Language & Literature

MLA Quiz: Check Your Formatting and Citation Skills

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This MLA quiz helps you practice in-text citations, page layout, headings, and Works Cited so you can catch issues before you turn in a paper. Get instant results with brief tips on each question, and build confidence for real assignments. For targeted practice, try the Beowulf MLA citation quiz or the MLA letter format quiz.

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1What font and size does MLA recommend for academic papers?
2What margin size is standard in MLA format?
3How should the title 'Works Cited' appear on the reference page?
4What line spacing is required throughout an MLA-formatted paper?
5Where should the page number appear in an MLA paper?
6In what order should entries be listed on the Works Cited page?
7How should you format the second and subsequent lines of a Works Cited entry?
8How should you format the student information header on the first page of an MLA paper?
9How should you format the title of your paper in MLA style?
10How do you format an in-text citation for a source with two authors in MLA style?
11When incorporating a quotation longer than four lines in MLA format, how should you format it?
12Which of the following elements is NOT required in an MLA 8th edition Works Cited entry for an online journal article?
13In MLA 8th edition, what term describes the larger work that contains a source?
14Which of the following titles should be italicized in MLA format?
15Where should the period be placed in relation to the closing parenthesis of an in-text citation?
16How should you cite a website in-text when no author is given?
17What element should appear first in a standard MLA Works Cited entry?
18Which information is essential when citing a tweet in MLA format?
19If a source has no page numbers, how should you format the in-text citation in MLA?
20How do you format multiple Works Cited entries by the same author?
21How should you cite a personal interview you conducted in MLA format?
22What is the correct order of elements for citing a film in MLA format?
23How should you cite a classical work like The Iliad in MLA in-text citations?
24In an MLA Works Cited entry for a journal article accessed through a database, where should the DOI or URL appear?
25How do you cite a poem from an anthology in MLA Works Cited?
26When a source appears in two containers, such as an article in an anthology published online, which order should you list them in MLA Works Cited?
27How do you cite a YouTube video in MLA format?
28How should you cite a podcast episode in MLA Works Cited?
29Which format is correct for citing a piece of visual art in MLA style?
30How do you cite a private email correspondence in MLA Works Cited?
Learning Goals

Study Outcomes

  1. Apply MLA In-Text Citation Rules -

    Demonstrate correct use of parenthetical and narrative citations by matching authors and page numbers to quoted or paraphrased material.

  2. Format a Works Cited Entry -

    Create properly ordered and punctuated Works Cited entries for books, articles, and online sources according to MLA guidelines.

  3. Identify Common MLA Formatting Errors -

    Spot and correct mistakes in margins, headings, title placement, and font style to ensure compliance with MLA style quiz standards.

  4. Differentiate Source Types -

    Distinguish between formatting requirements for various sources - such as journals, websites, and multimedia - to apply accurate citation conventions.

  5. Evaluate Citation Accuracy -

    Assess sample citations to determine if they adhere to MLA format, boosting your confidence and precision when completing a mla quiz.

Study Guide

Cheat Sheet

  1. Author-Page In-Text Citations -

    MLA's author-page method requires the author's last name and page number in parentheses, e.g., (Smith 45). This concise format, outlined in the MLA Handbook and Purdue OWL, keeps your prose smooth and verifiable. Use the "A - P" mnemonic (Author - Page) to lock in this rule before your next mla quiz.

  2. Structuring the Works Cited Page -

    Begin your Works Cited list on a new page titled "Works Cited," double-spaced, with hanging indents of 0.5" (MLA Handbook 9th ed.). Alphabetize entries by authors' last names and use a consistent format: Author. "Title." Container, Publisher, Year. A quick tip: think "A - T - C - P - Y" (Author, Title, Container, Publisher, Year).

  3. Italics vs. Quotation Marks for Titles -

    Italicize standalone works like books and films (e.g., To Kill a Mockingbird) and use quotation marks for shorter pieces like articles or poems (e.g., "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"). Purdue OWL's guidelines emphasize clarity: Big works get italics, small works get quotes. Remember "Big Italics, Small Quotes" for quiz success.

  4. Citing Multiple Authors and Containers -

    For two authors, list both names (Smith and Jones 78); for three or more, use Smith et al. 102 (MLA Handbook). When a source is part of a larger container (like a chapter in an anthology), include both titles: "Chapter Title." Anthology Title, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pp. 50 - 65. This layered approach is often tested on an mla format quiz.

  5. Handling Digital and Web Sources -

    Include author, webpage title in quotes, website name in italics, publisher (if available), publication date, URL, and access date if no publication date exists. For example: Doe, Jane. "MLA Tips." WritingCenter.org, 12 Mar. 2021, www.writingcenter.org/mla-tips. Follow MLA guidelines to ensure your digital citations are as precise as print sources.

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Updated Feb 21, 2026