How a reference is built in MLA
Commonly used in: literature, languages, humanities.
Journal article
Last, First, and First Last. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title, vol. 00, no. 0, Month Year, pp. 00–00, https://doi.org/….
Book
Last, First. Title of the Book. 3rd ed., Publisher, Year.
A real example
Kucsko, G., et al. “Nanometre-Scale Thermometry in a Living Cell.” Nature, vol. 500, no. 7460, Aug. 2013, pp. 54–58, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12373.
In-text citation
(Kucsko et al.)
(Last page), with no comma and no year: (Kucsko 55). Three or more authors: (Kucsko et al. 55).
Worth knowing
- Titles take title case. Articles go in quotation marks; journals and books in italics.
- With three or more authors, name the first and add “et al.”
- Add the page you are citing to the in-text citation yourself; it is not part of the source record.