works cited mla speech

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Citing lectures, speeches, or conference proceedings: MLA (9th ed.) citation guide

This guide is based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 9th ed. and provides selected citation examples for common types of sources.  For more detailed information, please consult the full manual: available in print and online .

Lecture, speech, reading or address

When citing a live presentation like a speech or lecture from a conference or an event, include the name of the sponsoring/presenting organization (after the title), and the venue (after date and before the wider location) in your works cited. 

Parenthetical (in-text) 

The presenter went to great lengths to prove his point regarding how your brain has been shaped by evolution (Crespi). 

Works cited 

A live lecture  .

Crespi, Bernie. "Darwin and Your Brain." Vancouver Evolution Festival . Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia, 12 Feb. 2009, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver.

An online recording of a live presentation

Parker, Pardis. “Why Being a Billionaire is a Joke.” TED , Oct. 2022, www.ted.com/talks/pardis_parker_why_being_a_billionaire_is_a_joke.

Conference proceedings

A conference proceeding is the published record of a conference, congress, symposium, or other meeting sponsored by a society or association. The document will look similar to an article or book chapter (and it may in fact be a chapter in a book). To cite a conference proceeding, provide the same information as when citing a book or article , but also include additional information such as the title and date of the conference.

You may be citing an edited book of proceedings (see Edited print books ) or a single presentation, in which you would cite the author(s)/presenter(s), the title of the presentation, and the conference proceeding details similar to a book chapter or journal article .

Parenthetical (in-text)

Social media provides a platform for more minority groups to speak out (Fu).

Works cited

Whole proceedings.

Chang, Steve S., et al., editors. Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society, February 12–15, 1999: General Session and Parasession on Loan Word Phenomena . Berkeley Linguistics Society, 2000.

A single presentation

Fu, Yige, et al. “Research on the Influences of Social Media to Gender Equality.” SHS Web of Conferences , vol. 148, EDP Sciences, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202214803026.

Still using MLA 8?

We've now updated our citation guides to MLA 9, but you can still use the printable version of our MLA 8 citation guide. 

Need more help? Check our Ask a Librarian services .

How do I cite an online lecture or speech?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

To cite an online lecture or speech, follow the MLA format template . List the name of the presenter, followed by the title of the lecture. Then list the name of the website as the title of the container, the date on which the lecture was posted, and the URL:  

Allende, Isabel. “Tales of Passion.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading , Jan. 2008, www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tells_tales_of_passion/ transcript?language=en .

Module 6: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech

Mla works cited, learning objectives.

Create and identify appropriate MLA Works Cited entries.

MLA style is one of the most common citation and formatting styles you will encounter in your academic career. The MLA, which stands for Modern Language Association, is an organization of language scholars and experts. MLA format is typically used for writing in the humanities and is widely used in many high school and introductory college English classes, as well as scholarly books and professional journals.

Instead of offering a specific way to format each and every source time, the new MLA offers a streamlined approach using something called “containers.”

Figure 1. MLA formatting requires you to think about your source as a whole and pick out all the appropriate pieces to include in the container.

These containers, pictured here, provide you with the required elements, order, and punctuation for each of your Works Cited entries.

As you work to format your Works Cited entries, you will notice that some sources require only one container, as shown on the right. These are sources that you access directly from their original publication, such as books, an online magazine article, and general websites. You should follow the order of items listed in the container, following the simplified punctuation rules you see in the container as well. You will place a period after the author and the title of the source. Then, you should place commas after each item until the end of the entry.

Figure 2. You use two containers if the source you are using is part of a larger source, such as a poem within an anthology, a series within a TV show, or a journal within a database.

Two containers are required for sources that you access through places like library databases. An example of MLA’s “two container” structure is depicted at the left. Here, you will notice there is a place for the first container with the original publication information.

Below the first container, the second container provides publication information for where you retrieved that information. For example, a journal article you access through your library’s databases will have its original publication information (container 1) and access information from the online database (container 2).

Focus on the Core Elements

Regardless of the source type, you are now asked to locate the same core elements from your sources and place them in a standard order in order to create citations. These core elements are explained in detail below. Note that you do not need to memorize every step of this process , but should take this opportunity to understand how citations are created. (You will likely use some kind of citation generator to do this work for you, but you will need a general familiarity so that you can know what information to plug into that citation generator and so that you can understand how to double-check the citation generator’s inevitable mistakes.) You can always return to this page, to the MLA handbook, the MLA Style Center , or to other online resources to help you create the citations you need for your paper.

MLA: Core Elements

Watch this video to see examples of how to identify the core elements needed in a citation:

You can view the transcript for “MLA Style, 8th Edition: An Introduction” here (opens in new window) .

The basic guidelines for many types of citations are listed below. To see more, visit MLA Citations on the Excelsior OWL website,   Purdue OWL website , or in  this citation guide from Santa Fe College .

Print Books with a Single Author

If you are accessing a print book, then you will need just one container for publication information.

Minot, Stephen.  Three Genres.  Pearson, 2003.

Books with Multiple Authors

Two authors.

Sennett, Richard, and Jonathan Cobb.  The Hidden Injuries of Class . Vintage Books, 1973.

More Than Two Authors

For more than two authors: list only the first author followed by the phrase “et al.” (Latin abbreviation for “and others”; no period after “et”) in place of the other authors’ names.

Smith, John, et al.  Writing and Erasing: New Theories for Pencils . Utah State UP, 2001.

Article in a Reference Book

If you are accessing a print book, then you will need just one container for publication information. If an article in a reference work has no author, you should begin with the title of the article.

“Discourse.”  The Dictionary of Literary Theory . 2nd ed., Penguin, 1991.

Because eBooks may have been originally published in print, you may need two containers to present publication information. The first container includes the print information, and the second container includes the access information.

Gikandi, Simon.  Ngugi wa Thiong’o . Cambridge UP, 2000.  ACLS Humanities E-book , hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.07588.0001.0001.

Print Magazine Articles

If you are accessing a print magazine article, then you will need just one container for publication information.

Gallivan, Joseph. “Against the Odds.”  Oregon Humanities , Summer 2008, pp. 16–24.

Online Magazine Articles

If you are accessing a magazine article directly from the web, you will most likely need just one container to present publication information.

Bilger, Burkhard. “The Height Gap.”  The New Yorker , 5 Apr. 2004, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/04/05/the-height-gap.

Print Journal Articles

If you are accessing a print journal article, then you will need just one container for publication information.  If the journal does not use volume numbers, cite the issue numbers only.

Pasquaretta, Paul. “On the Indianness’ of Bingo: Gambling and the Native American Community.”  Critical Inquiry , vol. 20, no.4, 1994, pp. 151–187.

Online Journal Articles

If you are accessing a journal article directly from the journal’s website, you will most likely need just one container to present publication information. Note that  MLA now requires full URLs for online material. However, if your article includes a DOI (digital object identifier), that information should be provided instead of the URL.

Collins, Ross. “Writing and Desire: Synthesizing Rhetorical Theories of Genre and Lacanian Theories of the Unconscious.”  Composition Forum , vol. 33, Spring 2016, compositionforum.com/issue/33/writing-desire.php.

Cho, Helen, Sam D. Stout, and Thomas A. Bishop. 2006 Cortical Bone Remodeling Rates in a Sample of African American and European American Descent Groups from the American Midwest: Comparisons of Age and Sex in Ribs. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 130(2):214–226. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.20312.

Article from a Database

If you are accessing a journal article from a database, you will need two containers to present the original publication information as well as the access information from the database.

Goldman, Anne. “Questions of Transport: Reading Primo Levi Reading Dante.”  The Georgia Review , vol. 64, no. 1, 2010, pp. 69–88.  JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/41403188.

Online Newspaper

If you are accessing a newspaper article directly from the web, you will most likely need just one container to present publication information. Reviews and letters to the editor should be presented in a similar manner.

St. Fleur, Nicholas. “City Bees Stick to a Flower Diet Rather Than Slurp Up Soda.”  The New York Times , 19 May 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/science/urban-bees-diet-flowers-soda.html.

Websites that contain articles, postings, and almost anything else have been simplified in the 8th edition of the  MLA Handbook . Just one container is needed for most websites.

Hollmichel, Stephanie. “The Reading Brain: Differences between Digital and Print.”  So Many Books , 25 Apr. 2013, somanybooksblog.com/2013/04/25/the-reading-brain-differences-between-digital-and-print/.

In the eighth edition of the  MLA Handbook , images from the web will most likely need just one container. Images from other types of sources should follow guidelines for those particular sources.

Wootten, Bayard.  Woman Resting . 1937. Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library,  North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives , 12 Feb. 2013, http://library.unc.edu/wilson/.

In the eighth edition of the  MLA Handbook , videos accessed via web will most likely need just one container.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Unaired Pilot 1996.”  Youtube , uploaded by Brian Stowe, 28 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR3J-v7QXXw.

Build the MLA-style citation for each source. Note that these exercises do not use hanging indents.

Formatting the Works Cited Section

In MLA style, all the sources you cite throughout your speech are listed together in full in the Works Cited section.

• Title: On the first line, the title of the page—“Works Cited”—should appear centered, and not italicized or bolded.
• Spacing: Like the rest of your paper, this page should be double-spaced and have one-inch margins (don’t skip an extra line between citations).
• Alphabetical order: Starting on the next line after the page title, your references should be listed in alphabetical order by author. Multiple sources by the same author should be listed chronologically by year within the same group. If your reference has no author, use the title to alphabetize, leaving out any articles (for example, alphabetize The Awakening under A).
• Any word-processing program will let you format this automatically so you don’t have to do it by hand. (In Microsoft Word, for example, you simply highlight your citations, click on the small arrow right next to the word “Paragraph” on the home tab, and in the popup box choose “hanging indent” under the “Special” section. Click OK, and you’re done. In Google Docs, highlight the area you want to indent then choose Format > Align & Indent > Indentation options > Select “Special,” then “Hanging” > Apply.)

Figure 2 . A correctly formatted Works Cited page, according to the MLA handbook.

Recap: Works Cited

Watch this video to review the process for creating a Works Cited page.

You can view the transcript for “MLA Works Cited” here (opens in new window) .

• MLA Citations: Identify the source type based on the citation format.. Authored by : Bob Danielson for Lumen Learning. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Introduction & adaptation. Authored by : Lumen Learning. Located at : https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp1/chapter/mla-style/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Excelsior OWL MLA Works Cited: Modification, adaptation, and original content.. Authored by : Bob Danielson for Lumen Learning. Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/citation-and-documentation/mla-style/mla-works-cited/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• MLA Activity. Authored by : Excelsior OWL. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/citation-and-documentation/mla-style/mla-activity/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Online Journal Citation Example. Provided by : Davidson College. Located at : http://davidson.libguides.com/c.php?g=349327&p=3915566 . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• MLA Format (8th Ed.) content for slides.. Authored by : EasyBib. Located at : http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/mla-8/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• MLA Style, 8th Edition: An Introduction. Authored by : MU Libraries. Located at : https://youtu.be/lSekgYAdQcU?t=2m7s . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

MLA Tricky Citations

Most sources you come across for will follow the basic structure for an MLA citation. Even sources you might think are unusual, like a pamphlet, a magazine advertisement, or a message posted to a discussion forum, all can be cited using the same format outlined in our resource on MLA citation basics . There are however, a few sources and situations that might require a slight change to the format. The following examples should help with some of the more common, but still tricky, citations you may be faced with.

Note : All MLA documents, Works Cited pages included, should be double-spaced. The following examples are single-spaced for the purposes of this resource only.

Group/corporate author

When a source has a group or corporation as an author, cite that group name the same as you would an individual author. For Works Cited entries, when the author and publisher are the same, skip the author, and list the title first. Then list the corporate author only as the publisher.

Food literacy can help mitigate childhood obesity because “being food literate empowers us to make informed choices” (Food Literacy Center).

Works cited:

“What is Food Literacy?” Food Literacy Center , 2015, http://www.foodliteracycenter.org/what-food-literacy. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.

Multiple sources by the same author

To distinguish a source from others by the same author, include a shortened title for the work you are quoting. In the Works Cited, only give the author’s name in the first entry. For all following entries, replace the author’s name with three hyphens. These entries should be alphabetized by title.

We will be better equipped to design valuable education plans at each level if we understand that becoming an effective writer is a long-term, multidimensional process of development (Bazerman, “Understanding”).

Bazerman, Charles. “Understanding the Lifelong Journey of Writing Development.” Infancia y Aprendizaje , vol. 36, no. 4, Nov. 2013, pp. 421-441.

---. “Writing with Concepts: Communal, Internalized, and Externalized.”  Mind, Culture, and Activity , vol. 19, no. 3, 2012, pp. 259-272,  ERIC , doi: 10.1080/10749039.2012.688231.

Speeches, lectures, or other oral presentations

To cite a speech, lecture, or other oral presentation, cite the speaker’s name and the title of the speech (if any) in quotation marks. Follow with the title of the particular conference or meeting, the name of the organization, and the venue and its city (if the name of the city is not listed in the venue’s name). Use the descriptor that appropriately expresses the type of presentation (e.g., Lecture, Reading, Conference Presentation, etc.).

Losh, Elizabeth. “Leave No Trace: Digital Erasure and the Composition Classroom.” Western States Rhetoric and Literacy Conference, 21 Oct. 2016, University of California, San Diego. Keynote Address.

Government document

Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency (including any subdivisions or agencies) that serves as the organizational author. For congressional documents, include the number of the Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution passed as well as the report number.

United States, Congress, Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearing on the Geopolitics of Oil. Government Printing Office, 2007. 110th Congress, 1st session, Senate Report 111-8.

To cite an interview you conducted, list the person you interviewed (last name first), identify it as a “Personal Interview” (if conducted in-person), an “Email Interview,” or a “Telephone Interview,” and provide the date of the interview.

Sloane, Sarah. Personal Interview. 12 May 2015.

Dissertation or master's theses

To cite a published dissertation or master's thesis, cite the work as you would a book (with an italicized title), but include the designation Dissertation (or MA/MS thesis) followed by the degree-granting school and the year the degree was awarded. You may also include the University Microfilms International (UMI) order number.

Bishop, Karen Lynn. Documenting Institutional Identity: Strategic Writing in the IUPUI Comprehensive Campaign . Dissertation, Purdue University, 2002. UMI, 2004.

To cite an unpublished dissertation or master's thesis, put the title in quotation marks and end with the date the degree was awarded.

Works  cited:

Graban, Tarez Samra. "Towards a Feminine Ironic: Understanding Irony in the Oppositional Discourse of Women from the Early Modern and Modern Periods." Dissertation, Purdue University, 2006.

Work of art

To cite an original work of art (the primary source, not a reproduction in a book), provide the artist's name, the title of the artwork in italics, the date of composition, and the medium of the piece. Finally, name the institution that houses the artwork followed by the location of the institution (unless the location is included in the title of the institution, e.g., Los Angeles County Museum of Art).

Chagall, Marc.  Rain . 1911, oil and charcoal on canvas, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice.

Indirect source

To cite a source quoted within another source, identify the original source in your sentence to introduce the quotation and use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For the Works Cited page, cite the source you consulted not the original source (in this case, cite Koosed and Schumm).

According to Hardin and Hardin, “respect for authority, individualism, sacrifice 'for the team,' and hard work" are key values that come out of American sports and sports media (qtd. in Koosed and Schumm).

Multiple sources in one sentence

To cite multiple sources in the same in-text citation, separate the sources by a semi-colon.

Playing a “pro-social” video game can increase the perceptions of a player’s humanity and increase positive humanity traits (Greitmeyer; Happ, Melzer, and Steffgen).

Authors with the same last name

If two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or their full names if different authors share initials) in your in-text citation. In the Works Cited page, alphabetize these sources by first name (e.g., Brown, Penelope would come before Brown, Thomas).

Mitigating devices can also show up as hedges (e.g.,  perhaps ) or other means of impersonalizing (P. Brown).

Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, mla works cited.

• © 2023 by Barbara McLain - The Out-of-Door Academy , Joseph M. Moxley - University of South Florida

MLA Works Cited refers to the rules for compiling a list of references at the end of a text that cites sources according to the MLA Handbook, 9th Edition. Learn how teachers and editors evaluate an MLA works cited page.

What is MLA Works Cited?

MLA Works Cited refers to t he MLA’s (Modern Language Association’s) guidelines for formatting a list of references at the end of a text that cites sources.

The MLA Handbook, 9th Edition requires authors to provide a list of references — aka a works cited page — at the end of their texts

• to acknowledge the people and ideas that have informed their thinking and writing
• to provide citations for summarized , quoted, and paraphrased sources.

MLA Works Cited vs. MLA In Text Citation

The bibliographical information (e.g., who is the author? publisher? and so on) that MLA requires for a Works Cited Page differs from the bibliographic information it requires for an MLA citation in the body of a text.

Works Cited Page See the article below to learn about MLA’s guidelines for formatting a works cited page

In Text Citation See MLA Citation to explore creative ways to introduce and vet sources inside the body of your paper

Scholars use a variety of terms to refer to a works cited page , including references, sources, endnotes, citations.

Related Concepts:  Annotated Bibliography ; Copyright & Writing ; Intellectual Property ;  Page Design ; Plagiarism ; Rhetorical Analysis ; Textual Research Methods

Writers provide a works cited page so that their readers can

• learn more about the topic
• evaluate the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, purpose of sources they’ve used in a text
• distinguish the author’s ideas and language from the ideas of others
• better understand the flow of a scholarly conversation for a particular topic over time (aka historiography)

In academic writing , teachers are likely to scrutinize the works cited page to see

• whether students have cited all of the sources they referenced in the body of the text
• whether or not the sources reflect the best available information on the topic, including the gated web
• whether the sources you have selected are appropriate given the rhetorical situation
• whether or not students have introduced new information, new sources, in ways that help readers with flow

In both academic and workplace writing, people

• cite sources to acknowledge the author’s copyright, intellectual property, ideas
• cite sources to add additional evidence , backing or qualifications for claims .

MLA Works Cited Page

Required bibliographical information.

Entries on your works cited list will include the following elements.

• Please note that every element listed below won’t necessarily apply to your source. For example, some sources won’t have an author identified, and periodicals don’t require publisher information. If the element listed doesn’t apply to your source, skip it and move on to the next element.
• list author’s name, last name first, followed by a period.
• Capitalize the first word and any major words in the title; enclose titles of articles in quotation marks and titles of larger works such as books, journals, or newspapers in italics.
• If the source you are citing is contained or included in a larger work, such as a journal or edited collection, provide the name of the container here, followed by a comma.
• List the names of other contributors, such as translators or editors, if appropriate, followed by a comma.
• For example, the 9th edition of the  MLA Handbook  is the version we are following here. For journals or magazines, you may instead have a volume number. Follow this with a comma.
• Issue numbers are preceded by the abbreviation “no.” and followed by a comma.
• You can usually find the publisher of a book on the title or copyright page. You do not need to include a publisher’s name for periodicals. Follow the publisher’s name with a comma.
• Provide the year of publication for books; for periodical publications, give the month and year, or day-month-year, if applicable. Follow the publication date with a comma if you have location information.
• For most publications, the location indicates the page number or numbers of the article and is preceded by the abbreviation “p.” for a single page or “pp.” for two or more pages. For online publications, the location is commonly designated by the URL or Web address, or the DOI (Digital Object Identifier), if available. Conclude the entry with a period.
• For an article in a journal accessed through an online database, list the title of the database as the container and whatever other information is available

Skip any information that is not available or applicable. For example, a book in print will not have a container, and a journal will usually not require information about a publisher.

Do include other pertinent information, such as the name of a translator, for instance, if available, in the order in which it is listed above. 

MLA Format Citation

How to Cite Work in MLA Format

Below are the common templates for citing sources.

Works Cited Rubric

The criteria for evaluating a works cited page may vary across academic and professional disciplines.

The rubric below distinguishes failing works cited pages from passing works cited pages . In this framework, a professional works cited list shows a sensitivity to the ongoing scholarly conversations on a topic . The author’s use of quotations, paraphrases, and summaries suggests the author is aware of the thought leaders and scholarly conversations on particular topics .

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite “I Have a Dream” Speech

How to Cite “I Have a Dream” Speech

One of the most iconic and prolific speeches ever delivered in US history is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, Dr. King spoke in front of a quarter of a million people during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In a speech that lasted  17 minutes, Dr. King shared his vision and desire for equal civil rights for African Americans.

Quickly cite a speech using our online form here .

Millions of websites display a full transcript of Dr. King’s speech, and YouTube views also rack up into the millions. With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day upon us, it’s possible your teacher or professor asked you to use Dr. King’s famous speech in your work. If you’re unsure how to cite Dr. King’s speech, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Included on this page are instructions to cite Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in MLA 9 format, APA 7 format, and Chicago format.

To cite a transcript of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech found online, you’ll need the following pieces of information:

• Speaker’s first and last name
• Speech title
• Website title (if applicable)
• Website’s publisher (if different from the website’s title)
• Publication date (for a speech transcript)
• Date the speech was delivered
• URL of the website where the speech’s transcript or recording was found
• Event where the speech was delivered
• Location of the event

Remember, citations help readers find the exact source used. While there are numerous transcripts of Dr. King’s speech available online, your goal is to help the reader easily understand and locate the same exact source you used for your project. Why? This speech could appear in different formats on various sites.

Structure to cite “I Have a Dream” speech in MLA 9:

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Speech Title.” Event/Forum Name, Date, Location, City Name.

King, Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream.” March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC.

Structure to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” found online in MLA 9:

Speaker’s Last name, First name. “Title of Speech Transcript.” Website Name , Publisher of the Website (only include if it’s different than the name of the website), Speech Date, URL (remove https:// or https://). Transcript.

You’ll notice elements of an MLA website citation , but with additional information on the speaker.

Here’s an example of how to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” found online in MLA 9:

King, Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr; August 28, 1963.” The Avalon Project , Yale Law School: Lillian Goldman Law Library, 2008, www.avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/mlk01.asp. Transcript.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in an in-text citation in MLA 9:

(Speaker’s Last Name)

Structure to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” found online in APA 7:

Speaker Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Date of Speech).  Title of speech  [Speech transcript]. Website Name. URL

Here’s an example of how to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” found online in APA citation format :

King, M.L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream [Speech transcript]. The Avalon Project. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/mlk01.asp

Here’s an example of how to cite a speech in an in-text citation in APA 7:

Parenthetical: (Last Name, Year)

(King, 1963)

Narrative: Last Name (Year)

King (1963)

Structure to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” found online in the Note-Bibliography format of Chicago Style (17th ed):

• Speaker’s First Name Last Name, “Title of Speech,” Date of speech, Location of speech, Medium, information on where to find the transcript: Website Name, Website Publisher’s Name, URL.

Bibliography

Speaker Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Date of Speech. Location of Speech. Medium. Information on where to find the transcript: Website Name, Website Publisher’s Name, URL.

Here’s an example of how to cite a transcript of “I Have a Dream” in Chicago’s note-bibliography style:

• Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream,” August 28, 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, Transcript, The Avalon Project, Yale Law School: Lillian Goldman Law Library, https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/mlk01.asp.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” August 28, 1963. Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, Transcript. The Avalon Project, Yale Law School: Lillian Goldman Law Library, https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/mlk01.asp.

Trying to cite Dr. King’s speech from a YouTube or Vimeo video? Maybe you need a parenthetical citation definition ? Or maybe you are trying to learn the basics. For all of the above, try our citation tools at easybib.com .

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To cite a recorded speech in APA and MLA styles, it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the speaker, title of the speech, date the speech was given/published, the website where the speech was accessed, and the URL. Templates and examples for how to cite a recorded speech in APA and MLA styles are included below.

APA reference list entry

Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Date speech was given). Title of the speech [Description]. Publisher of recording. URL

Roosevelt, F. D. (1933, March 12). First fireside chat [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html

MLA works cited list entry

Speaker’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Speech/Recording.” Year speech was given (if different than recording). Website Hosting Recorded Speech , uploaded by Account Name (if applicable), date recording was published, URL.

Roosevelt, Franklin D. “First Fireside Chat.” 1933. American Rhetoric , 26 Feb. 2017, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstfiresidechat.html.

To cite a famous speech in APA and MLA styles, it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the speaker, title of the speech, date the speech was given, website where the speech was accessed, and the URL. Templates and examples for how to cite a famous speech in APA and MLA styles are included below.

Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Date speech was given). Title of the speech [Description]. Website Where Speech Was Accessed. URL

Long, H. P. (1934, February 23). Every man a king — Radio speech to the nation [Transcript]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/hueyplongking.htm

Speaker’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Speech.” Year speech was given. Website Where Speech Was Accessed , date webpage was published, URL. Transcript (if applicable).

Long, Huey P. “Every Man a King — Radio Speech To The Nation.” 1934. American Rhetoric , 26 Feb. 2017, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/hueyplongking.htm. Transcript.

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How To Do In-Text Citations in MLA Format: A Quick Guide for Students

An in-text citation is a reference to information originating from another source. In-text citations must be used when you summarize, quote, paraphrase or refer to another source within a written document, such as academic literature. 

In-text citations are essential in academic writing. Without them, how would readers verify the information is reliable and accurate? Trustworthy authors include their sources for verifiable information rather than opinions so readers know where the evidence for claims can be explored further.

The Modern Language Association manages MLA style standards with the purpose to “strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature” and standardize how information sources are credited in scholarly writing. Not only does the MLA recommend proper citation format, but it also suggests proper general formatting, including document spacing, margins and font size.

As you begin authoring scholarly works, you’ll find the need to credit sources. Use this quick guide to learn how to do in-text citations in MLA format.

What is MLA format?

How to do in-text citations in mla, how to do a works cited page in mla, common challenges and solutions, tips for effective in-text citations.

MLA citation style is a system for crediting sources in scholarly writing and has been widely used in classrooms, journals and the press since 1931. What began with a three-page style sheet for the MLA’s scholarly journal became a uniform writing style preferred by academics and the editorial media everywhere.

Since its inception, the in-text citation style has changed from a recommended combination of footnotes and in-text citations in MLA format. The 1951 style guide suggested : “If the reference is brief, insert it, within parentheses, in the text itself . . . ; if it is lengthy, put it in a [foot]note.” As technology and society changed, so did the MLA style. In 1995, the document added recommendations for citing CD-ROMs and online databases. In 2016, the MLA published one of the most modern versions of the MLA Handbook , wherein in-text citations in MLA style should now be written according to a template of core elements.

The modern-day components of an in-text citation in MLA format, as of the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook , include:

• Author’s name
• Page numbers (if applicable)

These short in-text citations serve as references to a Works Cited list, which should follow a written piece of work and list all sources used in detail.

Authors who correctly use in-text citations in MLA style will prove their credibility, integrity and responsibility to share accurate and reliable information and simultaneously protect themselves from stealing sources and ideas from other writers, also known as plagiarism. Plagiarism is a severe offense , and many institutions have strict rules against the practice .

Now that you understand the importance of citations let’s review how to use in-text citations in MLA style. When referring to another author’s work in your own written text, you must use parenthetical citations, including the source in parentheses within the sentence that refers to the work. 

If a source does not have page numbers, use another numbering system, such as chapters, sections, scenes or articles that are explicitly numbered. If there are no numbered divisions within the work, simply cite the author’s name.

The basic format for in-text citations in MLA writings is as follows:

• The pail of water was at the top of the hill, which Jack and Jill decided to climb (Mother Goose 1) .

If including a direct quote from a source, enclose the entire quote within quotation marks to avoid confusing the reader. The in-text citation should fall outside the quotation marks at the end of the sentence before the sentence’s period. Paraphrased information does not need quotation marks but does need proper in-text citation.

It should be noted that any information included in your in-text citations must refer to the source information on the Works Cited page listed at the end of your document.

If you’re wondering how to list the references on the Works Cited page, the format varies depending on the type, such as a book or a website.

How to cite a book in MLA

• Author last name, first name. Title. Publisher, year.

How to cite an article in MLA

• Author last name, first name. “Article title.” Publication, volume/issue, publication month. Year, page numbers. Database, reference URL.

How to cite a website in MLA

• Author last name, first name. “Title.” Publication, publication month. Year, web page URL.

While constructing your paper, you may encounter a few citation challenges, such as a source with multiple authors or no known author. Though this can be confusing, this is how to use in-text citations in MLA style for challenging situations.

How to cite multiple authors in MLA

To write an in-text citation in MLA format for a source with multiple authors , simply list each author’s last name before the page number. Sources with more than two authors should cite the first author, followed by “et al.” For example:

• 2 authors: (Hall and Oates 1)
• 3+ authors: (Hall et al. 1)

How to cite sources with no author in MLA

Sources with no author must match the first listed element within its Works Cited entry. For example:

• In-text citation: (Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 0:15)
• Works Cited entry: “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.” Spotify . https://open.spotify.com/track/1Zpe8ef70Wx20Bu2mLdXc1?si=7TlgCyj1SYmP6K-uy4isuQ

How to cite indirect or secondary sources in MLA

A secondary source is a publication that provides second-hand information from other researchers. You may use secondary sources in your research, though it’s best practice to search for the primary source that supplied the first-hand information, so cite it directly.

If you don’t have access to the original source, include the original author and the author of the secondary source , with the abbreviation “qtd. in” indicating where you accessed the secondary quote. “Qtd. in” stands for “quoted in.” For example:

• (qtd. in Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 0:15)

Using et al. in MLA citations

As described above, et al. is used instead of listing all names of three or more authors, editors or contributors within your citations. It can also cite collections of essays, stories or poems with three or more contributors. When using et al., you should always use the last name of the first writer listed on the source. For example:

• (Earth et al. “September” 0:15)
• Contributors: Earth, Wind and Fire

The most crucial part of in-text citations in MLA style is to keep a consistent and accurate format within the entire body of work. Always use the same punctuation within the in-text citations and the same formatting for sources of the same type. Ensure that double-checking citations is part of your overall proofreading process. All citations, like the written work, should be precise and error-free.

Various tools exist to help you collect and manage your sources and citations. Popular tools include Zotero , EndNote and RefWorks . These tools can create citations for you and keep track of your research documents so you can reference them again if needed. It’s wise to track your sources as they’re included in your writing rather than compiling and citing them when finished.

More resources for writing in MLA format

For the most up-to-date in-text citation information, refer to the MLA Handbook , which can be found online, in bookstores and libraries. The most recent edition of the MLA Handbook is the 9th edition, published in spring 2021.

The MLA also operates the MLA Handbook Plus , a subscription-based digital platform that offers all of the content included in the print edition, plus annual updates and valuable resources, and can be accessed anywhere, whether you’re traveling, at home or in the classroom.

The MLA Style Center offers free online sources on the official MLA style, including templates, questions and answers and advice.

Furman University offers trained consultants for students on campus to provide one-on-one or small-group assistance for writing projects at the Writing & Media Lab (WML). You can make an appointment with a WML Consultant or stop by the James B. Duke Library in the Center for Academic Success (room 002) for on-demand help (subject to scheduling).

The Writing & Media Lab can help with many tasks related to student writing and multimedia projects, including:

• Brainstorming a paper or project
• Outlining your ideas
• Reading through your writing
• Creating a presentation or poster
• Helping you practice your presentation
• Planning a video or podcast
• Revising, proofreading, or editing

Mastering the art of in-text citations in MLA format will ensure that you, as an academic author, will portray yourself as a serious, responsible and factual writer who uses accurate and reliable sources.

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

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A works cited generator is a tool that automatically creates a works cited page in the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format. The generator will take in information about the sources you have cited in your paper, such as document titles, authors, and URLs, and will output a fully formatted works cited page that can be added to the end of your paper (just as your teacher asked!).

The citations included in a Works Cited page show the sources that you used to construct your argument in the body of your school paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.

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Students in middle school and high school will usually be expected to produce a works cited page to accompany their academic papers. Therefore, they will generally be the users of a works cited generator.

Alongside generating a works cited page, at middle school and high school level it is also important to learn why it's critical to cite sources, not just how to cite them.

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Formatting works cited pages manually is time consuming, and ensuring accuracy is mind-numbing.

Automating this process with a works cited generator is a quick and easy way to be sure you are doing it correctly (and according to the MLA format!). Our generator also provides a backed-up location to save your citations to as you write each part of your paper -- just keep the MyBib website open in a browser tab while you work and add to your works cited page as you go along!

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's Works Cited Generator?

Using our Works Cited Generator is so easy. Every time you cite a source in your paper, just come back to the generator at the top of this page and enter the source you are citing. Our generator can cite books, journal articles, and webpages automatically, and can cite over 30 other sources if you enter the source details manually.

Save each source to your bibliography, then when you have finished writing your paper just click the 'download' button and the generator will produce a formatted Works Cited page that can be copied and pasted directly to the end of your document.

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.