MLA – Citing Print Sources (other than books)

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Citing print sources other than books in MLA format requires you to provide enough information that the reader can accurately locate the original source. For dictionaries, include the entry title in quotation marks, the dictionary title in italics, the edition, the publisher, and the year of publication. For abstracts, cite the author, title of the abstract in quotation marks, the title of the journal in italics, volume and issue numbers, year, page number, and indicate “Abstract” at the end. For dissertations and theses, provide the author’s name, title in quotation marks, the year, the institution, and the type of document. For government reports, list the government agency as the author, the title of the report in italics, the publisher, and the year. For laws and statutes, include the title of the law in italics, title number, section number, code, and year.

Citing an Abstract

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Abstract.” Title of Journal vol. number, no. number, Year, page number. Abstract.

Examples:

  1. Johnson, Emily. “The Effects of Climate Change on Marine Life.” Marine Biology Journal vol. 22, no. 3, 2021, p. 45. Abstract.
  2. Smith, John. “Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies.” Journal of Renewable Energy vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, p. 89. Abstract.
  3. Lee, Kevin. “Urbanization and Its Impact on Biodiversity.” Urban Ecology vol. 10, no. 1, 2019, p. 120. Abstract.

Citing a Dictionary Entry

Format:
“Title of Entry.” Title of Dictionary, edition, Publisher, Year.

Examples:

  1. “Resilience.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Merriam-Webster, 2003.
  2. “Sustainability.” Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1989.
  3. “Cryptocurrency.” Collins English Dictionary, 12th ed., HarperCollins, 2014.

Citing a Dissertation or Thesis

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Dissertation or Thesis.” Year, Name of Institution, Type of Document.

Examples:

  1. Brown, Sarah. “The Role of Technology in Modern Education.” 2018, University of California, Berkeley, PhD dissertation.
  2. Green, Michael. “Renewable Energy Solutions for Urban Areas.” 2020, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master’s thesis.
  3. Williams, Amanda. “Mental Health Awareness in Adolescents.” 2019, Harvard University, PhD dissertation.

Citing a Government Report

Format:
Government Agency. Title of Report. Publisher, Year.

Examples:

  1. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Climate Change Indicators in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2020.
  2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Annual Report on Space Exploration. NASA, 2019.
  3. Department of Health and Human Services. Mental Health in America: 2021 Report. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2021.

Citing a Laws or Statute

Format:
Title of Law. Title number, Section number, Code, Year.

Examples:

  1. Clean Air Act. 42 U.S.C. § 7401, 1970.
  2. Americans with Disabilities Act. 42 U.S.C. § 12101, 1990.
  3. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 42 U.S.C. § 18001, 2010.

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