How to cite an encyclopedia MLA can be really challenging as well as how to cite a dictionary in MLA. Both these sources are highly valuable in academic writing. When working in a specific field in humanities, students will surely resort to looking up accurate interpretations and explanations of particular terms and notions. Dictionaries and encyclopedias are compulsory references to be included in reference list and in-text citation. They are a must-have for philologists and educators when operating some theories and terminology.
Our comprehensive manual will help you cope with the lack of knowledge in citing these sources in MLA style paper. To start a citation with a title or an author is one of the main issues. You will find out accurate formats for each type of citation and helpful examples to comprehend it better. If you landed on this article, it means this information is really essential for you. So, stay with us and keep reading.
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:
Reference list format | "Entry Title." Title of Encyclopedia, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
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.
In-text citation format | ("Shortened Title of Entry" Page Number) |
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:
Reference list format | Author's Last Name, First Name. "Entry Title." Title of Encyclopedia, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
With the existence of an author, in-text citation looks as the following format:
In-text citation format | (Last Name Page Number) |
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.
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name of First Author, and First Name Last Name of Second Author. "Entry Title." Title of Encyclopedia, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
According to this case, in-text citation includes both authors’ surnames separated by and. Follow this formula:
In-text citation formula | (First Author’s Last Name and Second Author’s Last Name Page Number) |
Example:
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:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name, et al. "Entry Title." Title of Encyclopedia, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
Within a text, a citation will include the same first author and “et al” with no punctuation in between:
In-text citation format | (First Author’s Last Name et al. Page Number) |
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:
Reference list format | “Title of Entry or Article.” Name of Reference Source, Edition, Publisher, Year of Online Publication, URL. |
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:
In-text citation format | ("Shortened Title of Entry") |
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:
Reference list format | Editor’s Last Name, First Name or Initial. “Title of Entry or Article.” Name of Reference Source, Edition, Publisher, Year of Online Publication, URL. |
Example:
In the body of your work, you should cite only Author Last Name. Look at a format:
In-text citation format | (Author's Last Name) |
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:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name of First Author, and First Name Last Name of Second Author. “Title of Entry or Article.” Name of Reference Source, Edition, Publisher, Year of Online Publication, URL. |
Example:
Accordingly, an in-text reference is as follows:
In-text citation format | (Author’s Last Name and Last Name) |
Example:
When three and more authors are given, an additional “et al” is included to first two authors. Here is a formula:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name, et al. “Title of Entry or Article.” Name of Reference Source, Edition, Publisher, Year of Online Publication, URL. |
Example:
You should keep the following formula for citing online encyclopedia with three and more authors within a text:
In-text citation formula | (First Author’s Last Name et al.) |
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:
Reference list format | "Source Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
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.
In-text format | ("Shortened Title of Entry" Page Number) |
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.
Reference list format | Author's Last Name, First Name."Source Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
Accordingly, an in-text citation includes only an author. Look at a formula:
In-text citation format | (Last Name Page Number) |
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.
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name of First Author, and First Name Last Name of Second Author. "Source Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
Here is a formula for MLA Dictionary in-text citation with two authors:
In-text citation format | (Author’s Last Name and Last Name) |
Example:
Entry with three and more authors’ names:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name, et al. "Source Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. |
Example:
Here is a formula for in-text citation of a dictionary with three and more authors:
In-text citation formula | (First Author’s Last Name et al.) |
Example:
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:
Reference list format | "Sourse Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher, Copyright or Updated Date, URL. |
Example:
When citing a research entry in a text, you should put after it only Entry Title in parentheses. Follow this formula:
In-text citation format | ("Shortened Source Title") |
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.
Reference list format | Author's Last Name, First Name. "Sourse Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher, Copyright or Updated Date, URL. |
Example:
In-text addressing includes respective Author's Last Name in parenthesis. Here is like it should look:
In-text citation format | (Author's Last Name) |
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:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name of First Author, and First Name Last Name of Second Author. "Sourse Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher, Copyright or Updated Date, URL. |
Example:
Here is in-text citation formula:
In-text citation format | (Author’s Last Name and Last Name) |
Example:
Here is how we cite online dictionary with three and more authors in MLA style:
Reference list format | Last Name, First Name, et al. "Sourse Title." Title of Dictionary, Edition, Publisher, Copyright or Updated Date, URL. |
Example:
Follow this formula for Online Dictionary in-text citation with three or more authors in MLA style:
In-text citation format | (First Author’s Last Name et al.) |
Example:
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.
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