College Composition / Unit 25 CMP 0612 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
A Book Entry
The idea
A basic MLA book entry gives the author, the title in italics, the publisher and the year.
In practice
Build it in order. First, the author's last name, a comma, the first name and any middle name or initial, and a period. Second, the full title of the book in italics, including any subtitle after a colon, followed by a period. Third, the publisher's name, followed by a comma. Fourth, the year of publication, followed by a period. For two authors, the first is given last name first and the second first name first, joined by and; for three or more, give the first author followed by a comma and et al. Contributors such as editors or translators are named by their role, as in "edited by."
Where people slip
Do not include the city of publication for most books, and do not copy the publisher's full corporate name when a short form identifies it; follow the current handbook's guidance.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for College Composition