how to write a song title in mla essay

How to cite ChatGPT

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We, the APA Style team, are not robots. We can all pass a CAPTCHA test , and we know our roles in a Turing test . And, like so many nonrobot human beings this year, we’ve spent a fair amount of time reading, learning, and thinking about issues related to large language models, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-generated text, and specifically ChatGPT . We’ve also been gathering opinions and feedback about the use and citation of ChatGPT. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and shared ideas, opinions, research, and feedback.

In this post, I discuss situations where students and researchers use ChatGPT to create text and to facilitate their research, not to write the full text of their paper or manuscript. We know instructors have differing opinions about how or even whether students should use ChatGPT, and we’ll be continuing to collect feedback about instructor and student questions. As always, defer to instructor guidelines when writing student papers. For more about guidelines and policies about student and author use of ChatGPT, see the last section of this post.

Quoting or reproducing the text created by ChatGPT in your paper

If you’ve used ChatGPT or other AI tools in your research, describe how you used the tool in your Method section or in a comparable section of your paper. For literature reviews or other types of essays or response or reaction papers, you might describe how you used the tool in your introduction. In your text, provide the prompt you used and then any portion of the relevant text that was generated in response.

Unfortunately, the results of a ChatGPT “chat” are not retrievable by other readers, and although nonretrievable data or quotations in APA Style papers are usually cited as personal communications , with ChatGPT-generated text there is no person communicating. Quoting ChatGPT’s text from a chat session is therefore more like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation.

When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

You may also put the full text of long responses from ChatGPT in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated. It is particularly important to document the exact text created because ChatGPT will generate a unique response in each chat session, even if given the same prompt. If you create appendices or supplemental materials, remember that each should be called out at least once in the body of your APA Style paper.

When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).

Creating a reference to ChatGPT or other AI models and software

The in-text citations and references above are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10). Although here we focus on ChatGPT, because these guidelines are based on the software template, they can be adapted to note the use of other large language models (e.g., Bard), algorithms, and similar software.

The reference and in-text citations for ChatGPT are formatted as follows:

• Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
• Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

Let’s break that reference down and look at the four elements (author, date, title, and source):

Author: The author of the model is OpenAI.

Date: The date is the year of the version you used. Following the template in Section 10.10, you need to include only the year, not the exact date. The version number provides the specific date information a reader might need.

Title: The name of the model is “ChatGPT,” so that serves as the title and is italicized in your reference, as shown in the template. Although OpenAI labels unique iterations (i.e., ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4), they are using “ChatGPT” as the general name of the model, with updates identified with version numbers.

The version number is included after the title in parentheses. The format for the version number in ChatGPT references includes the date because that is how OpenAI is labeling the versions. Different large language models or software might use different version numbering; use the version number in the format the author or publisher provides, which may be a numbering system (e.g., Version 2.0) or other methods.

Bracketed text is used in references for additional descriptions when they are needed to help a reader understand what’s being cited. References for a number of common sources, such as journal articles and books, do not include bracketed descriptions, but things outside of the typical peer-reviewed system often do. In the case of a reference for ChatGPT, provide the descriptor “Large language model” in square brackets. OpenAI describes ChatGPT-4 as a “large multimodal model,” so that description may be provided instead if you are using ChatGPT-4. Later versions and software or models from other companies may need different descriptions, based on how the publishers describe the model. The goal of the bracketed text is to briefly describe the kind of model to your reader.

Source: When the publisher name and the author name are the same, do not repeat the publisher name in the source element of the reference, and move directly to the URL. This is the case for ChatGPT. The URL for ChatGPT is https://chat.openai.com/chat . For other models or products for which you may create a reference, use the URL that links as directly as possible to the source (i.e., the page where you can access the model, not the publisher’s homepage).

Other questions about citing ChatGPT

You may have noticed the confidence with which ChatGPT described the ideas of brain lateralization and how the brain operates, without citing any sources. I asked for a list of sources to support those claims and ChatGPT provided five references—four of which I was able to find online. The fifth does not seem to be a real article; the digital object identifier given for that reference belongs to a different article, and I was not able to find any article with the authors, date, title, and source details that ChatGPT provided. Authors using ChatGPT or similar AI tools for research should consider making this scrutiny of the primary sources a standard process. If the sources are real, accurate, and relevant, it may be better to read those original sources to learn from that research and paraphrase or quote from those articles, as applicable, than to use the model’s interpretation of them.

We’ve also received a number of other questions about ChatGPT. Should students be allowed to use it? What guidelines should instructors create for students using AI? Does using AI-generated text constitute plagiarism? Should authors who use ChatGPT credit ChatGPT or OpenAI in their byline? What are the copyright implications ?

On these questions, researchers, editors, instructors, and others are actively debating and creating parameters and guidelines. Many of you have sent us feedback, and we encourage you to continue to do so in the comments below. We will also study the policies and procedures being established by instructors, publishers, and academic institutions, with a goal of creating guidelines that reflect the many real-world applications of AI-generated text.

For questions about manuscript byline credit, plagiarism, and related ChatGPT and AI topics, the APA Style team is seeking the recommendations of APA Journals editors. APA Style guidelines based on those recommendations will be posted on this blog and on the APA Style site later this year.

Update: APA Journals has published policies on the use of generative AI in scholarly materials .

We, the APA Style team humans, appreciate your patience as we navigate these unique challenges and new ways of thinking about how authors, researchers, and students learn, write, and work with new technologies.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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How to Cite a Song or Album in MLA Referencing

• 3-minute read
• 7th April 2021

If you write about music in your work, you might have to cite a recording. But how do you cite a song or album in MLA referencing ? This post will explain the basics.

To cite a song or album in MLA referencing , simply give the artist’s last name or the band’s name in brackets in the relevant part of the text:

Her latest album has a strong environmental theme (Sturgeon).

“Wildlife in America” (Shearwater) comments on US culture.

And to cite a specific part of a song, you can add a timestamp :

The middle eight in “Air and Light” (Sturgeon 2:14–2:29) is truly haunting.

In the above citation, for example, we are citing a section that runs from 2 minutes 14 seconds to 2 minutes 29 seconds into the song.

Musical Recordings in an MLA Works Cited List

All references contain certain core elements in MLA style. And for a musical recording, each entry should include some or all of the following:

• Artist or band name – For individual artists, give their surname first, followed by their first name (e.g., Young, Neil). For artists who don’t follow this naming convention (e.g., U2 or Lady Gaga), just use the full name they are known by.
• Song title – If you are citing a specific song, give the title in quotation marks.
• Album title – Give the name of the album you are citing (or that the song you are citing comes from) in italics.
• Version – If relevant, include information on the version of the song next (e.g., if there are different versions of a song on different albums).
• Publication details – The name of the publisher (i.e., the record label that released the album or song) and the year the recording was released.
• URL – If you accessed the recording online, include the URL. For songs accessed via a streaming platform, give the platform name in italics.
• Format – If it is relevant to your work, you can optionally add the format of the recording at the end of your reference (e.g., CD, vinyl, MP3).

You won’t always need all of this! For many references, the artist’s name, song and/or album title, the publisher, and the year of publication will be enough. But whatever you cite, make sure to include enough information in the Works Cited list to guide readers to the exact version of the recording you have used.

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Example References

Below, you can see example references for an album, a song on an album, an album accessed via a streaming platform, and a single song accessed online:

Talk Talk. The Colour of Spring , EMI, 1986.

Song on an Album

Shearwater. “Animals in America.” Jet Plane and Oxbow , Subpop, 2016.

Album on a Streaming Service

Sturgeon, Jenny. The Living Mountain , Hudson Records, 2020. Spotify , https://open.spotify.com/album/7Kt6kaJ8dGIo6cngVA7dcB

Single Song Online

Benin City. “Freaking You Out.” Bandcamp , https://benincity.bandcamp.com/track/freaking-you-out

Make sure to add a hanging indent for each line after the first in all references.

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How to Quote a Song in a Paper (with Formatting & Examples)

Last Updated: April 29, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Marissa Levis and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Marissa Levis is an English Teacher in the Morris County Vocational School District. She previously worked as an English director at a tutoring center that caters to students in elementary and middle school. She is an expert in creating a curriculum that helps students advance their skills in secondary-level English, focusing on MLA formatting, reading comprehension, writing skills, editing and proofreading, literary analysis, standardized test preparation, and journalism topics. Marissa received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 321,147 times.

Depending on the type of paper you're writing, you may need to use a song as a reference – either a specific recording, or the composition of the song itself. The format of your citation will be somewhat different depending on whether you are using Modern Language Association (MLA) style, American Psychological Association (APA) style, or the format in the Chicago Manual of Style. You'll also need a brief, in-text citation to point the reader to the more complete citation at the end of your work. [1] X Research source

• The performer could be a single individual or a band. If you're using the name of a single person, use "last name, first name" format.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé.

• If there are multiple writers, list them all in the order they appear in the copyright information for the song. If the song has lyrics, there may be both a composer and a lyricist.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom."

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. Online, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/, accessed January 9, 2017.

• Use the name you used in your full citation. Just use the first or primary name if there is more than one artist in the full citation. Include the title or a title phrase if you're citing more than one work by that artist.
• For example: (Knowles-Carter, "Freedom")

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J.
• If there are multiple writers and their roles are identified, you can put these in parentheses after their names. For example: Knowles-Carter, B. (Lyricist), & Blake, J. (Composer).

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016).

• You also may want to include the name of the performing artist if they are known by a stage name or are otherwise not immediately identifiable by their last name.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom [Recorded by Beyoncé].

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD].

• Include state or country information if the city is not well-known. Otherwise, simply include the name of the city.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD]. New York City: Parkwood Entertainment (2016).

• For example: (Knowles-Carter & Blake, 2016, track 10)

Using Chicago Style

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom .
• If the performer of the song is someone different from the songwriters, include this information immediately after the title of the song or album by listing their first name and last name.
• If the performer is more important than the songwriter or composer, you may want to list their name first. Use your best judgment depending on the focus of your paper.

• If you can't find the recording number on the physical copy of the recording itself, look on www.discogs.com. Make sure you have the listing for the same recording as the one you're referencing.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016. [11] X Research source

• For example: For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016, CD.

• For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016).
• To provide a pinpoint citation to a specific song, include the track number. For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016, track 10).

Community Q&A

• If you're using Chicago style, list audio recordings separately in a discography that is separate from your main bibliography. [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• When you access music online, you may have difficulty finding the information you need for your citation. Try looking up the song on a website such as www.discogs.com, which will have publication information. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about citations, check out our in-depth interview with Marissa Levis .

• ↑ http://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
• ↑ https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2011/12/how-to-cite-recorded-music-in-apa-style.html
• ↑ http://www.ubishops.ca/wp-content/uploads/APAguide6thofficial.pdf
• ↑ http://libguides.depauw.edu/c.php?g=73436&p=472435
• ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Beyoncé-Lemonade/release/8486714
• ↑ http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
• ↑ http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/chicago-turabian/how-to-cite-a-musical-recording-chicago-turabian/

About This Article

To cite a song using APA, start by putting the last name of the songwriter or composer, followed by their initials. Then, add the copyright year in parenthesis, and the title of the song. Next, start a new sentence with the word “on,” followed by the italicized name of the album and the medium you heard it on. End the citation with the location, the name of the recording company, and the recording year. For more information on citing songs, including in-text citations for MLA and Chicago style, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Proper Formatting of Song Titles in Written Documents

Learn when to use italics and quotation marks to write clearly

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What to Know

• Refer to the style guide specified by your employer, client, or teacher.
• In the absence of a style guide, the general rule is to use quotation marks for song titles and italicize CD or album titles.
• Don't use underlining in place of italics unless you are using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

This article explains the proper formatting of song titles in written documents and includes examples.

How to Format Song Titles in Written Documents

For matters of style when punctuating and formatting titles of any kind, turn first to the style guide prescribed by your employer, client, or teacher. In the absence of a style guide, use the following guidelines:

• Put quotation marks around song titles : For best appearance in professionally typeset material, use proper typographical quote marks and apostrophes ( curly quotes ).
• Set CD/album titles in italics : In typeset material, watch out for fake italics . That's not a grammar rule but it is a good design and printing rule.
• Do not use underlining (in place of italics) unless you're using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

In desktop publishing and word processing software, create character styles to quickly format song titles and other types of titles used throughout a document.

Example References to Song Titles and Albums

Here are two examples of text that includes song titles and album titles:

• Trace Adkins' first #1 single “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” is from his 1997 CD  Dreamin’ Out Loud . 
• The title cut from Toby Keith’s How Do You Like Me Now? was the most-played country song of 2000. Other favorites from the same album include “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like That” and “Country Comes to Town.”

When the song/album is the same : In the second example, although “ How Do You Like Me Now? ” is the song title, it is also the album title and in that context is treated as the album title, using italics. It would be just as correct to write: My favorite song on the How Do You Like Me Now? album is “How Do You Like Me Now?”

Punctuation in titles : When a song title ends in a question mark, exclamation point, or other punctuation, that punctuation goes inside the quotation marks because it's part of the song title. The beginning portion of the Adkins song title in parentheses is contained in the quotation marks the same as the other part of the song title.

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Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite a song in MLA

Here are two forms to cite a song depending on where you accessed it. The first one is for songs on CDs, vinyls, cassettes, etc. Variant B is for songs available on streaming platforms or online.

• Google Docs

To cite a song in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

• Artist(s) name: Give the name of the artist, or band name in full.
• Title of the song: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
• Name of the album: Container titles are italicized and followed by a comma.
• Publisher: If the name of an academic press contains the words University and Press, use UP e.g. Oxford UP instead of Oxford University Press. If the word "University" doesn't appear, spell out the Press e.g. MIT Press.
• year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• Song format: Describe the song format, e.g: CD, Vinyl, etc.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a song in MLA style 9th edition:

Artist(s) name . " Title of the song ." Name of the album , Publisher , year of release . Song format .

Song accessed online:

• Music platform: Give the title of the music platform, e.g. Spotify, Soundcloud, etc.
• Publisher: Give the name of the publishing company if available
• Year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• URL: Copy URL in full from your browser, include http:// or https:// and do not list URLs created by shortening services.

Artist(s) name . " Title of the song ." Music platform , Publisher , Year of release , URL .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

A song by a band retrieved from a CD

Florence + the Machine . " Hunger ." High as Hope , Virgin EMI , 2018 . CD .

A song by a band retrieved from a streaming platform

Beyoncé . " Pretty Hurts ." Beyoncé , Parkwood Entertainment , 2013 , https://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs .

MLA in-text citation of a song

Audio-visual material uses the specific time of the audio/video for in-text citations.

(Last name time) or (Short form of title time) .

The chorus of the song shows characteristic tunes of indie music (Florence 00:01:43-00:2:20) .

This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

• How do I cite a song?
• MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources
• Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Music Albums & Songs

More great BibGuru guides

• Harvard: how to cite a computer program
• MLA: how to cite a photo
• Harvard: how to cite a newspaper article

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How To Cite A Song In MLA – Format & Examples

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Whenever you try to explore ways of how to cite a song in MLA , depending on the medium you listened to, there are many ways and solid approaches. In an MLA song citation you generally must include the artist (or group) as the composer, the song title, the site’s name, and the URL where the song can be located. There are various types of citing a song in MLA. This article provides a thorough guide for how to cite a song in MLA.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 MLA Song Citation – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: MLA song citation
• 3 How to cite a song in MLA – Physical formats
• 4 How to cite a song in MLA – Quoting lyrics
• 5 How to Cite a Song in MLA – Optional Information

MLA Song Citation – In a Nutshell

• Depending on the medium you listened to, there are many ways to cite music in MLA.
• Physical song formats are cited according to specific guidelines in MLA.
• This article delves into quoting lyrics in MLA
• There is optional information that can be included when citing a song in MLA

Definition: MLA song citation

Just as you might examine a poem for a literary paper or quote a painting for an art history paper, you might find yourself using a song as a source if you’re taking music theory classes, and eventually find out how to cite a song in MLA. For all MLA citations, the “medium” of publication must be mentioned . Although there are numerous additional options, print and the web are the two most popular. For placement, see the full list of MLA song citation examples.

Sheeran, Ed. “Don’t.” X, deluxe ed., Asylum Records, 2014, track 4. Spotify , play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

How to cite a song in MLA – Physical formats

MLA song citation includes information about the album (or single, EP, etc.) the song is on, such as the title, distributor, year, and, optionally, the format (such as “CD”), when citing a song you downloaded in a tangible format (such as a CD or vinyl). Songs that you downloaded and listened to using a media player are also compatible with this format (e.g., iTunes).

Format of how to cite a song in MLA:

How to cite a song in MLA – Quoting lyrics

Using song lyrics that are structured like poetry: Four or more lines quoted at once should be formatted as a block quote . Separate lines with a slash.

Quoting lyrics in the text:

In the chorus, Bush sings, “if I only could / I’d make a deal with God / And I’d get him to swap our places” (0:51–59).

How to cite a song in MLA while quoting lyrics from a transcript:

If you’re quoting these lyrics from a transcript that was provided with the music (for example, in the YouTube description or the CD’s companion booklet), you should note this at the conclusion of the Works Cited item.

Quoting lyrics from a transcript:

Bush, Kate. “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” Hounds of Love. EMI, 1985. Transcript of lyrics.

How to Cite a Song in MLA – Optional Information

The MLA citation format is flexible; certain information in a song citation is not required but may be provided if it is pertinent. Suppose your conversation, for instance, concentrates on the work of a particular musician. In that case, you can list that person as the author instead of the main artist and include a brief description of their contribution. Still, the contributor slot should include the name of the lead artist.

Whenever you try to learn how to cite a song in MLA, it may be essential to cite the composer rather than the performer in the author’s position, particularly with classical music. After the title, you can list the specific performer(s) and/or conductor. If the specific performance is unimportant, you can completely ignore this detail.

Whom do I cite as the author of a song in MLA Style?

The primary artist or group that released the music is typically cited as the author of a song in MLA format.

Do I need to give details about the album in an MLA song citation?

List the website as a container and include a URL if you listened to the song on a streaming service. The album information in this situation is optional; you may include it if it is pertinent to your topic or if it will make it easier for the reader to find the song.

How to cite a song in MLA with no author or page numbers in MLA?

If a source doesn’t have an author, begin the MLA Works Cited item with the source title. You can use an alternate locator (such as a chapter number or timestamp for a video or audio source) to locate the pertinent portion in your in-text reference if a source doesn’t include page numbers. Cite the author’s name if there are no numbered divisions in the source (or the title).

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How to Cite Songs in MLA Style: A Complete Citation Guide

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Are you writing an essay and want to cite a song but are unsure how to do it properly? This article will show you how to cite a song in MLA style so that your article will have an appropriate format. Whether you wish to list some track, mention its composer or performer, or if you are quoting lyrics in your essay, we want you to know the correct way to do it. This article will demonstrate how to do it with helpful examples.  Dealing with lengthy research? Don’t have time for in-depth topic exploration? Delegate all the job to top-rated experts! Buy research paper online at StudyCrumb and leave all worries behind.

MLA Song Citation

There are times when you wish to use MLA citation for a song in your essay or article. You want to do this because quoting some melody or lyrics adds quality to what you are writing abou. Still,  it is important to cite people's work properly to avoid unwanted plagiarism. Remember to check plagiarism upon paper completion for outstanding results. The way you use MLA citation for some track will vary based on how you accessed the song. The basic MLA song citation format for a source retrieved from a streaming service is:

• performer's last name, performer's first name
• title of song (using quotation marks)
• website or database name( in italics)

When listing its URL, omit http:// and https:// information. If your source has a brand name with an article, you should also skip it. For example, you will go for "Rolling Stones" not "The Rolling Stones." So here is a general structure for your better understanding of how it looks:

Here’s how the above example would be cited:

However, there may be some additional information that you should include, e.g., an album. Let's learn how to format such citation below. You even can cite TED talks in your work. Just follow how to cite a TED talk MLA  guide. You will find it and many other useful blogs in our database.

How to Cite a Song From an Album in MLA

Are you citing something from an album in MLA style ? In this case, you would use some basic format above without its URL information. This will work when you are referring to some particular piece from a vinyl album.  When citing an MLA song from an album you should include some general information  such as: artist’s name, song title (using quotation marks), album title (in italics), record label, publication year. If some information about an album is unavailable, such as the record label or album name, it is acceptable not to list it. Here is a general format that applies if you want to cite a song from an album in MLA.

This is how it would be cited.

MLA in-Text Citation of a Song

When integrating in text citation mla song in your article, you would list the last name of the performer in parenthesis. If necessary, provide timestamps for lyrics you are quoting with its performer's name. In a general format It will look like this.

Here is how the above example would be cited:

Proper MLA Citation for a Song on a CD

How to cite a song from a CD in MLA style? When referencing some track from a CD, you should use a similar format as you would for any reference from an online source. Include such information as author's last name, first name, song title (using quotation marks), album name (in italics), distributor, publication year, and CD. Check a general format of citing songs of physical format here.

Here is also an example of how it will look like.

In-Text Citation for a Song From a CD in MLA

Are you citing some song in-text? When referencing some melody or lyrics from any CD, you would use the same format as you would from a vinyl album, only in the works cited section, use letters “CD” in the reference. MLA in-text citation for song should include the last name of a performer in parenthesis. Also, add timestamps of where these quoted lyrics appear. In the Works Cited section, integrate such information: performer last name, first name. Then, mention track name (using quotation marks), CD album title (in italics), publisher, publication year, CD. Check a general format of citing songs from a CD in MLA for in-text citation.

Check out our example of in-text citation:

How to Cite Song Lyrics MLA

There may be occasions when you want to know how to cite song lyrics in MLA in your article. When citing lyrics, you would put quotation marks on each side of the quoted lyrics. If necessary, use timestamps (see above) to indicate where these lyrics are within the track. It is also important to use a poetic format if you are quoting more than a few words or one line. When quoting multiple lines, use a forward slash to indicate breaks in those lyrics. Here is how it looks:

Here is an example of the above formula of how to cite song lyrics in MLA.

But do not use this guide for an interview citation. It is another source and should be cited another way. Find and read a special blog about  MLA in text citation interview .

Core Elements for MLA Song Citation

As we can see, all references in MLA style we have mentioned above contain their core elements that should be included in almost every citation. Here are essential pieces of information that are likely to be incorporated into your quotation:

• Artist or band name
• Title of a song
• Title of an album
• Album’s version
• Track number
• Publication details (name of the publisher of record label, year this record was released)
• Website or database where you got this record
• Format (e.g., CD, MP3 , vinyl.)

Final Thoughts on Citing a Song in MLA

We have looked at MLA style on how to cite a song. Referencing some track is similar to the citation format of citing an article in a periodical. Remember to include the general information such as: performer's last name, first name, a period, title in quotations, an album title italicized, publisher, and year. If you are quoting from an online source, include URL at the end of the reference. If you are quoting from any CD, put the letters “CD” at the end. If you are quoting lyrics from any record, CD, or online source, use a timestamp. When quoting lyrics, put quotation marks. Also, use the poetic style for multiple line lyric quotations.

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How to Cite a Song in MLA Style: FAQ

1. are song titles italicized in mla.

No. When MLA citing a song, titles are listed with quotation marks. Songs that you reference need to be accompanied by the source where they can be found. It is an album title that is listed in italics.

2. How to cite a song in MLA with a different writer and performer?

If you cite a song in MLA, the performer is listed as an author in most cases. If you are referencing songs from some streaming service, the performer or group is listed as an author as if you are citing some written source.

3. How do you in-text cite an audio clip in MLA?

When you cite an audio clip in MLA within your text, the performer's last name and timestamp are placed within your text in parenthesis. At the end of your article, proper MLA citation should be made of the song's origin.

4. How do you reference a concert in MLA?

When citing a live concert using MLA style, you would list the name of the performer, name of the concert (or concert tour), full date of this concert, concert venue, and city and state (and perhaps country) where this concert was performed.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

Music is an art form—and just as you’d analyze a poem for a literary paper or cite a painting for an art history paper, you may find yourself using a song as a source, especially if you’re enrolled in music theory courses. Here, we’ve laid out how to cite a song, so if you’re deciding whether or not to include a song in your next paper based on whether you can figure out how to cite it, go for it! Citing songs, whether you’re working off the audio recording or using written lyrics, is actually a pretty similar process to what you might have done for other kinds of citations.

Although citing a song might seem unfamiliar, there’s no need to worry. We’ve got you covered for both audio recordings and written song lyrics, whether you need to cite in MLA format ,  APA format, or Chicago style.

Citing an Audio Recording of a Song Found Online

If you’ve ever cited a movie before, you’ll discover that citing an audio recording of a song is a pretty similar process. But even if you’ve only cited text before, you should be a pro at song citations in no time! We’ve included examples of how you would cite Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” for each of the three styles as well.

To cite an audio recording of a song, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track Number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or database where the song was found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording found online in MLA 9:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album , album’s ed., Publisher, Year of publication, track number. Website or Database Name , URL (remove http:// or https://).

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9 :

Sheeran, Ed. “Don’t.” X , deluxe ed., Asylum Records, 2014, track 4. Spotify , play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in an in-text citation:

(Singer’s Last Name)

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in APA format:

Songwriter’s Last Name, Songwriter’s First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of the song [Recorded by Singer’s First Initial, Singer’s Last Name if different from writer*]. On Title of the album [Audio file]. Retrieved from URL

*Do not include the information in the brackets if the name of the songwriter is the same person as the singer or performer.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in APA:

Sheeran, E. (2014). Don’t. On X. [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in Chicago:

Singer’s Last name, Singer’s First name. Title of the Song. Publisher, Year of publication, Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in Chicago:

Sheeran, Ed. Don’t. Asylum Records, 2014, Accessed June 5, 2017. https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Citing Song Lyrics Found Online

Citing written song lyrics is pretty similar to citing an audio recording, but if you’re used to mostly citing written work, you may find this procedure a bit easier since you’re citing words off a page rather than audio. Here, we’ve cited “Imagine,” a song by John Lennon which you’ve surely heard before—and one which could be the subject of rich analysis for your next paper.

To cite written song lyrics, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or Database where the lyrics were found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in MLA 9:

Songwriter’s Last Name, First Name. Lyrics to “Title of the Song.” Names of other contributors, Album’s Publisher, Year of publication. Name of Website, URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9:

Lennon, John. Lyrics to “Imagine.” Performed by John Lennon, Ascot Sound Studios, 1971. Genius, genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in APA format :

Songwriter(s) Last Name, Songwriter(s) First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of song [Lyrics]. Retrieved from URL

Lennon, J. (1971). Imagine [Lyrics]. Retrieved from https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics

Use the following structure to cite an written song lyrics in Chicago:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the song.” Name of Website. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Lennon, John. “Imagine.” Genius. Accessed June 5, 2017. https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

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To cite a song or music in MLA, it is helpful to know information including the song title, contributor names, and production details. The templates and examples below are based on the MLA Handbook , 9th edition.

In-text citation and works cited list entry examples for a song by a single artist are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

Artist Surname

Parenthetical:

(Artist Surname)

Works cited entry template and example:

Surname, First M. “Song Title.” Album Title , relevant contributor information, Production/Record Company, Year Released.

Grande, Ariana. “Moonlight.” Dangerous Women , Republic Records, 2016.

The in-text citation does not include the release year. The surname alone is used in the in-text citations.

The song title should be enclosed in double quotation marks. If the song is part of an album, the album title should be included. Any additional contributors, the name of the record company, and the year the song was released should also be part of the works cited entry.

To cite song lyrics, include the following details: the lyricist/artist’s last name, year, song’s title, title of the album, medium, producer, and URL if applicable.

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Citing a song in MLA style

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Published February 1, 2021. Updated August 5, 2021.

To cite a song in MLA, it’s helpful to know basic information including the song title, artist, and production details.

The templates and examples below are based on the  MLA Handbook , 9th edition.

If you’re trying to cite a song, the  Chegg Writing MLA citation generator  could help.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing  plagiarism checker  and  citation generator .

For citing songs in MLA, the surname of the artist is used in the in-prose and parenthetical citations.

In-text citation template and example:

Artist Surname

Parenthetical:

(Artist Surname)

Works cited entry template and example:

Surname, First M. “Song Title.”  Album Title , Producer or Record Label, Publication year.

Grande, Ariana. “Moonlight.”  Dangerous Woman , Republic Records, 2016.

Read this  MLA format  guide for more style basics.

Citing song on a website in MLA style

Artist Surname, First M. “Song Title.”  Album Title , Publication year, URL.

Grannis, Kina. “When will I learn.”  In the Waiting,  2018, soundcloud.com/kina-grannis/sets/in-the-waiting.

Citing an album in MLA style

For citing an album in MLA, the surname of the artist is used in the in-prose and parenthetical citations.

Wainwright III

(Wainwright III)

Surname, First M.  Album Title , Producer or Record Label, Publication year.

Wainwright III, Loudon.  Attempted Moustache . Columbia KC, 1973.

For more information on citing sources in MLA, also read these guides on  MLA in-text citations  and  MLA works cited examples .

MLA Style: Learn More

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Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Music Albums & Songs

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Music Album Examples

Blue Man Group. How To Be a Megastar Live! Rhino Records, 2008.

Gershwin, G. Gershwin Greatest Hits . Performance by Boston Pops Orchestra, Earl Wild, and        Peter Nero. RCA, 2010.

Music Album Explanation

Artists Involved: Blue Man Group. or Gershwin, G. Either list the band name, lead performer, or composer, etc. If it is a person's name, list the last name followed by the first initial of first name. End with a period. Title & subtitle of the recording: How To Be a Megastar Live! or Gershwin Greatest Hits. The title & subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize the first and last words of the title and subtitle, and all proper nouns and important words. Place article title & subtitle in Italics and end with a period. If there is final punctuation like an exclamation point or a question mark, this will replace the final period.

Performers: Performance by Boston Pops Orchestra, Earl Wild, and Peter Nero. If listed, put the words Performance by and then give the names of the performers and end with a period. Publisher: Rhine Records or RCA, List the manufacturer or publisher of the sound recording. Place a comma after the publisher's name to separate it from the year of publication. Year of publication: 2008 or 2010. List the year of the publication of the recording. End citation with a period.

[The above information is based on p. 39 of the MLA Handbook  8th edition and Purdue OWL ].

Song Examples

Presley, E. "Jailhouse Rock."  Essential Elvis Presley,  BMG, 2007.

Song Explanation

Artists Involved: Presley, E. List either the band name, lead performer, or composer, etc. If it is a person's name, list the last name followed by the first initial of first name. End with a period.

Title & subtitle of the song: "Jailhouse Rock." The title & subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize the first and last words of the title and subtitle, and all proper nouns and important words. Place article title & subtitle in quotation marks and end with a period. Title & subtitle of the album: Essential Elvis Presley, The title & subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize the first and last words of the title and subtitle, and all proper nouns and important words. Place article title & subtitle in Italics and end with a comma.  Publisher: BMG, List the manufacturer or publisher of the sound recording. Place a comma after the publisher's name to separate it from the year of publication. Year of publication: 2007. List the year of the publication of the recording. End citation with a period.

[The above information is based on p. 39 of the  MLA Handbook  8th edition and  Purdue OWL ].

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How do I cite song lyrics?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

The way you cite song lyrics will vary depending on how you access them and how much information you include in the body of your essay.

If you cite song lyrics from a CD you listened to, you might simply refer to the song in your essay:

“You say you got a real solution,” the Beatles sing in “Revolution 1.” 

You can then provide a works-cited-list entry for the album that contains the song. Follow the MLA format template : list the name of the performer or band as the author, the name of the album as the title of the source, the publisher, and the date. In the optional-element slot at the end of the entry, list the format:

Beatles. The Beatles . EMI Records, 1968. CD.

If you cite song lyrics from a booklet accompanying the CD, list a description in the “Title of source” slot and the name of the album as the title of the container:

Beatles. Booklet. The Beatles , EMI Records, 1968.

If you cite lyrics from a website, provide a description in place of the title. Then provide the name of the website, publication information for the site, and the URL:

Beatles.  Lyrics to “Revolution 1.” Genius , 2017, genius.com/The-beatles-revolution-i-lyrics.

How to Format Song Titles in Writing: Expert Advice

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Capitalizing the Title Case: The Basics of Formatting Song Titles

Italicizing or using quotation marks: determining the correct style, handling punctuation in song titles: a guide for writers, formatting song titles within sentences: maintaining consistency and clarity, special cases: remixes, covers, and featured artists in song titles, abbreviations and acronyms in song titles: to use or not to use, formatting song titles in different writing styles: mla, apa, and beyond, additional tips for perfectly formatting song titles in writing, frequently asked questions, future outlook.

One of the essential aspects of formatting song titles is capitalizing them in title case. This style not only enhances the overall appearance of the title but also follows conventional rules for capitalization in English language. Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind when formatting your song titles:

– Start with capitalizing the first and last words of the title. – Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions (e.g., “and” or “but”). – Articles (e.g., “a,” “an,” or “the”), coordinating conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “but,” or “or”), and prepositions (e.g., “in,” “on,” or “at”) should not be capitalized unless they are the first or last word of the title. – Indicate the title of a song by placing it in quotation marks, using the appropriate punctuation such as single quotes or double quotes.

To further illustrate these guidelines, let’s consider the title of an iconic song by The Beatles: “Hey Jude.” Following proper capitalization rules for title case, the correctly formatted version would be “Hey Jude.” Notice that both the first and last words are capitalized, while the article “a” is not capitalized. By adhering to these formatting basics, your song titles will appear polished and professional, adding to the overall aesthetic of your work.

When it comes to emphasizing words or phrases in your writing, it’s important to use the correct style to effectively convey your intended meaning. Two common options for highlighting text are italicizing and using quotation marks. While both can be used to add emphasis, each style has its own specific purpose.

Italicizing words or phrases is a great way to indicate emphasis in a subtle and visually appealing manner . Italicized text is often used for titles of books, movies, or TV shows, foreign words, scientific names, or to introduce a new term or concept. By slanting the text, you draw attention to specific words without interrupting the flow of your writing. For instance, in an academic paper about psychology, you might italicize the terms “cognitive dissonance” or “self-actualization” to make them stand out in the text.

On the other hand, quotation marks are commonly used to indicate direct quotes from a source or when referring to specific words or phrases. They can also be used to imply irony, sarcasm, or to denote an unusual meaning or definition for a word. For example, you might write, “The word ‘awesome’ has become so overused in today’s language that it has lost its true meaning.” By enclosing the word “awesome” in quotation marks, you convey a sense of skepticism or disbelief towards its contemporary usage. Remember that quotation marks should be used sparingly to avoid cluttering your writing or confusing your reader.

When it comes to song titles, punctuation can play a crucial role in conveying the intended message and style. Here are some tips to help you navigate the often-confusing world of punctuating song titles:

1. Apostrophes: If a word is contracted in the song title, such as “can’t” or “won’t,” use an apostrophe to indicate the omitted letters. For example, “Can’t Stop the Music” or “Won’t Back Down.”

2. Quotation Marks: Quotation marks are commonly used to enclose the title of a song within a larger work. For instance, in the song “Waterloo” by ABBA from the album “ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits,” both of these titles are enclosed in quotation marks.

3. Hyphens: Hyphens are useful when combining words in a song title. They can help clarify the meaning and prevent ambiguity. For instance, “Love-Struck” or “Dance-Off.”

4. Italicization: Consider using italics to showcase song titles when formatting a piece of written work. It not only helps differentiate the titles from the regular text but also adds a visual appeal. For example, “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Hotel California.”

When incorporating song titles within sentences, it is essential to maintain consistency and clarity to ensure a seamless reading experience. By following a few simple formatting guidelines, you can effectively punctuate and emphasize song titles, allowing them to stand out from the surrounding text.

One common convention is to use quotation marks when referring to song titles within sentences. For example, if you are discussing a specific song in your writing, enclose the title within double quotation marks. This visually sets it apart from the rest of the sentence and makes it clear that you are referring to a song title. Alternatively, if you are mentioning a song without any specific reference, you can simply capitalize the title without using quotation marks. Consistency is key here; choose one format and stick to it throughout your writing to avoid confusion.

Remixes, Covers, and Featured Artists in Song Titles often add a touch of excitement and uniqueness to our favorite tunes. In the world of music, these special cases allow artists to collaborate, experiment, and bring a fresh perspective to well-loved melodies. Whether it’s a remixed version of a chart-topper, a cover that transforms a classic, or a featured artist lending their distinctive vocals to a track, these creative adaptations provide a delightful twist for our ears.

Remixes are a popular way to give a song a fresh new sound. With the help of electronic beats and additional production elements, remixes breathe life into existing melodies and offer listeners a chance to experience their favorite songs in a different light. They often feature extended dance breaks, altered vocal arrangements, or reimagined instrumentals, making them perfect for energizing parties or adding excitement to playlists. Some notable remixes have even gained more popularity than the original tracks themselves, igniting new trends and musical styles along the way. So next time you stumble upon a remix of your favorite song, don’t hesitate to hit play and let the infectious beats take you on a thrilling sonic journey.

Choosing the perfect title for a song is crucial, as it can catch the attention of listeners and convey the essence of the composition. One common dilemma that often arises during this creative process is whether to incorporate abbreviations or acronyms into the title. While these condensed forms can add a touch of intrigue and uniqueness, it’s essential to consider their potential impact on the overall message and understand their relevance to the theme or lyrics.

Using abbreviations and acronyms can be an effective way to create catchy and memorable song titles. They can inject a sense of modernity and excitement, instantly capturing the curiosity of an audience. Moreover, abbreviations and acronyms can help convey a specific meaning within a compact space, making the title clear while leaving enough room for interpretation. However, it is important to strike the right balance. Overuse or excessive reliance on abbreviations may confuse or alienate some listeners who may not be familiar with the referenced phrase.

In the vast and diverse world of writing styles, even the titles of songs are subjected to specific formatting rules. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or simply a lover of music, it is essential to know how to correctly format song titles in different writing styles such as MLA, APA, and beyond. Here, we will guide you through the key elements and nuances of each style, ensuring that your song titles are formatted with finesse.

In the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, song titles are italicized within the body of your work. When referencing songs in your bibliography or works cited page , you should follow this format:

– Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Title, Record Label, Year.

For example: – Jackson, Michael. “Thriller.” Thriller, Epic Records, 1982.

In the American Psychological Association (APA) style, song titles are not italicized but rather presented in sentence case. This means that only the first letter of the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. When including song titles in your references list, follow this format:

– Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial., & Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Song Title. Album Title. Record Label.

For example: – Jackson, M., & Landis, J. (1982). Thriller. Thriller. Epic Records.

Formatting song titles correctly is essential for creating professional and visually appealing written content. By following a few additional tips, you can ensure that your song titles stand out and grab the reader’s attention. Here are some creative suggestions to help you achieve the perfect formatting:

1. Capitalize the main words: When writing song titles, it is common to capitalize the principal words in the title. This includes nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. For instance, consider the song title “Dancing in the Moonlight.” By capitalizing the main words, the title appears more polished and visually appealing.

2. Use italics or quotation marks: To add emphasis and differentiate the song title from regular text, it is advisable to use italics or quotation marks. For example, “Hotel California” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” can be placed in italics or within quotation marks to make them stand out. This not only makes the title more noticeable but also aids in enhancing the readability of your content.

3. Exclude articles and prepositions: To maintain a clean and concise format for song titles, it is recommended to exclude articles (such as “the” or “a/an”) and prepositions (like “in” or “of”) unless they are the first word in the title. Doing so ensures that the focus remains on the essential elements of the song’s title, making it more visually appealing and reader-friendly.

4. Be consistent: Consistency is key when formatting song titles. Whether you choose to italicize, enclose in quotation marks, or simply capitalize the key words, be sure to apply the same formatting style consistently throughout your content. This helps maintain a professional and cohesive look, making your writing more polished and aesthetically pleasing.

Remember, properly formatting song titles not only enhances the visual appeal of your content but also demonstrates your attention to detail. By following these additional tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating perfectly formatted song titles that captivate your readers.

Q: Why is it important to format song titles correctly in writing? A: Properly formatting song titles is essential for displaying professionalism and avoiding confusion in any written piece. It helps readers identify specific songs and also respects the original artist’s work.

Q: How do I format a song title when it is the title of an article, essay, or book? A: When using a song title as the title of an article, essay, or book, it should be enclosed in quotation marks, just like any other shorter work. For example, “Imagine” would be appropriately formatted as the title of an essay discussing John Lennon’s iconic song.

Q: What if I want to refer to a song title within the text of my writing? A: If you are mentioning a song title within the text of your writing, it should also be enclosed in quotation marks. For instance, you could write, “The lyrics of “Bohemian Rhapsody” have captivated audiences for decades.”

Q: How should I format a song title in a formal research paper or academic writing? A: In formal research papers or academic writing, it is generally recommended to use italics instead of quotation marks around song titles. This convention enhances clarity and readability in scholarly work.

Q: Are there any exceptions to using italics or quotation marks? A: Yes, when referring to classical music compositions or opera titles, these should be written in italics, while individual movements or songs within them should be enclosed in quotation marks. For instance, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 would be italicized, but its third movement, “Menuetto,” would be placed in quotation marks.

Q: How should I format song titles on social media or informal platforms? A: When writing song titles on social media or any other informal platform, it is common to use quotation marks. Italicizing may not be possible in all digital spaces, so quotation marks serve as a suitable alternative and still convey the intended meaning.

Q: What if the song title includes punctuation or special characters? A: Punctuation and special characters within song titles should be retained as they appear in the original. This includes exclamation marks, question marks, commas, and even unconventional symbols as intended by the artist. Remember to always prioritize accuracy and maintain the integrity of the original title.

Q: Can I capitalize all words in a song title? A: In general, only capitalize significant words in song titles. Articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions should be lowercase, unless they are the first or last word of the title. However, it is always a good idea to follow established style guides or the specific preferences of the artist, if known.

Q: Is it acceptable to abbreviate a song title when writing it? A: Abbreviating a song title should generally be avoided, unless the artist or publishing company officially presents it that way. Stick to the original title as closely as possible to convey proper meaning and avoid ambiguity.

Q: What additional resources can I consult for proper formatting of song titles when writing? A: The Chicago Manual of Style, the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook, and the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Guide each provide comprehensive guidelines for formatting song titles. Leveraging these resources can ensure accuracy and consistency in your writing.

In conclusion, correctly formatting song titles is essential for clear and consistent writing. Follow these tips to ensure accuracy and professionalism in your work.

Do You Underline Titles of Movies When Writing? Correct Approach

Are Job Titles Capitalized in Writing? Get it Right

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MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

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Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the  MLA Handbook  and in chapter 7 of the  MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

• The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's  The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the  internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in  Nature  in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's  The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's  Evaluating Sources of Information  resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

• Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
• Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
• Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like  CNN.com  or  Forbes.com,  as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009. 

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.

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Student's Guide to MLA Style (2021) | Citation & Format

To cite sources in MLA style, you need

• In-text citations that give the author’s last name and a page number.
• A list of Works Cited that gives full details of every source.

Make sure your paper also adheres to MLA format : one-inch margins, double spacing, and indented paragraphs, with an MLA style heading on the first page.

You can create citations automatically with our free MLA Citation Generator . Enter a URL, DOI , or ISBN, and the generator will retrieve the necessary information.

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Table of contents

Mla works cited list, the nine core elements of mla citations, mla in-text citations, free lecture slides, frequently asked questions about mla style.

The Works Cited list is where you give full details of all sources you have cited in the text. Other citation styles sometimes call this the “reference list” or “bibliography.” An annotated bibliography is slightly different.

Author . “Source Title.” Container Title , Other contributors , Version , Number , Publisher , Publication date , Location .

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Begin each source entry with the name of the author(s) or creator(s). The name of the first author is always inverted (Last name, First name).

When a source has two authors, the second author’s name is shown in the normal order (First name Last name).

For sources with three or more authors, state only the first author’s name, followed by “ et al. ”

The author of a source is not necessarily a person; it can also be an organization. If so, simply use the name of the organization.

However, if the organization is both the author and publisher , start with the title of the source instead.

MLA author element

Always include the full title of the source, including subtitles (separated by a colon and space).

Use title case —capitalize all words apart from conjunctions , prepositions , and articles . If there is no title, give a short description of the source, with normal sentence case capitalization.

The styling of the title depends on the type of source:

• Italics when the source is self-contained (e.g. a whole book, movie or website).
• Quotation marks when the source is part of a larger whole (e.g. a chapter of a book , a page on a website, or an article in a journal).
• No styling  when describing a source without a title.

3. Container

A container is the larger work that the source you’re citing appears in. For example, a chapter is part of a book, a page is part of a website, and an article is part of a journal.

If the source you’re citing is a self-contained whole (e.g. a whole book), leave out this element.

The container title is always italicized.

Elements 3 (container title) to 9 (location) all provide information about the container.

Sources with two containers

A source can also have two containers. If you watched an episode of a TV show on Netflix, the show title is the first container and Netflix is the second container. If you accessed a journal article through the database JSTOR, the journal name is the first container and JSTOR is the second container.

In most cases, only the title and location (often the URL or DOI ) of the second container are included in the source entry. This is because databases like JSTOR don’t have relevant contributors, versions, publishers, or publication dates.

• Datta, Hannes, et al. “The Challenge of Retaining Customers Acquired with Free Trials”. Journal of Marketing Research , vol. 52, no. 2, Apr. 2015, pp. 217–234. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/43832354.

Pay attention to the punctuation. The author and source title elements each end with a period. Elements within a container are separated by commas, and a period is used to close the container.

4. Other contributors

Contributors are added right after the container title and always end with a comma. Use a description like “translated by,” “directed by,” or “illustrated by” to indicate the role of the contributor. For example:

• Latour, Bruno. Politics of Nature: How to Bring the Sciences into Democracy . Translated by Catherine Porter, Harvard UP, 2004.

When a source has three or more contributors with the same role, include the name of the first contributor followed by “et al.”

If there are no other relevant contributors, leave out this element.

When there is more than one version of a source, you should include the version you used. For example, a second-edition book , an expanded version of a collection, or a director’s cut of a movie would require the version to be included:

• Porter, Michael E. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors . 2nd ed. , Simon and Schuster, 1998.
• Columbus, Chris, director. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . director’s cut, Warner Bros., 2002.

Sources such as journal articles (“vol. 18”), magazines (“no. 25”) and TV shows (“season 3, episode 5”) are often numbered. If your source has numbered parts, include this in the source entry:

• Wieseke, Jan, et al. “Willing to Pay More, Eager to Pay Less: The Role of Customer Loyalty in Price Negotiations.” Journal of Marketing , vol. 68, no. 6, 2014, pp. 17–37.

It is also possible for a source to have an edition, volume, and number. Just separate them using commas.

7. Publisher

Book and movie citations always include the publisher element. The publisher is the company responsible for producing and distributing the source—usually a book publisher (e.g. Macmillan or Oxford UP ) or a movie production company (e.g. Paramount Pictures or Warner Bros ).

Note that “University Press” is abbreviated to “UP” in a Works Cited entry. For example, the University of Minnesota Press becomes “U of Minnesota P”; Oxford University Press becomes “Oxford UP.”

When not to add a publisher Sometimes the publisher is already included elsewhere in the source entry, such as in the container title or author element. For example, the publisher of a website is often the same as the website name. In this case, omit the publisher element.

You generally don’t need to include a publisher for the following source types:

• Newspapers and magazines
• Platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or JSTOR

8. Publication date

When available, always include the publication year . If you also know the month, day, or even time of publication, you can include this if it helps the reader to locate the source. Date ranges are also possible. For example:

• 25 Jan. 2019
• 14 Aug. 2017, 4:45 p.m.
• Jan. 2017–Apr. 2018

Multiple publication dates If there is more than one publication date, use the one that is most relevant to your research and take the date of the edition that you have used.

No date When a source does not state a publication date, add the date on which you accessed the information. For example: Accessed 22 Sep. 2018 .

9. Location

What you include in the location element depends on the type of source you are citing:

• Book chapter : Page range of the chapter (e.g. pp. 164–180. )
• Web page : URL, without “https://” (e.g. www.scribbr.com/mla-style/quick-guide/. )
• Journal article : DOI , with “https://”—or stable URL, without: (e.g. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2018.1560449. or www.jstor.org/stable/43832354. )
• Physical object or live event : Name of the location and city (e.g. Moscone Center, San Francisco. or The Museum of Modern Art, New York. )

MLA in-text citations are brief references in the body of your document which direct your reader to the full reference in the Works Cited list. You must include an in-text citation whenever you quote or paraphrase  a source.

A standard MLA in-text citation includes the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses. The page number refers to the exact location of the quote or information that you are citing:

• 66% of voters disagree with the policy (Smith 13) .

If the author is already named in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in parentheses:

• According to Smith , 66% of voters disagree with the policy (13) .

Multiple authors

For a source with two authors, include the last names of both authors. If a source has three or more authors, only include the last name of the first author, followed by “et al.” if in parentheses or “and colleagues” if in the text.

• Smith and Morrison claim that “MLA is the second most popular citation style” (17) .
• According to Reynolds and colleagues , social and demographic circumstances still have a major effect on job prospects (17–19) .

If a source does not state a specific author, the in-text citation should match the first word(s) of the Works Cited entry, whether that’s an organization name or the source title.

Format titles the same as they appear in the Works Cited, with italics or quotation marks. Use the full title if mentioned in the text itself, but an abbreviated title if included in parentheses.

• The article “New Ways to Slow Down Global Warming” claims that . . . (4).
• Reducing carbon emissions slows down climate change (“New Ways” 4) .

No page number

If a source has no page numbers, but is divided into numbered sections (e.g. chapters or numbered paragraphs), use these instead:

• Morrison has shown that there is a great need for . . . (par. 38) .
• Reynolds devotes a chapter to the rise of poverty in some states in the US (ch. 6) .

For audiovisual sources (such as YouTube videos ), use a timestamp:

• In his recent video, Smith argues that climate change should be the main political priority of all governments today (03:15–05:21) .

If there is no numbering system in the original source, include only the author’s name in your citation.

Are you a teacher or professor looking to introduce your students to MLA style? Download our free introductory lecture slides, available for Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.

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MLA Style  is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition , published in 2021.

This quick guide to MLA style  explains the latest guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers according to MLA.

A standard MLA Works Cited entry  is structured as follows:

Only include information that is available for and relevant to your source.

The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .

Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.

If information about your source is not available, you can either leave it out of the MLA citation or replace it with something else, depending on the type of information.

• No author : Start with the source title.
• No title : Provide a description of the source.
• No date : Provide an access date for online sources; omit for other sources.

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