Citations Topic Guide
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Welcome
Click on the tabs above for specific information on MLA, APA, or RefWorks, an online citation management system. Below is a video on using the citations tools in our databases. If you have any further questions, please feel free to speak to a librarian. You can call, email, chat, or stop by any of the campus libraries.
The Learning Center
Tutoring is available through the learning center as well and their English tutors can assist with citations.
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MLA
Book
Lastname, Firstname, and Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. Edition if needed, Publisher abbreviated, Year published.
Example, one author:
Haenfler, Ross. Goths, Gamers, and Grrrls: Deviance and Youth Subculture. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2016.
Example, two authors:
Wallace, Harvey, and Cliff Roberson. Family Violence: Legal, Medical, and Social Perspectives. 7th ed., Routledge, 2014.
Journal article from a library database
Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, volume, issue, Publication date, pp (if there is no page number, use n.pag.). Name of Database, online DOI/ permalink/ URL where found.
Example:
McDermott, Jim. “My Inner Zombie: Living with ‘The Walking Dead.” America, vol. 213, no. 12, 26 Oct. 2015, p. 29. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA436232268&v=2.1&u=cazc_main&it=r&p=AONE&sw=
w&asid=259323757322497d07e6671fa5267b47
Example, with more than two authors:
Wharton, Christopher M., et al. “Weight Loss Practices and Body Perceptions Among US College Students.” Journal of American College Health, vol. 56, no. 5, March/ April 2008, pp. 579-584. OmniFile, web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6&sid=983b3a80-0a6d-4b2c-8a97-71519e2dda33%40sessionmgr102&bdata= JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=508047941&db=ofs
One work from a collection (essays or poems from a book, songs from an album, etc.)
Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Essay, Story, Poem or Song.” Title of Book or Album, edited by Firstname Lastname, Publisher abbreviated, Year published, pp.
Example, essay:
Kovac, Matthew. “Body Cameras Are Helpful But Insufficient for Stopping Police Brutality.” Police Brutality, edited by Michael Ruth, Greenhaven P, 2016, pp. 127-132.
Example, song:
Beyoncé. “Pretty Hurts.” Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, www.beyonce.com/album /beyonce/?media_view=songs.
Article, chapter or section from an e-book
Author of section, if given. “Title of Chapter or Section.” Title of Book or Album, edited by Firstname Lastname, edition, volume, Publisher abbreviated, Year published, pp. Online source, online DOI/ permalink/ URL where found
Example:
“Nurse Practitioners.” Career Information Center. Edited by Kristin B. Mallegg and Joseph Palmisano, 10th ed., vol. 8, Macmillan Reference USA, 2014, pp. 197-200. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/ i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3723700373&v=2.1&u=cazc_main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=229207236d131a34e1600c878f9eaf43
Article or page from a website
Author(s). “Title of Webpage.” Title of Site, Publication date, URL. [Accessed date is optional element] Accessed day month year.
Example, with an author name and date accessed:
Wagner, Katie. “The Fix – Manuscript Conservation.” Smithsonian Libraries: Unbound, 21 Apr. 2016, blog.library.si.edu/2016/04/fix-manuscript-conservation/#.Vzzg8OSwS9Y. Accessed 8 Aug. 2016.
Example, no author given, estimated publication date:
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001).” IMDB, [2001?], www.imdb.com/title/ tt0241527/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1.
Entire e-book
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Edition if needed, Publisher abbreviated, Year published. Online source, online DOI/ permalink/ URL where found.
Example:
Klein, Grady, and Yoram Bauman. The Cartoon Guide to Climate Change. Island P, 2014. EBook Collection (EBSCOhost), search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=778922&site=ehost-live.
Government document
Country or State, Agency. Title of Document. Publishing organization, Publication date, URL where found [if online version used]
Example, book version:
United States, Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2010. 129th ed., Government Printing Office, 2009.
Example, online version:
United States, Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2010. 129th ed., United States Census Bureau, 2009, www.census.gov/library /publications/2009/compendia/statab/129ed.html
DVD
Movie title. Directed by [firstname lastname], performance by [firstname lastname], Distributor, release date.
Example, general movie:
Modern Times. Directed by Charlie Chaplin, performance by Charlie Chaplin, Warner Home Video, 2003.
Example (emphasize an actor, director, etc, by listing them in the author section):
Chaplin, Charlie, performer. Modern Times. Warner Home Video, 2003.
YouTube or other online videos
Lastname, Firstname. “Title of the Video.” Title of Website, uploaded by username, Date uploaded, URL. [if video is part of a database or service like Hulu or Netflix, add that Name and the URL to citation – see 2nd example]
Example, if the author is different than the uploader:
“George RR Martin and Stephen King.” YouTube, uploaded by Andy Atkins, 21 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PBqSPNTfg.
Example, if the author is the same as the uploader
McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.
Streaming video: Netflix, Hulu, etc
Movie title. Directed by [firstname lastname], performance by [firstname lastname], Distributor, release date. Streaming service, URL.
Example:
In Defense of Food. Directed by Michael Schwarz, hosted by Michael Pollan, PBS, 2015. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/80097071
Online image of a physical object
Lastname, Firstname. Full Title of Art Work. Date created, current location of item, city. Name of container website, URL.
Example, online image of a painting:
Da Vinci, Leonardo. Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Known as the Mona Lisa. 1503-1506, The Louvre, Paris. Musee du Louvre. www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo
Image: digital-only picture
Lastname, Firstname. Full Title of Art Work. Date created, Name of website, URL.
Example:
Puuung. Snow Path. 2 Dec. 2016, Grafolio. www.grafolio.com/works/243875&from =cr_fd&folderNo=351
Image from a book
Artist Lastname, Firstname. Full Title of Art Work. Date created, current location, city. Book title, by Firstname Lastname, Publisher, year, p.page number.
Example*
Da Vinci, Leonardo. Mona Lisa. 1503-1506. Musee du Louvre, Paris. Art: A World History, by Elke Linda Buchholz et al. Abrams, 2007, pp. 148-149.
*Notes: In this book, painting is listed only as “Mona Lisa,” so that is used as title. Also 3+ authors for the book, so first author is listed and et al for the rest.
Purdue OWL
Another great recourse for citations is Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab). It is a very respected website that can provide guidance on many of the finer points of citing in MLA style.
MLA
Here is the MLA template of core elements to help you create your Works Cited list. If you can’t find a core element, skip it and move on to the next one on the list.
Author Last name, First name
Titles of books, movies, or other long works go in italics. Articles, short stories, and other short works go in quotation marks.
Titles of books, movies, or other long works go in italics. Articles, short stories, and other short works go in quotation marks.
What is a Container?
When your source is a part of a larger whole, the larger whole is a container that holds your source.
- For an article in a journal, the article is the source and the journal is the container.
- For a YouTube video, the clip or movie is the source and the website is the container.
Some sources have more than one container. For these sources, add the information about the second container after the information about the first container.
- For an article that was published in a journal that was accessed from a database: The article is the source, the journal is the first container, and the database where it lives is the second container.
Example of contributors are editors and translators.
Location can mean book pages or URL.
Purdue OWL
Another great recourse for citations is Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab). They are currently working on updating their website to include MLA 9th edition and we will add the link when it is completed.
Book
Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Edition if needed, Publisher, Publication Date.
Example, one author:
Haenfler, Ross. Goths, Gamers, and Grrrls: Deviance and Youth Subculture. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2016.
Example, two authors:
Wallace, Harvey, and Cliff Roberson. Family Violence: Legal, Medical, and Social Perspectives. 7th ed., Routledge, 2014.
Journal article from a library database
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page Range (p. for 1 page, pp for multiple). Title of Container, URL (without the https://).
Example:
McDermott, Jim. “My Inner Zombie: Living with ‘The Walking Dead.” America, vol. 213, no. 12, 26 Oct. 2015, p. 29. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA436232268&v=2.1&u=cazc_main&it=r&p=AONE&sw=
w&asid=259323757322497d07e6671fa5267b47.
Article, chapter or section from an e-book
Author of section (if given). “Title of Chapter or Section.” Title of Book, edited by First Name Last Name, edition, volume, Publisher, Publication Date, Page Range, Title of Container (e.g. the database), URL (without the https://).
Example:
“Nurse Practitioners.” Career Information Center. Edited by Kristin B. Mallegg and Joseph Palmisano, 10th ed., vol. 8, Macmillan Reference USA, 2014, pp. 197-200. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/ i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3723700373&v=2.1&u=cazc_main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=229207236d131a34e1600c878f9eaf43
Article or page from a website
Author(s). “Title of Webpage.” Title of Container, Publication Date, URL. Date of Access (if applicable).
Example, with an author name and date accessed:
Wagner, Katie. “The Fix – Manuscript Conservation.” Smithsonian Libraries: Unbound, 21 Apr. 2016, blog.library.si.edu/2016/04/fix-manuscript-conservation/#.Vzzg8OSwS9Y. Accessed 8 Aug. 2016.
Entire e-book
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Edition if needed, Publisher, Publication Date. Title of Container, URL (without the https://). Date of Access (if applicable).
Example:
Klein, Grady, and Yoram Bauman. The Cartoon Guide to Climate Change. Island P, 2014. EBook Collection (EBSCOhost), search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=778922&site=ehost-live.
One work from a collection (essays or poems from a book, songs from an album, etc.)
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Essay, Story, Poem or Song.” Title of Container (the book or album), edited by First Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Date, pp or URL (for location).
Example, essay:
Kovac, Matthew. “Body Cameras Are Helpful But Insufficient for Stopping Police Brutality.” Police Brutality, edited by Michael Ruth, Greenhaven P, 2016, pp. 127-132.
Example, song:
Beyoncé. “Pretty Hurts.” Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, 2013, www.beyonce.com/album /beyonce/?media_view=songs.
DVD
Title of Movie. Director’s Name. Performers Names. Production Company, Year of Release.
Example:
The Usual Suspects. Directed by Bryan Singer. Performances by Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, and Benicio Del Toro. Polygram, 1995.
YouTube or other online videos
Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Video.” Title of Website, uploaded by username, Date uploaded, URL.
Example, if the author is different than the uploader:
“George RR Martin and Stephen King.” YouTube, uploaded by Andy Atkins, 21 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PBqSPNTfg.
Example, if the author is the same as the uploader
McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.
Streaming video: Netflix, Hulu, etc
Last Name, First Name of video creator or Username of Creator. “Title of Video.” Title of Container, Publication Date, URL.
Example:
Sethi, Ramit. “How to Write a Winning Resume, With Ramit Sethi.” YouTube, 23 June 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0fjkKCsM1w.
Online image of a physical object
Last Name, First Name. Title of Art Work. Date created, current location of item, city. Title of Container, URL.
Example, online image of a painting:
Da Vinci, Leonardo. Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Known as the Mona Lisa. 1503-1506, The Louvre, Paris. Musee du Louvre. www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo
Image: digital-only picture
Last Name, First Name. Title of Art Work. Date created, Name of website, URL.
Example:
Puuung. Snow Path. 2 Dec. 2016, Grafolio. www.grafolio.com/works/243875&from =cr_fd&folderNo=351
Image from a book
Artist Last Name, First Name. Title of Art Work. Date created, current location, city. Title of Container, by First Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Date, Page Range.
Example*
Da Vinci, Leonardo. Mona Lisa. 1503-1506. Musee du Louvre, Paris. Art: A World History, by Elke Linda Buchholz et al. Abrams, 2007, pp. 148-149.
APA
Book
Author, A. A., Second, B. B., & Third, C. C. (Year of publication). Title of book: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.
Example, single author:
Stoneman, R. (2008). Alexander the Great: A life in legend. Yale University Press.
Example, more than one author:
Eggins, S., & Slade, D. (1997). Analyzing casual conversation. Cassell.
Example, unknown author:
Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2003). Merriam-Webster.
Online Journal Article
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), pages if known. DOI if available or URL for journal’s homepage
Example, with DOI (digital object identifier):
Kennedy, A. K., Winter, V. R., & Corbin, M. M. (2019). Physical education class and body image perception: Are they related? Physical Educator, 76(2), 467-484. https://doi.org/10.18666/tpe-2019-v76-i2-8766
Example, with journal homepage URL:
Purnell, M., Walsh, S., & Milone, M. (2004). Oncology nursing education: Teaching strategies that work. Nursing Education Perspectives, 25(6), 304-308. http://www.nlnjournal.org/
Article from a Magazine
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Magazine, volume(issue number, if available), page range. DOI or URL if accessed online
Example:
Peterzell, J. (1990, April). Better late than never. Time, 135(17), 20–21.
Article from a Newspaper
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper, page range. DOI or URL if accessed online
Example:
Schultz, S. (2005, December). Calls made to strengthen state energy policies. The Country Today, 1A, 2A.
Entry in Dictionary, Thesaurus, or Encyclopedia with a Group Author
Institution or organization name. (Year). Title of entry. In Title of reference work (edition, page numbers). Publisher.
Example:
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (1997). Goat. In Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed., pp. 499-500). Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
Entry in Dictionary, Thesaurus, or Encyclopedia with an Individual Author
Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of entry. In F. M. Lastname (ed.), Title of reference work (edition, page numbers). Publisher.
Example
Tatum, S. R. (2009). Spirituality and religion in hip hop literature and culture. In T. L. Stanley, Encyclopedia of hip hop literature (pp. 250-252). Greenwood.
Work in an Anthology or Collection of Essays
Author(s), A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of anthology or collection: Capital letter also for subtitle (pp. page numbers). Location: Publisher.
Example:
Harb, M. (2008). Mandatory voting is an expression of civic duty. In T. Lansford (Ed.), Voting rights (pp. 85-92). Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Webpages
Author, A.A. (Year, Month Date). Title of Page. Site Name. URL
Example, with individual author:
Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist. Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/laziness-does-not-exist-3af27e312d01
Example, with group/organization author:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2019, November 21). Justice served: Case closed for over 40 dogfighting victims. https://www.aspca.org/news/justice-served-case-closed-over-40-dogfighting-victims
Example, no author:
Quantum mechanics. (2019, November 19). Wikipedia. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics
*APA 7thedition no longer requires the use of “Retrieved from” before URLs or DOIs. However,
E-Books: Chapters from Library Databases
Author(s), A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of chapter or section. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book: Capital letter for subtitle (edition number, volume, pp. pages).
Example:
Becker, J. E. (2013). Rachel Carson (1907-1964). In M. Cross (Ed), 100 people who changed 20th century America (Vol. 1, pp. 255-261).
Online Newspaper Article
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from newspaper’s homepage URL
Example:
Levy, C. J. (2008, September 3). Ukraine government near collapse. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com
Online Government Document
Author, A. A. or Government Department Information. (Date of Publication). Title of Document. Retrieved from URL
Example, with department as author:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. (2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/asth_sch.pdf
DVD
Lastname, A. A. (Producer), & Lastname, B. B. (Director). (Year of publication). Movie title: Capital letter also for subtitle [DVD]. City, State or Country of origin: Studio.
Example:
Chaplin, C. (Producer & Director). (2010). Modern times [DVD]. Irvington, NY: Criterion Collection.
Streaming video: Netflix, Hulu, etc
Lastname, A. A. (Producer), & Lastname, B. B. (Director). (Year of publication). Title of video: Capital letter also for subtitle [Streaming video]. Retrieved from http://URL
Example:
Kapany, K. (Producer) & Schwartz, M. (Director). (2015). In defense of food [Streaming video]. Retrieved from http://www.netflix.com/title/80097071
YouTube video
Lastname, A. A. [Username] (year, month day posted). Title of video: Capital letter also for subtitle [Video file.] Retrieved from http://URL
Example:
Cuddy, A. (2012 Oct. 1) Your body language may shape who you are [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc.
Online image of a physical object
Artist, A. A. (Year created). Full title of art work, only first letter capitalized [Medium]. Retrieved from http://URL
Example, online image of a painting:
Da Vinci, L. (1503-1506). Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, known as the Mona Lisa [Painting]. Retrieved from: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo
Image: digital-only picture
Lastname, A. A. or Corporate Author. (Year, month day). Full title or the image caption up to 40 words [Medium]. Retrieved from http://URL
Example:
Puuung. (2016, Dec 2.) Snow path [Illustration]. Retrieved from http://www.grafolio.com/works/ 243875&from =cr_fd&folderNo=351
Image from a book
Author, A. A. & Second, B. B. (Year). Title of the book: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.
Example* (multiple authors)
Buchholz, E. L., Buhler, G., Hille, K., Kaeppele, S., & Stotland, I. (2007). Art: A world history. New York, NY: Abrams.
*Note: Cite the book itself, not the image. You can include page numbers in the in-text citation but it is optional. Example: (Smith, 2009,p. 347)
Purdue OWL
Another great recourse for citations is Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab). It is a very respected website that can provide guidance on many of the finer points of citing in APA 7th ed. style.
RefWorks
RefWorks is an easy to use citation manager that can help you…
- Access and manage research information online, from any browser.
- Import references from CAC Library databases and websites.
- Generate and format bibliographies in virtually any style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) in seconds.
RefWorks is offered free to all CAC students and you can set up your account any time you are ready. Simply follow the link below and create your account using your campus e-mail address. After you create your account, RefWorks offers an easy tutorial when you get started. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a librarian or the Learning Center staff with any other questions you might have.
