


In this case, the headword is usually the first element of the Works Cited list entry for all dictionary sources because dictionaries do not have authors in most cases. The entry or headword occupies the “title of the source” element in a dictionary citation. Typically, dictionaries may exist in either hardcopy or softcopy, depending on the publisher’s preferences.Ĭiting Elements of a Dictionary in MLA 8 1. Moreover, specialized dictionaries define words in the context of a particular discipline, for example, A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. Then, a scholarly dictionary provides complete definitions or information of words for a specific area in language use, for instance, The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Firstly, a general-purpose dictionary contains basic information concerning an entry, which is useful to a member of the general public, such as Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary.

there are three major categories of dictionaries: general-purpose, scholarly, and specialized. Definition of a DictionaryĪ dictionary is a reference text that documents some meaningful information regarding particular words, which follow the alphabetic order.
HOW TO CITE SOURCES IN AN ESSAY MLA HOW TO
Hence, students need to learn how to cite a dictionary in MLA 8. Also, the manual highlights appropriate in-text citations for dictionary entries and concludes with citation schemes for online and print dictionaries. Then, the guide deconstructs the main elements of a dictionary Works Cited entry. Firstly, it begins with a comprehensive definition of a dictionary. Basically, this guide explores the MLA guidelines in the context of dictionaries. In this case, the Modern Language Association (MLA 8) style provides universal guidelines for citation formats of all sources. Dictionaries are vital sources for research at different levels of education.
