21.3: Index and Guide to Documentation
Although formal differences exist among the conventions for documenting sources, the underlying principle of all documentation systems is the same: When borrowing words, facts, or ideas from someone else, writers must indicate that the material is borrowed. They do this by providing a citation in the text of their paper that points readers to detailed publication information about the source of the material, usually at the end of the paper but sometimes in footnotes. The following examples are in MLA style:
Citation in the Text
Describing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to India, Isabel Wilkerson notes that King was taken aback by the suggestion that Black Americans were the equivalent of the Dalits in the Indian caste system (22) .
Works-Cited Entry
Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents . Penguin, 2020.
Documentation Styles by Discipline
Each discipline has its own authority or authorities that provide rules about issues such as spelling of technical terms, preferred punctuation, and editing mechanics, as well as documentation style. In addition, if you write for publication in a magazine, professional journal, book, or website, the publisher will have a “house” style, which may vary in some details from the conventions listed in the authoritative guidelines for the discipline in which you are writing. Below are the sources of style manuals for various disciplines. Always check with your instructor about which style to use in a class.
| Discipline | Documentation Style |
| languages, literature, philosophy, and some arts | Modern Language Association (MLA) |
| social sciences, education, and some other sciences | American Psychological Association (APA) |
| history, religion, fine arts, and business | Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) |
| life sciences | Council of Science Editors (CSE) |
| chemistry | American Chemical Society (ACS) |
| physics | American Institute of Physics (AIP) |
| journalism | Associated Press (AP) |
| medicine | American Medical Association (AMA) |
| law | Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation |
Index to MLA Documentation Models
The models, listed numerically, provide examples of in-text citations and works-cited entries (MLA). The models themselves are located in Handbook Section 13 (H13).
In-Text Citation Models
- One author
- Two or more works by the same author
- Two authors
- Three or more authors
- Authors with the same last name
- Organization, government, corporation, or association as author
- Unknown author
- Work in more than one volume
- Work with no page or other reference numbers
- One-page or entire work
- Source quoted in another source (indirect quotation)
-
Literary works
- Poetry and verse plays
- Fiction and prose plays
- Two or more works in the same citation
- Sacred text
Endnotes and Footnotes (MLA)
Format of the List of Works Cited (MLA)
Authors and Contributors (MLA)
- Book: one author
- Book: two authors
- Book: three or more authors
- Book: two or more works by the same author
- Author and editor
- Author and translator
- Author and illustrator
- Work by an organization, a government, a corporation, or an association
- Unknown author
Articles in Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers (MLA)
- Basic format for a journal article in a database
-
Article in an academic journal
- Database
- Online
-
Article in a weekly or biweekly magazine
- Database
- Online
-
Article in a monthly or bimonthly magazine
- Database
- Online
-
Article in a newspaper
- Database
- Online
- Editorial or letter to the editor
- Review
Books and Parts of Books (MLA)
- Basic entry for a book
- Print book
- E-book
- Book, anthology, or collection with an editor
- Work in an anthology or chapter in an edited collection
- Two or more works in an anthology or edited collection
- Revised or later edition
- Multivolume work
- One volume of a multivolume work
- Book in a series
- Republished work
- Sacred text
- Introduction, preface, foreword, or afterword
- Published letter
- Conference paper
Websites and Parts of Websites (MLA)
- Basic format for a short work or page on a website
- Short work or page on a website
- Blog post
- Entire website
- Wiki
Social Media (MLA)
- Basic format for a social media post
- Social media post
- Online forum post
- Online comment
Personal Communication (MLA)
- Text message
- Personal letter
Video, Audio, and Other Media Sources (MLA)
- Film
- Online video
-
Television programs
- TV series
- TV episode
-
Advertisement
- Online
-
Cartoon or comic
- Online
-
Painting or other visual artwork
- Original work
- Reproduction
- Online
-
Map, chart, or diagram
- Online
-
Sound recording
- Album
- Song
- Online
- Radio
- Podcast
-
Interview
- Broadcast
- Online
- Personal interview
- Video game, software, or app
Other Sources (MLA)
- Live lecture, speech, address, or reading
- Live performance
- Letter in an archive
- Dissertation
- Pamphlet
Index to APA Documentation Models
The models, listed numerically, provide examples of in-text citations and reference entries (APA). The models themselves are located in Handbook Section 14 (H14).
In-Text Citation Models (APA)
- One author
- Two authors
- Three or more authors
- Authors with the same last name
- Organization, government, corporation, or association as author
- Unknown author
- Two or more works in the same citation
- Work with no page numbers
- Source quoted in another source (indirect quotation)
- Entire work
- Personal communication
Format of the References List (APA)
Authors (APA)
- One author
- Two authors
- Three to twenty authors
- Work by an organization, a government, a corporation, or an association
- Unknown author
- Two or more works by the same author
Articles in Journals, Magazines, and Newspaper (APA)
- Basic format for an article in an academic journal
-
Article in an academic journal
- With DOI
- With URL
- Without DOI or URL
-
Article in a magazine
- Database
- Online
-
Article in a newspaper
- Database or print
- Online
- Blog post
- Published interview
- Editorial or letter to the editor
- Review
Books and Parts of Books (APA)
- Basic entry for a book
- Print book or e-book
- Book, anthology, or collection with an editor
- Article in an edited book, anthology, or collection
- Translated or reprinted book
- Revised edition
- One volume of a multivolume work
- Report or publication by a government agency or other organization
- Conference paper
Web Sources (APA)
- Basic format for a page or work on a website
- Page or work on a website
- Wiki
Social Media (APA)
- Social media post
- Online forum post
Video, Audio, and Other Media Sources (APA)
- Film
- Online video
-
Television programs
- TV series
- TV episode
- Music recording
- Radio
- Podcast
- Painting or other visual artwork
- Map, photograph, or other visual
- Video game, software, or app