MLA Style: Citing Electronic Sources
The following information and examples about citing electronic sources are adapted from the 5th edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 1999. For complete MLA recommendations on electronic sources, please see the Handbook (call number: Ref LB2369 .G53 1999b).
ALSO: The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University has created a very good guide to using the MLA style that includes examples of electronic sources.
- Book in an online database accessed via the web (such as netLibrary)
- Electronic version of a daily newspaper article, retrieved from a database
- Electronic copy of a journal article, retrieved from a database
- Online Government Publication
- Professional or Personal Site
Reference Citation in Text
Electronic sources can include reference databases, electronic books, periodical articles, and professional and personal web sites. Parenthetical references in the text are cited just like printed works. For any type of source, you must include information in your text that directs readers to the correct entry in the works-cited list. Web documents usually do not have fixed page numbers or any kind of section numbering. If your source lacks numbering, you have to omit numbers from your parenthetical references. If your source includes fixed page numbers or section numbering, such as numbering of paragraphs, cite the relevant numbers.
Research Tip:
As you proceed with your research print the first page of any web page you will be citing in your paper. This printed copy will usually include the URL (network address) and the date of access—information you will need for your Works Cited list.
The Works-Cited List
Citation of an electronic source must do the same thing as the citation for a traditional print source, that is, it must identify the source and give enough information to enable the reader to locate it. Since electronic texts are usually not as stable and fixed as their print counterparts, your citation must provide more information than print citations generally give. Following are examples of some of the most commonly cited types of electronic sources.
Dates in the Works Cited List:
A citation for an online text includes the electronic publication date as well as the date of access. Additionally, for a work with a prior or simultaneous print existence, it may be necessary to give three dates: 1) the date of print publication, 2) date of electronic publication, and 3) date of most recent access. Of course, where any of these dates is not available, it must be omitted. See examples below.
Citing a book in an online database accessed via the web (such as netLibrary):
Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Book Part [if applicable].” Title of the Book. Editor’s Name [if applicable]. Place of Publication: Publisher, date of publication: page numbers [if applicable]. Title of Electronic Text Collection or Project. Date of electronic access <network address>.
Example:
Spurgeon, C. H. The Claims of God. Pensacola, Fla.: Mount Zion, 1874. netLibrary database. 6 September 2005 <http://www.netlibrary.com.nl.resources.apu.edu/>.
Citing an electronic version of a daily newspaper article, retrieved from a database:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper day Month year, edition of newspaper [if there is one]: section and page number [use + if article covers more than one page]. Name of Database. Date of access <network address of online service>.
Example
Goodstein, Laurie, and David D. Kirkpatrick. “On a Christian Mission to the Top.” New York Times 22 May 2005: A1+. Academic Search Elite Database. 6 September 2005 <http://search.epnet.com.ebscoh.resources.apu.edu/>.
Citing an electronic copy of a journal article, retrieved from a database:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical date [for a scholarly journal article give volume number.issue number (year)]: pages. Name of Database. Date of access <network address of online service>.
Examples:
Barnes, Rebecca. “The Cost of Affordable Education.” Christianity Today 49.8 (2005): 24. ProQuest Religion database. 7 September 2005 <http://proquest.umi.com.cr.resources.apu.edu>.
Belaire, Christine, J. Scott Young, and Anastasia Elder. “Inclusion of Religious Behaviors and Attitudes in Counseling: Expectations of Conservative Christians.” Counseling & Values 49.2 (2005): 82-94. Academic Search Elite database. 6 September 2005 <http://search.epnet.com.ebscoh.resources.apu.edu/>.
Citing an Online Government Publication:
Format:
Government Name. Government Agency. Title of Online Publication. By Author’s First Name and Last Name [if they are given]. Date of Publication. Date of Access <network address>.
Example:
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. America's Children and the Environment (ACE). n.d. 6 September 2005 <http://www.epa.gov/envirohealth/children/>.
Citing a Professional or Personal Site:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Site [begin with this if no author is given]. Date of the last update, if given. Name of any institution or organization associated with the site. Date of access <network address>.
Examples:
C. P. Haggard School of Theology. 2005. Azusa Pacific University. 7 September 2005 <http://www.apu.edu.offcampus.resources.apu.edu/theology/>.
Boundless Webzine. September 2005. Focus on the Family. 7 September 2005 <http://www.boundless.org/>.
Based on a document created by Nancy Getty, Glendale College Librarian, 2003. Edited by Kimberley Wilcox, APU, 2005.
Page Last Modified: August 3, 2006