Mastering MLA: A Comprehensive Guide to Citing Short Stories
Citing sources correctly is a cornerstone of academic integrity and scholarly communication. In the realm of literature, properly attributing short stories is crucial when you’re analyzing them in essays, research papers, or presentations. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style offers a standardized format for citations, ensuring clarity and consistency. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the intricacies of citing short stories in MLA, covering various scenarios and providing detailed examples.
## Why Accurate Citation Matters
Before delving into the specifics, let’s emphasize why accurate citation is so important:
* **Avoids Plagiarism:** Proper citation gives credit to the original author, preventing accidental or intentional plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense with severe consequences.
* **Enhances Credibility:** Citing sources strengthens your arguments by demonstrating that your ideas are based on research and informed by the work of others. It showcases your understanding of the subject matter and builds trust with your audience.
* **Provides Context:** Citations allow readers to locate the original sources you used, enabling them to verify your information, explore the topic further, and draw their own conclusions.
* **Demonstrates Scholarly Diligence:** Consistent and accurate citation demonstrates your commitment to academic rigor and ethical research practices.
## Understanding MLA 9th Edition
The MLA Handbook, 9th edition, is the current standard for MLA formatting and citation. It emphasizes a streamlined approach, focusing on a core set of elements applicable to various source types. These core elements are:
1. **Author:** Who created the work?
2. **Title of Source:** What is the name of the work?
3. **Title of Container:** What larger work is the source a part of (e.g., a book, journal, website)?
4. **Other Contributors:** Are there editors, translators, or other significant contributors?
5. **Version:** Is this a specific edition or version of the work?
6. **Number:** Is this part of a numbered sequence (e.g., a volume number)?
7. **Publisher:** Who published the work?
8. **Publication Date:** When was the work published?
9. **Location:** Where can the work be found (e.g., page numbers, URL, DOI)?
These elements are arranged in a specific order in your Works Cited entry. Not all elements will be applicable to every source, but understanding these core components is crucial for creating accurate citations.
## Citing a Short Story from a Book (Anthology or Collection)
This is the most common scenario. Here’s how to cite a short story that appears in a collection or anthology:
**Works Cited Entry:**
Last Name, First Name of Author. “Title of Short Story.” *Title of Book*, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Date, Page Numbers. *
**Example:**
O’Connor, Flannery. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” *A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories*, Harcourt Brace, 1955, pp. 1-29.
**Explanation:**
* **Last Name, First Name of Author:** The author of the *short story*, not the editor of the book.
* **”Title of Short Story.”:** Enclose the title of the short story in quotation marks.
* ***Title of Book:*** The title of the collection or anthology containing the short story. Italicize the book title.
* **edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name:** Include this if the book has an editor. Use “edited by” before the editor’s name.
* **Publisher:** The name of the publishing company.
* **Publication Date:** The year the book was published.
* **Page Numbers:** The range of pages on which the short story appears in the book. Use “pp.” before the page numbers.
**In-Text Citation:**
The in-text citation directs the reader to the full entry in your Works Cited list. It typically includes the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the information can be found.
(Author’s Last Name, Page Number)
**Example:**
(O’Connor 15)
**Important Considerations:**
* **Multiple Authors in an Anthology:** If the anthology features works by various authors, cite each short story individually, following the above format.
* **Reprinted Stories:** If the story was originally published elsewhere, you *can* include the original publication information if it is relevant. However, the MLA generally prioritizes the source you consulted directly. If you consulted the anthology, cite the anthology.
## Citing a Short Story from a Website
If you accessed the short story online, the citation format changes slightly.
**Works Cited Entry:**
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Short Story.” *Title of Website*, Publisher or Sponsor of Website (if different from website title), Publication Date or Last Updated Date, URL. Accessed Date.
**Example:**
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” *The Lottery and Other Stories*, Penguin Books, 2009. *The University of Virginia E-Text Center*, 2001, etext.virginia.edu/short/jackson/lottery.html. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.
**Explanation:**
* **Author’s Last Name, First Name:** The author of the short story.
* **”Title of Short Story.”:** The title of the story in quotation marks.
* ***Title of Website:*** The name of the website hosting the story. Italicize the website title.
* **Publisher or Sponsor of Website:** If the website has a publisher or sponsoring organization that is different from the website title, include it.
* **Publication Date or Last Updated Date:** If available, include the date the story was published or last updated on the website.
* **URL:** The full URL of the web page where you found the story.
* **Accessed Date:** The date you accessed the story on the website. This is important because website content can change.
**In-Text Citation:**
Similar to citing from a book, the in-text citation includes the author’s last name. If the website does not have page numbers, you can omit the page number from the in-text citation.
(Author’s Last Name)
**Example:**
(Jackson)
**Important Considerations:**
* **PDFs:** If you’re citing a short story from a PDF document found online, treat the PDF as you would a physical book, if publication information is available within the PDF (author, title, publisher, date). If the PDF is simply a scan of a printed book and retains original pagination, you can cite it as if you had read the physical book, using the printed page numbers. Include the URL or DOI where you accessed the PDF.
* **Missing Information:** If some information is missing (e.g., the publication date), omit that element from the citation. Do not invent information. If no author is given, start the citation with the title of the short story.
## Citing a Short Story from a Journal or Magazine
Short stories are sometimes published in journals or magazines. Here’s how to cite them:
**Works Cited Entry:**
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Short Story.” *Title of Journal/Magazine*, Volume Number, Issue Number, Date of Publication, Page Numbers.
**Example:**
Ghosh, Amitav. “The Imam and the Indian.” *The New Yorker*, vol. 72, no. 13, 27 May 1996, pp. 76-81.
**Explanation:**
* **Author’s Last Name, First Name:** The author of the short story.
* **”Title of Short Story.”:** The title of the story in quotation marks.
* ***Title of Journal/Magazine:*** The title of the journal or magazine. Italicize the title.
* **Volume Number:** The volume number of the journal or magazine.
* **Issue Number:** The issue number of the journal or magazine.
* **Date of Publication:** The date the journal or magazine was published (Day Month Year).
* **Page Numbers:** The range of pages on which the short story appears.
**In-Text Citation:**
The in-text citation follows the standard format.
(Author’s Last Name, Page Number)
**Example:**
(Ghosh 78)
## Citing a Short Story from an E-Book
Citing a short story from an e-book is similar to citing from a print book, but you may need to include additional information about the e-book format.
**Works Cited Entry:**
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Short Story.” *Title of Book*, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Publication Date. *Name of E-book Platform*, URL (if applicable).
**Example:**
Munro, Alice. “The Bear Came Over the Mountain.” *Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage*, Vintage Canada, 2001. *Kindle ed.*
**Explanation:**
* **Author’s Last Name, First Name:** The author of the short story.
* **”Title of Short Story.”:** The title of the story in quotation marks.
* ***Title of Book:*** The title of the e-book. Italicize the title.
* **edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name (if applicable):** Include if the e-book has an editor.
* **Publisher:** The name of the publishing company.
* **Publication Date:** The year the e-book was published.
* ***Name of E-book Platform:*** Indicate the e-book format (e.g., Kindle ed., Kobo ed., EPUB file). If accessed through a library database, include the database name instead.
* **URL (if applicable):** Include the URL if the e-book is directly accessible online.
**In-Text Citation:**
For e-books without page numbers, you can use other locators, such as chapter numbers or section titles, if available. If no locators are available, you can simply use the author’s last name.
(Author’s Last Name, Chapter Number)
**Example:**
(Munro, ch. 3)
Or, if no other locator is available:
(Munro)
## Additional MLA Citation Tips
* **Hanging Indent:** In your Works Cited list, each entry should have a hanging indent. This means the first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented half an inch.
* **Alphabetical Order:** Arrange your Works Cited entries alphabetically by the author’s last name.
* **Double-Spacing:** Your Works Cited list should be double-spaced throughout.
* **Consistency:** Maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your paper. Use the same format for all similar sources.
* **Consult the MLA Handbook:** When in doubt, consult the official MLA Handbook (9th edition) for the most up-to-date guidelines.
* **Use Citation Management Tools:** Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote can help you organize your sources and generate citations in MLA format automatically. However, *always* double-check the generated citations for accuracy, as these tools are not infallible.
* **Block Quotations:** If you are quoting more than four lines of prose from a short story, use a block quotation. Indent the entire quotation half an inch from the left margin, and omit quotation marks. The parenthetical citation should follow the last sentence of the block quotation. (MLA Handbook, 9th ed., section 1.3.2)
## Examples of Complete Works Cited Entries
Here are some additional examples to illustrate different scenarios:
**Example 1: Short Story in an Anthology with an Editor**
Carver, Raymond. “Cathedral.” *The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction*, edited by R.V. Cassill, Shorter Sixth Edition, W.W. Norton & Company, 2000, pp. 1030-43.
**Example 2: Short Story from a Website (No Page Numbers)**
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Tell-Tale Heart.” *The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore*, 2023, eapoe.org/works/tales/telltale.htm. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.
**Example 3: Short Story Originally Published Elsewhere, Accessed in an Anthology**
Cheever, John. “The Swimmer.” *The Stories of John Cheever*, Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, pp. 603-15.
**Example 4: Short Story in an E-Book (Kindle Edition)**
Hemingway, Ernest. “Hills Like White Elephants.” *Men Without Women*, Scribner, 1927. *Kindle ed.*
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
* **Incorrect Punctuation:** Pay close attention to punctuation, including commas, periods, and quotation marks. MLA has specific rules for how these elements are used in citations.
* **Misspelling Authors’ Names:** Double-check the spelling of authors’ names. Use the exact spelling as it appears in the source.
* **Omitting Information:** Make sure to include all the required elements in your citation, such as the publisher, publication date, and page numbers.
* **Inconsistent Formatting:** Maintain consistency in your formatting throughout your paper. Use the same font, font size, and spacing for all citations.
* **Failing to Cite Sources:** Always cite your sources, even if you are paraphrasing or summarizing information. If the idea isn’t originally yours, it needs a citation.
## Conclusion
Mastering MLA citation for short stories is an essential skill for anyone studying or writing about literature. By following the guidelines outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, consistent, and ethical. Remember to pay attention to detail, consult the MLA Handbook when in doubt, and utilize citation management tools to streamline the process. With practice and attention to detail, you’ll be able to confidently cite short stories in MLA style and produce high-quality, scholarly work. Good luck!