Authors in MLA Format
Authors are formatted the same in all material formats.
- List first author with the last name first
- Examples: Smith, John D.
- Smith, John David.
- Two authors are separated by a comma after the first author and the word and
- Example: Smith, John D., and Rosemary L. Jones.
- Only the first author's name is inverted. Second and third authors are formatted normally
- Three authors are separated with commas and the word and
- Example: Smith, John D., Rosemary L. Jones, and Steven G. Harper.
- List up to three (3) authors; above that number, use the first and et al.
- Example: Smith, John D., et al.
Authors that are organizations, corporations, government entities, etc.
- Do not invert or use abbreviations.
- Examples:
- United States Department of Commerce.
- General Motors Corporation.
- American Civil Liberties Union.
Editors
If an entire edited book with authored chapters is cited, the editor is listed as the author with the abbreviation "ed." after his name, or "eds." if there are more than one editor. Multiple editors are formatted the same way as authors.
- List first editor with the last name first, followed by a comma and "ed."
- Example: Smith, John D., ed.
- Two editors are separated by a comma after the first author and the word and and are followed with a comma and "eds."
- Example: Smith, John D., and Rosemary L. Jones, eds.
- Only the first editor's name is inverted. Second and third authors are formatted normally
- Three editors are separated with commas and the word and and are followed with a comma and "eds."
- Example: Smith, John D., Rosemary L. Jones, and Steven G. Harper, eds.
- List up to three (3) editors; above that number, use the first and et al.
- Example: Smith, John D., et al., eds.
