MLA Basic Citation Anatomy

MLA is typically used in the humanities.

MLA uses the author’s last name and a page reference parenthetically placed in the text rather than footnotes or endnotes. Unlike APA, which is used in subject areas where the timeliness of the information is often critical, disciplines which use MLA can often cite works which are not current. Sources listed at the end of the text are in a section called Works Cited.

Works Cited
MLA papers require a "Works Cited" list. It appears on its own page at the end of the research paper. List works alphabetically by author (full name); title, source, date and give the page numbers of the work cited in the text. For internet sources, MLA requires adding the word "Web." followed by the access date at the end of the citation.

Bibliography
Cites works for additional reading or background reading in addition to cited works in text. Can have notes. This format is only used in MLA.

Works Cited examples:

Books
Kidner, John. The Kidner Report: a Satirical Look at Bureaucracy at the
         Paper Clip and Stapler Level. Washington, D.C.: Acropolis Books, 1971. Print.

Articles
Heydt-Stevenson, Jill. “Slipping into the Ha-Ha”: Bawdy Humor and Body
         Politics in Jane Austen’s Novels.” Nineteenth Century Literature 55 (3)
         (2000): 309-340. Print. 

Article from a library database
Harms, David. “Stand Aside Rubber Chicken.”  Alternatives Journal, 25.4 (1999): 48.
         Proquest Research Library Complete.  Web. 20 June 2009.

Internet sources
Avery, Susan and Jennifer Masciadrelli. Peep Research: A study of small fluffy 
            creatures and library usage. April 2003. Office of Fluffy Research, Staley Library,
            Millikin University. June 2003. Web. 21 Nov. 2009.

The following list of online sources are excellent choices for getting help with citations. The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) site will meet the needs of just about any MLA in-text, works cited page, or formatting question you have. 

In addition to RefWorks, here are other online citation tools available for you to try.