The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a widely used citation style for writing research papers, particularly in the fields of literature and the humanities. The eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, released in 2016, provides guidelines for formatting and citing sources in research papers.
One important aspect of the MLA style is the use of footnotes and endnotes. Footnotes and endnotes are notes that are placed at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the document (endnotes), and they provide additional information or citations for the material in the main text.
There are several rules to follow when using footnotes and endnotes in an MLA-style paper:
Use footnotes or endnotes to provide additional information or to clarify a point. Footnotes and endnotes should not be used to provide information that is essential to the main argument of the paper.
Use footnotes or endnotes sparingly. Overuse of footnotes or endnotes can make a paper appear cluttered and can distract from the main points of the paper.
Use Arabic numerals to number the footnotes or endnotes. These numbers should be placed at the end of the sentence or clause in which the footnote or endnote is referenced, and they should be superscripted (raised slightly above the line of text).
Use double spacing for footnotes and endnotes, just like in the main text.
Use a separate line for each footnote or endnote, and indent the first line of each note by five spaces.
Use the same font and font size as the main text for footnotes and endnotes.
When citing sources in footnotes or endnotes, use the same format as you would in the main text. For example, if you are citing a book, you would include the author's name, the title of the book, the publication information, and the page number(s) being cited.
Use a hanging indent for the second and subsequent lines of each footnote or endnote. This means that the first line is flush with the left margin, and the remaining lines are indented five spaces.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your footnotes and endnotes are clear, concise, and correctly formatted according to the MLA style.
How to use footnotes in MLA
Include the information that is readily available. This prevents the same information from being displayed twice in a citation. Like earlier editions, this handbook includes information on evaluating sources, avoiding plagiarism, using quotations, constructing abbreviations, and other topics important to the scholarly writer. Some professors or publishers may require that you use only endnotes and footnotes because it often cleans up your essay, making it easier for the reader to focus on the argument. If you provide source information with all of your illustrations, you do not need to provide this information on the Works Cited page. Only use superscript numbers.
National Food Safety Education Month — Myths and Facts. Accessed Date Month abbreviated Year. If no specific version is mentioned or located, omit this information from the citation. The endnotes are double-spaced and listed consecutively by numbers that correspond to the note in your main text. Common Electronic Sources Entire Websites Name of Site. Grand Central, 2007, p.
Because MLA style is most often used in the humanities, it is unlikely that you will include raw scientific data in an MLA-style paper, but you may be asked to include other kinds of research in your writing. Including this information helps the reader locate the specific source that was used, as often times there are numerous versions of sources that are released at different times. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. Television episodes are often numbered, as well as their seasons, too. Content Notes can be used: To amplify. Notes providing additional counter examples In This can be further examples or developments of ideas you only briefly discuss in the text. Little, Brown and Co.
Spell out months fully in the body of your paper. For example, you might use your own translations for some texts but not others, or you might cite different editions of a text in different ways. For other works, such as film and tv shows, the individual that was the main focus of your research should be the leading name in the citation. The differences in citing an article from a scholarly journal: Eighth edition: Kincaid, Jamaica. Television Show Episode from Online Streaming Service Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, etc. Chan, Danny Elizabeth, et al.
The IBO suggests numbered footnotes as an alternative for in-text citations. Start the citation with the name of the company or organization. Puff Daddy and the Family. Articles on web sites are placed in quotation marks and the title of the web site is placed in italics. Example: Johnson and Selleck 44 How to format in-text citations for three authors or more: For three or more authors, include the last name of the first author listed on the source.
MLA style does, however, allow you to use endnotes or footnotes for bibliographic notes, which refer to other publications your readers may consult. When starting to build your Works Cited page, start by consulting your list of core elements. If the title starts with A, An, or The, exclude it from the in-text citation and include the first main word. Interviewed by Alex Ayers, 25 Mar. While How to use footnotes There are two types of footnotes: bibliographical and content. In those cases, you can use footnotes in MLA Style. So does a company.
Examples of MLA 8 edition citations for sources that are numbered: Fillipponi, Piero, and Herta T. Translated by Cazimir Liske, Faber and Faber, 2012. How to Number Footnotes and Endnotes Footnotes and endnotes in an MLA essay should always be indicated by superscript numbers that immediately follow the sentence or clause containing referenced information. All notes endnotes and footnotes should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in your paper. Example:Helfer, Meredith, et al. You can also use bibliographical notes to make comments on your sources and to identify areas of further research. Source information and note form Notes serve two purposes: to provide bibliographic information and to provide additional context for information in the text.
For example, if you are studying in the US and are using the US version of a book, there is no need to put the city of publication. To justify the scope of your study. Patterson, James, and Chris Tebbetts. Other Aspects Notably, the latest edition of the MLA Handbook — eighth edition — does not specify how writers should format footnotes and endnotes. Directed by Brad Bird, Pixar, June 29, 2007. ¹As Danes 45 and Gilmore 151 argue, caffeinated beverages play a vital role in American business environments.
Some common uses of bibliographic notes are: To cite a lengthy string of sources. In this case, both titles are written in italics, without quotation marks. If the website publisher is the same as the author and title of the web site , then include only the title of the web site. Film with Emphasis on Contributor Last name, First name of Contributor, role. Endnotes are listed before the Works Cited page.
