Authors

This section will cover how to format single, multiple, and no authors when citing in MLA. For any other questions on how to format authors in MLA, visit Purdue OWL’s MLA Works Cited Page: Books and scroll to Book With More Than One Author. 

One Author

For a single author, list the last name of the author, then their first name. A comma is placed after the author’s last name, and a period is placed after the author’s first name. 

Tracy, Olivia. “‘A Movable Object:’ Props and Possibility in Writing Consultations.” Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, 2021, pp. 50-60. https://www.praxisuwc.com/182-tracy 

Two Authors

For two authors, list the first author by last and first name, separated by a comma and an “and.” Then, write the second author as first name and last name. 

Bell, Katrina, and Jennifer Hewerdine. “Creating a Community of Learnings: Affinity Groups and Informal Graduate Writing Support.” Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, vol. 14, no. 1, 2016, pp. 50-5. https://www.praxisuwc.com/bell-141. 

Three or More Authors

For three or more authors, first list the first author on the source, followed by a comma, then the phrase “et al” (which means “and others” for additional others), then finally a period. 

Zuccarelli, Joseph, et al. “Measuring the Effect of Writing Center Visits on Student Performance.” Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, vol. 19, no. 3, 2022, pp. 3-10. https://www.praxisuwc.com/193-zuccarelli-et-al. 

Unknown Author

If the source does not have an author, start the citation with the title of the work. Only use Anonymous if the author is listed as Anonymous. 

How to Survive an Encounter with an Ostrich. Wikihow, 2024, https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-an-Encounter-with-an-Ostrich. Accessed 18 March 2025.