MLA Formatting and Style Cheat Sheet

  1. Basic in-text citation rules
  2. Author-page style
  3. Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).
  4. Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
  5. Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).

NOTE: Unlike APA style, there is NO COMMA between the author's name and the page number. Also, be sure that your citation comes at the END OF THE SENTENCE and that the punctuation follows the final parenthesis.

  1. Indirect sources

While a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, occasionally the original source may no longer be in print, which will require you to cite indirectly. Use “qtd. In” to indicate the source you actually consulted.

  1. Ravitch argues that high schools are pressured to act as "social service centers, and they don't do that well" (qtd. in Weisman 259).
  2. High schools are pressured to act as “social service centers, and they don't do that well" (Ravitch qtd. in Weisman 259).
  1. Famous sources

Famous works such as the bible and the Declaration of Independence are not cited by author. Refer to owl.english.purdue.edu for additional help on citing unique sources.

  1. When a citation is not needed

You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge. Remember, this is a rhetorical choice based on audience. When in doubt cite your source! As a general rule, if you had to look it up, you must cite it!

  1. Formatting Quotations

To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page citation (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the text, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

  1. Short Quotations
  2. According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184).
  3. Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)?
  1. Long Quotations
  2. Long quotes should be avoided wherever possible! In an eight page paper, you should have fewer than two long quotes.
  3. For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the first line of the quotation by an additional quarter inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)
  4. For example:

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration:

They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Nelly Dean refers to the child Heathcliff continually as an “it,” reinforcing her notion of the child as less than human and unworthy of love.

  1. Notice how in the above example you then return to typing your text. The easiest way to create this indented paragraph is to highlight the applicable material and drag the hanging indent bar at the top of the page in one inch.
  1. Adding or omitting words in quotations
  2. To add or change words in an existing quotation use brackets [ ]. Note you must bracket changes to capitalization or verb tense. So if “He” needs to become “he,” you must indicate your change by “[h]e” OR if “Emily reached for the glass” needs to become “Emily reaches for the glass,” you must indicate your change by “Emily reach[es] for the glass.”
  3. To omit words from a quotation use the ellipsis marks, which are three periods preceded and followed by a space. ( … )
  4. Examples:
  5. Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states, "some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale" (78).
  6. In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that "some individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale . . . and in a short time a lively exchange of details occurs" (78).
  1. Quotes within Quotes
  2. Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations.
  3. Example:He said, "Dan cried, 'Do not treat me that way.' "

Note that the period goes inside both the single and double quotation marks UNLESS a citation were to follow, in which case it would follow the final parenthesis.

  1. Though you should endeavor to afford such convoluted wording, should you have a quote within a quote within another quote you would begin with double quotes, then single quotes, then double quotes. For example: According to the Judge, “Mary's mother stated under oath, 'Mary insisted that John said, “Report to the bridge at midnight,” but when Mary arrived he was already dead.'”
  1. Works Cited
  2. Entries
  3. Correctly citing each article you used will be simplistic if you used the IMC's search engines. The citation will either be at the very beginning or at the very end of the article.
  4. If you need to do this step by hand, refer to owl.english.purdue.edu.
  5. Rules
  6. Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. It should have the same one-inch margins and last name, page number header as the rest of your paper.
  7. Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.
  8. Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.
  9. Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.
  10. Do not include the URL to articles found online.

FOR ANSWERS TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR FURTHER EXAMPLES CONSULT