Handling Titles Beginning with An or The on Works Cited Pages

When creating a Works Cited page, it is essential to properly alphabetize the titles of your sources. One common issue that arises is how to handle titles that begin with articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” In this article, we will explore the guidelines provided by the Modern Language Association (MLA) and other reliable sources to address this matter accurately.

Ignoring Initial Articles

According to the MLA Style Center, when alphabetizing titles on a Works Cited page, it is necessary to ignore any initial articles, including “A,” “An,” or “The” (or their equivalents in other languages) (MLA Style Center). This rule applies in cases where you have multiple titles by the same author or when there is no author listed, and the entry begins with a title (“How do I alphabetize a title that starts with a number in my works-cited list? | MLA Style Center”).

To further clarify, let’s consider an example. Suppose you have a title like “The Civil War in American Literature.” Following the MLA guidelines, you would ignore the initial article “The” and alphabetize the title based on the subsequent word, in this case, “Civil” (MLA Style Center).

Treating Numbers in Titles

Another aspect to consider is how to handle titles that start with a number. In such cases, it is recommended to treat the number as if it were spelled out. For instance, if you have titles like “1984” or “2 + 2 = 5,” you would alphabetize them as “Nineteen Eighty-Four” and “Two plus Two Equals Five,” respectively (Otis College LibGuides).

Alphabetical Order

In terms of the overall alphabetical order of the Works Cited list, the general practice is to arrange it alphabetically by the first word in the citation. Typically, this refers to the author’s last name. However, if the author’s name is unknown, you would instead alphabetize by the first word in the title, disregarding the articles “a,” “an,” or “the” (Otis College LibGuides).

Conclusion

In conclusion, when creating a Works Cited page, it is important to follow the guidelines provided by the MLA and other reputable sources. Remember to ignore initial articles like “A,” “An,” or “The” when alphabetizing titles. Treat numbers as if they were spelled out, and ensure that your Works Cited list is arranged in alphabetical order. By adhering to these guidelines, you can accurately alphabetize titles and create a well-organized Works Cited page.

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FAQs

Handling Titles Beginning with An or The on Works Cited Pages

How should I handle titles that begin with “A,” “An,” or “The” when alphabetizing on a Works Cited page?

According to MLA guidelines, you should ignore initial articles like “A,” “An,” or “The” when alphabetizing titles on a Works Cited page. Instead, alphabetize the title based on the subsequent word.

Are there any exceptions to ignoring initial articles in titles?

No, the rule of ignoring initial articles applies universally when alphabetizing titles on a Works Cited page, regardless of the content or context of the title.

How should I handle titles that start with a number when alphabetizing on a Works Cited page?

Titles that start with a number should be treated as if the number were spelled out. For example, the title “1984” should be alphabetized as “Nineteen Eighty-Four.”

What if the author’s name is unknown for a source? How should I alphabetize the title?



If the author’s name is unknown, alphabetize the title by the first word, ignoring any initial articles like “A,” “An,” or “The.”

Can I use other languages in titles on a Works Cited page?

Yes, you can use titles in other languages on a Works Cited page. When alphabetizing, follow the same rules of ignoring initial articles and treating numbers as if they were spelled out, regardless of the language used.

Should I capitalize the initial articles in titles when they are not ignored?

Yes, when the initial articles are not ignored, they should be capitalized according to the standard rules of title capitalization. For example, “The Catcher in the Rye” should be alphabetized as “Catcher in the Rye, The.”

What if a title begins with an article other than “A,” “An,” or “The”?

If a title begins with an article other than “A,” “An,” or “The,” you should follow the same rule of ignoring the initial article when alphabetizing on a Works Cited page.

Are there any specific guidelines for handling subtitles or colons in titles?



When alphabetizing titles, ignore the subtitles or colons and focus on the first significant word. For example, the title “The Great Gatsby: A Novel” would be alphabetized as “Great Gatsby, The.”