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MLA Formatting Quotations

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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come  after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:

How do I cite song lyrics?

The way you cite song lyrics will vary depending on how you access them.

If you cite song lyrics from a CD you listened to, follow the MLA format template : list the name of the performer or band as the author, the name of the song as the title of the source, the name of the album as the title of the container, the publisher, and the date. In the final supplemental element you have the option to list the format, if you think that information would be relevant for readers:

Beatles. “Revolution 1.” The Beatles , EMI Records, 1968. CD.

If the song was on a streaming app, include the app’s name in the final supplemental element:

Lady Gaga. “Perfect Illusion.” Joanne (Deluxe) . Interscope Records, 2016. Spotify app.

If the song was on a streaming website, include the name of the website and the song’s URL in the second container of the entry.

Lady Gaga. “Perfect Illusion.” Joanne (Deluxe) . Interscope Records, 2016. Spotify , open.spotify.com/album/2ZUwFxlWo0gwTsvZ6L4Meh.

If you cite transcribed song lyrics, such as from liner notes, provide a description of the source in the Title of Source element and the name of the album as the title of the container:

Beatles. Booklet. The Beatles , EMI Records, 1968.

If you cite transcribed lyrics from a website, provide a description in the Title of Source element. The description can include the title of the song, which should be styled in quotation marks. Then provide the name of the website, publication information for the site, and the URL of the web page:

Beatles. Lyrics to “Revolution 1.” Genius , 2017, genius.com/The-beatles-revolution-i-lyrics.
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  • Writing Tips

How to Cite a Song or Album in MLA Referencing

How to Cite a Song or Album in MLA Referencing

  • 3-minute read
  • 7th April 2021

If you write about music in your work, you might have to cite a recording. But how do you cite a song or album in MLA referencing ? This post will explain the basics.

To cite a song or album in MLA referencing , simply give the artist’s last name or the band’s name in brackets in the relevant part of the text:

Her latest album has a strong environmental theme (Sturgeon).

“Wildlife in America” (Shearwater) comments on US culture.

And to cite a specific part of a song, you can add a timestamp :

The middle eight in “Air and Light” (Sturgeon 2:14–2:29) is truly haunting.

In the above citation, for example, we are citing a section that runs from 2 minutes 14 seconds to 2 minutes 29 seconds into the song.

Musical Recordings in an MLA Works Cited List

All references contain certain core elements in MLA style. And for a musical recording, each entry should include some or all of the following:

  • Artist or band name – For individual artists, give their surname first, followed by their first name (e.g., Young, Neil). For artists who don’t follow this naming convention (e.g., U2 or Lady Gaga), just use the full name they are known by.
  • Song title – If you are citing a specific song, give the title in quotation marks.
  • Album title – Give the name of the album you are citing (or that the song you are citing comes from) in italics.
  • Version – If relevant, include information on the version of the song next (e.g., if there are different versions of a song on different albums).
  • Publication details – The name of the publisher (i.e., the record label that released the album or song) and the year the recording was released.
  • URL – If you accessed the recording online, include the URL. For songs accessed via a streaming platform, give the platform name in italics.
  • Format – If it is relevant to your work, you can optionally add the format of the recording at the end of your reference (e.g., CD, vinyl, MP3).

You won’t always need all of this! For many references, the artist’s name, song and/or album title, the publisher, and the year of publication will be enough. But whatever you cite, make sure to include enough information in the Works Cited list to guide readers to the exact version of the recording you have used.

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Example References

Below, you can see example references for an album, a song on an album, an album accessed via a streaming platform, and a single song accessed online:

Talk Talk. The Colour of Spring , EMI, 1986.

Song on an Album

Shearwater. “Animals in America.” Jet Plane and Oxbow , Subpop, 2016.

Album on a Streaming Service

Sturgeon, Jenny. The Living Mountain , Hudson Records, 2020. Spotify , https://open.spotify.com/album/7Kt6kaJ8dGIo6cngVA7dcB

Single Song Online

Benin City. “Freaking You Out.” Bandcamp , https://benincity.bandcamp.com/track/freaking-you-out

Make sure to add a hanging indent for each line after the first in all references.

Expert MLA Referencing Proofreading

To ensure all your referencing is error free, get in touch with our expert proofreading team. You can even get your first 500 words checked for free !

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How to cite a song in mla.

Image: unsplash.com

Nayeli Ellen

Let’s be clear – accurately citing sources plays an important role, and not just for attributing credit but also allowing readers to locate the original sources. In the guide below we will discuss the specifics of citing songs in Modern Language Association (MLA) format, since it’s a common citation style used in the humanities. Citing songs (just like citing a podcast ), with their unique blend of lyrics, melodies, and performances, requires attention to detail to capture both the artistry and the information needed for scholarly analysis.

Citing sources in MLA format assures consistency and clarity in academic writing. Songs and music, as cultural artifacts, provide insights into societal norms, historical contexts, and artistic expression, so many students tend to use them in academic writing.

Key Elements of a Song for Proper Citing in MLA

To cite songs in MLA format you need several components that make the citation accurate. These elements help readers locate the original sources and provide a clear context of how the song was accessed or published . Below, we provide the must-have elements required for correctly citing songs in MLA:

Don’t jump right into citing! First, it’s important to grasp the main idea of MLA citation practices for music sources. Whether you’re referencing a classic vinyl track, a digital download, or a streamed piece, the goal remains consistent: to acknowledge the original creators and enable your audience to find the source material. You could also use an MLA format generator to make things easier.

How to Cite a Song in Physical Formats

For songs accessed in physical formats like CDs or vinyl records, the citation should include the performer’s last and first name, song title, album name, distributor, year of release, and format. An in-text citation is traditional for MLA. Look at the example below:

A picture that explains how to cite a song

How to Cite a Music Album in MLA

Citing an entire album in MLA format differs from citing a single song primarily in the scope of the citation and the details included. While both citations share some common elements, citing an entire album involves referencing the work as a whole rather than focusing on an individual track.

If you want to reference an LP, it involves citing the work as a collective piece rather than an individual part of it . Here, the album itself is the primary focus, and the citation generally includes the artist’s name, the album title in italics, the publisher or record label, the publication year, and the format. Individual song titles are not included in this type of citation since the reference is to the album as a whole. Look at the example below:

An image that shows how to cite a song in MLA

Understanding the differences between citing a specific song and entire album will help you document musical sources in academic writing, so that readers can locate the referenced material and appreciate your research and analysis. Refer to the table below to learn them:

How to Cite Music Lyrics in MLA

Citing music lyrics in MLA format involves similar principles to citing other types of sources, with adjustments to accommodate the specific nature of musical works. When citing lyrics from a song, you’ll need to reference the songwriter, the title of the song, the album (if applicable), the recording artist (if different from the songwriter), the publisher, and the year of publication. If you accessed the lyrics online, you should also include the URL.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cite the song “That Girl” by Jennifer Nettles in MLA format, assuming you’re citing the lyrics as they appear in the album of the same name.

Reference List Entry

A picture that shows how to cite a song in text

  • Nettles, Jennifer is the songwriter and performer.
  • “That Girl” is the song title.
  • That Girl is the album name, italicized to differentiate it from the song title.
  • Mercury Nashville is the record label.
  • 2014 is the year of the album’s release.

In-Text Citation

If you quote the lyrics directly, MLA format requires you to provide an in-text citation. This citation should include the songwriter’s last name and the page number (if available) or, for audio recordings, a track number or a timestamp. Since lyrics do not have page numbers and track numbers might not always be relevant or available, you could cite the song title if needed.

Citing Online Lyrics

If you accessed the lyrics online, the citation format would slightly change to accommodate the URL. Assuming the lyrics were found on a website like Genius Lyrics or AZ Lyrics, you would format it as follows:

Nettles, Jennifer. “That Girl.” Genius, 2014, [URL]

  • Replace [URL] with the actual URL where you found the lyrics.
  • It’s not necessary to include the access date unless the page is likely to change over time.

In-Text Citation for Online Lyrics:

The in-text citation for online lyrics would remain similar to the example provided above, as the focus is on directing the reader to the full citation in your works cited list.

In “That Girl,” Nettles expresses the complex emotions of… (Nettles).

When citing music lyrics, always ensure that your in-text citations correspond clearly to an entry in your works cited list, allowing readers to locate the source of your quotation or reference easily.

Citing songs in MLA format requires attention to detail, from the performer’s name to the medium of access. The key elements of citation and common pitfalls help researchers and students respect copyright laws and academic standards in their work. Proper citation not only acknowledges the creators’ contributions but also makes the academic discourse more interesting by providing reliable and verifiable sources for further exploration.

Do I need to cite a song if I only mention its title in my paper?

Yes, if you mention a song title in your paper, you should provide a citation for it in your Works Cited list . This acknowledges the artist’s work and allows readers to locate the song themselves.

How do I cite a song that I listened to on a streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music?

To cite a song from a streaming service, include the performer’s name, the song title in quotation marks, the service (in italics), and the URL. For example: Swift, Taylor. “Cardigan.” Spotify , open.spotify.com/track/4R2kfaDFhslZEMJqAFNpdd.

What if the song has multiple performers or a featured artist?

List the main performer first, followed by the phrase “featuring” and the name(s) of the featured artist(s). For example: Mars, Bruno featuring Cardi B. “Finesse (Remix).” 24K Magic , Atlantic Records, 2018.

Can I cite a song I heard live at a concert?

Yes, to cite a live performance, include the performer’s name, the concert’s name (if applicable), the venue, the city, and the date of the performance. For example: Nettles, Jennifer. Live Performance. Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, 22 July 2014.

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  1. How to Cite a Song in MLA Format? (With Examples)

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  2. Quoting Lines of Poems or Song Lyrics in MLA Format

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