Library: How do I cite that?: MLA

Welcome

A few tips for citing film, TV, music, and social media sources:

In MLA style, if your source doesn't have a specific piece of the citation (like an author's name), you can skip that piece.
For photos that don't have a title, you can use a caption or provide a brief description of the photo. If you write your own description, do not put it in quotation marks.
See our handouts below for more specific ways to cite movies, TV, and different types of music recordings.
If you have questions, ask a librarian! Chat with us when we're open, or email us at ref_desk@carrollcc.edu

Basic format:
- Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of release.
Film viewed through an app (TV/phone/mobile)
- Zombieland. Columbia / Sony Pictures, 2009. Amazon Prime Video app.
Film viewed on physical media (DVD/Blu-Ray)
- Kubo and the Two Strings. Directed by Travis Knight, Universal / Focus, 2016. Blu-Ray.

Citing an entire TV series
- Game of Thrones. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, HBO Entertainment, 2011-2019.

TV Episode viewed as a Television Broadcast
- "The Ricks Must Be Crazy." Rick and Morty, created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, season 2, episode 6, Greenportal / Cartoon Network, 19 July 2021.

Tip: Include the version of the game and the platform on which it's played
- Pac-Man. Windows PC version, Namco Networks, 2009.
- Fortnite. Battle Royale Mode, PS4 Pro, 2017.

Album accessed through Spotify (or other music streaming app)
- Beyoncé. Lemonade. Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. Spotify, open.spotify.com/album/7dK54iZuOxXFarGhXwEXfF.

Single track from a recording (CD, Vinyl, App, etc.)
- AC/DC. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution." Recorded 25 July 1980. Back in Black, Columbia, 2003. CD.
Lyrics website
- Parton, Dolly. "Coat of Many Colors." 1969. Genius, genius.com/Dolly-parton-coat-of-many-colors-lyrics.

Episode of a podcast (include publisher or podcast network if applicable):
- Koenig, Sarah, host. "The Alibi." Serial, season 1, episode 1, WBEZ, 3 Oct. 2014, serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi.

Basic format (Because Facebook posts can be edited, it is a good idea to add an access date):
- Last name, First Name or Account Name. Description of post. Facebook, Day Month Year of post, Time of post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year post was viewed.
Example:
- Carroll Community College. Photo of student studying. Facebook, 27 Feb. 2022, 10:00 AM, facebook.com/carrollccedu/photos/a.10150177657020401/10165954095915401/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2022.

Basic format:
- Last name, First name [@username]. Description of image. Instagram, Day Month Year of post, Time of post, URL.
Example:
- National Geographic [@natgeo]. Photo of a panda cub on a scale in China. Instagram, 6 Mar. 2022, 11:15 PM, instagram.com/p/CayZ8ZOtSnk/.

Basic format:
- Last name, First name if available [@handle]. "The entire tweet word-for-word, up to 20 words." Twitter, Day Month Year of Tweet, Time of Tweet, URL.
Example:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica [@Britannica]. "Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa's 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918..." Twitter, 18 Jul. 2017, twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.

Basic format:
- Last name, First name [@username]. "Full text of caption including hashtags." TikTok, year posted, URL.
Example:
- Penguin, Oscar [@libechillbro]. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week! #rootbeerfloats #NLW." TikTok, 2021, tiktok.com/x2sKUu.

Basic format:
- Last name, First name of video creator, or Username of creator. "Title of Video." Title of Website, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year of post, URL of video.
Example:
- Sethi, Ramit. "How to Write a Winning Resume, with Ramit Sethi." YouTube, uploaded by I Will Teach You to Be Rich, 23 June 2015, youtube.com/watch?v=_0fjkKCsM1w.