Why Use a Citation Format?

Imagine you are a psychologist. Or an engineer or cybersecurity specialist. Any job, really. Imagine you have an important task that requires some research. So you find some articles and get to work. You find in the first article some useful information, but you need to know more. Problem is, this article doesn’t use any citations, so you don’t know where the author got their material, and now you can’t follow their breadcrumbs to dive deeper into the topic. The next article you read is even more confusing. It’s written in a tiny script font and has a bunch of irrelevant images of dogs catching frisbees. Sure, you love dogs as much as the next person, but this article has so many dog pics. The next article only has one giant bold word per page.

Consistent presentation is one of the main reasons why we use formats like MLA when writing papers. The goal of good writing is to help the reader focus on the content without being distracted by how the information is being presented.

But MLA format is a pain to learn. You’re right, and I get it. Making sure the punctuation correctly comes after the parenthetical citation, alphabetizing your sources, checking for source dates–not exactly fun.

However, learning to pay attention to detail will help you in the long run. I know of one employer who would shred any resumes that contained a single format error. That may be extreme, but unfortunately, you’ll be judged throughout your life on your attention to detail.

The good news is that you have a slew of technological tools to help you. Online citation generators will do most of the work for you, if you know how to use them and check for accuracy.

This chapter will focus on the stuff you need-to-know about citation formats.

Why You Should Care

Citing sources correctly in MLA format is crucial for academic writing. Proper citations give credit to the original authors, avoid plagiarism, and lend credibility to your work. Using online citation generators can save time and help ensure accuracy, but it’s important to know how to use these tools correctly and verify their outputs.

Citation Formats

There are several citation formats used in academic writing, each tailored to the needs and conventions of different disciplines. The most common formats include MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and IEEE. These formats are tailored to reflect the conventions, methodologies, and focuses of their respective disciplines. For example, the humanities prioritize the author’s original work and close reading of texts, which is why MLA format emphasizes detailed authorship and precise page citations. In contrast, the social sciences often rely on the currency of research to validate findings, so APA format highlights the publication date in citations to underscore the timeliness of the data. History and some social sciences prefer the Chicago format’s flexibility and detailed footnotes, which accommodate extensive source information and historical context. IEEE format is used in engineering and technology fields, with a numerical citation style that corresponds to a detailed reference list.

MLA format (what we use in English courses) is typically used in the humanities, emphasizing authorship with in-text citations that include the author’s last name and page number.

Be sure to check which format your instructor requires (the format is often identified on the prompts). When using a citation generator, make sure you select the correct format for the class.

MLA Page Set-Up

How Do I Format My Google Doc Using MLA? 

Use this video tutorial to set-up your Google doc using MLA format.

Plagiarism

What Is Plagiarism?

Academic plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper attribution, presenting it as one’s own. This unethical practice undermines the integrity of academic work and can lead to severe consequences, including disciplinary action, loss of credibility, and legal repercussions. Plagiarism can be both intentional and unintentional, but regardless of intent, it violates academic standards and ethical norms.

What Constitutes Plagiarism?

Plagiarism can take many forms, including:

Direct Plagiarism

Copying text word-for-word from a source without quotation marks or proper citation.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing one’s own previous work or data without permission or proper acknowledgment.

Mosaic Plagiarism

Piecing together information from various sources, including slight modifications, without proper citations.

Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words without proper attribution.

Accidental Plagiarism

Failing to cite sources correctly due to negligence or misunderstanding of citation rules.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Whenever you include words or ideas from a source, cite them in your paper. If you’re not sure if you should cite something, remember that it’s better to over-cite than to risk accidental plagiarism.

MLA In-Text Citation Basics

What Do I Really Need to Know?

In-text citations in MLA format are brief references within your text that direct readers to the full citation in your Works Cited page. These citations typically include the author’s last name and the page number where the information was found. If certain details are unavailable, follow these guidelines to ensure proper citation.

First Choice: Author Name(s)

1. Single Author

When available, always use the author’s last name followed by the page number.

Example:

• • • Original Text: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” (Smith 45).
    • In-Text Citation: (Smith 45).

2. Two Authors

If there are two authors, include both last names, separated by “and,” followed by the page number.

Example:

• • • Original Text: “Teamwork and collaboration are critical in modern work environments” (Johnson and Martinez 87).
    • In-Text Citation: (Johnson and Martinez 87).

3. More Than Two Authors

If there are more than two authors, include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.” and the page number.

Example:

• • • Original Text: “The study reveals significant findings on climate change impacts” (Williams et al. 134).
    • In-Text Citation: (Williams et al. 134).

Second Choice: Title of the Article in Quotation Marks

If the author’s name is not available, use the title of the article in quotation marks, followed by the page number if applicable.

Example:

• • • Original Text: “Climate change presents a major challenge that demands prompt action” (“Climate Change and Policy” 23).
    • In-Text Citation: (“Climate Change and Policy” 23).

Third Choice: Title of the Container in Italics

If neither the author’s name nor the article title is available, use the title of the container, such as a book or website, in italics, followed by the page number if applicable.

Example:

• • • Original Text: “The rapid advancement of technology has led to unprecedented changes in the workforce” (Technology and Society 58).
    • In-Text Citation: (Technology and Society 58).

Punctuation Always After the Parenthesis

One of the most common errors in MLA format is placing the punctuation in the wrong place. Remember this simple rule:

Punctuation always after the parenthesis.

It helps to realize that the citation is part of the sentence, so just place the period (or comma, question mark, etc.) after the citation. For example:

“Citation experts advise that you always place the punctuation after the parenthesis” (Purdue Owl).

Scribbr

Scribbr offers some great tutorials on MLA format. Check out this video to familiarize yourself with the essential basics.

Works Cited Page

Basic Set-Up

Yes, online citation generators like Scribbr or EasyBib can help you create a Works Cited page. However, you still need to do some basic set-up to ensure proper format. Two essential tasks you must perform are:

Alphabetizing the Sources

When creating a Works Cited page in MLA format, it is essential to alphabetize the sources by the author’s last name. If a source does not have an author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring any initial articles like “A,” “An,” or “The.”

• • By Author’s Last Name: Arrange sources alphabetically by the last name of the first author listed.
    • Example: Brown, Smith, and Taylor would be ordered as: Brown, John; Smith, Alice; Taylor, Michael.
  • By Title for No Author: If there is no author, alphabetize by the first significant word in the title.
    • Example: “The Great Gatsby” would be alphabetized under “G” for “Great.”
  • Ignoring Initial Articles: Ignore articles such as “A,” “An,” and “The” when alphabetizing by title.
    • Example: “The Catcher in the Rye” would be alphabetized under “C” for “Catcher.”

Creating a Hanging Indent

A hanging indent is a formatting style where the first line of a paragraph is aligned to the left margin, and all subsequent lines of the paragraph are indented. This format is often used in bibliographies, references, and works cited pages to visually separate entries.

Watch the video below to learn how to do these tasks.

Conclusion

Using online citation generators can save time and help ensure your MLA citations are accurate. By understanding the basics of MLA format and knowing how to double-check the generated citations, you can avoid common errors and produce well-formatted academic papers. Alphabetizing sources correctly and ensuring each element of your citation is accurate will lend credibility to your work and maintain the integrity of your academic writing.