How to Cite a Dictionary and Encyclopedia in MLA Format

How to Cite an Encyclopedia: MLA

MLA cite encyclopedia is necessary because of available sources of relevant information whether basic or additional. It allows students to look for more than just term descriptions. History, origin, and sphere of implementation are at the user’s disposal. On the other hand, it is important to find other sources that prove particular statements or concepts. Such a necessity is provoked by the accessibility of some online encyclopedias to add information and edit. So, here you should be quite careful and check it over to be sure you have got relevant data.

Anyway, encyclopedia, especially online, can lead you to additional sources as it contains hyperlinks to original materials and so on. So with edition or without it, you will get more information on accurate citation of this source.

MLA: Cite Encyclopedia in Printed Format

As a rule, we start analyzing MLA encyclopedia citation of a printed edition. It is supposed to be one of the most used among educators and most accurate. A wide majority do not select authors, but editors could be mentioned. As it is a print, a reference entry has a certain formula, including data about publisher, year, and page range a searched word or colocation is placed. General format without an author is as follows:

Notice the punctuation used after each element of an entry and formatting of the first two elements in a formula above.

Example:

Regarding in-text citation, only two components are placed in parentheses: (“Entry Title” Page). When the entry is too long, you should provide a shortened form of up to three words.

Example:

How to Cite Encyclopedia: MLA (One Author)

In academic practices, there are encyclopedias edited and with one author that should be incorporated in MLA citation encyclopedia. A specific element Author contains information presented in a reversed form and separated by a comma. The next components are the same. When this component in reference is available, the general formula looks like this then:

Example:

With the existence of an author, in-text citation looks as the following format:

Example:

MLA: Encyclopedia Citation With Two+ Authors

In cases you encounter the same source with multiple authors, you should follow another format on how to cite encyclopedia MLA. This information is pretty important as it determines your further actions in citation. The general format is equal to the previous one. Only the first component will be changeable with a variation of authors. Thus, this occasion contains two approaches.

When there are two authors. Their names are given with a comma between them and conjunction and before the second author’s name. The order of names is different too and looks like this: Surname, First Name of First, and First Name Surname of Second. There is no comma between the second author’s names.

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According to this case, in-text citation includes both authors’ surnames separated by and. Follow this formula:

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When there and more authors. Reference will comprise only the first author’ name and an abbreviation “et al” separated by comma. Here is a formula:

Example:

Within a text, a citation will include the same first author and “et al” with no punctuation in between: 

Example:

How to Cite Online Encyclopedia: MLA

Current high-tech opportunities allow students and educators to get online sources accessed and provide citing encyclopedia MLA. Accordingly, an entry format can change a bit in accordance with additional information comprised on website material. Therefore, a reference entry to an online source and with unknown author is as follows:

If some elements of the format mentioned above are missing, leave them out of your citation.

Example:

An in-text entry contains only Title name in parentheses. Here is a format:

Example:

How to Cite an Online Encyclopedia: MLA (One Author)

Using one author sources, you should follow practically the same format of citing an encyclopedia MLA mentioned before. Only one more component is added to a general structure that is about an author’s name. Look at a formula:

Example:

In the body of your work, you should cite only Author Last Name. Look at a format:

Example:

MLA Citation: Online Encyclopedia With Two+ Authors

When it comes to multiple authors in online content followed, there are definitely other rules of encyclopedia MLA citation. With two authors in a source, an entry looks like this:

Example:

Accordingly, an in-text reference is as follows:

Example:

When three and more authors are given, an additional “et al” is included to first two authors. Here is a formula:

Example: 

You should keep the following formula for citing online encyclopedia with three and more authors within a text:

Example:

How to Cite a Dictionary in MLA

Another handy material for writing and research is a dictionary, and it is crucial to know how to cite the dictionary MLA. It is acceptable for students to utilize it specifically when compiling a list of terms used in work. In term papers, theses and dissertations, the dictionary plays a significant role. It helps educators and students dive into the accurate interpretation of words, collocations, and specific terms included. Thus, it improves their knowledge in the subject area and successfully reflects problems under research. Additionally, you should pay attention to a publication if it is old or updated. This may also influence your achievements in writing. So how to provide a correct citation of the dictionary in your paperwork? Read the next sections to get more information.

How to Cite the Dictionary: MLA (Printed Format)

Once you find a printed source like this, you should provide a citing dictionary MLA with unknown authors. You can encounter this fact quite often. Not to get confused, follow this formula:

If any of the presented elements are not given in a source, you just leave it out of citation.

Example:

When citing it in the body of your writing, you should place a shortened Title and provide it with Page Number. Here many dictionary entries can be placed on one page. So, numbering within an entry is a more useful locator.

Example:

Cite Dictionary: MLA (One Author)

Attending an institution’s library, you will surely get some sources that contain only one author, and you should give MLA citing a dictionary. Some books can be helpful in extracting necessary information but dictionaries are the best choice. They mostly are specialized and used for a particular area. When noticing only one author on it, one additional element is incorporated in an entry format.

Example:

Accordingly, an in-text citation includes only an author. Look at a formula:

Example:

Citing Dictionary: MLA (Two+ Authors)

As soon as you find multiple authors in the source you work on, you should come to a rule of how to cite dictionary MLA. A scheme of their mentioning is the same as it was listed for citing encyclopedia. Therefore, we won’t repeat the information but show it in respective formats and examples.

Example:

Here is a formula for MLA Dictionary in-text citation with two authors:

Example:

Entry with three and more authors’ names:

Example:

Here is a formula for in-text citation of a dictionary with three and more authors:

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Need to cite MLA footnotes and do not know how? You are in the right place. You will find everything about this kind of citation in our library.

How to Cite Online Dictionary: MLA

Nowadays, we have gotten many opportunities to benefit from online sources, due to which you should know how to cite dictionary MLA. Database is considered one of the most global online storage of dictionaries. Other sources are uploaded on specific websites created by a group of developers. That is why many students prefer obtaining materials for their research for free or with an additional depositing commission.

When referring to an online source with an unknown author, an entry looks equal to the previous one but with URL instead of Pages. Here is a formula:

Example:

When citing a research entry in a text, you should put after it only Entry Title in parentheses. Follow this formula:

Example:

Citing an Online Dictionary: MLA (One Author)

When you address one author content, the entry description should contain citing online dictionary MLA. The scheme is practically the same as the previous but with specifying one author at the beginning. Page Number is unavailable.

Example:

In-text addressing includes respective Author's Last Name in parenthesis. Here is like it should look:

 Example:

Citing Online Dictionary: MLA (Two+ Authors)

In addition, you can confront multiple authors at online content that leads you to MLA citing an online dictionary. Often, such sources can be, tragically, not updated, that can make your writing not relevant. So we encourage you to draw your attention to a year of publication or updated date. Thus, a definition you are looking for will be accurate with present-day usage.

Here is a formula and example of entries with two authors:

Example:

Here is in-text citation formula:

Example:

Here is how we cite online dictionary with three and more authors in MLA style:

Example:

Follow this formula for Online Dictionary in-text citation with three or more authors in MLA style:

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You may need a newspaper or journal article MLA citation for your work. There are such blogs on our platform. All you should do is to browse our library.

Final Thoughts on How to Cite an Online Encyclopedia/Dictionary in MLA

We believe our detailed guide provides you with relevant information on how to cite a dictionary in MLA and how to cite an encyclopedia MLA. You could notice that reference formulas of these two sources are actually equal with the main difference in Source Name. The citation in reference list and in a text is the same for both online and in print materials. We hope you get more understanding in quoting them.