Handling Titles Beginning with An or The on Works Cited Pages

When constructing a Works Cited page in MLA style, it is essential to correctly alphabetize titles. One common concern is how to handle titles that begin with “An” or “The.” This expert article will provide comprehensive guidance on this matter, drawing information from reputable sources such as SNHU Library Frequently Asked Questions, Otis College LibGuides, and John Cabot University Library Guides.

Ignoring Initial Articles: Guidelines for Alphabetizing Titles

According to SNHU Library Frequently Asked Questions, it is important to ignore initial articles like “A,” “An,” or “The” when alphabetizing titles on a Works Cited page (SNHU Library FAQs). This rule applies in cases where there are multiple titles by the same author or when there is no author and the works cited entry begins with a title (SNHU Library FAQs).

The Otis College LibGuides further emphasize the practice of ignoring initial articles. When alphabetizing titles, it is recommended to disregard words such as “a,” “an,” or “the” at the beginning of the title. Instead, alphabetize the title based on the first significant word after the initial article (Otis College LibGuides).

Formatting Titles: Italicizing and Enclosing in Quotation Marks

In MLA style, John Cabot University Library Guides state that titles of full works, including books, audiovisual material, websites, newspapers, magazines, and journals, should be italicized (John Cabot University Library Guides). On the other hand, titles of parts of works, such as articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals, essays, poems, short stories, or chapter titles from a book, and chapters or sections of an Internet document, should be enclosed in quotation marks (John Cabot University Library Guides).

Summary of Guidelines

To summarize the guidelines for handling titles that begin with “An” or “The” on a Works Cited page:

1. Ignore the initial articles “A,” “An,” or “The” when alphabetizing titles.
2. Alphabetize the title based on the first significant word after the initial article.
3. Italicize the titles of full works.
4. Enclose titles of parts of works in quotation marks.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure accurate and consistent alphabetization of titles on your MLA Works Cited page.

FAQs

Handling Titles Beginning with “An” or “The” on Works Cited Pages

What should I do if an entry on a Works Cited page begins with “An” or “The” as the first word in the title?

When an entry on a Works Cited page starts with “An” or “The” as the first word in the title, you should ignore the initial article for the purpose of alphabetizing the title.

How should I alphabetize titles that begin with “An” or “The”?

After ignoring the initial article, alphabetize the title based on the first significant word that follows the initial article.

Can you provide an example of alphabetizing a title that begins with “An” or “The”?

Sure! Let’s say you have a book titled “The Great Gatsby” and another titled “An Introduction to Literature.” In the Works Cited page, you would alphabetize them as “Introduction to Literature, An” and “Great Gatsby, The.”

What about other languages? Should I ignore initial articles in those languages as well?

Yes, the same principle applies to titles in other languages. Ignore the initial article in that language when alphabetizing the title.

Are there any exceptions to ignoring initial articles?

Yes, there are exceptions. If the initial article is an essential part of the title, such as in the case of “The New York Times” or “A Clockwork Orange,” you would include the initial article when alphabetizing.

How should I format titles in MLA style?

In MLA style, titles of full works, such as books or websites, should be italicized. Titles of parts of works, like articles or essays, should be enclosed in quotation marks.

Can you give an example of formatting titles in MLA style?

Certainly! A book titled “To Kill a Mockingbird” would be italicized, while an article titled “The Impact of Climate Change” would be enclosed in quotation marks.

Is there a specific order for formatting titles that begin with “An” or “The”?

Yes, when formatting titles that begin with “An” or “The,” you should ignore the initial article for alphabetization purposes, but still include it when applying italics or quotation marks. For example, “The Catcher in the Rye” would be alphabetized as “Catcher in the Rye, The” and italicized.