How to Write an MLA Works Cited Page

The works cited page is a critical components of any research publication. It is similar in concept to a bibliography in that includes citations for all references used in the document, along with a referencing system. However, unlike a generic bibliography, to adhere to the MLA (Modern Language Association) style, the works cited page must follow strict formatting rules.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Format the MLA Works Cited page
   Start the works cited page on a new sheet, using one inch margins and the same MLA-specified header information as the rest of your paper. Type the words "Works Cited" at the top of the page, centered. Do not use italics, bold, a larger font size, etc.

2. Create the citations
   Leave a double space after the title, and begin listing your references in alphabetical order. Start each reference with the author's last name, followed by his/her first name and middle name/initial. Do not use the author's title (for instance, Dr.) or degree. If the reference has no author, start with the title. For each reference, complete the citation in MLA format (see Reference section for a nifty citation generator). Single space within the citation but leave a double space between citations.

3. Review your works cited page
   After completing your research paper and its MLA works cited page, it's a good idea to double check that every reference you've used in the text contains a citation listed in the works cited page. Also check that every citation corresponds to a reference in the body of the document. Finally, review your works cited page to make sure that you didn't make any MLA no-nos, such as improper use of underlining, capitalization, etc.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're using an older version of the MLA Handbook, look online for the latest changes (see the link in the Reference section for 2009 changes).

Resources

• MLA 2009 Works Cited Rules
• MLA Citation Generator
• The MLA Pocket Handbook: Rules for Format & Documentation

[sonni57]

on 7/4/2009 Good article writing an MLA page If you're a writer this comes in handy.