Easy MLA Citation Examples for Academic Success

Writing research papers and essays for school can be confusing, especially when it comes to citing sources properly.

Making mistakes in MLA citations can mess up your work and even lead to accidental plagiarism.

But don't worry!

In this blog, we're going to break down the rules for MLA citations with the help of examples. Whether you're citing books, articles, or online sources, we'll explain it all in simple terms.

By the end, you'll not only get how MLA citations work but also know how to use them in your writing, making sure your work is trustworthy and follows the rules.

Let’s explore some examples for MLA in-text citation as well as reference entries:

MLA In-Text Citation Examples

MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style - 9th edition is a set of guidelines for documenting and citing sources in academic writing. It's commonly used in humanities, literature, and language-related fields.

MLA typically uses a parenthetical citation style, also known as author-page format. In-text citations are placed in parentheses within the text after the quoted or paraphrased information.

Examples:

(Smith 45)
(Jones and Smith 78)
(Doe et al. 112)

MLA Reference Entry Examples

Reference entries are listed on a separate MLA works cited page at the end of the document. Entries are alphabetized by the first word of each entry.

Examples:

Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Publisher, Year.
"Title of the Article." Name of the Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, Year, pp. 30-40.

MLA Citation Examples - Book

Follow these examples to integrate author names, titles, and publication details, ensuring your references meet the standards of Modern Language Association guidelines.

1. Single Author Book:

In-Text Citation: (Smith 45)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Publisher, Year.

2. Two Authors:

In-Text Citation: (Smith and Jones 78)
Reference Entry: Smith, John, and Emma Jones. Crafting Stories. Publisher, Year.

3. Multiple Authors:

In-Text Citation: (Smith et al. 112)
Reference Entry: Smith, John, et al. Mastering MLA. Publisher, Year.

4. Edited Book:

In-Text Citation: (Ed. Smith 56)
Reference Entry: Smith, John, editor. Essays on Literature. Publisher, Year.

5. Chapter or Section in an Edited Book:

In-Text Citation: (Smith, "Chapter Title" 33)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. "Chapter Title." Essays on Literature, edited by Jane Doe, Publisher, Year, pp. 25-45.

MLA Citation Example - Journal Article

With these examples, learn how to cite single and multiple authors, as well as articles from online sources, ensuring your in-text citations and reference entries adhere to MLA guidelines.

1. Single Author Journal Article:

In-Text Citation: (Smith 32)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. "Title of the Article." Title of the Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, Year, pp. 30-40.

2. Two Authors:

In-Text Citation: (Smith and Jones 45)
Reference Entry: Smith, John, and Emma Jones. "Crafting Ideas." Journal of Creativity, vol. 8, no. 3, Year, pp. 40-55.

3. Three or More Authors:

In-Text Citation: (Smith et al. 78)
Reference Entry: Smith, John, et al. "Collaborative Research." Scholarly Journal, vol. 12, no. 4, Year, pp. 75-90.

4. Online Journal Article:

In-Text Citation: (Smith 22)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. "Digital Innovations." Online Journal, vol. 3, no. 1, Year, pp. 20-30. DOI or URL.

5. Journal Article with Page Range:

In-Text Citation: (Smith 55-67)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. "Exploring Nature." Nature Journal, vol. 15, no. 2, Year, pp. 55-67.

MLA Citation Examples For Websites

Here are examples of citing a website in various scenarios, including both in-text citations and reference entries in MLA format:

1. Basic Website:

In-Text Citation: ("Title of the Page" par. 3)
Reference Entry: "Title of the Page." Name of the Website, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

2. Online Article from a News Website:

In-Text Citation: (Smith)
Reference Entry: Smith, John. "Title of the Article." Name of the News Website, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

3. Blog Post:

In-Text Citation: (Author's Last Name)
Reference Entry: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Blog Post." Name of the Blog, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.

Expert Tip

Check out our blog on citation examples to get various other examples of citations according to different citation styles.

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WRITTEN BY

Cathy Aranda (Mass communication)

Cathy is a highly dedicated author who has been writing for the platform for over five years. With a Master's degree in Mass Communication, she is well-versed in various forms of writing such as articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As an essay writing guide author at PerfectEssayWriter.ai, she has been helping students and professionals improve their writing skills by offering practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style.

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