how to cite an essay in mla format

how to cite an essay in mla format

To cite an essay in MLA format within a 1000-word essay, you need to follow the MLA guidelines for in-text citations. Here’s how to do it:

1. Parenthetical Citations (In-Text Citations):

In MLA format, you include brief parenthetical citations within the body of your essay whenever you quote, paraphrase, or reference someone else’s work. The basic format is as follows:

• (Author’s Last Name Page Number)

For example, if you’re citing a quote from an essay written by John Smith on page 45:

• (Smith 45)

If you mention the author’s name in your sentence, you can just include the page number in the parentheses:

• According to Smith, “quote” (45).

2. Citing an Entire Essay:

If you’re citing an entire essay or a chapter from a book that’s an anthology of essays, the format slightly varies. You should include the author of the essay, the title of the essay in quotation marks, the title of the book or anthology in italics, the name of the editor (if applicable), the publisher, the publication year, and the page range of the essay. Here’s the general format:

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Book or Anthology, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Year, pp. Page Range.

For example:

• Smith, John. “The Impact of Technology.” Essays on Education, edited by Mary Johnson, ABC Publishing, 2020, pp. 35-50.

3. Citing Online Essays:

For online essays, you should include the author’s name, the title of the essay in quotation marks, the title of the website or online publication in italics, the publication date (if available), and the URL. Here’s the general format:

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Website or Online Publication in Italics, Date of Publication (if available), URL.

For example:

• Smith, John. “The Impact of Technology.” Educational Insights, 2021, www.educationalinsights.com/impact-of-technology.

Remember that if you’re citing a specific edition or if there are multiple editions of the essay or book, you may need to include additional information, such as the edition number.

Ensure that your in-text citations match the corresponding entry in your Works Cited page (if you have one) at the end of your essay. The Works Cited page should list all the sources you referenced in your essay in alphabetical order according to the authors’ last names.

By following these guidelines for in-text citations, you can properly cite an essay in MLA format within your 1000-word essay.