How is an anthology different from a book with an editor?

An anthology is a collection of works by multiple authors, while an edited book may contain different types of materials compiled by an editor.

Do I cite the individual author or the anthology editor?

Cite the individual author of the specific work you're using, with editor information in parentheses.

What information do I need about the individual work?

Include the author, work title, anthology title, editors, publisher, year, and page range of the work.

How to Cite an Anthology in MLA Format

Understanding Anthology Citations in MLA Format

Anthologies are collections of works by multiple authors compiled by one or more editors. These collections might include poems, short stories, essays, speeches, or academic articles. Proper citation of anthology works requires identifying both the individual author and the collection context.

MLA format for individual works in anthologies includes the original author’s name, the work title, the anthology title, editor information, publisher details, and page range. This format allows readers to locate the specific work within the larger collection.

MLA Format for Works in Anthologies

Author Last Name, First Name. “Work Title.” Anthology Title, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. page range.

Example:

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Scarlet Letter Preface." *American Gothic Short Stories*, edited by Charles Robinson, Dover Publications, 2009, pp. 3-20.

Detailed Citation Elements

Original Author Name

List the author of the individual work (not the anthology editor).

Work Title

The individual work title appears in quotation marks.

Anthology Title

The anthology title is italicized in title case.

Editor Information

Include “edited by” followed by the editor’s name (First Last).

Publisher and Year

Include the anthology’s publisher and publication year.

Page Range

Specify the pages where the work appears using “pp.” format.

Detailed Examples

Poetry in Anthology

Dickinson, Emily. "Hope is the Thing with Feathers." *The Complete American Poetry Collection*, edited by Donald Hall, Library of America, 2016, pp. 405-406.

Essay in Edited Collection

hooks, bell. "Eating the Other." *Black Looks: Race and Representation*, edited by bell hooks, South End Press, 1992, pp. 21-39.

Short Story in Anthology

Oates, Joyce Carol. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" *The Best American Short Stories 2000*, edited by Meghan O'Flynn, Houghton Mifflin, 2000, pp. 234-250.

Academic Article in Collection

Smith, John. "Quantum Computing Fundamentals." *Advanced Computing Technologies*, edited by Margaret Chen and Robert Williams, Academic Press, 2022, pp. 145-178.

In-Text Citations for Anthology Works

Use the original author’s name and page number:

(Hawthorne 5)

Or use the work title if the author is mentioned in your text:

(“The Scarlet Letter Preface” 8)

Special Cases in Anthology Citation

Translated Work in Anthology

García Márquez, Gabriel. "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings." *Latin American Literature: Voices and Visions*, translated by Gregory Rabassa, edited by Elena Poniatowska, Penguin Classics, 2015, pp. 67-76.

Anthology with Multiple Editors

Thoreau, Henry David. "Civil Disobedience." *American Philosophy: Essential Thinkers and Texts*, edited by John Lachs, Richard Talbot, and Sarah Morgan, McGraw-Hill, 2019, pp. 289-315.

Introduction or Preface by Editor

Morrison, Toni. "Introduction." *The Best of American Essays 2015*, edited by Toni Morrison, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015, pp. ix-xii.

Using GenText for Anthology Management

Managing citations from multiple anthologies and collections requires careful tracking. GenText helps by:

Formatting anthology citations in proper MLA style
Tracking individual authors and editors
Managing page ranges and publication information
Organizing works by original author or anthology
Converting between citation styles
Generating works cited entries
Maintaining relationships between works and collections

Common Mistakes with Anthology Citations

Citing the editor instead of original author: Use the original author of the individual work.
Omitting “edited by” information: Always include editor names.
Incorrect page range format: Use “pp.” for multiple pages.
Missing quotation marks around work titles: Individual works need quotation marks.
Confusing work title with anthology title: Distinguish between the two clearly.

Checklist for Anthology Citations

Original author name is first in the citation
Work title is in quotation marks
Anthology title is italicized
Editor name follows “edited by”
Publisher name is correct
Publication year is accurate
Page range is complete
Punctuation follows MLA format

Finding Anthology Information

To gather citation information from an anthology:

Check the title page for editor names
Note the anthology’s publication information
Find the exact page range of the individual work
Verify the original author’s name
Confirm the anthology publication year

Understanding Anthology Types

Different anthology types may have specific citation considerations:

Literary Anthologies: Collections of poems, stories, essays
Academic Anthologies: Collections of scholarly articles
Topical Anthologies: Collections focused on a specific theme
Chronological Anthologies: Collections organized by time period
Best Of Anthologies: Collections of selected works from a field

Anthologies are valuable sources that bring together important works and provide scholarly context. Proper citation acknowledges both the original author and the collection’s editorial work.