How To Cite An Image MLA Generator – Tips, Tricks And FAQs
When it comes to writing academic papers, artwork, or any content where you need to use someone else’s image, citing it correctly is essential. The Modern Language Association of America (MLA) style is one of the standard citation styles used in many fields, including literature, fine arts, and humanities. Properly citing an image can help avoid plagiarism and give the necessary credit to the original creator.
Citing an image in MLA style can sometimes be complicated, especially for beginners. However, with the help of several easy-to-use online image citation tools, it is now a lot easier. In this article, we will discuss how to cite an image using MLA style and introduce some top MLA citation generators.
How To Cite An Image MLA Generator – Step-by-Step Guide
The following are the necessary steps to cite an image correctly in MLA format:
Step 1: Identify the type of image.
Determine what type of image you are citing. Is it a photograph, artwork, or a screenshot? Knowing the type of image will help you select the proper MLA image citation format.
Step 2: Gather necessary information about the image.
To cite an image in MLA format, you need to identify different elements from the image source, such as the creator, title, date of creation, format, and location.
Artist or creator: The name of the artist or creator is usually the first element that you need to identify. If the artist’s name is not provided, you can use the image title instead.
Title: The title of the image is another essential element. It should be in italics or enclosed in quotation marks, depending on the type of image.
Date of creation: The date of creation is the year when the image was created or published. If the date is unknown, use “n.d” (no date) instead.
Publisher/Institution: The publisher, institution or website where the image was found is also necessary.
Location: The location refers to the website or the database where the image can be found.
Step 3: Select the proper MLA citation format.
There are several types of citation formats in MLA style for different types of images. Below are some common examples:
– Photograph:
Last name, First name. Photograph Title. Year Created. Museum/Collection Name, City. Name of Website. Web.
Example: Smith, John. The Eiffel Tower. 2010. The Smithsonian Institution, Washington. The Art Institute of Chicago. Web.
– Digital Image:
Last name, First name. Image Title. Year Created. Name of Website, Publisher or Database. Web. Date of Access.
Example: Johnson, Lucy. The Night Sky. 2015. National Geographic, Web. 10 January 2021.
– Artwork:
Last name, First name. Artwork Title. Year Created. Museum/Collection Name, City. Name of Website. Web.
Example: Picasso, Pablo. Guernica. 1937. Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid. Spanish Culture. Web.
– Screenshot:
Last name, First name. “Title of Reference.” Website Title, Publisher or Sponsor of Site, Date of Publication. URL. Accessed Date.
Example: Lee, Jason. “How To Cite An Image MLA Generator.” Educational Blog, Imagereferences.com, 15 February 2021. Accessed 20 February 2021.
Note: The above examples are just a few standard types of MLA citation formats. However, you may find other types of images that require a slightly different citation format. Always use your discretion and refer to the MLA citation handbook, which provides detailed instructions for citing each type of image.
Step 4: Put it all together
Once you have identified the elements you require, put together the citation in the proper MLA format. Here is an example:
Artist LastName, FirstName. Title. Year Created. Institution/Museum, City. Website. Day Month Year accessed.
Example: Smith, John. The Eiffel Tower. 2010. The Smithsonian Institution, Washington. The Art Institute of Chicago. Web. 10 February 2021.
Top MLA Image Citation Generators
Several online citation generators are available that can help you to cite sources in MLA format, including images. These tools create a perfect citation for the source in seconds. At the same time, some MLA citation generators are free, and others require a subscription. Here are some of the top MLA image citation generators:
1. Easybib
EasyBib is one of the most popular and fast online citation generators. It supports several citation styles, including MLA. EasyBib has a simple and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to generate citations for images and other sources. The tool generates source citations in MLA format with complete bibliographic information such as title, author, publisher, and location.
2. Cite This For Me
Cite This for Me is another helpful citation generator that offers quick and easy citation formats for various sources. It’s an excellent tool for students who need a lot of citations for a research paper. Like EasyBib, the Cite This For Me image citation generator allows you to generate citations in MLA format using the image’s details.
3. BibMe
BibMe is yet another online citation generator. The MLA citation generator on this platform allows you to input an image’s source information and get a perfect citation in MLA format. Unlike most other citation generators, BibMe allows you to create footnotes and endnotes, making it an ideal tool for academic writing.
4. RefME
RefME is a free online citation generator that generates bibliographic references in MLA, APA, and Harvard citation styles. It supports various types of sources, including images. Once you’ve identified the image’s essential components, input this information into the citation generator, and RefME automatically generates the perfect citation in MLA format.
FAQs
Q: Do all MLA-style image citations require the artist’s name?
A: No, some image citations may not require the artist’s name. Instead, you can use the image’s title as the first element, followed by the name of the museum, collection, or website where you found the image.
Q: How do I treat images with no artist name or title when citing them in MLA format?
A: If the artist name or title is unknown, use the descriptor ‘Unknown Artist’ or ‘Untitled’ in place of the missing information.
Q: Can I use someone else’s image without citing it?
A: No, it’s unlawful to use someone else’s image without their permission or proper citation. Using someone else’s image without proper citation or permission is a breach of copyright law and may subject you to a lawsuit.
Conclusion
Citing an image in MLA format requires identifying various components, such as the creator, title, publication date, location, and format. It’s essential to cite images in academic papers, artworks or any other documents that use other people’s images. Fortunately, with the help of several online MLA citation generators, citing an image in MLA style has become more comfortable than ever before. Follow the step-by-step guide explained in this article, and use one of the MLA image citation generators we introduced to generate a perfect citation for your image every time.