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MLA Style: Basics

This guide is intended to help you cite sources in MLA style, avoid plagiarism, learn what MLA style is and includes, find examples of MLA style, lead you to campus resources that can help you cite sources in MLA, and more.

Social Media

Twitter

Note:

  • According to the MLA Style Handbook 9th Edition you can truncate the tweet text if they conclude with nontextual elements like emojis. Use an ellipsis at the end.
  • If the author's Twitter handle is similar (e.g. Ijeoma Oluo @IjeomaOluo) you can omit the handle.
  • If you access the tweet from the Twitter app you can omit the URL.

Tweet

General Format

Author [handle]. "Tweet text." Twitter, Date, URL.

For Example

Oluo, Ijeoma. "It's it annoying to post this? I don't know. After years of holding out, I think I'm going to delete my twitter. Lately it's been a space of such anxiety for me. I don't think it's a space where I, as a Black woman, can safely exist." Twitter, 10 Mar. 2021, twitter.com/IjeomaOluo/status/1369721047012970496.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Oluo)

Citation in Prose

Ijeoma Oluo tweet highlights the racism and sexism that...

Tweet Without Text

General Format

Author [handle]. Description of photo/media. Twitter, Date, URL.

For Example

Gorman, Amanda. Image of a poem written by Amanda Gorman. Twitter, 16 July 2019, twitter.com/TheAmandaGorman/status/1151237898189938688/photo/1.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Gorman)

Citation in Prose

Amanda Gorman wrote the poem..."When they tell you to go back to where you come from, tell them proudly that you come from America"...

Twitter Profile

General Format

Author [handle]. Twitter, URL.

For Example

Kendi, Ibram X. [@DrIbram]. Twitter, twitter.com/DrIbram.

Stop AAPI Hate. Twitter, twitter.com/StopAAPIHate.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Kendi)

(Stop AAPI Hate)

Citation in Prose

Ibram X. Kendi posts many great resources on his Twitter account...

Visit the Stop AAPI Hate Twitter account to find more information...

Facebook

Note:

  • According to the MLA Style Handbook 9th Edition, you can truncate the text of a Facebook post by using an ellipsis at the end.
  • If you access the post from the Facebook app you can omit the URL.

Facebook Post

General Format

Author. "Post Text." Facebook, Date, URL.

For Example

StopBullying.Gov. "Did you know - some youth bully because they do not receive adequate support or communication at home..." Facebook, 7 June 2021, www.facebook.com/StopBullying.Gov/photos/a.191723870867797/5855449134495214/.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(StopBullying.Gov)

Citation in Prose

Before reading the post by StopBullying.Gov many people did not know that....

Facebook Post Without Text

General Format

Author. Description of Post. Facebook, Date, URL.

For Example

Sustainable Tyngsboro. Infographic about Food Waste in the U.S. Facebook, 15 Sept. 2020, www.facebook.com/SustainableTyngsboro/photos/a.119425316143390/328485611904025/.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Sustainable Tyngsboro)

Citation in Prose

Sustainable Tyngsboro posted about food waste in the U.S. and...

Instagram

Note:

  • If the author's Instagram handle is similar (e.g. NASA Goddard @nasagoddard) you can omit the handle.
  • In the MLA Handbook's example, they only give a description of the photo and they do not include any related text in the post.

Instagram Photo or Video

General Format

Author [handle]. Description of Video. Instagram, Date, URL.

Author [handle]. Description of Photo. Instagram, Date, URL.

For Example

earthlustandtravel. Video of a train traveling in the Swiss Alps. Instagram, 21 Sept. 2020, www.instagram.com/p/CFZz8e6H6wk/.

NASA Goddard. Photo of galaxy NGC 1792. Instagram, 5 Feb. 2021, www.instagram.com/p/CK65eAsrJVM/.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(earthlustandtravel)

(NASA Goddard)

Citation in Prose

NASA Goddard shared a photo of galaxy NGC 1792...

Instagram Profile

General Format

Author [handle]. Instagram. URL.

For Example

Gavino, Julian [@thedisabledhippie]. Instagram. www.instagram.com/thedisabledhippie/.

White House AAPI. Instagram. www.instagram.com/whitehouseaapi/.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Gavino)

(White House AAPI)

Citation in Prose

Julian Gavino, known as thedisabledhippie on Instagram, is an activist, model, and...

The White House AAPI is the Instagram account of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with a goal of advancing their economic empowerment....

TikTok

Note:

  • If the author's TikTop handle is similar (e.g. Jazz Jennings @jazzjennings) you can omit the handle.
  • In the MLA Handbook's example, they include the text with the TikTok but no description of the video.

TikTok Video

General Format

Author [handle]. "Text accompanying TikTok Post." TikTok, Date, URL.

For Example

Jennings, Jazz. "Gender affirming care saved my life." TikTok, 20 Apr. 2021, www.tiktok.com/@jazzjennings/video/6953326590902209798?lang=en.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Jennings)

Citation in Prose

Jazz Jennings video explains why she is fighting against anti-trans laws...

TikTok Profile

General Format

Author [handle]. TikTok, URL.

For Example

Jennings, Jazz. TikTok. www.tiktok.com/@jazzjennings?lang=en.

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical Citation

(Jennings)

Citation in Prose

Jazz Jennings is a trans activist, reality tv star...