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MLA (8th ed.) Citation Style Guide: Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Core Elements Format

The MLA 8th ed. does not provide rules for citing specific types of resources.  They provide a universal set of guidelines for any type of material based based on the core elements.  The examples provided in this libguide were created by a Douglas College librarian and follow this format.

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry (Online) with an Author

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, Publication Date or Last Update Date, Name of Website. URL. Date Accessed.

 

 

Friesen, Gerald. "Assiniboia." The Canadian Encyclopedia, 3 Apr. 2015, Historica Canada. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/assiniboia/. Accessed 29 July 2016.

In-Text

(Friesen)

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry (Online) without an Author

"Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, Publication Date or Last Update Date, Name of Website. URL. Date Accessed.

 

 

"Maelstrom." Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2017, Merriam-Webster.www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maelstrom. Accessed 19 Oct. 2016.

In-Text

("Maelstrom")

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry (Print) with an Author

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor's First Name Editor's Last Name, Edition if not the first edition, vol. #, Publisher, Year of Publication, pp. xx-xx.

 

 

Lewisohn, Leonard. "Sufism." Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Donald Borchert, 2nd ed., vol. 9, Thomson Gale, 2006, pp. 300-314.

In-Text

(Lewisohn 307)

Citing an encyclopedia article is similar to citing a chapter in an anthology.

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry (Print) without an Author

"Title of Entry." Title of Encyclopedia, edited by Editor's First Name Editor's Last Name, Edition if not the first edition, vol. #, Publisher, Year of Publication, pp. xx-xx.

 

"Mystic." Oxford Concise Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by Elizabeth Knowles, Oxford UP, 2003, p. 349.

In-Text

("Mystic" 349)