The Works Cited page in MLA style is a list of all the sources you’ve used and cited within your research paper. Including a works cited page is critical for two primary reasons:
- Transparency and Intellectual Honesty: It allows readers to easily identify the specific sources you’ve used. This transparency enables them to locate the original material for further exploration or verification of your claims.
- Credibility: It demonstrates that your work is grounded in existing research and scholarship. By providing a list of consulted sources, you showcase the references that inform your claims and perspectives.
Example
Formatting the Works Cited Page
Follow the guidelines below for the works cited page to ensure consistency, clarity, and easy of access for readers interested in further exploring the foundation of your research.
Placement & Heading
- The Works Cited page should appear on a separate page at the very end of your paper, following the body text and any notes or appendices.
- Heading should be centered at the top of the page, write the title “Works Cited” in plain text, without quotation marks or italics.
General Formatting
- The entire list should be double-spaced with a one-inch margin on all sides.
Alphabetical Order
- Entries are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name (or the first word of the title for sources without an author).
- If there are multiple works by the same author, they are listed chronologically, with the earliest publication date appearing first.
Hanging Indent
- The first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, while subsequent lines of the same entry are indented half an inch (hanging indent). This creates a visual distinction between entries.
Citing Specific Source Types
Each entry should include the following information (depending on the source type):
- Author(s): Last name, first name, and middle initial (e.g., Smith, John F.).
- Title of the Source: Follow capitalization specific to the source type:
- Italicized for books, websites, and journals (e.g., The Lord of the Rings).
- In quotation marks for articles and essays (“The Use of Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Sonnets”).
- Container Information: Title of the book, website name, or journal title (italicized if applicable) (e.g., Nature).
- Publication Information: Publisher, city, and state/country; website URL for online sources (e.g., Oxford University Press, New York, NY).
- Publication Date: Year (e.g., 2024).
- Page Numbers: Include specific pages referenced within the source (e.g., pp. 12-15).
Additional Tips
- Use “n.d.” for sources with no publication date.
- If a source has multiple authors, list them in the order they appear in the source, separated by commas and a final “and” before the publication information.
- For sources with more than seven authors, list the first seven authors followed by an ellipsis (…) and then the last author’s name.
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