number-Last Page Number. https://doi.org/doi number.

Work Cited List Example:

Lane, Deirdre A., and Gregory Y. H. Lip. "Treatment of Hypertension in Peripheral Arterial Disease."  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4 Dec. 2013,   https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003075.pub3.

(Author's Last Name)

Example: (Lane & Lip)

Cochrane reviews follow the journal article format.

Provide the name of the database (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) in italic title case in the works cited list. Do not italicize it elsewhere in your paper. 

Different versions of Cochrane reviews include different information, which means the works cited list might vary too. Follow the principle of citing what you see.

• Full-text versions of Cochrane reviews do not include volume numbers, issue numbers, or article numbers. The full-text version displays when you visit the DOI of the article.
• However, the article PDFs show the year as the volume number, an issue number, and an article number.
• It is fine to omit the volume, issue, and article number from the Cochrane review works cited list if the information is missing from your version of the article, but if you do see this information, include it just as you would for any journal article .

Conference Proceedings or Paper

Published Conference Proceedings

Author's Last Name, First Name.  Conference Title,  Conference Date and Location, Publisher, Date of Publication.

Chang, Steve S., et al., editors.  Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society, February 12-15, 1999: General Session and Parasession on Loan Word Phenomena. Berkeley Linguistics Society, 2000.

Oral Presentation at Conference

Speaker's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Speech." Title of Conference or Meeting , Day Month, Year, Location of Conference. Descriptor (i.e. Keynote Address, Guest Lecture, Conference Presentation, Address, Lecture, Reading). 

Stein, Bob. “Reading and Writing in the Digital Era.” Discovering Digital Dimensions, Computers and Writing Conference , 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.

Dissertation from Database

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). Title of Dissertation: Subtitle if Given. Year. PhD dissertation. Database Name.

Smith, Junette A. A Bridge to Neuroeducation: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Educators of Adult Learners . 2017. PhD dissertation. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

(Author's Last Name Page Number)

Example: (Smith 33)

Dissertation Abstract

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). Title of dissertation: Subtitle if given. Dissertation Abstracts International, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, pp. First Page Number-Last Page Number. Name of Database, URL.

Brooks, Mary Patrice. (2008). The History of St. Joseph School and Challenges of Catholic Education in Oregon. Dissertation Abstracts International , vol. 69, no. 6, 2008, pp. 2184–2185. America: History & Life, login.uportland.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ahl&AN=46957249&login.asp%3fcustid%3ds8474154&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

(Author Page Number)

Example: (Brooks 2185)

Author's Last Name, First Name Middle Name (if given). "Title of document: Subtitle if given." Date of Publication. Database Name. (ERIC document number).

Kubota, Kenichi. “‘Soaking’ Model for Learning: Analyzing Japanese Learning/Teaching Process from a Socio-Historical Perspective.” 2007. ERIC (ED498566).

Example: (Kubota 4)

Note: this document is a PDF so page numbers are available.

Image from a Website

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work, URL.

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800. Museo del Prado, museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

(Artist's Last Name)

Example: (Goya)

Note: For images found online, do not list a page number.

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title").

Image from a Book

When you refer to a photographic reproduction of an artwork, the citation is made up of two parts:

• Part 1: Lists the original artist's name, the name of the work, and the date the work was created. 
• Part 2: Cites where you found the reproduction of the work such as a book. 

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work.  Book Title , by Author's First Name Last Name, Publisher Name often shortened, Year of publication, p. number.

Cassatt, Mary. Mother and Child . 1889, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS. American Painting,1560-1913 , by John Pearce, McGraw, 1964, Slide 22. 

(Artist's Last Name, Page Number)

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title," Page Number).

Example: (Cassatt, slide 22)

Image from a Library Database

Artist's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Work: Subtitle if Any.  Year, Location of Work. Database Title , URL.

Monet, Claude. The Parc Monceau . 1878. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Artstor , library.artstor.org/library/secure/ViewImages?id=%2FDFMaiMuOztdLS0wdD5%2BR3su&userId=gDhMeDUs&zoomparams=.

Example: (Monet)

If the artist is not named, use a shortened version of the title (usually just 1-2 significant words): (“Title"). Example: ("Sunday Afternoon")

Beck, Aaron T., et al. “Beck Depression Inventory–II.” PsycTESTS, 1996. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/t00742-000.

 Example: (Beck et al. 1996)

Jazz Discography (by Tom Lord)

The Jazz Discography uses session numbers (example: E1254) to refer to recording sessions. Include the session number in your citation.

Lord, Tom. "F2031: The Duke Ellington Song Book."  The Jazz Discography,  www.lordisco.com/tjd/WordDetail?id=7&mode=detail&rid=49863.

Example: (Lord)

Since this is an online source page numbers are not needed.

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Lecture." Name of Course, Date lecture occurred, University/College. Class lecture.

Aihiokhai, Simon. “Christian Spirituality.” THE 105, 18 Jan. 2017, University of Portland. Class lecture.

 Example: (Aihiokhai)

Lippincott Advisor (7th ed)

"Title of Article." Date Month Year of Latest Update,  Lippincott Advisor . Retrieved Date, URL.

Note: include "Retrieved" followed by the date for web pages that may be updated over time and that are not archived

"Anemia (Aplastic)". 12 Jul. 2019,  Lippincott Advisor. Retrieved 17 Oct. 2019, advisor.lww.com/lna/document.do?bid=4&did=791392.

("First Word Or Two of Article Title," Year)

Example: ("Anemia (Aplastic)," 2019)

Note: Because online resources typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Lippincott Advisor mobile app:

"Title of Article." Date Month Year of Latest Update,  Lippincott Advisor . Retrieved Date, advisor.lww.com. Mobile App. 

"Anemia (Aplastic)". 12 Jul. 2019,  Lippincott Advisor. Retrieved 17 Oct. 2019, advisor.lww.com. Mobile App. 

Note: Because mobile apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Mintel or Other Corporate Report

Mintel Group Ltd. “Car Rentals – US.” Mintel Reports , July 2018, clients.mintel.com. 

 Example: (Mintel)

Mobile Application Software (App)

Name of Company that created the application or Creator's Last Name, First Name. Middle Initial if given. Name of Application,  Publisher Name or App Store, Version number if given, Release Date of Current Version of the Application, Mobile App, URL application was downloaded from.

National Geographic Society.  National Parks by National Geographic,  App Store, vers.1.2, 2012, Mobile App. www.apple.com/itunes/.

(Name of Company or Author's Last Name)

Example: (National Geographic Society)

Note: Because apps typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Composer Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Version, Publisher, Publication Date. 

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Corolian Ouverture: op. 62 . Heugel, 1951. 

(Composer's Last Name Page Number)

(Beethoven 11)

"Guided Imagery." Natural Medicines , 2015, Monograph ,  naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ health-wellness/professional.aspx?productid=1238.

(Author, if none then name of monograph)

Example: ("Guided Imagery")

Note: Because online monographs from Natural Medicines typically do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

Author's Last Name, First Name or Username if real name not provided. "Title of Blog Post."  Name of Blog,  Blog Network/Publisher if given, Day Month Year of blog post, URL of blog post. Accessed Day Month Year blog was visited.

Brussat, Frederic. “Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing.” Civility & Spirituality , 11 Dec. 2014, www.spiritualityandpractice.com/blogs/posts/civilityspirituality/301/beyond-ideas-of-wrongdoing-and-rightdoing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2017.

 Example: (Brussat)

Host's Last Name, First Name, host. "Title of Podcast Episode."  Title of Overall Podcast , season number if given, episode number if given, Web Site Hosting If Different From Podcast Title, Day Month Year of Episode, URL of episode. Accessed Day Month Year podcast was downloaded/played.

Orton, Tyler, and Patrick Blennerhassett, hosts. "Lessons From the Brexit."  BIV Podcast , episode 18, Business Vancouver, 28 June 2016, www.biv.com/article/2016/6/biv-podcast-episode-18-lessons-brexit/. Accessed 2 July 2016.

(Host's Last Name Start Time of Revelant Section-End Time of Section)

(Orton and Blennerhassett 00:01:15-00:02:22)

PowerPoint Slides from Moodle

Instructor's Last Name, First Name. "Title of PowerPoint Presentation." Title of Course,   Date of PowerPoint presentation, Name of University. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. 

Works Cited List Example

 Smith, John. "BIO 110: Week 2: Cells." Biology 110, 15 Jan. 2016, University of Portland. Microsoft PowerPoint   presentation.  

In-Text Citation Example

 Example: (Smith, slide 5)

 Note: include the slide number in your in-text citation if you know it. If not, leave it out

PowerPoint Slides from a Website

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of PowerPoint Presentation." Website publisher, Creation Date, URL. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. 

 Kunka, Jennifer Liethen.. "Conquering the Comma." Purdue University Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/conquering_the_comma_presentation.html. Microsoft PowerPoint   presentation.  

 (Author's Last Name)

 Example: (Kunka, slide 2)

You can find reviews in multiple source types (newspapers, magazines, journals, etc.); please see elsewhere on this guide for guidance on creating a citation for a specific source. The below citation example is for a play review that appeared on a newspaper website.

This template is for a review in general:

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review: Subtitle if Any." Review of Play (Book, Movie, etc.) Title , by Playwright (Author, Director, etc.). Name of Periodical , Date of Publication, p. Page number. 

Note: Titles of plays, books, and movies are italicized as shown here; do not italicize titles of articles, poems, and short stories. Instead, put them in quotation marks, e.g., Review of "The Revenant," by Billy Collins.

Note:  If the author's name is not listed, begin the citation with the title of the article.

Brantley, Ben. "Dear Audiences of 'Tiny Beautiful Things,' Prepare to Cry." Review of Tiny Beautiful Things , by Nia Vardalos. New York Times , www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/theater/tiny-beautiful-things-review.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2020.

Following guidance for a newspaper article from a website : (Review Author's Last Name)

Note : If there is no author listed, the in-text citation would include the first word or words of the title of the article in quotation marks, e.g. ("Dear Audiences").

"Name of Data File."  SimplyAnalytics Database.  Producer, date of data file.

Works Cited List Examples:

"Census 2010 Current Estimates Data."   SimplyAnalytics Database.  Geographic Research, Inc., 2013.

"2016 Current Estimates Data." SimplyAnalytics Database.  U.S. Census, 2017.

"Map with 2016 consumer expenditure data."  SimplyAnalytics Database . SimplyAnalytics, 2017.

• Obtain the data file name from the Metadata
• If you produced a map, SimplyAnalytics is the producer.

Music can be cited multiple ways. Mainly, this depends on the container that you accessed the music from. Generally, citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers or performers. Otherwise, list composer and performer information after the album title. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date.

If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.

Spotify Example:

Rae Morris. “Skin.”  Cold , Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify, open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album Example:

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.”  Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

CD Example:

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit."  Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Sound recording / Booklet from Naxos Music Library

Sound Recording:

Orff, Carl. “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi: O Fortuna.” Carmina Burana. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Hans Graf, LPO, 2012, Naxos Music Library , portland.naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=5099960230652.

(Creator's Last Name)

Example: (Orff)

If there is no creator, use a shortened form of the title (just one or two significant words): (“Title")

Cite the author of the booklet / liner notes (the author's name often appears at the end of the text).

Works Cited List Example:  

Prince, David. Booklet.  Sophisticated Lady , by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Pablo Records, 2001, Naxos Jazz Music Library , cdn.naxosmusiclibrary.com/sharedfiles/booklets/FAC/booklet-PACD-5310-2.pdf.

Example: (Prince 2)

Source of data. Title of document: Subtitle if given . Date of publication, Statista , URL.

Note: since Statista is the name of the publisher and the name of the database, cite Statista only as the database name at the end of the citation.

National Park Service. Most visited national parks in the United States in 2018. 13 May 2019,  Statista , www.statista.com/statistics/378920/most-visited-national-parks-us.

(Source of data)

Example: (National Park Service)

Twitter Handle (First Name Last Name if Known). "The Entire Tweet Word-for-Word." Twitter, Day Month Year of Tweet, Time of Tweet, URL.

@ReallyVirtual (Sohaib Athar). "Helicopter Hovering Above Abbottad at 1AM is a Rare Event."  Twitter,   4 Jan. 2013, 3:58 p.m., twitter.com/reallyvirtual/status/64780730286358528?lang=en.

Note: Write out the actual Tweet in the citation and keep spelling and grammar the same as in the original, even if there are errors. When quoting the Tweet, beside grammatical and spelling errors in the original Tweet, write [sic] in square brackets to indicate the errors are not your own. E.g., if the Tweet was "It isn't you're fault the media is violent", write: "It isn't you're [sic] fault the media is violent."

(Twitter handle)

(@ReallyVirtual)

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MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template

Published on December 11, 2019 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on September 5, 2024 by Jack Caulfield.

The MLA Handbook provides guidelines for creating MLA citations and formatting academic papers. This includes advice on structuring parenthetical citations, the Works Cited page, and tables and figures. This quick guide will help you set up your MLA format paper in no time.

Cite your MLA source

Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Use double line spacing
• Include a ½” indent for new paragraphs
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

Alternatively, you can automatically apply the formatting with our MLA docx or Google Docs template.

Table of contents

How to set up mla format in google docs, header and title, running head, works cited page, creating mla style citations, headings and subheadings, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about mla format.

The header in MLA format is left-aligned on the first page of your paper. It includes

• Your full name
• Your instructor’s or supervisor’s name
• The course name or number
• The due date of the assignment

After the MLA header, press ENTER once and type your paper title. Center the title and don’t forget to apply title-case capitalization. Read our article on writing strong titles that are informative, striking and appropriate.

For a paper with multiple authors, it’s better to use a separate title page instead.

At the top of every page, including the first page, you need to include your last name and the page number. This is called the “running head.” Follow these steps to set up the MLA running head in your Word or Google Docs document:

• Double-click at the top of a page
• Type your last name
• Insert automatic page numbering
• Align the content to the right

The running head should look like this:

The Works Cited list is included on a separate page at the end of your paper. You list all the sources you referenced in your paper in alphabetical order. Don’t include sources that weren’t cited in the paper, except potentially in an MLA annotated bibliography assignment.

Place the title “Works Cited” in the center at the top of the page. After the title, press ENTER once and insert your MLA references.

If a reference entry is longer than one line, each line after the first should be indented ½ inch (called a hanging indent ). All entries are double spaced, just like the rest of the text.

Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr

Prefer to cite your sources manually? Use the interactive example below to see what the Works Cited entry and MLA in-text citation look like for different source types.

Headings and subheadings are not mandatory, but they can help you organize and structure your paper, especially in longer assignments.

MLA has only a few formatting requirements for headings. They should

• Be written in title case
• Be left-aligned
• Not end in a period

We recommend keeping the font and size the same as the body text and applying title case capitalization. In general, boldface indicates greater prominence, while italics are appropriate for subordinate headings.

Chapter Title

Section Heading

Tip: Both Google Docs and Microsoft Word allow you to create heading levels that help you to keep your headings consistent.

Tables and other illustrations (referred to as “figures”) should be placed as close to the relevant part of text as possible. MLA also provides guidelines for presenting them.

MLA format for tables

Tables are labeled and numbered, along with a descriptive title. The label and title are placed above the table on separate lines; the label and number appear in bold.

A caption providing information about the source appears below the table; you don’t need one if the table is your own work.

Below this, any explanatory notes appear, marked on the relevant part of the table with a superscript letter. The first line of each note is indented; your word processor should apply this formatting automatically.

Just like in the rest of the paper, the text is double spaced and you should use title case capitalization for the title (but not for the caption or notes).

MLA format for figures

Figures (any image included in your paper that isn’t a table) are also labeled and numbered, but here, this is integrated into the caption below the image. The caption in this case is also centered.

The label “Figure” is abbreviated to “Fig.” and followed by the figure number and a period. The rest of the caption gives either full source information, or (as in the example here) just basic descriptive information about the image (author, title, publication year).

Source information in table and figure captions

If the caption of your table or figure includes full source information and that source is not otherwise cited in the text, you don’t need to include it in your Works Cited list.

Give full source information in a caption in the same format as you would in the Works Cited list, but without inverting the author name (i.e. John Smith, not Smith, John).

MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman , since it’s easy to read and installed on every computer. Other standard fonts such as Arial or Georgia are also acceptable. If in doubt, check with your supervisor which font you should be using.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Apply double line spacing
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch

The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .

Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.

The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition , published in 2021.

This quick guide to MLA style  explains the latest guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers according to MLA.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

• Your instructor requires one, or
• Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2024, September 05). MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template. Scribbr. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/formatting/

Is this article helpful?

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A Step-by-Step Walkthrough: MLA Style Formatting in Your PhD Thesis

Picture this: your groundbreaking research, wrapped in a polished and professional package, all thanks to MLA style. It's like putting a fancy bow on a gift that already rocks! With MLA in text citation example in your corner, you'll be citing sources like a pro, giving credit where it's due, and making your thesis a masterpiece of academic integrity.

Embrace the MLA style formatting services for PhD and let's get this show on the road. Trust me, it's going to be one exhilarating journey you won't want to miss! Are you ready? Let's do this! 

Implementation of MLA Style Formatting in The PhD Thesis

Step one: Familiarize yourself with the MLA style guide, your trusty kitchen companion. Think of it as your secret recipe book, packed with all the rules and guidelines you need to make your thesis shine. It covers everything from citations, in-text references, to formatting your works cited page. Yes, I know, it might not sound like a page-turner, but hey, we're all here to add some academic flair to our work!

Now, let's talk about citations – the flavorful spices of academic writing. In MLA style, you'll be using parenthetical references in the body of your thesis. Whenever you use someone else's work or ideas, sprinkle in a little citation magic. It's as easy as citing the author's last name and the page number in parentheses – just like seasoning your sentences with a pinch of academic goodness (Smith 42).

Oh, and don't forget those delicious direct quotes! Whenever you serve up someone's exact words, wrap them up in quotation marks and add the citation right after. You wouldn't want your readers to think those tasty tidbits are yours, right?

Now, let's move on to the works cited page – the grand finale of your MLA-style feast! This is where you showcase all the ingredients (sources) you used to cook up your thesis. Remember to arrange them alphabetically, just like organizing your spice rack. And don't forget to double-check every detail, like the author's name, title, publication date, and the works' juicy details. You don't want any missing ingredients in your gourmet bibliography!

AtkinsEditing is a top-notch editing service that specializes in catering to the needs of PhD researchers like you. Our team of expert editors are not only well-versed in the MLA style, but they are also scholars themselves. They understand the significance of your research and are dedicated to helping you present it in the best possible light.

MLA In Text Citation Example

1. How to Cite Books in MLA:

i. Format for a book with a single author:

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Smith, John D. The Psychology of Human Behavior. Random House, 2019.

ii. Format for a book with multiple authors:

Author's Last Name, First Name, and Second Author's First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Johnson, Sarah P., and Mary K. Anderson. Research Methods in Psychology. Academic Press, 2021.

2. How to Cite Journals and Articles in MLA:

i. Format for a journal article:

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Year of Publication, page range.

Miller, Paul Q. "The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress Reduction." Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, pp. 135-147.

3. How to Cite a Source on the Internet in MLA:

i. Format for a web page or online article:

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage/Article." Website Name, Day Month Year of publication, URL.

Smith, John D. "The Impact of Climate Change on Global Ecosystems." Environmental Insights, 15 May 2022, https://www.environmentinsights.com/climate-change-impact.

4. How to Cite Media Sources in MLA:

i. Format for citing films, TV shows, videos, and podcasts:

"Title of Media Source." Title of the Site, Name of Any Other Contributors, Version (if applicable), Number (if applicable), Publisher, Publication date, URL.

"The Science of Space Exploration." Space Studios, directed by Sarah Smith, 2023, https://www.spacestudios.com/science-space-exploration.

How to Cite Additional Sources in MLA:

For additional sources like conference papers, reports, and other specific documents, you may need to adapt the citation format accordingly. Generally, you would include the author, title, source (e.g., conference name or report series), publication details (e.g., publisher, location), and any relevant page or paragraph numbers.

Now, let's talk about how AtkinsEditing can lend you a helping hand in perfecting your in-text citations and all aspects of your research paper! Our team of skilled editors knows the ins and outs of MLA style like the back of their hand. They'll comb through your work, ensuring every citation is in its right place and every punctuation mark is spot-on.

With AtkinsEditing by your side, you can rest assured that your paper will not only meet the highest academic standards but will also read like a captivating masterpiece. So, why stress over the nitty-gritty details of citations when you can focus on crafting groundbreaking research? Let AtkinsEditing take care of the rest.

Specific challenges or nuances when applying MLA style formatting to complex research data

It's fantastic that you're delving into the wonderful world of MLA style formatting for your complex research data. Trust me, I get it - those tables, graphs, and equations can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride of challenges. But fear not, we'll tackle them together and maintain the utmost consistency and clarity in your thesis!

Now, let's talk about the specific challenges you might encounter. When it comes to tables, it's essential to make sure they are clear and well-organized. Sometimes, data can get pretty dense and overwhelming, leaving readers scratching their heads. To address this, break down your tables into logical sections, use headings and subheadings, and label each row and column carefully. If possible, consider creating visually appealing graphs to supplement your tables - they can make complex data much more digestible and even add some flair to your work!

Next up, graphs can be both a blessing and a curse. While they can illustrate trends and patterns beautifully, they can also be tricky when trying to fit them seamlessly into your text. To maintain consistency, make sure your graph design remains uniform throughout your thesis. Pay close attention to labels, units, and scales, and remember that less is often more. Keep it clean, and your readers will thank you!

Now, how can AtkinsEditing lend you a helping hand in this academic adventure? Well, we specialize in polishing and perfecting academic documents just like yours. Our team of expert editors knows all the ins and outs of MLA style formatting and can ensure that your tables, graphs, and equations are impeccably presented. With our keen eye for detail, we'll make sure your work maintains consistency and clarity from start to finish.

At AtkinsEditing, we believe that your research deserves to shine, and we're here to help you make it happen. So, worry no more about the formatting woes, and let's work together to create a thesis that leaves a lasting impression on your readers!

Final Thoughts

Congratulations, my esteemed PhD researchers, you've made it through our exhilarating step-by-step walkthrough of MLA style formatting in your grand thesis! We've covered everything from taming those intricate tables, spicing up your graphs, and conquering the mystifying equations, all while maintaining consistency and clarity in your scholarly masterpiece.

By now, you're no stranger to the magic of MLA style formatting services for PhD. With its meticulous guidelines and in-text citation examples that give credit where credit is due, MLA ensures your work remains a beacon of credibility and academic integrity. So, kudos to you for taking the time to master this essential aspect of scholarly writing!

Let's face it - MLA style formatting in PhD thesis may seem like a daunting challenge, but with the right guidance and support, it becomes a thrilling adventure. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for your subject deserve to be presented in the most polished and captivating way possible.

So, fellow researchers, as you embark on the final leg of your academic journey, remember that mastering MLA style formatting is not just about ticking boxes; it's about showcasing your research in the best possible light. And AtkinsEditing is here to be your trusty sidekick, ensuring your thesis is a true testament to your academic prowess.

Now, go forth with confidence, armed with the knowledge of MLA style formatting in your PhD thesis, and let your brilliance shine through! Happy writing!

How should I style academic degrees?

Spell out or abbreviate academic degrees in your prose:

The requirements for the associate of arts degree have been updated on the department website. The speaker holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in secondary education, and a doctorate in performance studies. All the applicants have MFAs in poetry or fiction.

In an entry for a work composed as part of a degree requirement, abbreviate the name of the degree:

Maragh, Shauna A. Glamour in Contemporary American Cinema . 2020. U of South Florida, Tampa, PhD dissertation. 

Academic degrees are abbreviated without periods after letters or spaces between letters (see MLA Handbook , appendix 1), and their abbreviations are made plural by the addition of the letter s (2.54). 

MLA Handbook . 9th ed., The Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

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• MLA Citation Generator

Free MLA Citation Generator

Generate accurate citations in MLA format automatically, with MyBib!

😕 What is an MLA Citation Generator?

An MLA citation generator is a software tool designed to automatically create academic citations in the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format. The generator will take information such as document titles, author, and URLs as in input, and output fully formatted citations that can be inserted into the Works Cited page of an MLA-compliant academic paper.

The citations on a Works Cited page show the external sources that were used to write the main body of the academic paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an MLA Citation Generator?

MLA style is most often used by middle school and high school students in preparation for transition to college and further education. Ironically, MLA style is not actually used all that often beyond middle and high school, with APA (American Psychological Association) style being the favored style at colleges across the country.

It is also important at this level to learn why it's critical to cite sources, not just how to cite them.

🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?

Writing citations manually is time consuming and error prone. Automating this process with a citation generator is easy, straightforward, and gives accurate results. It's also easier to keep citations organized and in the correct order.

The Works Cited page contributes to the overall grade of a paper, so it is important to produce accurately formatted citations that follow the guidelines in the official MLA Handbook .

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's MLA Citation Generator?

It's super easy to create MLA style citations with our MLA Citation Generator. Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form.

The generator will produce a formatted MLA citation that can be copied and pasted directly into your document, or saved to MyBib as part of your overall Works Cited page (which can be downloaded fully later!).

MyBib supports the following for MLA style:

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

How to sign your name when you have a bachelor of science in criminal ....

As you have probably noticed, many authors of books and articles are learned individuals who have received doctorates. Therefore, you may sometimes find that you need to cite authors who have the suffix "Ph.D." listed after their names. However, if you listed "Ph.D." after the name of every author who had one, your term paper would quickly devolve into alphabet soup. Both American Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language Association (MLA) styles agree on this point: never include the suffix "Ph.D." after an author's name when you are citing sources.

Omit the suffix "Ph.D." from the author's name when citing sources in your reference list. For example, a book authored by Jordan Jones, Ph.D. would be listed as being authored by Jordan Jones. In MLA style this would appear as: Jones, Jordan. In APA style, this would appear as: Jones, J.

Omit as well any titles such as "Ph.D." from the names of translators, editors, or any other names that might appear in your reference list entries.

Omit titles such as "Ph.D." from your in-text citations as well. Use only the last names of authors, editors and other persons in parenthetical citations. In MLA style, an in-text citation for the work of Jordan Jones, Ph.D. should appear as follows: (Jones 86). In APA, the same citation should appear as follows: (Jones, 2009, p. 86).

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• Purdue OWL: MLA Works Cited Page Basic Format

Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Master's Thesis or Project

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Panasuk, Noel. What Variables Appear to Work in Stress Management Programs in      the Workplace and How Effective are These Programs?  MS Thesis, The College of      St. Scholastica, 2008.

Explanation

Author: Panasuk, Noel. Last name first, followed by first and middle names. End with a period.   

Title & subtitle of the book: What Variables Appear to Work in Stress Managment Programs in the Workplace and How Effective are These Programs? The title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize all important and proper words. Place in Italics and end with a period or if it has a question mark in the title, that is sufficient.    Status of Publishing: MA Thesis, Use the words MA Thesis followed by a comma. If it is a project, then use the words MA project. If it is a doctoral dissertation, use the word Dissertation. Name of Institution Where Degree was Granted: The College of St. Scholastica, The full name of the college or university followed by a comma. Year of Publication: 2008. List the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title page verso (back side of title page). End citation with a period. 

[Th e above information is based on   Purdue OWL .]

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MLA Works Cited Page: Books

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

When you are gathering book sources, be sure to make note of the following bibliographic items: the author name(s), other contributors such as translators or editors, the book’s title, editions of the book, the publication date, the publisher, and the pagination.

The 8 th  edition of the MLA handbook highlights principles over prescriptive practices. Essentially, a writer will need to take note of primary elements in every source, such as author, title, etc. and then assort them in a general format. Thus, by using this methodology, a writer will be able to cite any source regardless of whether it’s included in this list.

Please note these changes in the new edition:

• Commas are used instead of periods between Publisher, Publication Date, and Pagination.
• Medium is no longer necessary.
• Containers are now a part of the MLA process. Commas should be used after container titles.
• DOIs should be used instead of URLS when available.
• Use the term “Accessed” instead of listing the date or the abbreviation, “n.d."

Below is the general format for any citation:

Author. Title. Title of container (do not list container for standalone books, e.g. novels), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2 nd  container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

Basic Book Format

The author’s name or a book with a single author's name appears in last name, first name format. The basic form for a book citation is:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book . City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.

* Note: the City of Publication should only be used if the book was published before 1900, if the publisher has offices in more than one country, or if the publisher is unknown in North America.

Book with One Author

Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science . Penguin, 1987.

Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House . MacMurray, 1999.

Book with More Than One Author

When a book has two authors, order the authors in the same way they are presented in the book. Start by listing the first name that appears on the book in last name, first name format; subsequent author names appear in normal order (first name last name format).

Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring . Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

If there are three or more authors, list only the first author followed by the phrase et al. (Latin for "and others") in place of the subsequent authors' names. (Note that there is a period after “al” in “et al.” Also note that there is never a period after the “et” in “et al.”).

Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition . Utah State UP, 2004.

Two or More Books by the Same Author

List works alphabetically by title. (Remember to ignore articles like A, An, and The.) Provide the author’s name in last name, first name format for the first entry only. For each subsequent entry by the same author, use three hyphens and a period.

Palmer, William J. Dickens and New Historicism . St. Martin's, 1997.

---. The Films of the Eighties: A Social History . Southern Illinois UP, 1993.

Book by a Corporate Author or Organization

A corporate author may include a commission, a committee, a government agency, or a group that does not identify individual members on the title page.

List the names of corporate authors in the place where an author’s name typically appears at the beginning of the entry.

American Allergy Association. Allergies in Children . Random House, 1998.

When the author and publisher are the same, skip the author, and list the title first. Then, list the corporate author only as the publisher.

Fair Housing—Fair Lending. Aspen Law & Business, 1985.

Book with No Author

List by title of the book. Incorporate these entries alphabetically just as you would with works that include an author name. For example, the following entry might appear between entries of works written by Dean, Shaun and Forsythe, Jonathan.

Encyclopedia of Indiana . Somerset, 1993.

Remember that for an in-text (parenthetical) citation of a book with no author, you should provide the name of the work in the signal phrase and the page number in parentheses. You may also use a shortened version of the title of the book accompanied by the page number. For more information see the In-text Citations for Print Sources with No Known Author section of In-text Citations: The Basics .

A Translated Book

If you want to emphasize the work rather than the translator, cite as you would any other book. Add “translated by” and follow with the name(s) of the translator(s).

Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason . Translated by Richard Howard, Vintage-Random House, 1988.

If you want to focus on the translation, list the translator as the author. In place of the author’s name, the translator’s name appears. His or her name is followed by the label, “translator.” If the author of the book does not appear in the title of the book, include the name, with a “By” after the title of the book and before the publisher. Note that this type of citation is less common and should only be used for papers or writing in which translation plays a central role.

Howard, Richard, translator. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason . By Michel Foucault, Vintage-Random House, 1988.

Republished Book

Books may be republished due to popularity without becoming a new edition. New editions are typically revisions of the original work. For books that originally appeared at an earlier date and that have been republished at a later one, insert the original publication date before the publication information.

For books that are new editions (i.e. different from the first or other editions of the book), see An Edition of a Book below.

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble . 1990. Routledge, 1999.

Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine . 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.

An Edition of a Book

There are two types of editions in book publishing: a book that has been published more than once in different editions and a book that is prepared by someone other than the author (typically an editor).

A Subsequent Edition

Cite the book as you normally would, but add the number of the edition after the title.

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students . 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.

A Work Prepared by an Editor

Cite the book as you normally would, but add the editor after the title with the label "edited by."

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre,  edited by Margaret Smith, Oxford UP, 1998.

Note that the format for citing sources with important contributors with editor-like roles follows the same basic template:

...adapted by John Doe...

Finally, in the event that the source features a contributor that cannot be described with a past-tense verb and the word "by" (e.g., "edited by"), you may instead use a noun followed by a comma, like so:

...guest editor, Jane Smith...

Anthology or Collection (e.g. Collection of Essays)

To cite the entire anthology or collection, list by editor(s) followed by a comma and "editor" or, for multiple editors, "editors." This sort of entry is somewhat rare. If you are citing a particular piece within an anthology or collection (more common), see A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection below.

Hill, Charles A., and Marguerite Helmers, editors. Defining Visual Rhetorics . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004.

Peterson, Nancy J., editor. Toni Morrison: Critical and Theoretical Approaches . Johns Hopkins UP, 1997.

A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection

Works may include an essay in an edited collection or anthology, or a chapter of a book. The basic form is for this sort of citation is as follows:

Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection , edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page range of entry.

Some examples:

Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One , edited by Ben Rafoth, Heinemann, 2000, pp. 24-34.

Swanson, Gunnar. "Graphic Design Education as a Liberal Art: Design and Knowledge in the University and The 'Real World.'" The Education of a Graphic Designer , edited by Steven Heller, Allworth Press, 1998, pp. 13-24.

Note on Cross-referencing Several Items from One Anthology: If you cite more than one essay from the same edited collection, MLA indicates you may cross-reference within your works cited list in order to avoid writing out the publishing information for each separate essay. You should consider this option if you have several references from a single text. To do so, include a separate entry for the entire collection listed by the editor's name as below:

Rose, Shirley K, and Irwin Weiser, editors. The Writing Program Administrator as Researcher . Heinemann, 1999.

Then, for each individual essay from the collection, list the author's name in last name, first name format, the title of the essay, the editor's last name, and the page range:

L'Eplattenier, Barbara. "Finding Ourselves in the Past: An Argument for Historical Work on WPAs." Rose and Weiser, pp. 131-40.

Peeples, Tim. "'Seeing' the WPA With/Through Postmodern Mapping." Rose and Weiser, pp. 153-67.

Please note: When cross-referencing items in the works cited list, alphabetical order should be maintained for the entire list.

Poem or Short Story Examples :

Burns, Robert. "Red, Red Rose." 100 Best-Loved Poems, edited by Philip Smith, Dover, 1995, p. 26.

Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories , edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.

If the specific literary work is part of the author's own collection (all of the works have the same author), then there will be no editor to reference:

Whitman, Walt. "I Sing the Body Electric." Selected Poems, Dover, 1991, pp. 12-19.

Carter, Angela. "The Tiger's Bride." Burning Your Boats: The Collected Stories, Penguin, 1995, pp. 154-69.

Article in a Reference Book (e.g. Encyclopedias, Dictionaries)

For entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works, cite the entry name as you would any other work in a collection but do not include the publisher information. Also, if the reference book is organized alphabetically, as most are, do not list the volume or the page number of the article or item.

"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary.  3rd ed. 1997. 

A Multivolume Work

When citing only one volume of a multivolume work, include the volume number after the work's title, or after the work's editor or translator.

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria . Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980.

When citing more than one volume of a multivolume work, cite the total number of volumes in the work. Also, be sure in your in-text citation to provide both the volume number and page number(s) ( see "Citing Multivolume Works" on our in-text citations resource .)

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria . Translated by H. E. Butler, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980. 4 vols.

If the volume you are using has its own title, cite the book without referring to the other volumes as if it were an independent publication.

Churchill, Winston S. The Age of Revolution . Dodd, 1957.

An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or Afterword

When citing an introduction, a preface, a foreword, or an afterword, write the name of the author(s) of the piece you are citing. Then give the name of the part being cited, which should not be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks; in italics, provide the name of the work and the name of the author of the introduction/preface/foreword/afterword. Finish the citation with the details of publication and page range.

Farrell, Thomas B. Introduction. Norms of Rhetorical Culture , by Farrell, Yale UP, 1993, pp. 1-13.

If the writer of the piece is different from the author of the complete work , then write the full name of the principal work's author after the word "By." For example, if you were to cite Hugh Dalziel Duncan’s introduction of Kenneth Burke’s book Permanence and Change, you would write the entry as follows:

Duncan, Hugh Dalziel. Introduction. Permanence and Change: An Anatomy of Purpose, by Kenneth Burke, 1935, 3rd ed., U of California P, 1984, pp. xiii-xliv.

Book Published Before 1900

Original copies of books published before 1900 are usually defined by their place of publication rather than the publisher. Unless you are using a newer edition, cite the city of publication where you would normally cite the publisher.

Thoreau, Henry David. Excursions . Boston, 1863.

Italicize “The Bible” and follow it with the version you are using. Remember that your in-text (parenthetical citation) should include the name of the specific edition of the Bible, followed by an abbreviation of the book, the chapter and verse(s). (See Citing the Bible at In-Text Citations: The Basics .)

The Bible. Authorized King James Version , Oxford UP, 1998.

The Bible. The New Oxford Annotated Version , 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2001.

The New Jerusalem Bible. Edited by Susan Jones, Doubleday, 1985.

A Government Publication

Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency (including any subdivisions or agencies) that serves as the organizational author. For congressional documents, be sure to include the number of the Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution passed as well as the report number. US government documents are typically published by the Government Printing Office.

United States, Congress, Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearing on the Geopolitics of Oil . Government Printing Office, 2007. 110th Congress, 1st session, Senate Report 111-8.

United States, Government Accountability Office. Climate Change: EPA and DOE Should Do More to Encourage Progress Under Two Voluntary Programs . Government Printing Office, 2006.

Cite the title and publication information for the pamphlet just as you would a book without an author. Pamphlets and promotional materials commonly feature corporate authors (commissions, committees, or other groups that does not provide individual group member names). If the pamphlet you are citing has no author, cite as directed below. If your pamphlet has an author or a corporate author, put the name of the author (last name, first name format) or corporate author in the place where the author name typically appears at the beginning of the entry. (See also Books by a Corporate Author or Organization above.)

Women's Health: Problems of the Digestive System . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2006.

Your Rights Under California Welfare Programs . California Department of Social Services, 2007.

Dissertations and Master's Theses

Dissertations and master's theses may be used as sources whether published or not. Unlike previous editions, MLA 8 specifies no difference in style for published/unpublished works.

The main elements of a dissertation citation are the same as those for a book: author name(s), title (italicized) , and publication date. Conclude with an indication of the document type (e.g., "PhD dissertation"). The degree-granting institution may be included before the document type (though this is not required). If the dissertation was accessed through an online repository, include it as the second container after all the other elements.

Bishop, Karen Lynn. Documenting Institutional Identity: Strategic Writing in the IUPUI Comprehensive Campaign . 2002. Purdue University, PhD dissertation.

Bile, Jeffrey. Ecology, Feminism, and a Revised Critical Rhetoric: Toward a Dialectical Partnership . 2005. Ohio University, PhD dissertation.

Mitchell, Mark. The Impact of Product Quality Reducing Events on the Value of Brand-Name Capital: Evidence from Airline Crashes and the 1982 Tylenol Poisonings.  1987. PhD dissertation.  ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

List the names of corporate authors in the place where an author’s name typically appears at the beginning of the entry if the author and publisher are not the same.

Fair Housing—Fair Lending. Aspen Law & Business, 1985.

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How to Cite if an Author Is a Doctor

Quoting a doctor in your scholarly paper can lend weight to your argument. However, it's important to give the proper credit to the contributors you use. Several style manuals are used for research papers and manuscripts, including those of the MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association) and AMA (American Medical Association). According to MLA style, listing a doctor's credentials is inappropriate for the works-cited page, but it is acceptable to include them with the quoted text in your paper.

Use an in-text citation. Introduce the quote with the doctor's name and credentials. For example, "According to Dr. Ezra Gomes of Institute X, 'insert quote here.'"

Cite the author in parentheses following the quote. List the last name followed by the year published. For example, a quote from a paper written by Dr. Ezra Gomes in 2005 would be followed by: (Gomes, 2005).

Corroborate controversial quotes. Be familiar with how the doctor's work is viewed by his academic community. For instance, if you are using the quote to substantiate a controversial theory, you might consider adding another example or two to support the original idea.

List the author's name in the reference section or on the works-cited page. List the last name first, followed by the first name and middle initials. Do not include academic credentials (e.g., MD, MPH, PhD) when citing doctors.

• Make sure to follow the style manual required for your research paper or publication.

Need help with a citation? Try our citation generator .

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Christopher de la Torre has been writing about science and communication since 1998. His work appears on websites including Singularity Hub and in "Vogue." He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Eastern Connecticut State University and is pursuing a master's degree in English from George Mason University.

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MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition

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Thesis or Dissertation - Examples

Example 1 – MA Thesis

In-Text:       

( Gaudette 47 )

Works Cited:

Example 2 – PhD Dissertation

( Thomson 145-51 )

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