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MLA Style Guide, 7th Edition: Volume/Issue

This is a guide for MLA Style. It is based on the Modern Language Association of America's MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition.

Volumes and Issues (Works Cited)

Books (in multivolume sets)   

For one volume of a multivolume set, give the number of the volume in this format, "Vol. 2." Give the publication information for that volume.

For two or more volumes of a multivolume set, cite the total number of volumes as "3 vols." Give the publication information for the set.

Place references to specific volumes or page numbers in the text of your document (5.5.14).

Examples:

Scott, Leroy. Parenteral nutrition. Clinical Nutrition 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Place: Publisher, 2011. Print.

Kyle, Philip. People and Places. 5 vols. Place: Publisher, 2003. Print.

 

Journals (5.4.2)

Both volume and issue numbers are required in references to scholarly journal articles, if present. Not all journals have volume numbers.

The volume number follows the title of the journal. Give the volume number. Add a 'period' and the issue number(s) directly after the volume number.

Examples:

"Journal of Marketing & Management in Healthcare 3.4 (2010): 239-40. Print." (signifies volume 3, issue 4)

"Kansas Quarterly 13.3-4 (1981):" (signifies volume 13, combined issues 3 and 4)

"Representations 98 (2007): 1-24." (signifies issue 98 with no volume number)

"Profession (2000): 191-217." (signifies an annual published once a year)

 

Magazines (5.4.6)

Citations for magazines do not require volume and issue numbers, even if they are present. Give the date of publication immediately following the publication title.

For magazines published daily or weekly, give the complete date.

Kachka, Boris. "The Confident Artist." New York 2008 Apr. 7: 67-8. Print.

 For magazines published monthly , give the month(s) and year.

Spencer, Rochelle. "She Is Ready." Poets and Writers May-June 2011:44+. Print. 

    

Newspapers (5.4.5)

Citations for newspapers do not require volume and issue numbers, even if they are present. Give the complete date of publication immediately following the publication title.

New York Times 10 Dec. 2006, late ed. sec. 11: 1+.