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Citation Styles & Tools

What your citation looks like depends on the style that your academic discipline follows. If you don't know where to start (and if your instructor hasn't specified a style guide to follow), read through the overview of common citation styles.

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MLA Style Resources

MLA Style

Named for the Modern Language Association, MLA Style is used in many Humanities disciplines, including English Literature, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Literary Criticism, Comparative Literature, and Cultural Studies. The MLA Handbook is currently in its 8th edition.

MLA Style requires that you cite your sources using both in-text citations and a Works Cited list.

Core Components of a Citation

The MLA Style Center outlines nine core elements to a citation. The core elements are arranged in a specific format.

Author surname, first name and initial. Title of Source. Title of Container, Other Contributors, version, number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

Sample Citations

Journal Article

Galloway, Mollie K., et al. “Culturally Responsive, Antiracist, or Anti-Oppressive? How Language Matters for School Change Efforts.” Equity & Excellence in Education, vol. 52, no. 4, Nov. 2019, pp. 485-501. EBSCOhost. doi:10.1080/10665684.2019.1691959.

In-Text Parenthetical Citation: (Galloway 493). 

In-Text Narrative Citation: Galloway claims...(493).

Book

Kendi, Ibram X. How to be an Antiracist. Random House Publishing Group, 2019.

In-Text Parenthetical Citation: (Kendi 34).

In-Text Narrative Citation: Kendi's novel asserts...(34)

Podcast

Thomas, Traci, host. "The Short Stacks 22: Ibram X. Kendi//How to be an Antiracist." The Stacks, PodcastOne, 2019, https://thestackspodcast.com/2019/09/22/ss22/.

Parenthetical Citation: (Thomas)

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UCI Center for Excellence in Writing & Communication

For assistance with any of your writing, please visit Center for Excellence in Writing and Communication at the Science Library.