How to Cite in Standard American English
Citing sources is an essential part of academic writing. It allows you to give credit to the authors of the ideas and information that you use in your own work, and it helps your readers to find the original sources if they want to learn more.
There are many different citation styles, but the most common style used in Standard American English is the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. MLA style is used in the humanities, including English, history, and philosophy.
MLA Style Basics
The basic format for an MLA citation includes the following elements:
- Author’s last name
- Title of the work
- Publication information (publisher, date)
- Page number(s)
For example, a citation for a book would look like this:
Smith, John. The History of the United States. New York: Knopf, 2000.
A citation for an article in a journal would look like this:
Jones, Mary. "The Role of Women in the American Revolution." The Journal of American History 90.2 (2003): 456-478.
Citing Different Types of Sources
The basic format for an MLA citation can be adapted to cite different types of sources, including books, articles, websites, and interviews.
Books
To cite a book, include the following information:
- Author’s last name, first name. Title of the book. Place of publication: Publisher, date.
Example:
Smith, John. The History of the United States. New York: Knopf, 2000.
Articles in Journals
To cite an article in a journal, include the following information:
- Author’s last name, first name. "Title of the article." Title of the journal Volume.Issue number (Date): Page numbers.
Example:
Jones, Mary. "The Role of Women in the American Revolution." The Journal of American History 90.2 (2003): 456-478.
Websites
To cite a website, include the following information:
- Author’s last name, first name (if available). "Title of the web page." Title of the website. Date of publication or last update. URL.
Example:
Smith, John. "The History of the United States." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2018. https://www.history.com/topics/us-history/history-of-the-united-states.
Interviews
To cite an interview, include the following information:
- Interviewee’s last name, first name. Interview with interviewer’s last name, first name. Date of interview.
Example:
Smith, John. Interview with Jane Doe. 12 March 2023.
In-Text Citations
In addition to providing a list of references at the end of your paper, you also need to include in-text citations to indicate where you have used information from other sources.
In-text citations are brief references that appear in parentheses within the text of your paper. They include the author’s last name and the page number(s) of the source.
Example:
(Smith 12)
This in-text citation indicates that the information in the sentence comes from page 12 of a book by John Smith.
Reference List
The reference list is a list of all the sources that you have cited in your paper. It appears at the end of your paper, after the conclusion.
Reference list entries are formatted according to the MLA style guidelines. They include the same information as in-text citations, but they are arranged alphabetically by author’s last name.
Example:
Smith, John. The History of the United States. New York: Knopf, 2000.
FAQs
What is the purpose of citing sources?
Citing sources serves several purposes:
- It gives credit to the authors of the ideas and information that you use in your own work.
- It allows your readers to find the original sources if they want to learn more.
- It helps to establish the credibility of your own work.
What are the different types of citation styles?
There are many different citation styles, but the most common style used in Standard American English is the Modern Language Association (MLA) style.
How do I cite a book in MLA style?
To cite a book in MLA style, include the following information:
- Author’s last name, first name. Title of the book. Place of publication: Publisher, date.
Example:
Smith, John. The History of the United States. New York: Knopf, 2000.
How do I cite an article in a journal in MLA style?
To cite an article in a journal in MLA style, include the following information:
- Author’s last name, first name
