Conquer the Washington Post: An MLA Citation Adventure (Without the Tears)
Let's face it, citations can be a total drag. Especially when you're staring down an article from the Washington Post (a fantastic newspaper, by the way), and MLA format is looming like a punctuation-obsessed monster. Fear not, fellow scholars! This guide will turn you into an MLA master, Washington Post edition.
How To Mla Cite The Washington Post |
Step 1: Assemble Your Citation Squad (a.k.a. Information Gathering)
First things first, you gotta grab some intel. Here's what you need to snag from your Washington Post article:
- The Author(s): This might be listed at the beginning of the article or byline. If it's a mystery, don't fret! We'll handle that later.
- The Article Title: It's the catchy headline that reels you in (like, how can you resist clicking on an article titled "Baby Panda Discovered Napping in Keeper's Lunchbox"?).
- The Publication Date: This is usually tucked away somewhere near the title or at the very bottom.
- The Page Number(s): For print editions, this is easy. Online, you might need to do a little detective work – some articles display page numbers while others, well, don't.
Remember: Note down any weird formatting, like sections or editions (early vs. late). These little details can be MLA lifesavers.
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.
Step 2: Craft Your Citation Masterpiece
Now comes the moment of truth! Here's the basic MLA format for a Washington Post article:
- Author Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. "Title of Article: Subtitle if Any." The Washington Post, Date of Publication, Section:Page Number(s).
For Example:
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
- Lewis, David A. "Baby Panda Discovered Napping in Keeper's Lunchbox." The Washington Post, 14 May 2024, Style: F4.
Important Note: If there's no author, start your citation with the article title in quotation marks.
Bonus Tip: Feeling fancy? You can also include a retrieved-from note with the URL for the online version.
Tip: Focus on clarity, not speed.
Step 3: Celebrate Your Victory (and Maybe Share That Panda Article)
You did it! You conquered the Washington Post citation. Now, go forth and spread your MLA knowledge (and maybe that adorable panda story) to the world!
Feeling a Little Lost?
No worries, we've got you covered with some quick FAQs:
Tip: Read the whole thing before forming an opinion.
How to cite a Washington Post article with multiple authors? Just list the authors' last names, separated by commas, then a "and" before the last author's name. (Example: Smith, John, Jane Doe, and Michael Jones.)
How to cite a Washington Post article with no page numbers?
If you're online and there are no page numbers, omit the page number section in your citation.
How to cite an editorial or opinion piece?
After the title, add "Editorial" or "Opinion" in brackets.
How to cite an article from a specific section?
Include the section name and colon before the page number. (Example: Style:F4)
How to cite a Washington Post article in a different format (like APA)? There's a whole MLA vs. APA battle out there, but fret not! Citation generators and online guides can be your MLA-to-APA bridge.