Should MLA Citations Be in Alphabetical Order? A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to formatting your works cited page in MLA (Modern Language Association) style, one question that often arises is: should MLA citations be in alphabetical order? This is an important aspect of organizing your references, and understanding the rules will help you create a polished and properly formatted bibliography. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the reasoning behind this rule and provide clear steps to help you create an effective, alphabetized MLA works cited list.

1. Why MLA Citations Are Alphabetized

In MLA style, citations on your works cited page must be listed alphabetically by the author's last name. The reason for this is simple: alphabetical order helps readers quickly locate the source they need. MLA style is designed for ease of access and consistency, ensuring that anyone reading your work can easily find the corresponding reference without confusion.

2. How to Alphabetize Your Citations

To alphabetize your MLA citations, follow these steps:

1. Step 1: Identify the author’s last name in each citation. If there’s no author, move to the title of the work.
   
2. Step 2: List the sources alphabetically based on the first letter of the author's last name or the first significant word of the title.
   
3. Step 3: When sorting, treat "A," "An," and "The" as if they don’t exist. For example, “The Catcher in the Rye” would be alphabetized under “C” for Catcher, not “T” for The.
   
4. Step 4: If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the oldest publication.
   
5. Step 5: For sources with multiple authors, list the first author’s last name alphabetically. When alphabetizing, treat the first author’s surname as the main point of reference, followed by the first letter of the second author’s last name.
   

3. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While alphabetizing MLA citations might seem straightforward, there are a few common mistakes to watch out for:

1. Ignoring multiple authors: If your citation lists more than one author, make sure to alphabetize it based on the first author’s last name.
   
2. Skipping over citation formats: Different source types (books, articles, online sources, etc.) have unique citation formats. Ensure that you’re consistent in your formatting according to MLA style guidelines.
   
3. Alphabetizing titles with articles: As mentioned earlier, titles starting with “The,” “A,” or “An” should be alphabetized by the first significant word. Ensure that you're following this rule to maintain accuracy.
   

FAQ: MLA Citations in Alphabetical Order

Q1: Do all MLA citations need to be in alphabetical order?
Yes, all citations in the works cited list should be in alphabetical order, based on the author's last name or the title if no author is available.

Q2: Can I list sources in any order as long as I group them by type?
No, MLA citations must be alphabetized across the entire works cited page. The works cited page is meant to provide a uniform, easy-to-follow list for readers.

Q3: What if a citation has multiple authors?
If a source has multiple authors, alphabetize it by the first author’s last name, followed by the second author, and so on.

Q4: How do I deal with titles starting with “The”?
Ignore “The” when alphabetizing. For example, “The Great Gatsby” would be listed under “G” for “Great.”