If you’re using MLA referencing for an essay or paper, you’ll need to include a ‘Works Cited’ list. But what should this include? And how do you format one? Check out our quick guide to find out what you need to know.
MLA referencing is a citation system designed by the Modern Languages Association. In this system, you cite sources using a parenthetical reference that gives the author’s surname and a page number, like this:
Journals require a standard approach to referencing (Jenkins 31).
But you also need to give the full publication information for every source you cite in your work. These references go in a reference list, known in MLA as the ‘Works Cited’ list, at the end of your paper.
Basic rules for formatting a ‘Works Cited’ list in MLA referencing include:
The information required for each entry in a ‘Works Cited’ list depends on the source type. Typically, though, references should include the author’s name, a title, and the publication information. For example:
Book
Jenkins, Bruce. Referencing 101: A Guide. PI Publications, 2020.
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Journal article
Smith, John. ‘A Comparative Study of Referencing Systems’. The Journal of Citation Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2019, pp. 225–8.
Web page
Smith, John, and Susie Jones. ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Academic Referencing’. StudentResources, 18 Oct. 2014, www.studentresources.com/guides/citations-styles/a-beginners-guide-to-academic-referencing/.
For more on source formats in MLA referencing, see our blog posts.
You now know the basics of how to create a ‘Works Cited’ list in MLA referencing. But if you’d like an academic writing expert to check your work, including your references, why not submit a document for proofreading?
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