How do I create a citation in MLA format?

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is used primarily in the fields of Humanities, Modern Languages, Literature, and other related disciplines. Citations vary according to the type of resource (e.g., periodical, book, or webpage) and, while a comprehensive explanation is outside the scope of this FAQ, simple examples for journal articles, books, and websites are provided below.

Periodical:

Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, pages.

Book:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.

Website:

Author. "Title." Title of website, Publication Date, URL. Date of Access.

For more extensive coverage of the topic, visit the MLA Formatting and Style Guide, developed by Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL), which provides comprehensive guidelines on how to correctly cite your work in MLA and gives multiple examples for many kinds of resources. Physical copies of the MLA Handbook are available in the libraries on both the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses. The NSU Writing Center also provides in-person and online assistance with citation, grammar, and other writing concerns. 

Important note: Many databases provide pre-formatted citations, in a variety of citation styles, for the convenience of their users. There are also multiple, free citation generators available online, including the Purdue OWL website. While these resources are useful, and can help to save time searching for and inputting citation information, it is vital that computer-generated citations be carefully reviewed for accuracy, as they often contain errors.