MLA Journal Article Citations | Format & Examples

Journal articles are common scholarly sources in MLA writing because they’re written by academic experts. Academic journals focus on very specific aspects of history, sociology, art, literature, and other academic disciplines.

MLA requires two forms of documentation for journal articles:

  • In-text citations that include the author and page number
  • Works Cited entries that include the author, article title, journal title, volume number, issue number, publication date, page range, the academic database (if applicable), and a DOI or stable URL

Use the examples below to learn about the MLA citation format for journal articles, or try QuillBot’s free Citation Generator to create in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

How to cite a journal article MLA examples
In-text citation Works Cited entry
Chakravarty writes, “When EDM originated in parts of Europe and the USA, these were underground rave parties meant for the collective union of a cohort that had shared values and interests centred around both production and audienceship of the music” (119).
Chakravarty, Devpirya. “Popular Musics of India: An Ethnomusicological Review.” Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, vol. 6, no. 3, Dec. 2019, pp. 111-22. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48710235.

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MLA Website Citations | Format & Examples

MLA essays about social issues often use evidence from websites, such as online news articles or government reports.

When you use ideas from websites, MLA requires two types of documentation:

  • In-text citations that include the author (and sometimes a page)
  • Works Cited entries that include the author, article title, website name, publication date, and URL

In-text citations for websites are unique because sometimes there are pages to cite, and sometimes there aren’t.

Use the examples below to learn about the MLA citation format for different types of websites, or try QuillBot’s free Citation Generator to create in-text citations and Works Cited entries. To ensure that all sources are properly cited, it is also a good idea to run a plagiarism checker before submitting your work.

How to cite a website MLA examples
In-text citation Works Cited entry
Currin writes, “Late that summer, the band embarked on a series of drive-in gigs, with Rust Belt fans tailgating as Strings and his quintet dazzled onstage.”
Currin, Grayson Haver. “Billy Strings, 21st Century Rock Star, Is Trying Very Hard to Be Good.” GQ, 26 Sept. 2024, https://www.gq.com/story/billy-strings.

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MLA Poetry Citations | Format & Examples

If you’re taking a literature course, you’ll probably write essays with MLA citations for poetry.

Sentences that quote or paraphrase a poem need in-text citations. Each source that you cite also needs a Works Cited entry.

Because poems are published in a variety of ways, MLA poetry citations have various guidelines.

The examples below will help you learn how to cite poems in MLA format. You can also use QuillBot’s free Citation Generator to write in-text citations and Works Cited entries for poems.

MLA poetry citation examples
In-text citation Works Cited entry
Frost writes, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / but I have promises to keep.”
Frost, Robert. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” 1923. Penguin Anthology of 20th-Century American Poetry, edited by Rita Dove, Penguin, 2011, p. 20.

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MLA Book Citations | Format & Examples

Books are one of the most common types of sources in MLA writing, especially when the goal is to analyze literature, explain a historical topic, or develop an argument.

For each book that you use as an outside source, MLA requires two forms of citation:

  • In-text citations with the author and page for each quotation, paraphrase, or summary
  • Works Cited entries that include the author, title, publisher, and publication year

There are also different types of books. The citation guidelines vary according to the number of authors, the type of book, and other factors.

To cite books correctly in MLA style, follow the examples and guidelines below, or use QuillBot’s free Citation Generator.

How to cite a book in MLA style examples
In-text citation Works Cited entry
Morris and Hays-Grudo explained that children who grew up during the Great Depression were known for their resilience and grit (6).
Morris, Amanda Sheffield, and Hays-Grudo, Jennifer. Raising a Resilient Child in a World of Adversity: Effective Parenting for Every Family. American Psychological Association, 2024.

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MLA Footnotes & Endnotes | Format & Examples

Footnotes and endnotes are optional strategies for sharing extra information in MLA style documents. The purpose isn’t to cite sources like MLA in-text citations or Works Cited entries.

Instead, MLA footnotes and endnotes provide extra context without interrupting the prose. The information isn’t immediately relevant or necessary (but still helpful), so writers place it in a footnote at the bottom of the page or on an endnotes page before the Works Cited page.

MLA footnotes and endnotes can serve these purposes:

  • Recommend additional sources
  • Explain outside sources (e.g., the reason for choosing a certain edition)
  • Share extra ideas or examples

Footnotes/endnotes are uncommon and rarely necessary in undergraduate essays, but they may be useful in a master’s thesis or dissertation.

MLA endnotes example
⁴ Other documentary films about art and activism include Exit Through the Gift Shop and The Art of Protest.
Tip
Each source that you mention, paraphrase, or quote in an MLA footnote/endnote needs a Works Cited entry. This is true even if you don’t have any in-text citations for those sources. QuillBot’s free Citation Generator can help you create Works Cited entries.

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How to Cite a Book in APA Style | Format & Examples

Books are one of the most common types of sources in academic writing. For each book that you use as an outside source, APA requires two forms of documentation:

  • In-text citations with the author and date (for paraphrases and summaries) or the author, date, and page (for quotations)
  • Reference list entries  that include the author, date, title, publisher, DOI, and sometimes other details

There are also different types of books. The citation and referencing guidelines vary according to the number of authors, the type of book, and other factors.

To cite and reference books correctly in APA style, follow the examples and guidelines below, or use QuillBot’s free Citation Generator.

How to cite a book in APA style examples
In-text citation Reference list entry
Morris and Hays-Grudo (2023) explained that children who grew up during the Great Depression were known for their resilience and grit.
Morris, A. S., & Hays-Grudo, J. (2023). Raising a resilient child in a world of adversity: Effective parenting for every family. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000385-000

QuillBot’s Plagiarism Checker can help you avoid accidental plagiarism by identifying material that has not been correctly cited.

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Personal Pronouns | Definition, List & Examples

Personal pronouns, like “she,” “us,” and “yourself,” are words that represent other nouns, which are called antecedents.

When used correctly, personal pronouns lead to better writing because they prevent unnecessary repetition. For example, if someone is writing about the moon, they could substitute the pronoun “it” for the antecedent “moon” in some of the sentences.

Some personal pronouns only refer to people (e.g., “me” or “he”), but others (e.g., “it”) refer to places or things.

One of the most important rules for personal pronouns is to have a clear antecedent. Always use the antecedent before substituting it with a pronoun in other sentences.

Personal pronouns examples
I saw a yellow butterfly flying near the zinnias in the backyard. It rested on a leaf for a moment, but it flew away before I could take a photo.

Isaac had a scholarship for the first year of college because he got excellent grades during high school.

Role-playing games like Stardew Valley are really entertaining, but they also take a lot of time.

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Have a Great Week | Meaning, Synonyms & Examples

Have a great week is a common closing for emails and conversations on Sunday and Monday. In this English expression, “week” means “Monday through Friday.”

This expression sets a positive tone for the week ahead. It also implies that you won’t talk to the person every day. You’ve probably encountered “have a great week” in one of these situations:

  • Face-to-face conversations with people you only see on weekends (e.g., saying goodbye after Sunday brunch with your family)
  • Monday morning email updates to large groups of people (e.g., all of a manager’s employees or all of a teacher’s students/parents)
  • Farewell messages to people who will be gone all week
Have a great week examples
Hey, Becca! I just wanted to say good luck and safe travels before you head out for the conference in Denver. Have a great week! 

Dear Customer Service Team,

Happy Monday, and thank you for your terrific work with the increased call volume last week! We have a quick update about overtime. From today until Friday, October 7, all employees are authorized to work up to 5 hours of overtime. This is totally optional. We hope that you all have a great week and appreciate all you do!

-Management Team

“Have a great week” has several variations for different audiences and situations. The synonyms below will help you add variety to your writing and conversations.

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Safe Travels | Meaning, Synonyms & Examples

Safe travels is a polite way to wish someone good luck before they travel a long distance. Whether the person is traveling for work, vacation, family, or other reasons, “safe travels” shows that you want someone’s trip to be as safe and pleasant as possible.

Because most trips involve multiple segments of travel or even modes of transportation, “safe travels” includes the plural noun “travels” as a synonym for “all of the travel-related aspects of an upcoming trip.”

Safe travels examples
Safe travels, Mom and Dad! Your Mediterranean cruise sounds like the trip of a lifetime, and I can’t wait to see the pictures when you get back.

Have a wonderful time in South Africa, Brandon! We’ll miss you, but we’ll take good care of the house while you’re gone. Safe travels, and enjoy all those frequent flier miles

I’m so excited to see you later today, and I’ll be waiting at baggage claim when your plane lands. Safe travels, Micki!

Tip
When including a person’s name in the expression “safe travels,” make sure to follow comma rules. A comma should go between the expression and the name(s) (e.g., “Safe travels, Devonte!”)

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you with correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar in written messages about travel.

In addition to “safe travels,” you can use the synonyms below, depending on the situation.

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Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement | Examples & Tips

Pronoun-antecedent agreement is a grammar term that means a pronoun matches its antecedent (the noun or noun phrase that it represents).

Pronouns should agree with antecedents in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). When a pronoun refers to a person, it should also match the antecedent’s gender identity (e.g., “he,” “she,” or “they”).

Pronouns and antecedents examples
Example Explanation
Ariana Grande hosted Saturday Night Live this week, but she didn’t perform music. “She” is a singular, third-person pronoun, so it agrees with the antecedent.
My coworkers and I eat at the Olive Garden every Friday because we love the free breadsticks. “We” is a plural, first-person pronoun. The antecedent is also plural and first-person.
I lost my keys again, and I can’t find them anywhere! “Them” is a plural, third-person pronoun. “Keys” is also plural and third person.

The most common pronoun-antecedent agreement errors involve plural or singular third-person pronouns. The following tips illustrate how to avoid these errors.

Note
Pronoun-antecedent agreement also means that possessive adjectives (“my,” “his,” “her,” “their,” “its,” and “our”) should agree with the nouns they modify. The examples in this article demonstrate agreement errors with both possessive adjectives and pronouns.

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