If your school or institution requires you to use the MLA style guide, it’s really important that you stick to that, as deviation could get your academic essays or reports marked down.
An important aspect of the MLA style guide is citing your references in the correct format. But sometimes you can hit a bump in the road when you’re not sure how to cite certain sources.
If you’re trying to cite a manual or handbook in the MLA referencing style, this is the guide for you. Below you’ll find everything you need to know!
A common stumbling block that students find when trying to reference handbooks or manuals is that they often don’t come with the author(s) specified.
When a handbook or manual doesn’t have a specific author named, instead reference the organization that produced the handbook in the Author section.
If the handbook or manual is an unpublished work (click here to find out whether it’s published or unpublished) put the title in quotation marks. If it doesn’t have a title, give a brief description of the document in that space.
Where possible, include the date in the reference. If the document isn’t dated, leave that section blank.
At the end of the reference, include the format of the manual or handbook (eg PDF).
Here are some examples:
Crystal Hotels. “Working at Heights.” Aug. 2015. PDF.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
Arkansas Real Estate. Employee Handbook. PDF.
Kooky Katerpillars. “Brand Guidelines.” Dec. 2021. Typescript.
Lisa Masters Beauty Studio. Creating the Perfect Pink. Typescript.
Proofed is a proofreading and editing service for students and academics.
With Proofed, you’ll get dedicated editors who will review your work to make sure it’s accurate, clear, concise, in the correct tone, perfectly formatted, and free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
With proofreading taken from your shoulders, you can focus on getting those all-important top marks!
Get 500 words of your work proofread and edited for free by Proofed.
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...