Complete and correct citations are imperative to your academic integrity as an emerging scholar. The format of the citation depends on the discipline. In the discipline of English, we use Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting and citation.

While there are numerous citation tools, keep in mind that they are not always accurate, and that you are ultimately responsible for their accuracy.

MLA Formatting

Essays for English courses require MLA formatting, the basics of which include double-spaced, 12 point text in widely-used fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica.

Review the Purdue OWL MLA Sample Paper for a visual representation and detailed instructions for MLA formatting and citation.

But how do I do that?

An MLA formatted template is available in Microsoft Word.

• Go to the File menu and choose New from Template.
• Type MLA in the Search bar.
• Select MLA style paper.

That’s it!

In-Text Citations

When you quote or paraphrase sources, you will need to include in-text citations, which demonstrate your ethos as a scholar and help your readers to locate information. The following brief video provides information on in-text citations and examples.

Works Cited List

Each essay you write will require a complete and correct Works Cited list, which is included on a separate page. Your Works Cited list demonstrates your ethos as a scholar and will helps your readers to locate sources.

Additional MLA Resources

• The MLA Style Center provides information on how to cite sources correctly using MLA citation format, including sample essays and a practice template.
• The Queens College Library Research Guide has numerous resources for MLA citation and other citation formats. You can also work with a librarian.

Also see Citing Supporting Sources and the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy.