Free tools to assist you in the creation and management of citations in MLA style, APA style, and other formats.
Examples in this quick guide follow the rules in:
MLA Handbook. 8th ed., Modern Language Association, 2016.
READY REFERENCE LB2369 .G53 2016
Please note: other editions of the MLA Handbook may format some citations differently. Confirm your instructor's expectations before completing your research paper.
Works cited in a paper are provided a brief In-Text Citation at the point in the paper where the reference is made and complete citations in the Works Cited section of the paper. Each source mentioned in the text must be cited in the Works Cited list and each source in the Works Cited list must be referred to in the text.
In-Text Citation
A brief citation within the text of the paper.
Example: (McCullough 217).
Works Cited List Entry
A complete citation of the source in an alphabetized list at the end of the document.
Example:
McCullough, David. The Pioneers: the Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West. Simon & Schuster, 2019.