MLA Citation Guidelines for Common Source Types

MLA Citation Guidelines for Common Source Types

Learning how to properly cite sources in MLA format can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you'll be able to format your citations correctly and accurately credit your sources.

In this article, we'll cover common source types and provide concrete tips on how to format them using MLA style guidelines. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to properly cite books, articles, websites, and more in Google Docs.

Book Sources

When citing a book in MLA format, you need to include the author's name, title of the book, publisher, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable).

Tip: Use the following template for book sources:

• Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.
• (Page Numbers)

Example: Smith, John. The History of the World. Random House, 2010. 123-150.

Article Sources

When citing an article in MLA format, you need to include the author's name, title of the article, publication title, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable).

Tip: Use the following template for article sources:

• Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Publication Title, Publication Date, pp. Page Numbers.

Example: Johnson, Jane. "The Impact of Climate Change." Environmental Science News, vol. 12, no. 3, 2020, pp. 10-20.

Website Sources

When citing a website in MLA format, you need to include the author's name (if available), title of the webpage or article, publication date, and URL.

Tip: Use the following template for website sources:

• Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Title of Publication, Date of Publication, URL.

Example: Smith, John. "The Benefits of Meditation." Mindful Musings, 10 Feb. 2022, https://www.mindfulmusings.com/meditation-benefits.

Journal Article Sources

When citing a journal article in MLA format, you need to include the author's name, title of the article, publication title, publication date, volume and issue numbers, page numbers (if applicable), and DOI (if available).

Tip: Use the following template for journal article sources:

• Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Publication Title, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, pp. Page Numbers.
• or
• Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Date of Publication, doi:DOI.

Example: Williams, Sarah. "The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health." Journal of Psychology, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020, pp. 12-25.

• or
• Williams, Sarah. "The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health." Journal of Psychology, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020, doi:10.1234/jpsy202002.

Dissertation Sources

When citing a dissertation in MLA format, you need to include the author's name, title of the dissertation, institution, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable).

Tip: Use the following template for dissertation sources:

• Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Dissertation." Institution, Date of Publication.

Example: Johnson, Jane. "The Impact of Climate Change on Local Communities." Harvard University, 2020.

Conclusion

Citing sources in MLA format can seem overwhelming at first, but with these guidelines and a few practice examples, you'll be able to properly cite your sources in Google Docs. Remember to always check the MLA Handbook or online resources for specific formatting requirements and stay up-to-date on any changes to the style guidelines.