What if the book or article has 2 or 3 authors?
You would use the author listed first as the main entry, last name first. Then add the additional author(s) listed with first name followed by
last name in the order given in the book, with commas between and the word 'and' before the last one.
Example:
Smith, John, and Sue Miller.
Smith, John, Sue Miller, and Tom Jones.
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What if the book has no author, but there is an editor?
You would list the editor as the main entry instead of the author, followed by 'ed.'
Example:
Smith, John, ed.
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What if there are 2 or 3 editors?
You would use the first editor listed as the main entry, followed by the additional names in the order given in the book, first name followed
by last name, and 'eds.' after all.
Example:
Smith, John, Sue Miller, and Tom Jones, eds.
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What if there are more than 3 authors or editors?
You would use the first author or editor listed as the main entry, followed by the words 'et al.'
Example:
Smith, John, et. al. [3 or more authors]
Smith, John, et. al., eds. [3 or more editors]
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What if no specific author is listed, but a company is?
You would use the Company's name as the main entry.
Example: American Medical Association.
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What if no author is listed at all?
You would use the title of the book or article as the main entry, where the author would normally be. Omit 'A,' 'An,' and 'The' at the
beginning of the title. The entry would be arranged alphabetically with all the other citations. [Note: Do not list 'Anonymous' as the author.]
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What if the Works Cited has more than one book by the same author?
You would list two of them alphabetically by the title. The first book would be entered an ususal. For the second book, the author's name
would be left out, with 3 hyphens instead, followed by a period. The name should be repeated in full if it is part of a different authorship,
such as a book co-authored.
Example:
Smith, John. Book Title 1 Alphabetically. City: Publisher, Date.
---. Second Book Title Alphabetically. City: Publisher, Date.
Smith, John, and Sue Miller. Book Title. City: Publisher, Date. [alphabetized after those with Smith as the only author]
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What if there is more than one city listed under the publisher?
You would use the first one listed.
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What if the book lists an edition number?
You would list the edition information after the title, or, if an editor appears after the title, after the editor's name. Use an abbreviation of
the wording on the title page of the book, as shown below.
|
4th ed.
|
for Fourth edition
|
|
Rev. ed.
|
for Revised edition
|
|
Abr. ed.
|
for Abridged edition
|
Example:
Smith, John. Book Title. 4th ed. City: Publisher, Date.
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What if the book is a part of a multi-volume set?
You would list the volume number of the volume you used after the title or, if an editor appears after the title, after the editor's name.
Example:
Author last, First. Book Title. Vol. 3. City: Publisher, Date.
Author last, First. Book Title. Ed. Vol. 3. City: Publisher, Date.
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What abbreviations are used for the names of months?
[Remember that the day is listed before the month. Example: 12 Nov 2006.]
| Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
| Apr. |
May |
June |
| July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
| Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
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Note: These pages reflect the 2009 7th edition of the MLA Handbook.
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