how to cite a short story in essay

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How to Cite Short Stories in MLA

Last Updated: April 29, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Marissa Levis . Marissa Levis is an English Teacher in the Morris County Vocational School District. She previously worked as an English director at a tutoring center that caters to students in elementary and middle school. She is an expert in creating a curriculum that helps students advance their skills in secondary-level English, focusing on MLA formatting, reading comprehension, writing skills, editing and proofreading, literary analysis, standardized test preparation, and journalism topics. Marissa received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 90,460 times.

Short stories can be great resources for a literary essay or a paper for an English class. To cite a short story, you have to include an in-text citation, which will take the form of "(O'Connor 10)" and then create a citation in the Works Cited page, which will look like this: "O’Connor, Flannery. ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find.’ The Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor. New York: FSG, 2000. 255-356. Print."

Sample Citations

Writing In-Text Citations

• For example, you may write, “In the short story 'A Good Man is Hard to Find', the Misfit character notes, ‘I found out the crime don’t matter. You can do one thing or you can do another, kill a man or take a tire off his car, because sooner or later you’re going to forget what it was you done and just be punished for it.’”

‘She was a talker, wasn't she?’ Bobby Lee said, sliding down the ditch with a yodel. ’She would of been a good woman,’ The Misfit said, ‘if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.’ ‘Some fun!’ Bobby Lee said. ‘Shut up, Bobby Lee,’ The Misfit said. ‘It's no real pleasure in life.’

• For example, you may write, “In the short story 'A Good Man is Hard to Find,' the Misfit character notes, ‘I found out the crime don’t matter. You can do one thing or you can do another, kill a man or take a tire off his car, because sooner or later you’re going to forget what it was you done and just be punished for it’ (O’Connor 10).”

‘She was a talker, wasn't she?’ Bobby Lee said, sliding down the ditch with a yodel. ’She would of been a good woman,’ The Misfit said, ‘if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.’ ‘Some fun!’ Bobby Lee said. ‘Shut up, Bobby Lee,’ The Misfit said. ‘It's no real pleasure in life’(O'Connor 23)."

• For example, you may write a citation such as: “(O’Connor 23)” or “(Gaitskill 12).”

Creating a Citation for the Works Cited Page

• For example, you may write, “O’Connor, Flannery” or “Erdrich, Louise, and Diaz, Junot.”

• For example, you may write, “O’Connor, Flannery. ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find.’ The Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor. ” or “Erdrich, Louise. ‘The Flower.’ The Best American Short Stories 2016. ”

• For example, you may write, “Erdrich, Louise. ‘The Flower.’ The Best American Short Stories 2016, Ed. by Junot Diaz.”

• For example, you may write, “O’Connor, Flannery. ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find.’ The Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor. New York: FSG, 2000.” Or you may write, “Erdrich, Louise. ‘The Flower.’ The Best American Short Stories 2016, Ed. by Junot Diaz, New York: Harper Collins, 2016.”

• For example, you may write, “Gaitskill, Mary. ‘Something Better Than This.’ Fictionaut.'"

• For example, you may write, “Erdrich, Louise. ‘The Flower.’ The Best American Short Stories 2016, Ed. by Junot Diaz, New York: Harper Collins, 2016. 324-414.”

• For example, you may write, “O’Connor, Flannery. ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find.’ The Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor. New York: FSG, 2000. 255-356. Print.”
• Or you may write, “Gaitskill, Mary. ‘Something Better Than This.’ Fictionaut. Web. 12 December 2017.”

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• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/cite-short-story-mla-format-1134.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/quotation_marks/quotation_marks_with_fiction.html
• ↑ https://otis.libguides.com/mla_citations/books#s-lg-box-15872775
• ↑ https://penandthepad.com/cite-short-story-anthology-8558144.html
• ↑ https://warren.libguides.com/c.php?g=1062317&p=7724336
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html

About This Article

Citing a short story can be a great way to strengthen your paper. To do an in-text citation, include the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses after the quoted text. For example, if you’re citing from page 10 of O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” you would follow your quote with (O’Connor 10). Always place the period in the sentence after your citation. On your works cited page, you need to provide a more detailed citation. It should begin with the author’s last and first names, with a comma separating them. Then, add the title of the story in quotation marks, the name of the anthology in italics, the place of publication, the publisher’s name, and the date of publication. A completed citation may look like, “O’Connor, Flannery. 'A Good Man is hard to Find.' The Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor. New York: FSG, 2000.” To see some additional examples of MLA citations, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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When writing an academic essay, you can use various sources of information, inclusding short stories. 

To cite a short story in MLA format in your Works Cited, include the author's name, title of the short story in quotation marks, title of the collection or anthology in italics, name(s) of the editor(s), publisher, and year of publication. In-text, include the author's last name and page number(s) in parentheses after the quotation or paraphrased information. If the short story was accessed online, add the URL and date of access to the Works Cited entry.

There are several versions of short story citations depending on the source it is retrieved from.  Keep reading this article by our  college essay service  to see general structure for each citation along with practical examples.

Why Do You Need a Short Story MLA Citation?

Short story MLA citation is pretty useful! This material contains a brief and accurate plot with in-depth quotations and ideas that you can cite. But often, students ask themselves if they actually should include them cited within their work. And we absolutely encourage you to take advantage of it and provide an accurate citation of short stories. Each humanities work is rendered by MLA style specifically created for citation within this area. Additionally, it provides particular format rules each student should stick to.

MLA Short Story Citation: Printed Edition

MLA citation for short story involves entry elements incorporated within Works Cited and in-text citation. Short stories are typically gathered in a printed book or journal that should be cited too. Accordingly, such information as author and editor names, published date, title, and book/ journal title is presented within Works Cited. Keep following the next sections and learn applicable formulas.

How to Cite a Short Story in a Book in MLA

MLA citation short story in book discloses the principles of citing it from a book collection containing print information. Thus, more than a tale's title should be provided in the reference list and somehow within a text of paper. The general formula of bibliography is as follows:

If your story is not short and it is a Shakespeare masterpiece, for example, do not worry. Go to our library and find a blog about MLA citing Shakespeare . 

How to MLA Cite a Short Story in a Journal

On the other hand, such a source is often searched in journals, and you should provide a short story from a journal in MLA. An entry structure is quite the same with a difference in Journal Title. Thus, the general format looks like this:

If you need to cite journal article MLA , follow another guide. We prepared a special blog that will help you with this kind of citation.

MLA Citation for Short Story: Online Edition

Many sources are available in the network environment, and you can cite a short story online MLA. It is very convenient as you mustn't go to libraries and look for printed books. This way, the formula is different in some entry elements like website name and URL address. Accordingly, the general structure takes the following look:

It is a good idea to cite an interview in your work. Fortunately, we have a special well-detailed blog. It explains  how to cite an interview MLA .

Final Thoughts on Citing a Short Story in MLA

Whatever relevant information you find for your writing, now you know how to cite a short story MLA. You shouldn't limit yourself in sources because you don't know how to deal with a citation. Our article is created for you to succeed in your academic performance and help to provide quality work. MLA style is perfect for writing essays and citing short stories you find necessary to include within your paperwork. 

Check out our essay writing website for worthy insights! Our academic assistants will help you with anything, from simple advice to writing essays for you.

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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How to Cite Short Stories in APA Format

The American Psychological Association sets forth standards for organizing content, writing style and citing references for papers written for academic fields, such as social sciences, psychology, business and nursing. While it might be rare to cite a short story in such a paper, you can follow the rules for citing an article or chapter in a book.

Citing a Short Story Collection

All sources mentioned in your paper should have a reference list citation. Since many short stories appear in anthologies or as a collection of short stories, use the same guidelines that APA dictates for these types of books.

In APA format, the author is listed at the beginning of the citation; write the author’s last name, followed by a comma and a space, and end with the author’s first initial and a period. Next, place the year of publication in parentheses, followed by a period. Write the title of the short story without quotation marks or other formatting, and place a period at the end. Write “In” -- without quotation marks -- followed by the book title, which should be italicized, and a period. All titles in APA style use capitalization only for the first letter of the first word of the title. Include the page range in parentheses by writing “pp.” -- with no quotation marks -- and the page numbers. Finish the citation with the publisher location, a colon, and the publisher’s name.

A reference list citation for a short story in a collection would look like this:

Bender, A. (2013). Tiger mending. In The color master (pp. 27-36). New York: Doubleday.

Citations from Anthologies

If the story came from an anthology, you need to include the editor of the anthology as well as the original publication date of the story. A sample citation would appear:

Cather, W. (2012). Paul’s case. In B. Lawn (Ed.), 40 short stories: A portable anthology (pp. 52-63). New York: Bedford. (Original work published 1905)

Note the editor’s first initial and last name, followed by Ed. placed inside parentheses. There is no period after the “Original work published” date. Also, capitalize the first letter of the first word of any subtitles after a colon, as found in “A portable anthology.”

Citing Web-Based Stories

If you obtain a short story from a website, you can use the same format as a print source, but you must include the URL of the source in place of the publisher’s location and name. The first letter of each word in the online magazine’s title is capitalized. The publication date also includes the month and day, when they're available.

This is one example of how to cite a short story published in an online magazine:

Saunders, G. (2011, October 31). Tenth of december. The New Yorker . Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/31/tenth-of-december

Writing In-Text Citations

In addition to a reference list, you must include parenthetical citations in the text of your paper. APA style uses an author-date citation. For example, write (Bender, 2013) at the end of a sentence referencing the short story material. Notice the comma between the author’s last name and date. The period at the end of your sentence will go after the in-text citation.

Need help with a citation? Try our citation generator .

• Purdue Online Writing Lab: APA Style Workshop
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Reference List -- Books
• APA Style Blog: How to Cite an Anthology or Collected Works
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Reference List -- Electronic Sources
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: In-Text Citations -- Author/Authors

Cara Batema is a musician, teacher and writer who specializes in early childhood, special needs and psychology. Since 2010, Batema has been an active writer in the fields of education, parenting, science and health. She holds a bachelor's degree in music therapy and creative writing.

APA 7th Edition Citations Guide - Maple Woods

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A Work (e.g., essay, short story) in an Anthology or Compilation

When you are citing a work from an anthology, you will treat the work as being republished and not reprinted.  Consult section 9.40 in the APA Style Guide for more information.

Author of Work Within Book Last Name, First initial. (Publication year of the anthology). Title of the particular story/chapter/essay/poem. In Editor             first initial. Last name (Ed.),  Title of the anthology ( pp. of chapter/essay/poem). Publisher. URL or DOI, if available (Original work published             XXXX)                      

Note:  The reference list entry for a republished or reissued work should contain information about the new publication that was used. Follow the new publication information with the year the work was originally published in parentheses using the following format:  (Original work published XXXX)

Frost, R. (2006).The road not taken. In J. Parini (Ed.), T he Wadsworth anthology of poetry ( p. 598). Cengage Learning. (Original work published 1916)          

Parenthetical Citation: (Frost, 1916/2006)

Narrative Citation: Frost (1916/2006)

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MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition

• MLA Style, 9th Edition
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• Book - Essay, Short Story, Poem, etc
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A work (e.g., essay, short story) in an anthology or compilation

When you are citing one work from a book in the text of your paper and the book has many different authors, you will list the information about that work (critical essay, short story from an anthology, etc) first.

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Engl 184: the short story.

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Using In-text Citation

Include an in-text citation when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. For every in-text citation in your paper, there must be a corresponding entry in your reference list.

MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith).

Example paragraph with in-text citation

A few researchers in the linguistics field have developed training programs designed to improve native speakers' ability to understand accented speech (Derwing et al. 246; Thomas 15). Their training techniques are based on the research described above indicating that comprehension improves with exposure to non-native speech. Derwing and others conducted their training with students preparing to be social workers, but note that other professionals who work with non-native speakers could benefit from a similar program (258).

Derwing, Tracey M., et al. "Teaching Native Speakers to Listen to Foreign-accented Speech." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol. 23, no. 4, 2002, pp. 245-259.

Thomas, Holly K.  Training Strategies for Improving Listeners' Comprehension of Foreign-accented Speech. University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004.

Citing Web Pages In Text

Cite web pages in text as you would any other source, using the author if known. If the author is not known, use the title as the in-text citation.

Your in-text citation should lead your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. Below are examples of using in-text citation with web pages.

Entire website with author: In-text citation Parents play an important role in helping children learn techniques for coping with bullying (Kraiser).

Reference entry Kraizer, Sherryll. Safe Child. Coalition for Children, 2011, www.safechild.org.

Web page with no author: In-text citation The term Nittany Lion was coined by Penn State football player Joe Mason in 1904 ("All Things Nittany").

Reference entry "All Things Nittany." About Penn State. Penn State University, 2006, www.psu.edu/ur/about/nittanymascot.html.

General Guidelines

In MLA style the author's name can be included either in the narrative text of your paper, or in parentheses following the reference to the source.

Author's name part of narrative:

Gass and Varonis found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (163).

Author's name in parentheses:

One study found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (Gass and Varonis 163).

Group as author: (American Psychological Association 123)

Multiple works: (separate each work with semi-colons)

Research shows that listening to a particular accent improves comprehension of accented speech in general (Gass and Varonis 143; Thomas 24).

Direct quote:

One study found that “the listener's familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (Gass and Varonis 85).

Gass and Varonis found that “the listener’s familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (85).

Note: For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, display quotations as an indented block of text (one inch from left margin) and omit quotation marks. Place your parenthetical citation at the end of the block of text, after the final punctuation mark.

In addition to awareness-raising, practicing listening to accented speech has been shown to improve listening comprehension. This article recommends developing listening training programs for library faculty and staff, based on research from the linguistics and language teaching fields. Even brief exposure to accented speech can help listeners improve their comprehension, thereby improving the level of service to international patrons. (O'Malley 19)

Works by Multiple Authors

When citing works by multiple authors, always spell out the word "and." When a source has three or more authors, only the first one shown in the source is normally given followed by et al.

One author: (Field 399)

Works Cited entry: Field, John. "Intelligibility and the Listener: The Role of Lexical Stress." TESOL Quarterly , vol. 39, no. 3, 2005, pp. 399-423.

Two authors: (Gass and Varonis 67)

Works Cited entry: Gass, Susan, and Evangeline M. Varonis. "The Effect of Familiarity on the Comprehensibility of Nonnative Speech." Language Learning , vol. 34, no. 1, 1984, pp. 65-89.

Three or more authors: (Munro et al. 70)

Works Cited entry: Munro, Murray J., et al. "Salient Accents, Covert Attitudes: Consciousness-raising for Pre-service Second Language Teachers." Prospect , vol. 21, no. 1, 2006, pp. 67-79.

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MLA Short Story Citation – Format & Examples

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In academic writing , it is crucial to cite short stories properly to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism . The MLA style guide (Modern Language Association) has specific formatting rules for this. In MLA , specific components such as the author’s name, the story title within quotation marks, the anthology title in italics, and other details regarding publication like the page number or range, must be included. This allows the readers to find original sources and ensures proper credit.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 MLA Short Story Citation – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: MLA short story citation
• 3 MLA short story citation: Quoting & citing
• 4 MLA short story citation: Book
• 5 MLA short story citation: Newspaper or magazine
• 6 MLA short story citation: Online

MLA Short Story Citation – In a Nutshell

• MLA short story citation entails a proper introduction of the quoted content.
• Make sure to write the introduction in your own words.
• It is always followed up with an in-text citation in accordance with MLA guidelines
• An MLA in-text citation includes the author’s name and the page number of the quote.

Definition: MLA short story citation

The structure for MLA short story citation includes an introduction of the quote in your own words, followed by an in-text citation . The in-text citation should include the name of the author, followed by the page number from which you obtained the quote. See the format and an example of an MLA Works Cited entry below.

MLA short story citation: Quoting & citing

One key element you must consider during MLA story citation is the introduction quotation. The introduction should be done in your own words so it does not go against plagiarism regulations. After the introductory sentence, you can place a colon, then place an in-text MLA story citation immediately after.

Then the narrator speaks of his experience in first person as he refers to his background and influence: “I never saw my parents argue or have a misunderstanding in my presence.” (Andrew, 100).

Alternatively, you can integrate the quote in a different sentence. If you decide to name the author in the introductory quote, then the page number should appear in parentheses .

Andrew describes his childhood as peaceful and “without any parental conflict” (87).

Ensure to use block quote format when quoting more than four lines.

Citing the same story consecutively

When referring to the same story more than once, you do not need to include the author’s name repeatedly. However, you must clarify that you are citing the same source repeatedly. Instead of the author’s name, just add the page number in the MLA short story citation.

Andrews describes his childhood as peaceful and “without any conflict” (97). His narration includes descriptions of his father’s temperament, which is “calm and orderly” (101).

However, if you start a new paragraph or refer to a different citation, the above rule does not apply. The next MLA short story citation should include the name of the author.

MLA short story citation: Book

You can also cite a short story from a book containing a collection of stories. In this citation, you must include the author’s name, story title, book title, editor (s), year, and the page range where the short story is featured. Below are guidelines for MLA short story citation for a book source:

If the cited story is published in a collection from a single author and does not have an editor’s name, you can omit the editor from the MLA short story citation. Below is the format:

MLA short story citation: Newspaper or magazine

You must also follow MLA short story citation when referencing stories from a newspaper or magazine. In such a case, you must list the periodical’s name, publication date, and the page range where the content is sourced. Below is the MLA short story citation format for newspaper or magazine sources:

MLA short story citation: Online

When citing a short story published online, you must list the name of the website, the publication date, and the URL. If the page name is not available and the author’s name is mentioned in your sentence, then you only need a parenthetical citation .

What is the general format of an MLA short story citation?

The general format is as follows: Name of author, First name. “Title of Story.” Book Title , edited by Editor’s first and last name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page range

Can you cite a book chapter using MLA short story citation guidelines?

You can cite a specific chapter if each chapter has a different author or if the book is a collection of works. In this case, add separate works cited entries for each.

What should you include when citing short stories in magazines?

You must list the periodical’s name, publication date, and the page range where the content is sourced.

What are the guidelines for citing online-sourced stories?

When citing a short story that is published online, you must include the name of the website, the publication date, and the URL.

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How to Cite a Short Story

Last Updated: April 1, 2021

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 121,416 times.

In many research papers, you may want to cite a work of fiction, such as a short story. Since short stories normally appear in collections or anthologies, you generally cite them the same way you would cite a chapter or an essay in a larger work. Your specific format will differ depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago citation style.

Sample Citations

• Example: Moore, Lorrie.

• Example: Moore, Lorrie. "Community Life."

• Example: Moore, Lorrie. "Community Life." Birds of America ,
• If the larger work is an anthology or collection of stories by several authors, include the name of the editor after the title of the anthology or collection. Place a comma after the editor's name. For example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death." The Heath Introduction to Literature , edited by Alice S. Landy,
• If the short story was published independently, such as on a website, skip this part of the citation and move on to the publication information.

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death." The Heath Introduction to Literature , edited by Alice S. Landy, 5th ed., D.C. Heath, 1996,
• If you found the short story online, provide the direct URL for the story instead of print publication information.

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death." The Heath Introduction to Literature , edited by Alice S. Landy, 5th ed., D.C. Heath, 1996, pp. 202-206.

• Example: (Poe 204).

• Example: Poe, E. A.

• Example: Poe, E. A. (1996).

• Example: Poe, E. A. (1996). The masque of the red death.

• Example: Poe, E. A. (1996). The masque of the red death. In A. S. Landy (Ed.), The Heath introduction to literature
• If you found the short story by itself, online or elsewhere, skip this portion of the citation.

• Example: Poe, E. A. (1996). The masque of the red death. In A. S. Landy (Ed.), The Heath introduction to literature (5th ed., pp. 202-206).

• Example: Poe, E. A. (1996). The masque of the red death. In A. S. Landy (Ed.), The Heath introduction to literature (5th ed., pp. 202-206). Washington, D.C.: Heath.

• Example: (Poe, 1996).
• If you directly quote the short story, include a page number after the year. For example: (Poe, 1996, p. 204).

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan.

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death."

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death." In The Heath Introduction to Literature, ed. Alice S. Landy, 202-206.

• Example: Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Masque of the Red Death." In The Heath Introduction to Literature, ed. Alice S. Landy, 202-206. Washington, D.C.: Heath, 1996.

• Example: Edgar Allan Poe, "The Masque of the Red Death," in The Heath Introduction to Literature , ed. Alice S. Landy (Washington, D.C.: Heath, 1996), 204.

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About this article

To cite a short story using MLA format, write the author's last name, add a comma, and write their first name, followed by a period. Next, write the story's title in quotation marks using title case and put a period after it, inside the closing quotation marks. Then, type the title of the anthology or collection, the name of the publisher, the name of the publication, and the page numbers for the story. For tips on citing a short story using APA or Chicago format, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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ENG 102 - Short Story Research Guide-Wow Essays (Jordan and Ramsey)

• 5. Cite Your Sources

Eng 102 - Short Story

5. cite your sources in mla format.

Here are a few examples to help you cite your sources in MLA format:

How to Cite a Short Story From Your Textbook

Format:   Author(s). "Title of Short Story." The Norton Introduction to Literature , edited by Kelly J. Mays, shorter 14th ed., W. W. Norton, 2022, pp. 123-45.

How to Cite a Journal Article from a Database

Format:   Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal , vol. #, no. #, Date of Publication, page number(s). Database Name (if electronic),  URL.

How to Cite Part of a Book, Ebook, or Encyclopedia

Format:   Author(s). "Title of Part." Title of Book , edited by Editor, edition, vol. #, Publisher, Year, page number(s). Database Name (if electronic),  URL.

Additional MLA Examples

In-Text Citations

This in-text citation information will get you started, but see our full In-text Citation Guide for more information and additional examples .

• Basic Format

No Page Numbers

• 3 or More Authors

Basic Format: 1 Author and Page Numbers

Place the author’s last name and page number in parenthesis. If the in-text citation is at the end of a sentence, place the period outside the parenthesis.

Example 1:  (Hennessy 81).

Example 2:  (Hennessy 81-82).

If a source has no page numbers, omit the page number. Keep in mind, most electronic sources do not include pages.

Example 1: ("Everyday Victims")

Example 2: (Jones)

If the source has no author, your in-text citation will use the title of the source that starts your works cited entry. The title may appear in the sentence itself or, abbreviated, before the page number in parenthesis.

Example 1:  (“Noon” 508).

Example 2 :  ( Faulkner’s Novels  25).

Example 3 :  (“Climate Model Simulations").

If the entry on the Works Cited page begins with the names of two authors, include both last names in the in-text citation, connected by and.

Example:  (Dorris and Erdrich 23).

If the source has three or more authors, include the first author’s last name followed by et al.

Example:  (Burdick et al. 42).

MLA Handouts

MLA Works Cited Guide

Shortened MLA Practice Template

MLA Formatting Rules

In-text Citations

Sample Paper in MLA Format

MLA Practice Template (long version)

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How to Cite a Short Story in MLA with Format Rules

Updated 19 Jun 2024

This helpful guide will show you how to cite a short story in MLA with all the rules and examples. You will learn how to overcome citing challenges when your literary or any other task requires this citation type. You will learn about various kinds of short stories that can be either in the book or online, in a magazine, or a newspaper. When you see the citation examples and pay someone to write my paper , things will become easier, and your assignments will earn the highest grades and appreciation. 

The main rules: learning to quote and cite a short story 

When you need to cite a short story in MLA style format, you need to obtain the following information: 

• Last name and first name of the author.
• Title of the story (it must be placed in quotation marks!).
• Title of the original book (a magazine, journal, textbook, or newspaper) that appears in italics. 
• Name of the editor(s) with the full name. 
• A publisher. 
• Year of publication. 
• Page number(s). 

Here is a template on how to cite a short story in MLA: 

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Your Story." Book Title , edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. 

Smith, Patricia. "The Day Punk Movement Has Been Born." Rock Tales Selected Anthology , edited by Rick Rubin, Music Press, 1996, pp. 2-11. 

An in-text citation should contain the last name of the author and page(s): (Smith, 2).

Citing a short story found online 

When accessing a short story online, be it an online magazine or a scientific database, you must list the name of the web source, the date of publishing, and the URL. You don't have to use parenthetical citations if there are no page numbers and the author was mentioned in your narrative citation as you quote. 

Here is a citation template on how to cite a short story in MLA format available online: 

Last Name, First Name of the author. "Story Title." Website Name , Day Month Year, URL. 

O'Kane, Liam. "Irish Culture in Short Poems." Irish Poetry Reading Archive , 11 July. 2022, https://libguides.ucd.ie/ipra

In-text citation: (O’Kane).

How to cite a short story discovered in a book 

In most cases, students have to cite a short story found in an edited collection, a book that contains several different narrations. You must locate the book's author and ensure you know the editor's name. Don't forget to specify the pages where the story appears, along with the rest of the information. See citation examples below. 

Last Name, First Name. "Story Title." Book Title , edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. range of pages. 

Stine, Robert. "The Haunted Mask." Goosebumps and Other Scary Stories , edited by Michael Wise, Scholastic Corporation, 2023. pp. 11-16. 

In-text citation: (Stine 11). 

Note:  If the short story has been published in a collection of stories by the same author and you cannot locate the editor's name (not used), skip the editor part from your reference. 

How to cite a short story mentioned in a textbook

Since it's easy to get confused regarding what to include from the textbook, citing a short story MLA, you only need to locate the author of the short story and the editor(s). The MLA 9th edition citation guide recommends using the following template when the textbook includes a short story: 

Last Name of the Author, First Name. "Short Story's Title or Chapter Title." Title of Your Textbook , edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year of Publication, pp. Page Range. 

Hammett, Kirk. "The Call of Wilderness." American Classic Literature: From Fiction to Survival , edited by Ruth Pulsford, 8th ed., Oxford University Press, pp. 334-339. 

In-text citation: (Hammett 334).

Citing a short story from a newspaper or magazines 

Many good and useful stories that can be cited appear in newspapers or various scientific magazines. Using newspapers as sources, you can find short stories as well. Likewise, as you explore newspaper referencing, take your time to learn how to cite an interview MLA style, as it might just come in handy! Now, for the short story citation, you must list the periodical's name, the date when the story was published, and the range of page(s) or sections where the story can be located. Have a look at the MLA short story citation template to make this citation type easier: 

Last Name of the Author, First Name. "Story Title." Newspaper or Magazine Name , Day Month Year, pp. Page range. 

Clark, R.V. "The Story of One Indian." The Daily Telegraph , 7 Dec. 2019. pp. 19-21. 

In-text citation format: (Clark 19).

In what cases should I cite a book chapter in MLA style?

According to the MLA citation manual, there are two cases when you should cite a book chapter within a book. One of them is when different authors write the book chapters. The other scenario is when the book represents a collection of self-contained works. It means that a specific book chapter must be cited if you have poetry, dramatic plays, or short stories written by the same author. 

Should I use italics or quotation marks for short story titles?

Titles of individual short stories and poems must be placed in quotation marks. The titles of poetry collections or short stories must be placed in italics. 

"The Paradise Lost", a short story by Nick Holmes, appears in his collection, Thoughts On God and Religion . 

What are the rules for short story titles? 

Short story book titles appear in italics, capitalizing all the major words. If you have a subtitle, it's separated from the main title with a colon and a space. If you mention the title in your text, there's no need to include the subtitle. 

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MLA Works Cited Page: Books

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

When you are gathering book sources, be sure to make note of the following bibliographic items: the author name(s), other contributors such as translators or editors, the book’s title, editions of the book, the publication date, the publisher, and the pagination.

The 8 th  edition of the MLA handbook highlights principles over prescriptive practices. Essentially, a writer will need to take note of primary elements in every source, such as author, title, etc. and then assort them in a general format. Thus, by using this methodology, a writer will be able to cite any source regardless of whether it’s included in this list.

Please note these changes in the new edition:

• Commas are used instead of periods between Publisher, Publication Date, and Pagination.
• Medium is no longer necessary.
• Containers are now a part of the MLA process. Commas should be used after container titles.
• DOIs should be used instead of URLS when available.
• Use the term “Accessed” instead of listing the date or the abbreviation, “n.d."

Below is the general format for any citation:

Author. Title. Title of container (do not list container for standalone books, e.g. novels), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2 nd  container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

Basic Book Format

The author’s name or a book with a single author's name appears in last name, first name format. The basic form for a book citation is:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book . City of Publication, Publisher, Publication Date.

* Note: the City of Publication should only be used if the book was published before 1900, if the publisher has offices in more than one country, or if the publisher is unknown in North America.

Book with One Author

Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science . Penguin, 1987.

Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House . MacMurray, 1999.

Book with More Than One Author

When a book has two authors, order the authors in the same way they are presented in the book. Start by listing the first name that appears on the book in last name, first name format; subsequent author names appear in normal order (first name last name format).

Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring . Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

If there are three or more authors, list only the first author followed by the phrase et al. (Latin for "and others") in place of the subsequent authors' names. (Note that there is a period after “al” in “et al.” Also note that there is never a period after the “et” in “et al.”).

Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching of Composition . Utah State UP, 2004.

Two or More Books by the Same Author

List works alphabetically by title. (Remember to ignore articles like A, An, and The.) Provide the author’s name in last name, first name format for the first entry only. For each subsequent entry by the same author, use three hyphens and a period.

Palmer, William J. Dickens and New Historicism . St. Martin's, 1997.

---. The Films of the Eighties: A Social History . Southern Illinois UP, 1993.

Book by a Corporate Author or Organization

A corporate author may include a commission, a committee, a government agency, or a group that does not identify individual members on the title page.

List the names of corporate authors in the place where an author’s name typically appears at the beginning of the entry.

American Allergy Association. Allergies in Children . Random House, 1998.

When the author and publisher are the same, skip the author, and list the title first. Then, list the corporate author only as the publisher.

Fair Housing—Fair Lending. Aspen Law & Business, 1985.

Book with No Author

List by title of the book. Incorporate these entries alphabetically just as you would with works that include an author name. For example, the following entry might appear between entries of works written by Dean, Shaun and Forsythe, Jonathan.

Encyclopedia of Indiana . Somerset, 1993.

Remember that for an in-text (parenthetical) citation of a book with no author, you should provide the name of the work in the signal phrase and the page number in parentheses. You may also use a shortened version of the title of the book accompanied by the page number. For more information see the In-text Citations for Print Sources with No Known Author section of In-text Citations: The Basics .

A Translated Book

If you want to emphasize the work rather than the translator, cite as you would any other book. Add “translated by” and follow with the name(s) of the translator(s).

Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason . Translated by Richard Howard, Vintage-Random House, 1988.

If you want to focus on the translation, list the translator as the author. In place of the author’s name, the translator’s name appears. His or her name is followed by the label, “translator.” If the author of the book does not appear in the title of the book, include the name, with a “By” after the title of the book and before the publisher. Note that this type of citation is less common and should only be used for papers or writing in which translation plays a central role.

Howard, Richard, translator. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason . By Michel Foucault, Vintage-Random House, 1988.

Republished Book

Books may be republished due to popularity without becoming a new edition. New editions are typically revisions of the original work. For books that originally appeared at an earlier date and that have been republished at a later one, insert the original publication date before the publication information.

For books that are new editions (i.e. different from the first or other editions of the book), see An Edition of a Book below.

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble . 1990. Routledge, 1999.

Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine . 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.

An Edition of a Book

There are two types of editions in book publishing: a book that has been published more than once in different editions and a book that is prepared by someone other than the author (typically an editor).

A Subsequent Edition

Cite the book as you normally would, but add the number of the edition after the title.

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students . 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.

A Work Prepared by an Editor

Cite the book as you normally would, but add the editor after the title with the label "edited by."

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre,  edited by Margaret Smith, Oxford UP, 1998.

Note that the format for citing sources with important contributors with editor-like roles follows the same basic template:

...adapted by John Doe...

Finally, in the event that the source features a contributor that cannot be described with a past-tense verb and the word "by" (e.g., "edited by"), you may instead use a noun followed by a comma, like so:

...guest editor, Jane Smith...

Anthology or Collection (e.g. Collection of Essays)

To cite the entire anthology or collection, list by editor(s) followed by a comma and "editor" or, for multiple editors, "editors." This sort of entry is somewhat rare. If you are citing a particular piece within an anthology or collection (more common), see A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection below.

Hill, Charles A., and Marguerite Helmers, editors. Defining Visual Rhetorics . Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004.

Peterson, Nancy J., editor. Toni Morrison: Critical and Theoretical Approaches . Johns Hopkins UP, 1997.

A Work in an Anthology, Reference, or Collection

Works may include an essay in an edited collection or anthology, or a chapter of a book. The basic form is for this sort of citation is as follows:

Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection , edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page range of entry.

Some examples:

Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One , edited by Ben Rafoth, Heinemann, 2000, pp. 24-34.

Swanson, Gunnar. "Graphic Design Education as a Liberal Art: Design and Knowledge in the University and The 'Real World.'" The Education of a Graphic Designer , edited by Steven Heller, Allworth Press, 1998, pp. 13-24.

Note on Cross-referencing Several Items from One Anthology: If you cite more than one essay from the same edited collection, MLA indicates you may cross-reference within your works cited list in order to avoid writing out the publishing information for each separate essay. You should consider this option if you have several references from a single text. To do so, include a separate entry for the entire collection listed by the editor's name as below:

Rose, Shirley K, and Irwin Weiser, editors. The Writing Program Administrator as Researcher . Heinemann, 1999.

Then, for each individual essay from the collection, list the author's name in last name, first name format, the title of the essay, the editor's last name, and the page range:

L'Eplattenier, Barbara. "Finding Ourselves in the Past: An Argument for Historical Work on WPAs." Rose and Weiser, pp. 131-40.

Peeples, Tim. "'Seeing' the WPA With/Through Postmodern Mapping." Rose and Weiser, pp. 153-67.

Please note: When cross-referencing items in the works cited list, alphabetical order should be maintained for the entire list.

Poem or Short Story Examples :

Burns, Robert. "Red, Red Rose." 100 Best-Loved Poems, edited by Philip Smith, Dover, 1995, p. 26.

Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories , edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.

If the specific literary work is part of the author's own collection (all of the works have the same author), then there will be no editor to reference:

Whitman, Walt. "I Sing the Body Electric." Selected Poems, Dover, 1991, pp. 12-19.

Carter, Angela. "The Tiger's Bride." Burning Your Boats: The Collected Stories, Penguin, 1995, pp. 154-69.

Article in a Reference Book (e.g. Encyclopedias, Dictionaries)

For entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works, cite the entry name as you would any other work in a collection but do not include the publisher information. Also, if the reference book is organized alphabetically, as most are, do not list the volume or the page number of the article or item.

"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary.  3rd ed. 1997. 

A Multivolume Work

When citing only one volume of a multivolume work, include the volume number after the work's title, or after the work's editor or translator.

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria . Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980.

When citing more than one volume of a multivolume work, cite the total number of volumes in the work. Also, be sure in your in-text citation to provide both the volume number and page number(s) ( see "Citing Multivolume Works" on our in-text citations resource .)

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria . Translated by H. E. Butler, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980. 4 vols.

If the volume you are using has its own title, cite the book without referring to the other volumes as if it were an independent publication.

Churchill, Winston S. The Age of Revolution . Dodd, 1957.

An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or Afterword

When citing an introduction, a preface, a foreword, or an afterword, write the name of the author(s) of the piece you are citing. Then give the name of the part being cited, which should not be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks; in italics, provide the name of the work and the name of the author of the introduction/preface/foreword/afterword. Finish the citation with the details of publication and page range.

Farrell, Thomas B. Introduction. Norms of Rhetorical Culture , by Farrell, Yale UP, 1993, pp. 1-13.

If the writer of the piece is different from the author of the complete work , then write the full name of the principal work's author after the word "By." For example, if you were to cite Hugh Dalziel Duncan’s introduction of Kenneth Burke’s book Permanence and Change, you would write the entry as follows:

Duncan, Hugh Dalziel. Introduction. Permanence and Change: An Anatomy of Purpose, by Kenneth Burke, 1935, 3rd ed., U of California P, 1984, pp. xiii-xliv.

Book Published Before 1900

Original copies of books published before 1900 are usually defined by their place of publication rather than the publisher. Unless you are using a newer edition, cite the city of publication where you would normally cite the publisher.

Thoreau, Henry David. Excursions . Boston, 1863.

Italicize “The Bible” and follow it with the version you are using. Remember that your in-text (parenthetical citation) should include the name of the specific edition of the Bible, followed by an abbreviation of the book, the chapter and verse(s). (See Citing the Bible at In-Text Citations: The Basics .)

The Bible. Authorized King James Version , Oxford UP, 1998.

The Bible. The New Oxford Annotated Version , 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2001.

The New Jerusalem Bible. Edited by Susan Jones, Doubleday, 1985.

A Government Publication

Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency (including any subdivisions or agencies) that serves as the organizational author. For congressional documents, be sure to include the number of the Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution passed as well as the report number. US government documents are typically published by the Government Printing Office.

United States, Congress, Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearing on the Geopolitics of Oil . Government Printing Office, 2007. 110th Congress, 1st session, Senate Report 111-8.

United States, Government Accountability Office. Climate Change: EPA and DOE Should Do More to Encourage Progress Under Two Voluntary Programs . Government Printing Office, 2006.

Cite the title and publication information for the pamphlet just as you would a book without an author. Pamphlets and promotional materials commonly feature corporate authors (commissions, committees, or other groups that does not provide individual group member names). If the pamphlet you are citing has no author, cite as directed below. If your pamphlet has an author or a corporate author, put the name of the author (last name, first name format) or corporate author in the place where the author name typically appears at the beginning of the entry. (See also Books by a Corporate Author or Organization above.)

Women's Health: Problems of the Digestive System . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2006.

Your Rights Under California Welfare Programs . California Department of Social Services, 2007.

Dissertations and Master's Theses

Dissertations and master's theses may be used as sources whether published or not. Unlike previous editions, MLA 8 specifies no difference in style for published/unpublished works.

The main elements of a dissertation citation are the same as those for a book: author name(s), title (italicized) , and publication date. Conclude with an indication of the document type (e.g., "PhD dissertation"). The degree-granting institution may be included before the document type (though this is not required). If the dissertation was accessed through an online repository, include it as the second container after all the other elements.

Bishop, Karen Lynn. Documenting Institutional Identity: Strategic Writing in the IUPUI Comprehensive Campaign . 2002. Purdue University, PhD dissertation.

Bile, Jeffrey. Ecology, Feminism, and a Revised Critical Rhetoric: Toward a Dialectical Partnership . 2005. Ohio University, PhD dissertation.

Mitchell, Mark. The Impact of Product Quality Reducing Events on the Value of Brand-Name Capital: Evidence from Airline Crashes and the 1982 Tylenol Poisonings.  1987. PhD dissertation.  ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

List the names of corporate authors in the place where an author’s name typically appears at the beginning of the entry if the author and publisher are not the same.

Fair Housing—Fair Lending. Aspen Law & Business, 1985.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / How to Cite an Essay in MLA

How to Cite an Essay in MLA

The guidelines for citing an essay in MLA format are similar to those for citing a chapter in a book. Include the author of the essay, the title of the essay, the name of the collection if the essay belongs to one, the editor of the collection or other contributors, the publication information, and the page number(s).

Citing an Essay

Mla essay citation structure.

Last, First M. “Essay Title.” Collection Title, edited by First M. Last, Publisher, year published, page numbers. Website Title , URL (if applicable).

MLA Essay Citation Example

Gupta, Sanjay. “Balancing and Checking.” Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Bob Towsky, Brook Stone Publishers, 1996, pp. 36-48. Essay Database, www . databaseforessays.org/modern/modern-democracy.

MLA Essay In-text Citation Structure

(Last Name Page #)

MLA Essay In-text Citation Example

Click here to cite an essay via an EasyBib citation form.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Sample Paper
• Works Cited
• MLA 8 Updates
• MLA 9 Updates
• View MLA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
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To cite your sources in an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author’s name(s), chapter title, book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for in-text citations and a works-cited-list entry for essay sources and some examples are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author on the first occurrence. For subsequent citations, use only the surname(s). In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author(s).

Citation in prose:

First mention: Annette Wheeler Cafarelli

Subsequent occurrences: Wheeler Cafarelli

Parenthetical:

….(Wheeler Cafarelli).

Works-cited-list entry template and example:

The title of the chapter is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name. “Title of the Chapter.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Cafarelli, Annette Wheeler. “Rousseau and British Romanticism: Women and British Romanticism.” Cultural Interactions in the Romantic Age: Critical Essays in Comparative Literature , edited by Gregory Maertz. State U of New York P, 1998, pp. 125–56.

To cite an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author(s), the essay title, the book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for citations in prose, parenthetical citations, and works-cited-list entries for an essay by multiple authors, and some examples, are given below:

For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author (e.g., Mary Strine).

For sources with two authors, use both full author names in prose (e.g., Mary Strine and Beth Radick).

For sources with three or more authors, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Mary Strine and others). In subsequent citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Strine and others).

In parenthetical citations, use only the author’s surname. For sources with two authors, use two surnames (e.g., Strine and Radick). For sources with three or more author names, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.”

First mention: Mary Strine…

Subsequent mention: Strine…

First mention: Mary Strine and Beth Radick…

Subsequent mention: Strine and Radick…

First mention: Mary Strine and colleagues …. or Mary Strine and others

Subsequent occurrences: Strine and colleagues …. or Strine and others

…. (Strine).

….(Strine and Radick).

….(Strine et al.).

The title of the essay is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.

Surname, First Name, et al. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.

Strine, Mary M., et al. “Research in Interpretation and Performance Studies: Trends, Issues, Priorities.” Speech Communication: Essays to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Speech Communication Association , edited by Gerald M. Phillips and Julia T. Wood, Southern Illinois UP, 1990, pp. 181–204.

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How do I cite a short story if there is only one page?

How do I cite a short story if there is only one page? Do I just write "example"(1)?

• 1 Do you mean that the story you're citing is only one page, or that the work in which you're citing it is? Why do you think the length of the story affects the citation? You can edit to add more information to your question. –  Monica Cellio Commented Jan 19, 2017 at 2:05

Citing depends heavily on the format you're citing it in . I would highly recommend looking for any citation guidelines for whatever you're writing first, or ask someone if there is a certain format . MLA is very commonly accepted.

I would recommend using Easybib .

In regards to your question, it seems fairly vague - however remember that citations are to allow readers to reference more information in relation to your subject matter you're speaking about. That's something that many educational systems fail to emphasize, causing students to assume that it's simply 'just there because.'

As long as you can cite the article well enough that someone can find it if they wanted to search for it, then it should be fine. These tips are assuming you're writing this for an academic article.

Personally, if I was to cite a piece of work I would have:

"[Quote from text]" (Brode, 2005)

and in the appendix or bibliography have:

Brode, Douglas. Multiculturalism and the Mouse: Race and Sex in Disney Entertainment. Austin: U of Texas, 2005. Web.

However, you can also do it like this:

"[Quote from text]" (1.1) (1.1) England, Dawn Elizabeth, Lara Descartes, and Melissa A. Collier-Meek. "Gender Role Portrayal and the Disney Princesses." Sex Roles 64.7-8 (2011): 555-67. Web.

Or even use footnotes, however, remember that certain institutions and examiners may have certain restrictions on formatting. I used MLA formatting for the examples.

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How to Summarize a Paper, a Story, a Book, a Report or an Essay

• Posted on June 25, 2024 June 25, 2024

Summarizing skills empower you to condense extensive information into digestible, concise points. In academic settings, mastering this skill lets you capture the essence of long papers or complex theories, aiding in study and communication. 

Professionals rely on summarization to distill lengthy reports and documents into actionable insights critical for decision-making and efficient workflow. 

As you learn to summarize effectively , you enhance your ability to understand and convey key messages swiftly and clearly, essential in scholarly and business environments. 

What is Summarizing?

Summarizing involves condensing a larger text into its essential points, allowing you to grasp the main ideas quickly and effectively. Effective summaries retain the original message’s core , offering a clear overview without delving into every detail. 

This skill is invaluable in managing information overload, enabling students and professionals to absorb and communicate key points with precision.

Key Elements of a Summary

Creating a practical summary demands precision and skill. You must distill complex information into its most essential points while retaining the essence of the original content. Here’s what to focus on:

• Conciseness: Keep it brief while covering all critical aspects.
• Clarity: Use clear, straightforward language to ensure understanding.
• Objectivity: Maintain the original text’s intent without inserting personal views.
• Accuracy: Reflect the source material faithfully, avoiding misinterpretation.

How To Summarize a Paper

Mastering the art of summarizing research papers is a valuable skill for students and researchers. It equips you to efficiently grasp the core ideas of a study without getting bogged down in every detail. 

1. Deep Dive with Active Reading

Don’t just passively skim the paper. Engage actively by underlining, highlighting, or taking margin notes. Focus on capturing key concepts, methodologies used, and the main findings the author(s) presented. 

Pay particular attention to the introduction, which lays the groundwork by outlining the research question , relevant background information, and the overall significance of the study.

2. Deconstruct the Paper’s Structure

Research papers typically follow a standard structure. The introduction sets the stage, the methodology section details how the research was conducted, and the results section presents the data and findings. 

Finally, the discussion section interprets the results, explains their implications, and acknowledges limitations. As you read, be mindful of how each section builds upon the others to answer the central research question.

3. Identify the Golden Nuggets

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the paper’s structure and content, it’s time to separate the essential from the interesting. 

Ask yourself critical questions: 

• What is the core research question the author(s) are trying to answer? 
• Why is it important? 
• What methodologies were employed to gather data (surveys, experiments, etc.)? 
• What were the most significant findings from the research? 
• How do the authors interpret these results, and what are the broader implications of their work?

4. Craft a Cohesive Summary

Now that you’ve extracted the key elements, it’s time to synthesize them into a concise and informative summary. Write in your own words to avoid plagiarism , and strive for clarity and conciseness. 

Focus on capturing the essence of the paper, ensuring your summary effectively conveys the research question, methodology, key findings, and the authors’ conclusions. The length of your summary will depend on the specific requirements – a one-paragraph abstract for a literature review or a multi-page report for a class assignment.

5. Refine and Polish Your Work

The final step is crucial. Carefully proofread your summary to ensure it accurately reflects the original paper and avoids introducing personal opinions or biases. Double-check for factual accuracy, grammar , and a logical flow of information. 

A well-crafted summary should be a self-contained piece that effectively communicates the essence of the research paper.

How To Summarize a Story

Summarizing a story effectively involves condensing the plot into its critical points while maintaining the essence of the narrative. It’s a great way to test your comprehension and share the core of a story without revealing all the details.

1. Identify the Key Players and the Setting

Start by establishing the story’s foundation. Who are the main characters, and what is their relationship to each other? Briefly introduce them and mention the setting where the story unfolds. This provides context for the events to follow.

2. Decipher the Driving Force: What’s the Conflict?

Every story revolves around a central conflict, a problem the protagonist faces. This could be an external challenge, like a villain or a dangerous situation, or an internal struggle, like a moral dilemma or a personal growth journey. Understanding this conflict is crucial for summarizing the story’s core.

3. Chart the Course: Major Plot Points in Sequence

Once you’ve grasped the conflict, identify the significant events that propel the story forward. These are not minor details but turning points that raise the stakes, force the protagonist to make crucial decisions, or bring them closer to resolving the conflict. Summarize these critical events in chronological order.

4. Climax: The Moment of Truth (But Keep the Resolution a Secret!)

The climax is the peak of the story’s tension, where the conflict reaches its most critical stage. Briefly describe this turning point without revealing how it’s resolved.

5. Wrap it Up: A Hint of the Outcome (Without Spoilers!)

The very end of your summary should touch upon the resolution – did the protagonist overcome the conflict? Did they achieve their goal or learn a valuable lesson? However, avoid revealing explicit details to avoid spoiling the story for those who have yet to experience it.

How To Summarize a Book

Summarizing a book requires condensing a vast amount of information into a concise and informative piece. It’s like creating a miniature version that captures the book’s essence without getting bogged down in every detail. 

1. Deep Reading and Note-Taking

Go beyond simply reading the book. Actively engage with the text by underlining key points, jotting down notes in the margins, or creating a separate document to capture your thoughts. Focus on capturing the main characters, the central conflict that drives the plot, and any significant themes explored throughout the story.

2. Break Down the Book’s Structure

Most novels follow a similar structure. The beginning introduces the main characters, setting the stage for the story’s world. The plot thickens as the central conflict emerges, propelling the characters on their journeys. 

The climax presents the most intense moment of tension, followed by a resolution that ties up loose ends or leaves room for interpretation. As you take notes, be mindful of how each part of the book builds upon the others to create a cohesive narrative.

3. Identify the Core Elements

Once you’ve finished reading and grasped the book’s structure well, it’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff. 

Ask yourself key questions:

• Who are the main characters, and what are their motivations?
• What is the central conflict that drives the plot?
• What significant events occur throughout the story, and how do they shape the characters’ journeys?
• What are the underlying themes explored by the author?

Now that you’ve identified the book’s key elements weave them together to create a concise and informative summary. 

• A brief introduction mentioning the book’s title, author, and genre.
• An introduction to the main characters and the setting.
• A description of the central conflict that propels the plot.
• A summary of the major plot points, focusing on turning points and significant events. (Avoid spoilers for major plot twists!)
• A hint about the resolution, without revealing the ending.
• Briefly touch upon the book’s central themes.

5. Refine and Polish

Proofread your summary carefully to ensure it accurately reflects the book and avoids introducing your opinions. Check for factual accuracy, grammar, and a logical flow of information. 

Your polished summary should be a self-contained piece that effectively conveys the book’s essence, leaving the reader intrigued and wanting to delve deeper.

How To Summarize a Report

Reports are dense with information, so summarizing them requires pinpointing the crucial elements and presenting them concisely. 

1. Decipher the Report’s Purpose

Before diving in, understand the report’s objective. Is it presenting research findings, analyzing a business situation, or making policy recommendations? Knowing the purpose helps you identify the most important information.

2. Follow the Map: Structure is Key

Reports typically follow a logical structure. Look for headings and subheadings that organize the content. Pay close attention to sections like:

• Introduction: This sets the stage by outlining the report’s purpose, background information, and the research question or problem being addressed.
• Methodology: This explains how the research was conducted, whether data was collected, or the analysis was performed.
• Findings: This is the heart of the report, presenting the results and key pieces of information discovered.
• Discussion: Here, the author interprets the findings, explains their significance, and draws conclusions.
• Recommendations: Based on the analysis, this section may propose solutions or suggest actions to be taken.

As you navigate the report’s structure, ask yourself critical questions to pinpoint the key elements:

• What is the main research question or problem addressed?
• What methods were used to gather data or conduct the analysis?
• What were the most significant findings from the report?
• How does the author interpret these results, and what are the main conclusions?
• Are there any recommendations or suggestions for future action?

4. Craft a Clear and Concise Summary

Once you’ve identified the essential information, weave it into a well-structured summary. 

• A brief introduction mentioning the report’s title, author, and purpose.
• A concise explanation of the research question or problem being addressed.
• A summary of the methodology used, focusing on how the information was gathered or analyzed (avoid excessive detail).
• The report’s key findings are presented clearly and concisely.
• The author’s main conclusions are based on the findings.
• If applicable, a mention of any recommendations or suggestions for future action.

5. Ensure Accuracy and Objectivity

Proofread your summary meticulously to ensure it accurately reflects the report’s content and avoids introducing your opinions or biases. Double-check for factual accuracy, grammar, and a logical flow of information.

How To Summarize an Essay

Summarizing an essay effectively is valuable for students and anyone encountering academic writing . It allows you to quickly grasp the main points and assess its argument without getting bogged down in every detail. 

1. Start With Active Reading

Make sure to do more than skim the essay. Give it a close read, underlining or highlighting key points and taking notes in the margins. Focus on capturing the central argument, the primary evidence to support it, and any counter-arguments the author addresses. 

Pay particular attention to the thesis statement, which typically appears in the introduction and encapsulates the essay’s main point.

2. Deconstruct the Essay’s Structure

Most essays follow a standard structure . The introduction sets the stage by outlining the topic, providing relevant background information, and presenting the thesis statement. The body paragraphs delve deeper, focusing on a single point supporting the thesis. 

Evidence such as facts, statistics, or quotes from credible sources bolsters the argument. The conclusion summarizes the main points and reiterates the thesis statement, sometimes offering the author’s final thoughts or implications of the argument.

3. Identify the Key Elements

Once you familiarize yourself with the essay’s structure and content, it’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff. Ask yourself critical questions:

• What is the main argument the author is trying to convey (the thesis statement)?
• What evidence does the author use to support their argument?
• Does the author acknowledge any opposing viewpoints or counter-arguments? If so, how are they addressed?

Now that you’ve identified the key elements synthesize them into a concise and informative summary. 

• A brief introduction mentioning the essay’s title and author.
• A clear statement of the essay’s main argument (the thesis statement).
• A summary of the main points used to support the thesis, focusing on the most significant evidence presented by the author.

The final step is crucial. Proofread your summary carefully to ensure it accurately reflects the essay’s content and avoids introducing your opinions or biases. Double-check for factual accuracy, grammar, and a logical flow of information. 

A well-crafted summary should be a self-contained piece that effectively conveys the essence of the essay’s argument.

Perfecting the Practice of Summarization

Learning how to summarize is a vital skill that enhances your understanding, communication, and efficiency in academia, professional settings, or daily life. 

By mastering the summarizing techniques, you become adept at distilling complex information into essential, manageable pieces. This ability saves time, deepens comprehension, and facilitates clearer, more effective communication.

As you do, you will find that your ability to extract key points from dense materials improves, as does your capacity to convey these points to others succinctly and effectively. This skill will serve you well in all aspects of your life, making you a more proficient student, a capable professional, and a clearer communicator overall.

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The Curious Life and Death of Phineas Gage: Understanding the Mystery

This essay is about Phineas Gage, a railroad foreman who survived a severe brain injury in 1848 when an iron rod pierced his skull. It examines Gage’s life after the accident, highlighting his remarkable survival and the significant personality changes he experienced. The essay also explores the cause of Gage’s death in 1860, attributed to status epilepticus, a condition likely resulting from his traumatic brain injury. Through Gage’s story, the essay discusses the early evidence of brain function localization and the long-term consequences of severe brain injuries, emphasizing both human resilience and the need for continued advancements in medical science.

How it works

Phineas Gage is a name that has echoed through the annals of medical history, synonymous with one of the most extraordinary survival stories and its profound implications for neuroscience. The story of Gage, a railroad construction foreman who survived a gruesome accident, continues to captivate and inform scientific discourse. But while his survival and subsequent behavioral changes are widely discussed, less attention is often given to the circumstances surrounding his eventual death. Understanding the cause of Gage’s death sheds light not only on his remarkable life but also on the medical understanding of his time.

In 1848, Gage was involved in an accident that would forever change his life and the study of the brain. While using a tamping iron to pack explosive powder into a rock, a spark ignited the powder, propelling the iron rod through Gage’s left cheek, behind his eye, and out through the top of his skull. Miraculously, Gage survived this ordeal and retained full consciousness immediately after the incident. However, the aftermath of the injury led to significant changes in his personality and behavior, making him a case study for understanding the brain’s role in personality and cognitive function.

For twelve years following the accident, Gage lived a relatively normal life, though markedly different from his pre-accident self. His case was extensively studied by Dr. John Martyn Harlow, the physician who treated him initially. Gage’s post-accident life took him from New England to South America, where he worked as a stagecoach driver. It was during this period that Gage displayed a notable degree of recovery, managing complex tasks and maintaining employment. His death, however, came somewhat abruptly in 1860 at the age of 36.

The immediate cause of Phineas Gage’s death was status epilepticus, a condition characterized by prolonged or repeated seizures. This condition was likely a consequence of his traumatic brain injury, which had left significant scarring and damage to his frontal lobes. In the final months of his life, Gage began to suffer from increasing frequency of seizures, which are thought to have been triggered by the neurological damage sustained from the iron rod incident. Despite the resilience he had shown for over a decade, the long-term effects of his injury ultimately led to his demise.

At the time of Gage’s death, medical understanding of epilepsy and brain injuries was limited. Today, we recognize that traumatic brain injuries can have lasting impacts, including the development of epilepsy. Modern neuroscience suggests that the iron rod’s passage through Gage’s brain likely disrupted neural circuits and left scar tissue, which could have created a focus for epileptic activity. The repeated seizures over the months before his death indicate a deteriorating neurological condition, a tragic end to his otherwise extraordinary tale of survival.

Gage’s story provides a profound insight into the resilience of the human body and the complexities of the brain. His survival and the subsequent personality changes offered early evidence that different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions, paving the way for modern neuropsychology. However, his death underscores the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries and the limits of medical intervention during his era.

The life and death of Phineas Gage continue to be a subject of fascination not only for their historical significance but also for the lessons they impart about brain function, injury, and recovery. His case exemplifies the interplay between biological resilience and vulnerability, illustrating how a single moment can alter the trajectory of a person’s life and impact medical science for generations. While his survival is often celebrated, understanding the cause of his death enriches the narrative, providing a more complete picture of this extraordinary individual and his contribution to medical history.

In retrospect, Phineas Gage’s life after his accident is a testament to human adaptability and the brain’s plasticity. Yet, his death from status epilepticus also highlights the enduring and often unseen challenges faced by individuals with severe brain injuries. His legacy, therefore, is not only one of remarkable survival but also a poignant reminder of the ongoing need for advancements in medical science to fully address the long-term impacts of such injuries.

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• Citing sources

How to Cite Sources | Citation Generator & Quick Guide

Citing your sources is essential in  academic writing . Whenever you quote or paraphrase a source (such as a book, article, or webpage), you have to include a  citation crediting the original author.

Failing to properly cite your sources counts as plagiarism , since you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

The most commonly used citation styles are APA and MLA. The free Scribbr Citation Generator is the quickest way to cite sources in these styles. Simply enter the URL, DOI, or title, and we’ll generate an accurate, correctly formatted citation.

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Table of contents

When do you need to cite sources, which citation style should you use, in-text citations, reference lists and bibliographies.

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Other useful citation tools

Citation examples and full guides, frequently asked questions about citing sources.

Citations are required in all types of academic texts. They are needed for several reasons:

• To avoid plagiarism by indicating when you’re taking information from another source
• To give proper credit to the author of that source
• To allow the reader to consult your sources for themselves

A citation is needed whenever you integrate a source into your writing. This usually means quoting or paraphrasing:

• To quote a source , copy a short piece of text word for word and put it inside quotation marks .
• To paraphrase a source , put the text into your own words. It’s important that the paraphrase is not too close to the original wording. You can use the paraphrasing tool if you don’t want to do this manually.

Citations are needed whether you quote or paraphrase, and whatever type of source you use. As well as citing scholarly sources like books and journal articles, don’t forget to include citations for any other sources you use for ideas, examples, or evidence. That includes websites, YouTube videos , and lectures .

Scribbr Citation Checker New

The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

• Missing commas and periods
• Incorrect usage of “et al.”
• Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
• Missing reference entries

Usually, your institution (or the journal you’re submitting to) will require you to follow a specific citation style, so check your guidelines or ask your instructor.

In some cases, you may have to choose a citation style for yourself. Make sure to pick one style and use it consistently:

• APA Style is widely used in the social sciences and beyond.
• MLA style is common in the humanities.
• Chicago notes and bibliography , common in the humanities
• Chicago author-date , used in the (social) sciences
• There are many other citation styles for different disciplines.

If in doubt, check with your instructor or read other papers from your field of study to see what style they follow.

In most styles, your citations consist of:

• Brief in-text citations at the relevant points in the text
• A reference list or bibliography containing full information on all the sources you’ve cited

In-text citations most commonly take the form of parenthetical citations featuring the last name of the source’s author and its year of publication (aka author-date citations).

An alternative to this type of in-text citation is the system used in numerical citation styles , where a number is inserted into the text, corresponding to an entry in a numbered reference list.

There are also note citation styles , where you place your citations in either footnotes or endnotes . Since they’re not embedded in the text itself, these citations can provide more detail and sometimes aren’t accompanied by a full reference list or bibliography.

A reference list (aka “Bibliography” or “Works Cited,” depending on the style) is where you provide full information on each of the sources you’ve cited in the text. It appears at the end of your paper, usually with a hanging indent applied to each entry.

The information included in reference entries is broadly similar, whatever citation style you’re using. For each source, you’ll typically include the:

• Author name
• Publication date
• Container (e.g., the book an essay was published in, the journal an article appeared in)
• Location (e.g., a URL or DOI , or sometimes a physical location)

The exact information included varies depending on the source type and the citation style. The order in which the information appears, and how you format it (e.g., capitalization, use of italics) also varies.

Most commonly, the entries in your reference list are alphabetized by author name. This allows the reader to easily find the relevant entry based on the author name in your in-text citation.

In numerical citation styles, the entries in your reference list are numbered, usually based on the order in which you cite them. The reader finds the right entry based on the number that appears in the text.

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Because each style has many small differences regarding things like italicization, capitalization , and punctuation , it can be difficult to get every detail right. Using a citation generator can save you a lot of time and effort.

Scribbr offers citation generators for both APA and MLA style. Both are quick, easy to use, and 100% free, with no ads and no registration required.

Just input a URL or DOI or add the source details manually, and the generator will automatically produce an in-text citation and reference entry in the correct format. You can save your reference list as you go and download it when you’re done, and even add annotations for an annotated bibliography .

Once you’ve prepared your citations, you might still be unsure if they’re correct and if you’ve used them appropriately in your text. This is where Scribbr’s other citation tools and services may come in handy:

Plagiarism Checker

Citation Checker

Citation Editing

Plagiarism means passing off someone else’s words or ideas as your own. It’s a serious offense in academia. Universities use plagiarism checking software to scan your paper and identify any similarities to other texts.

When you’re dealing with a lot of sources, it’s easy to make mistakes that could constitute accidental plagiarism. For example, you might forget to add a citation after a quote, or paraphrase a source in a way that’s too close to the original text.

Using a plagiarism checker yourself before you submit your work can help you spot these mistakes before they get you in trouble. Based on the results, you can add any missing citations and rephrase your text where necessary.

Try out the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker for free, or check out our detailed comparison of the best plagiarism checkers available online.

Scribbr Plagiarism Checker

Scribbr’s Citation Checker is a unique AI-powered tool that automatically detects stylistic errors and inconsistencies in your in-text citations. It also suggests a correction for every mistake.

Currently available for APA Style, this is the fastest and easiest way to make sure you’ve formatted your citations correctly. You can try out the tool for free below.

If you need extra help with your reference list, we also offer a more in-depth Citation Editing Service.

Our experts cross-check your in-text citations and reference entries, make sure you’ve included the correct information for each source, and improve the formatting of your reference page.

If you want to handle your citations yourself, Scribbr’s free Knowledge Base provides clear, accurate guidance on every aspect of citation. You can see citation examples for a variety of common source types below:

And you can check out our comprehensive guides to the most popular citation styles:

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (Latin for “and others”) is used to shorten citations of sources with multiple authors.

“Et al.” is used in APA in-text citations of sources with 3+ authors, e.g. (Smith et al., 2019). It is not used in APA reference entries .

Use “et al.” for 3+ authors in MLA in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

Use “et al.” for 4+ authors in a Chicago in-text citation , and for 10+ authors in a Chicago bibliography entry.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

MLA Style  is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

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Trent Robinson backs Wayne Bennett's call for NRL to overhaul sin bin usage citing integrity issues

Sport Trent Robinson backs Wayne Bennett's call for NRL to overhaul sin bin usage citing integrity issues

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has backed Wayne Bennett in calling for an overhaul of the NRL's use of the sin bin.

Speaking after two opposition players were binned against his side at the weekend, Robinson believes the league may have "overcorrected".

What's next?

Robinson's fourth-placed Roosters will face the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

Trent Robinson has joined Wayne Bennett in calling for an overhaul of the NRL's use of the sin bin, claiming the sport must try to maintain the integrity of the game. 

Adam Doueihi and Apsiai Koroisau were both binned against Robinson's Sydney Roosters on Sunday night, at one stage leaving Wests Tigers with 11 men.

Together, the pair became the 70th and 71st players sin-binned in the opening 17 rounds of the season.

The issue prompted Bennett to last week urge the NRL to only use the sin bin for professional fouls, and leave dangerous play in the hands of the match review committee.

Robinson himself fears that contests are being ruined with the current rate of sin bins.

"It changes the course of the game completely," Robinson said.

"That was the debate Wayne started a few days ago with some really good, honest discussion with the use of the bin and the use of weeks out.

"We want to keep the integrity of the game."

Robinson was most questionable of Koroisau's sin binning, after the Tigers captain spent time off the field for a dangerous throw on Lindsay Collins.

Beyond abolishing the sin bin for dangerous play, other options include a five-minute sin bin or allowing the offending player to return if the opposition scores.

Regardless, Robinson said it was something that needed to be discussed by the NRL, with the surge in sin bins since the 2021 crackdown.

"It benefited my team tonight but from a game perspective, it's more about what should happen to keep our game going," Robinson said. 

"Then the match review [committee] has to do a good job in stamping those [tackles] out because we don't want players getting grabbed between the legs.

"I don't think anybody's trying to get it wrong, it's just we're trying to get player safety up, which is really good for our game.

"But we've got to ask the question, 'have we overcorrected?'

"How do we keep the contest in the game and deal with it [through suspensions] afterwards?"

Tigers coach Benji Marshall labelled Koroisau's binning a 50-50 call, but was more frustrated by Doueihi landing in hot water for a hip-drop tackle on Dom Young.

"I don't know what he's supposed to do," Marshall said.

"Sol [Faataape] puts on a good shot, sends [Young] backwards and Doueihi is just underneath him. It was a bit harsh.

"And Api's one could have gone either way.

"It's hard to know. It's a lottery at the moment and we seem to be on the wrong end of it."

Canberra mentor Ricky Stuart also labelled the NRL's officiating of set restarts as a "guessing game" on Saturday night, while interim Parramatta coach Trent Barrett also claimed his side was continuously on the wrong end.

The ABC of SPORT

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Democrats are talking about replacing Joe Biden. That wouldn't be so easy.

President Joe Biden's performance in the first debate Thursday has sparked a new round of criticism from Democrats , as well as public and private musing about whether he should remain at the top of the ticket.

In the modern era, a national party has never tried to adversarially replace its nominee, in part, because knows it would most likely fail. The issue came before both parties in 2016, but neither took action.

Party rules make it almost impossible to replace nominees without their consent, let alone smoothly replace them with someone else. And doing so would amount to party insiders’ overturning the results of primaries when Democratic voters overwhelmingly to nominate Biden. He won almost 99% of all delegates.

And at the moment, there’s no known, serious effort to push him off the top of the ticket.

Still, the Democratic National Committee's charter does make some provisions in case the party’s nominee is incapacitated or opts to step aside, and an anti-Biden coup at the convention is theoretically possible, if highly unlikely. So how would it work?

What happens if Biden drops out before the convention?

The only plausible scenario for Democrats to get a new nominee would be for Biden to decide to withdraw, which he has sworn off repeatedly during other bumpy stretches of his campaign.  

He could do so while serving out the rest of his term in the White House, as Lyndon Johnson did in 1968. 

If Biden were to drop out before he is scheduled to be formally nominated in August, it would create a free-for-all among Democrats, because there’s no mechanism for him or anyone else to anoint a chosen successor.

It takes a majority of the roughly 4,000 pledged delegates to win the party’s nomination. Biden’s won 3,900 of them. Under recent reforms, the party’s more than 700 superdelegates — Democratic lawmakers and dignitaries — are allowed to vote only if no one wins a majority of pledged delegates on the first ballot, so their votes could be crucial in a contested convention. 

Because Biden's opponents all won effectively no delegates throughout the Democratic nominating process, there'd be a virtual clean slate heading into the convention, and the decision would most likely come down to the convention delegates who were initially pledged to Biden.

Biden would have some influence over his pledged delegates, but ultimately, they can vote as they please, so candidates would most likely campaign aggressively to win over each individual delegate.

However, there's a potentially important wrinkle: Democrats plan to formally nominate Biden virtually ahead of the late-August convention to sidestep any potential concerns about ballo t access in Ohio, where a technical quirk has complicated things

Democrats decided to plan a virtual nomination for Biden after Ohio Republicans balked at passing pro forma legislation that would allow Biden to be on the ballot, even though the convention falls after a state deadline. But while Republicans passed a law to shift the deadline, Democrats decided to move forward with a virtual nomination nonetheless.

Could Democrats replace Biden against his will?

There’s no evidence the party would entertain a change without Biden’s consent. But even if it did, there’s no mechanism for it to replace a candidate before the convention, and certainly no way for it to anoint a chosen successor.

If large swaths of the Democratic Party lost faith in Biden, delegates to the national convention could theoretically defect en masse. Of course, they were chosen to be delegates because of their loyalty to Biden and have pledged to support him at the convention.

But, unlike many Republican delegates, Democratic delegates aren’t technically bound to their candidate. DNC rules allow delegates to “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” providing some wiggle room.

The party’s charter does include provisions to replace the nominee in the event of a vacancy. The measure is intended to be used in case of death, resignation or incapacitation, not to replace someone who has no desire to step down.

That was the measure that Donna Brazile, then the interim DNC chair, considered invoking after Hillary Clinton collapsed two months before the 2016 election, she wrote in her memoir .

In her memoir, released a year later, Brazile wrote that she was worried “not just about Hillary’s health but about her anemic campaign ... so lacking in the spirit of fight.” 

“Perhaps changing the candidate was a chance to win this thing, to change the playing field in a way that would send Donald Trump scrambling and unable to catch up,” she wrote, adding that aides to other would-be candidates contacted her, including then-Vice President Biden’s chief of staff.

But after less than 24 hours of consideration, Brazile realized the idea was untenable without Clinton’s cooperation and likely to only divide her party further. “I could not make good on my threat to replace her," she wrote.

Current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is a longtime Biden ally who serves, essentially, at the pleasure of the president. And the national party has certainly given no indication it’s anything but fully behind his re-election.  

What happens if Biden withdraws after the convention?

To fill a vacancy on the national ticket, the chair can call a “special meeting” of the full DNC, which includes about 500 members. On paper, at least, all it takes is a majority vote of those present to pick new presidential and vice presidential nominees. But that process would most likely be anything but smooth and be filled with behind-the-scenes jockeying and public pressure campaigns. 

If a vacancy were to occur close to the November election, however, it could raise constitutional, legal and practical concerns. Among other issues, ballots have to be printed well in advance of the election, and it might not be possible to change them in time.

Would Kamala Harris replace Biden?

If Biden were to relinquish the presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris would automatically become president — but not the Democratic Party’s nominee. Nor would she necessarily be the nominee if Biden withdrew from his re-election bid while he remained in the White House.

She might be politically favored, but party rules give the vice president no major mechanical benefit over other candidates. 

Biden’s delegates wouldn’t automatically transfer to Harris, and the convention holds separate votes on nominees for president and vice president. So she would still need to win a majority of delegates at the convention. 

If the top of the ticket were vacated after the convention, she would still need to win a majority of votes at the special meeting of the DNC.

That is all, at least, under current party rules. But a vacancy at the top of the ticket is the kind of dramatic moment that might lead party leaders to revisit them in the name of easing the transition. Harris has some close allies in key places at the DNC, including a co-chair of the party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee. But nothing would be likely to happen without a fight.

Ben Kamisar is a national political reporter for NBC News.

Alex Seitz-Wald is a senior politics reporter for NBC News.