How to Cite an Encyclopedia
There are several style guides you can use to cite an encyclopedia. If you are unsure about which style guide to use, go with the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. It is widely preferred by educators of college and high school students for its emphasis on parenthetical citation rather than footnotes. However, check with the instructor before you begin to cite any sources.
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Instructions
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Read the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, preferably the latest edition. Find the sections that show you how to cite an encyclopedia “In a list of works cited,” “Electronic sources” and “In parenthetical references.”
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Draft a “Works-cited” page that includes any encyclopedia sources you reference in a written paper. List the encyclopedia entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If the source is an anonymous encyclopedia entry, alphabetize by the first substantive word in the title, not “A” or “The.”
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Write the author, title of the entry (in quotes) and encyclopedia (underlined), edition and year of publication for a well-known encyclopedia that is published annually. Follow this citation as an example: Ford, Franklin. “Marquette, Jacques” Worldbook Encyclopedia. 1989 ed.
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Cite an online encyclopedia entry from a public database like Wikipedia by clicking on the “Cite this page” link at the left hand side of the page, then cut and paste the citation into your draft. Otherwise go to a website, such as Citationmachine.net, and plug in as much of the following information as possible: author, title of entry and encyclopedia, year of electronic publication, publisher, the date you accessed the site and the web address. Copy the citations into your draft.
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Document an encyclopedia on CD-ROM as you would an online source, but note the publication medium. Write the author, title of entry, name of editor, publication medium, the edition, place of publication, publisher and date of publication using this example from the MLA Handbook: “Afro-Lousiana History and Genealogy,” 1699-1860. Ed. Gwendolyn Midlo Hall. CD-ROM. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 2000.
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Cite encyclopedias in the research paper. For an entry that has an author listed, write the name of the author and place it in parentheses at the end of the quote or paraphrase: Father Jacques Marquette developed positive working relationships with Native Americans of northern Michigan (Ford). Cite only the title for an anonymous encyclopedia entry.
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Tips & Warnings
Give full publication information when you cite an unfamiliar encyclopedia that appears in print sporadically: Thompson, Bob. “Grape Varieties” The Pocket Encyclopedia of California Wines. Rev. ed. New York. Simon, 1985.
Go to the website for the Oregon School Library Information System for a citation maker that allows you to cite an encyclopedia from a library subscription service.
To cite an encyclopedia that appears online and in print, write the available source information in this order: author, title or the article and encyclopedia, publication date, page numbers (if relevant), database name, vender name, name and place of subscribing library, date of access and web address.
If you are instructed to include footnotes, follow the same format but place the citations at the bottom of the page and number the notes.
Be aware that a citation maker does not allow you plug in all the information necessary to cite some encyclopedias, so always check your work against the MLA Handbook.
Resources
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