Skip to Main Content

Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition)

How to cite sources according to MLA
This page has been updated to MLA 9

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry accessed via Library Database

Known Author

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not the first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp. First Page - Last Page. Name of Database. Accessed date. 

For in-text citations, use (Author's Last Name)

Works Cited Example

Davidson, Tish. "Anorexia Nervosa." The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition, edited by Kristin Key, 2nd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2013, pp. 52-57. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
In-Text Citation Example (Davidson)

 Note: Because the specific page number can't be determined, the page number is left out of the in-text citation. Include a page number after the author's last name if one is given.

Unknown Author

"Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not the first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp. First Page - Last Page. Name of Database. Accessed date. 

For in-text citations, use ("Title of Entry")

Works Cited Example

"Anorexia nervosa." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 2015. eLibrary.
In-Text Citation Example ("Anorexia")

Encyclopedia or Dictionary on a Website

Known Author

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, Name of Website, Publication or Last Updated Date. Name of Website, URL. Accessed Date.

Works Cited Example

McLean, Steve. "The Tragically Hip." The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada, 26 Mar. 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/the-tragically-hip-emc. Accessed 9 Nov. 2017.

 Note: In this example, the Publication or Update Date is the date of the page was last edited.
In-Text Citation Example (McLean)

Unknown Author

"Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, Name of Website, Publication or Last Updated Date. URL. Accessed Date.

For in-text citations, use ("Title of Entry")

Works Cited Example

"Filibuster." Merriam-Webster's Learners Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, 9 Nov. 2017. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filibuster. Accessed 9 Nov. 2017.

 Note: This page was last updated on the same day it was accessed.
In-Text Citation Example ("Filibuster")

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry in Print

Known Author

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page - Last Page.

For in-text citations, use (Author's Last Name Page Number)

Works Cited List Example

 Barber, Russell J. "Anthropological Ethics." Ethics, edited by John K. Roth, Rev. ed., vol. 1, Salem Press, 2005, pp. 67-69. 

In-Text Citation Example

(Barber 67)

Unknown Author

"Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page - Last Page.

For in-text citations, use ("Title of Emtry" Page Number)

Works Cited List Example

 "Guyana" Oxford Encyclopedia of World History, compiled by Market House Books, Oxford UP, 1998, p. 283

 Note: Compilers are listed as Other Contributors, not as Authors.

In-Text Citation Example

("Guyana" 283)

Wikipedia

 Reminder: Wikipedia is not considered an acceptable source for your assignments. It does not count towards the number of required sources for your assignments. However, it can be a good place to begin your research.

"Title of Entry." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Day Month Year entry was last modified, Time entry was last modified, URL of entry. Accessed Date.

For in-text citations, use ("Title of Entry")

Works Cited List Example

"Body Image." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Nov. 2017, 7:49 am, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_image. Accessed 9 Nov. 2017.

 Note: The date and time the article was last modified appears at the bottom of each Wikipedia article.

In-Text Citation Example

("Body Image")
  • Last Updated: Feb 12, 2025 10:51 AM
  • URL: https://otis.libguides.com/mla_citations
  • Print Page

Otis College of Art and Design | 9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 | MyOtis

Millard Sheets Library | MyOtis | 310-665-6930 | Ask a Librarian