Citing literary and artistic works correctly is crucial in academic and professional writing. Whether quoting a poem, referencing a book, or using song lyrics in your research, following the correct citation style ensures credibility and avoids plagiarism.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to cite various works—poems, books, plays, quotes, and song lyrics—according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) format.
Why Citing is Important
Citing sources properly allows your readers to trace the origin of your references and ensures the credibility of your work. It also protects you from plagiarism claims by acknowledging the intellectual property of others.
How to Cite a Poem in MLA Format
When quoting poems, the format depends on the length of the passage you’re citing. Follow these simple rules for MLA citation:
- Short Quotes (up to three lines): Include the lines in the text and use a forward slash ( / ) to indicate line breaks.
- Long Quotes (more than three lines): Use block quotes, start a new line, and indent the entire quote. No quotation marks are necessary for block quotes.
Example of a Short Poem Citation: “Hope” is the thing with feathers— / That perches in the soul— (Dickinson, lines 1-2).
Example of a Long Poem Citation: Emily Dickinson’s poem begins:
Hope is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all— (lines 1-4).
How to Cite a Book in MLA Format
Books are among the most commonly cited sources in essays and research papers. Here’s how to properly cite them:
- In-Text Citation: Include the author’s last name and the page number where the quote or reference is found.
- Works Cited: Format the book citation as: Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Example: (Tolkien 25)
In the works cited list: Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. HarperCollins, 1937.
How to Cite a Play in MLA Format
Citing plays is slightly different, mainly when citing dialogue between characters:
- In-Text Citation for Single Line: Include the act, scene, and line numbers. Separate the numbers with periods.
- Citing Dialogue Between Characters: Begin each line with the character’s name in all capitals, followed by the line of dialogue.
Example of In-Text Citation: (Macbeth 2.3.15-20)
Example of Dialogue Citation:
MACBETH. Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee.
How to Cite Quotes in MLA Format
When quoting directly from a source, follow MLA guidelines:
- Short Quotes: Place the quote in quotation marks and add the author’s name and page number in parentheses after the quote.
- Long Quotes: Use a block quote format for quotes over four lines.
Example of a Short Quote: Fitzgerald writes, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald 189).
How to Cite a Poem
MLA Format for Citing a Poem
In MLA (Modern Language Association) format, cite a poem based on whether it’s from a book or an anthology.
In-text citation:
- (Author’s Last Name, Line Number)
- Example: (Frost 5)
Works Cited format (for a poem in a book):
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Poem. Title of Book, edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year, Page Number(s).
Example:
Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969, p. 15.
APA Format for Citing a Poem
In APA (American Psychological Association) style, cite poems similarly to books but include the original publication year in parentheses.
In-text citation:
- (Author, Year, Line Number)
- Example: (Frost, 1916, p. 5)
Reference List Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of poem. In Editor’s Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.
Example:
Frost, R. (1916). The road was not taken. In E. C. Lathem (Ed.), The poetry of Robert Frost (p. 15). Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
Chicago Style for Citing a Poem
Chicago style follows a similar format but offers footnotes and bibliography entries.
Footnote Example:
- Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, in The Poetry of Robert Frost, ed. Edward Connery Lathem (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969), 15.
Bibliography Format:
Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. In The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969.
How to Cite a Book
MLA Format for Citing a Book
In-text citation:
- (Author’s Last Name Page Number)
- Example: (Orwell 23)
Works Cited format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example:
Orwell, George. 1984. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949.
APA Format for Citing a Book
In-text citation:
- (Author, Year, Page)
- Example: (Orwell, 1949, p. 23)
Reference List Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.
Example:
Orwell, G. (1949). 1984. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Chicago Style for Citing a Book
Footnote Example:
- George Orwell, 1984 (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949), 23.
Bibliography Format:
Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949.
How to Cite a Play
MLA Format for Citing a Play
If a play includes act, scene, and line numbers, cite those instead of page numbers.
In-text citation:
- (Shakespeare 3.2.15)
Works Cited format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Play. Editor (if applicable), Publisher, Year.
Example:
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, Methuen, 1982.
APA Format for Citing a Play
In-text citation:
- (Author, Year, Act.Scene.Line)
- Example: (Shakespeare, 1603, 3.2.15)
Reference List Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of play. Publisher.
Example:
Shakespeare, W. (1603). Hamlet. Methuen.
Chicago Style for Citing a Play
Footnote Example:
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. Harold Jenkins (London: Methuen, 1982), 3.2.15.
Bibliography Format:
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins. London: Methuen, 1982.
How to Cite Quotes
MLA Format for Citing a Quote
In-text citation:
- (Author Page)
- Example: (Twain 45)
Works Cited format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Source. Publisher, Year.
APA Format for Citing a Quote
In-text citation:
- (Author, Year, Page)
- Example: (Twain, 1885, p. 45)
Chicago Style for Citing a Quote
Footnote Example:
- Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (New York: Penguin, 1885), 45.
How to Cite Song Lyrics
MLA Format for Citing Song Lyrics
In-text citation:
- (Artist Line Number)
Works Cited format:
Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Song Title.” Album Name, Record Label, Year.
Example:
Swift, Taylor. “Love Story.” Fearless, Big Machine Records, 2008.
APA Format for Citing Song Lyrics
Reference List Format:
Artist. (Year). Song title. On Album title. Record Label.
Example:
Swift, T. (2008). Love story. On Fearless. Big Machine Records.
Chicago Style for Citing Song Lyrics
Footnote Example:
- Taylor Swift, Love Story, on Fearless, Big Machine Records, 2008.
How to Cite Song Lyrics in MLA Format
When citing song lyrics, you need to mention the songwriter, the song title, the album, and other relevant details:
- In-Text Citation: Include the songwriter’s last name, track number, or time stamp.
- Works Cited: Format the citation as Last Name, First Name. “Title of Song.” Album Title, edition, track number, Publisher, Year of Release.
Example: (Bowie, track 4)
In the works cited list:
Bowie, David. “Space Oddity.” David Bowie, 40th Anniversary Edition, track 4, Sony Music, 1969.
Citing refers to referencing a passage or citing words from a particular source using their terms or your own. It applies to any scenario where you are doing the following:
- Directly quoting a person
- Paraphrasing someone’s words
- Summarizing a person’s ideas
According to the different disciplines, students must cite their sources whenever they conduct research. These sources may vary from books to poems or even song lyrics. Some guidelines for each type of source dictate the format the citations should take.
In this article, you will find the principles determining how you cite your sources. However, the information here only applies to the MLA formatting style. You are in the right place if you are searching for information on citing a quote in MLA.
How to Cite a Poem
Place a poem line (or part of it) within quotation marks when quoting a poem line. However, if you cite two or three lines, use a forward slash to indicate the line breaks. Precede and follow the slash with space.
Maintain the capitalization, punctuation, and style of the original poem. Use a double slash between the lines to mark a stanza break.
How to Cite a Book in MLA
When quoting a book, give a signal word/phrase and a page number. The signal word is usually the author’s last name. If you include it in the sentence, you do not need to do so in the parenthetical citation.
How to Cite a Short Story
When citing a short story in MLA, you should place the author’s last name and the page number without any punctuation between them.
Place the quotation marks around the excerpt. The end quotes should be before the in-text citation.
Indent the block 0.5 inches from the left margin when citing more than three lines. When the block of text is indented, there is no need to add quotation marks.
When quoting more than 40 words, place them as a blockquote. The quotation should start in a new line, and you should indent it half an inch away from the left margin. It should have no quotation marks but should have line breaks.
Preserve the original formatting as much as possible, including unusual spacing.
In-text Citations
When you quote a poem, the poet’s last name should be clear. It will assist your reader in locating the source in the works cited list readily. If you are handling more than one poem by the same author, you should identify the title of the piece you are quoting.
You do not want any ambiguity when referring to a poem. You could use a parenthetical citation after the quote where you include the author’s name and the title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5igNRmKLug
Parenthetical Citations – Line and Page Numbers
At times, publishers include line numbers in the margin of a poem. In such a case, you should use the line numbers within your in-text citation. It will assist in locating the quote more precisely. Only in the first citation should you use the term ‘line(s).’ You will use numbers in the rest of the quotations.
If no line numbers are available in the source, use the page number in its place. If no page numbers are available, only include the poet’s name.
Do not use parenthetical citations when you have already mentioned the name and there are no line or page numbers.
How to Cite a Book in MLA
When quoting a book, give a signal word/phrase and a page number. The signal word is usually the author’s last name. If you include it in the sentence, you do not need to do so in the parenthetical citation.
1. Books with Corporate Authors
If a book has a corporate author, using the corporation’s name and the accompanying page number for the in-text citation is okay.
You may use abbreviations where appropriate to avoid using long parenthetical citations that may interrupt the reading flow.
2. Books with no Known Authors
When a book does not have a known author, use a shortened title in the place of the author’s name. You should italicize the title and give a page number (if available).
3. Authors with Similar Last Names
If two or more authors share the last name, you should give both authors’ first initials. If they share even initials, provide their full names.
4. A Book by Multiple Authors
For a book with two authors, provide the authors’ last names in the parenthetical citation or the text.
If a book has three or more authors, list the first author’s last name and replace the rest with et al.
5. Citing Two Books by the Same Author
When citing more than one book by an author, include a shortened title to distinguish it from the rest. The short titles should be in italics.
If the author’s name is not in the sentence, you should format the citation with the author’s name, then a comma, then a shortened title of the book, and the page number, when appropriate.
How to Cite a Play in MLA
There are unique guidelines for quoting sources that form a dialogue of two or more participants. You will want to write the speaker’s name in all capitals at the beginning of each line of dialog. Indenting the line half an inch from the margin will be essential.
A period should follow the speaker’s name. Write the dialog after the period. Each subsequent line should have an additional indentation. When another character starts speaking, indent the person’s name half an inch and begin the new line. You will repeat this action every time the speaker changes.
If stage directions appear in the source, you can include them in the quote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEGBoarvCiU
Finish with a parenthetical explaining where to find the extracted portion in the source. You may use a signal phrase to mention the author and title before quoting an excerpt.
If so, give the page number or an act-scene indicator in the concluding parenthetical.
How to Cite a Short Story
When citing a short story in MLA, you should place the author’s last name and the page number without any punctuation between them.
Place the quotation marks around the excerpt. The end quotes should be before the in-text citation.
Indent the block 0.5 inches from the left margin when citing more than three lines. When the block of text is indented, there is no need to add quotation marks.
You will need to place the parenthesis at the end of the quote. Keep in mind that period signs and commas should appear after the citation.
For an MLA short story citation, follow the following procedure;
Provide the name of the author and the title of the short story. When citing, the author’s last name goes first, followed by their first name.
Appropriately cite all anthological information. When you locate the anthology, indicate the name and italicize the anthology title. You should also include the editor’s name.
To properly cite a short story in MLA, you should include vital information about the story’s publisher. As such, you must include the city of publication, the year of writing, and the publisher’s name.
For printed short stories, cite all page numbers and finish the citation with the word ‘Print.’
How to Cite Song Lyrics
To quote song lyrics, you will need the following information;
- Singer’s name
- Songwriter’s name
- Title of the song
- Title of the album
- Album’s edition
- Track number
- Publisher
- Year of publication
- The name of the website where you can find the lyrics
- The website’s URL
- The names of other contributors.
When citing song lyrics in MLA, begin with the author’s or songwriter’s name. You should state the last name first, followed by the first name.
If there are several songwriters, list them according to how they appear in the copyright information.
Next, indicate the song’s title and enclose it within quotation marks. The title of the album should follow this, italicized. Then, the other contributor’s names, the Album’s publisher, the year of publication, the track number, and the period.
Following this should be the name of the website and the URL (without the HTTP:// or https://)
How to Cite an Essay
You may typically find an essay in another published work, like an edited book or a collection.
To cite an essay in MLA format, begin with the last name of the essay’s author and follow it with a comma. Next, write the author’s first name, followed by a period.
After the name, indicate the essay’s title in the title case. You capitalize the first word and all other essential words in the title. Place the title within quotation marks and a period at the end before the closing quotation marks.
If you found the essay within a more extensive work, provide the title (of the more substantial work) in italics. Use title case for this title as well. Place a comma after the title and follow it with the word ‘by’ and the author’s name. The author’s name should start with the first name and then with the last name.
A comma follows the name and then the year of publication of the more extensive work. A comma should also follow it.
Next, tell your reader where the essay is in the collection. Insert the abbreviation ‘pp.’ followed by the article’s first page, a hyphen, and then the last page of the piece. After the final page number, place a period.
Use the author’s last name and the page number for in-text citations.
How to Explain a Quote
After citing a quote, the next logical step is to explain it. To do this, you must provide the context for the quote you want to translate. The setting will establish the quote’s when, where, and why. It will help your reader understand the quote’s relevance in the context of your work.
The next thing to do will be to explain the significance of the quote or its context to your writing. It would be best to tell the reader why what was said by another author is particularly relevant to the argument you are developing.
FAQs
How do I cite multiple poems by the same author?
Mention the poem’s title and the author’s name in the first citation. Include the title for subsequent citations if you’re citing a different poem.
Can I use a citation without a page number?
Yes, if the source doesn’t have page numbers (such as a website), use only the author’s last name in the in-text citation.
Do I need to include the publication year for poems or quotes?
No, for MLA format, the year of publication is not typically required in in-text citations, but it’s included in the works cited list.
Final Thoughts
Citing sources correctly is fundamental to producing high-quality academic work. You ensure that your writing is credible and professional by following the specific guidelines for citing poems, books, plays, quotes, and song lyrics in MLA format. Proper citations are essential to academic success, whether you’re analyzing Shakespeare or referencing contemporary song lyrics.