How to Cite a Kindle in MLA

A Works Cited entry for a Kindle edition depends on the type of text.

The Amazon Kindle offers a variety of books for download. Often, the electronic version of a text is less expensive than the print edition. People who download ebooks can read them, highlight passages and make annotations. The ability to view these notes on a single page makes research for class assignments more efficient. However, writers are still required to cite the texts they use in research, and a Kindle edition of a text is no exception. The Modern Language Association (MLA) publishes a style guide for citing sources such as the Kindle.

Instructions

1. Determine the type of text you wish to cite. MLA citations vary depending on the type of text. For example, an encyclopedia would follow a different format than a book with a single author. Therefore, it is crucial to determine what type of text you're working with.

2. Consult an MLA style guide to cite your text accordingly. Most MLA style guides offer examples of formatting for a number of different types of texts. At this point, it is irrelevant whether your text is a Kindle version or not. Follow the MLA guidelines for the printed version of the Kindle text you have. For example, if you are consulting a dictionary on the Kindle, follow MLA rules for citing a dictionary. If you are using a book with a single author on the Kindle, follow MLA rules for citing a single-authored book.

3. Find the required information to complete your citation. For example, a book with a single author in MLA requires the author's first and last name, the book's title, the publishing company and the city and year of publication. Use the MLA style guide to determine what information you need, and search your Kindle text to find that information.

4. Write out the information in the required MLA format as dictated by the style guide. For example, a book with one author requires the author's last name, a comma and her first name followed by a period. Then, write the title in italics followed by a period. Then include the city, followed by a colon, the publishing company, a comma and the year of publication. End with a period.

5. Indicate the type of text you're citing. The newest edition of the MLA handbook requires that you identify the media you're working with (such as online, print or video)--this is where to indicate the Kindle version of the text. Use a single word after the rest of the reference followed with a period. Simply write "Kindle" or "Kindle edition" followed by a period. Because a book on a Kindle is first and foremost a book, it follows the book's guidelines in MLA. The fact that it is on a Kindle only requires you to identify the type of media at the end of the citation.

Tips & Warnings

• Publishing information is usually located at the beginning of a book.

References

• Palm Beach State College: Info Tips for the Informed Researcher
• Rivier College: Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format
• Windward Community College: Citing Your Sources

Resources

• Amazon.com: Kindle Store