Ask A Librarian
MLA uses Core Elements to create citations. Fill in the information needed for your source, and leave unnecessary fields blank.
Repeat information from Title of Container on for each container.
Use the links below or scroll to find the type of information.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
Example:
In-Text
(Ogden 25)
Works Cited
Ogden, Daniel. The Werewolf in the Ancient World. Oxford UP, 2021.
Author Last Name, Author First Name, and Author First Name Last Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
Example:
In-Text
(Hafdahl and Florence 25)
Works Cited
Hafdahl, Meg, and Kelly Florence. The Science of Monsters: The Truth about Zombies, Witches, Werewolves, Vampires, and Other Legendary Creatures. Skyhorse, 2019.
Company name. Book Title, Edition, Publisher, Year.
Example:
In-Text
(American Heart Association 25)
Works Cited
American Heart Association. The New American Heart Association Cookbook, 8th ed., Clarkson Potter, 2010.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year. Database name, url (without https://)
Example:
In-Text
(Groom 34)
Works Cited
Groom, Nick. The Vampire a New History. Yale UP, 2018. EBSCO eBook Collection, lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cpid&custid=s1088435&db=nlebk&AN=1907815&site=ehost-live.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Book Title. Version, Edition, Publisher, Year. Website name, url (without https://)
Example:
In-Text
(Cervantes)
Works Cited
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. The History of Don Quixote. Translated by John Ormsby. Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/996.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of essay or chapter." Book Title, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, page range.
Example:
In-Text
(Russ 202)
Works Cited
Russ, Joanna. "The Image of Women in Science Fiction." Science Fiction Criticism: An Anthology of Essential Writings, edited by Rob Latham, Bloomsbury, 2017, pp.200-10.
"Article Title." Book Title, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, edition, Publisher, Year, page range.
Example:
In-Text
("Detecting Werewolves" 202)
Works Cited
"Detecting Werewolves." The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings, edited by Brad Steiger, 2nd ed., Visible Ink Press, 2011.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume, issue number, year, pages.
Example:
In-Text
(Jawer 99-100)
Works Cited
Jawer, Michael. "Emotion: The Connective Tissue of Atmospheres and Haunts." Journal of Scientific Exploration, vol. 37, no. 1, Spring 2023, pp. 88-105.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume, issue number, year, pages. Name of Database, doi: doi number.
Example:
In-Text
(Klopov et al. 2637)
Works Cited
Klopov, Ivan et al. "Digital Transformation of Education Based on Artificial Intelligence." TEM Journal, vol. 12, no. 4, Nov. 2023, pp. 2635-44. Academic Search Complete, doi:10.18421/TEM124-74.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, volume, issue number, year, pages. Name of Database, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Li 750)
Works Cited
Li, Alex S. "Touring Outer Space: The Past, Present, and Future of Space Tourism." Cleveland State Law Library, vol. 71, no. 3, 2023, pp. 743-810. Academic Search Complete, lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cpid&custid=s1088435&db=a9h&AN=164595219&site=ehost-live.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Volume, Issue number, Year, Pages.
Example:
In-Text
(Bhargava 24)
Works Cited
Bhargava, Rohit. "Can You Read Culture?" Inc., vol. 45, no. 6, Winter 2023, p.24.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, volume, issue number, year, pages. Name of Database or Website, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Fink)
Works Cited
Fink, TJ. "AI Content Detector: How to Spot AI Creations." Laptop, 31 Dec. 2023. Gale OneFile: Popular Magazines, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777901979/PPPM?u=nhmccd_main&sid=bookmark-PPPM&xid=8da3cc56.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Pang)
Works Cited
Pang, Alex Soojung-Kim. "Rest Takes Hard Work." Time, 25 Jan. 2024, time.com/6566763/rest-takes-hard-work-essay/.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, Day Month Year, Pages.
Example:
In-Text
(Smith A3)
Works Cited
Smith, Dana G. "Here to Help: How to Overcome 'Task Paralysis'" New York Times, 8 Jan. 2023, p. A3+.
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, Day Month Year, Pages. Name of Database or Website, url without the https://.
Example (library database):
In-Text
(Akst)
Works Cited
Akst, Daniel. "Should Robots with Artificial Intelligence Have Moral or Legal Rights?" Wall Street Journal, 10 Apr. 2023. US Major Dailies, login.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/usmajordailies/newspapers/should-robots-with-artificial-intelligence-have/docview/2798764407/sem-2?accountid=7054.
Example (website):
In-Text
(Mizan)
Works Cited
Mizan, Nusaiba. "Girl Scout Cookies Price Hike: What's the Price Per Box and Where Is the Money Going?" Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2024, www.houstonchronicle.com/business/retail/article/girl-scouts-cookies-price-increase-18628206.php.
"Title of webpage." Title of Website, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
("Shrinking Moon").
Works Cited
"Shrinking Moon Causing Moonquakes and Faults Near Lunar South Pole." NASA, 25 Jan. 2024, www.nasa.gov/earth/moon/shrinking-moon-causing-moonquakes-and-faults-near-lunar-south-pole/.
Author [handle if different]. "Title of post/post text." Platform, Date, url without the https://.
(TIP: If the social media platform doesn't allow you to link to a post directly, you can link the creator's account page.)
Example (Twitter / X):
In-Text
(Lone Star College).
Works Cited
Lone Star College. "We received approval to offer bachelor's degrees, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity; and Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy, Manufacturing & Trades Management." X, 11 Dec. 2019, twitter.com/lonestarcollege/status/1204842366357651456.
Example (Instagram):
In-Text
(Lone Star College).
Works Cited
Lone Star College. "The Houston Business Journal named Mario K. Castillo, J.D., LSC chancellor among the Top 100 Texans who have made an impact in 2023." Instagram, 12 Jan. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/C2BElOfMWpc/.
Author or username. "Title of Post." Title of Blog, Blog Publisher, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
("How Do I Cite").
Works Cited
"How Do I Cite a State Law?" Ask the MLA, MLA Style Center, 18 Oct. 2023, style.mla.org/citing-state-laws/.
"Title of Video." Platform title, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, url without the https://.
Example (YouTube):
In-Text
("What is" 00:00:25-00:02:35)
Works Cited
"What is 8-bit?" YouTube, uploaded by Pocket Gamer, 28 Aug. 2015, youtu.be/QaIoW1aL9GE?si=bjx7AF-Ea8-FvwVm.
Director Last Name, Director First Name, director. Title of Movie. Screenplay by First Name Last Name, Studio Name, Year. Platform title, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Parker 00:55:51-01:10:26)
Works Cited
Parker, Oliver, director. Othello. Screenplay by Oliver Parker, Columbia Pictures, 1995. Swank Digital Campus, digitalcampus.swankmp.net/lsconline395001/watch/5B248CF117888F54?referrer=direct.
"Title of Episode." Day Month Year Aired. Title of TV Series, created by First Name Last Name, season number, episode number, Studio Name, Year. Platform title, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
("To the Physical" 00:23:10-00:28:13)
Works Cited
"To the Physical and Mental Limit." The Amazing Race, created by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster, season 1, episode 10, CBS, 2001. Swank Digital Campus, digitalcampus.swankmp.net/lsconline395001/watch/C1C2FD73531F1345?referrer=direct.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. "Title of image." Title of Website, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Beaton)
Works Cited
Beaton, Kate. "Tesla, Marconi, Edison." Hark! A Vagrant, www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=256.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Date of creation, Institution and city were the work is physically located. Name of webpage, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(O'Keefe)
Works Cited
O'Keefe, Georgia. Red Hill and White Shell. 1938, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. MFAH, emuseum.mfah.org/objects/17860/red-hill-and-white-shell?ctx=c469d6c7436b6ddfaeba46e287e6d599ebbed0c0&idx=0.
Description of image. Title of Website, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Picture)
Works Cited
Picture of student studying at a table while wearing headphones. Wired, www.wired.com/story/tips-apps-help-students-study-notes-homework-help/.
Artist Last name, First name. "Title of Song." Title of Album, Recording Label, Date. Name of streaming service.
Example:
In-Text
(Lipa 0:51–59).
Works Cited
Lipa, Dua. "Dance the Night." Barbie The Album, Atlantic, 2023. Spotify.
Artist Last name, First name. "Title of Song." Title of Album, Recording Label, Date. CD.
Example:
In-Text
(Odom 0:30-40).
Works Cited
Odom, Leslie, Jr. "Wait For It." Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Atlantic, 2015. CD.
Author Last name, First name. Title. Narrated by First Name Last Name, Publisher, Date. Audiobook platform.
Example:
In-Text
(Cline 00:35:30-00:37:10).
Works Cited
Cline, Ernest. Ready Player One. Narrated by Wil Wheaton, Random House Audio, 2011. Audible.
Author Last name, First name. Title. Narrated by First Name Last Name, Publisher, Date.
Example:
In-Text
(Worth 00:45:51–00:47:30).
Works Cited
Worth, Jennifer. Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times. Narrated by Nicola Barber, HighBridge Company, 2012.
Host Last name, First name, host. "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast, season number, episode number, Publisher, Date. Website, url (minus the https://).
Example:
In-Text
(Gonzalez and Malone 00:10:15-00:12:01).
Works Cited
Gonzalez, Sarah and Kenny Malone, hosts. "Why '90s Ads Are Unforgettable." Planet Money, NPR, 2023. NPR, www.npr.org/2023/12/13/1197956022/got-milk-soap-operas-advertising.
Host Last name, First name, host. "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast, season number, episode number, Platform, Date.
Example:
In-Text
(Fishel et al. 00:14:30-00:15:30).
Works Cited
Fishel, Danielle et al, hosts. "Wesley Jonathan Meets World." Pod Meets World, iHeart Radio, 4 Feb. 2024.
Government Entity. Name of the Case. Date of decision, Name of Website, Publisher, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(United States, Supreme Court).
Works Cited
United States, Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education. 17 May 1954. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.
Title of work. Title number, Publisher, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(United States Code).
Works Cited
United States Code. Title 17, U.S. Government Printing Office, 2011, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title17/html/USCODE-2011-title17.htm.
Government Entity. Title of work. Name of website, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(Texas State, Legislature).
Works Cited
Texas State, Legislature. SB 563. Texas Legislature Online, 10 Jun. 2019, capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB563,
"Title of webpage." Website, Publisher, Date, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
("Librarians").
Works Cited
"Librarians and Media Specialists." Occupational Outlook Handbook, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Sep. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm.
Government author. Title of Report. Publisher, Date. Website, url without the https://.
Example:
In-Text
(United States, Department of Health and Human Services 5-7).
Works Cited
United States, Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. GovInfo, 14 Dec. 2023, www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CMR-HE20_6500-00184279/pdf/CMR-HE20_6500-00184279.pdf.
MLA has provided some new and developing guidance on how to cite AI generated content in your paper.
At this time, MLA does not recommend citing the AI tool as an author.
Describe what was generated or include the prompt given to the AI.
Name the AI tool that was used. (Example: ChatGPT, Bard)
Describe the version of the AI tool as specifically as possible. (Example: ChatGPT 3.5)
Company that made the tool
Date the content was generated.
URL for the tool
Example (text):
In-Text
("Describe the history")
Works Cited
"Describe the history of werewolves." ChatGPT, 3.5, Open AI, 7 Feb. 2024, chat.openai.com.
Example (image):
In-Text
("Werewolf running")
Works Cited
"Werewolf running in a forest with purple trees." Stable Diffusion, Stable Diffusion XL, Stability.AI, 7 Feb. 2024, stablediffusionweb.com/.
Last name, First name of person being interviewed. Personal Interview. Day Month Year of interview.
Example:
In-Text
(Smith)
Works Cited
Smith, Betty. Personal Interview. 28 Nov. 2023.
Author Last name, First name. "Title of source from email subject line." Received by Recipient first name last name, Date.
Example:
In-Text
(Hopwood)
Works Cited
Hopwood, Megan. "Water Features in the Library." Received by Katherine McGittigan, 15 Feb. 2023.
