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Corrections Made to the Ninth Edition of the MLA Handbook
The following corrections have been made in the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook since its publication. This chart shows in which printing the changes first appeared. All corrections noted in this chart are reflected in the version of the handbook found on MLA Handbook Plus.
| Section number | As originally published | As corrected | Reason for correction | Printing number | Page number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.14 | Whether a comma appears before an adverbial phrase or clause affects the meaning. |
Whether a comma appears before an adverbial or adjectival phrase or clause affects the meaning. |
Correction |
5th |
22 |
| ch. 3 | When the dictionary gives both the capitalized and lowercased form as acceptable options—as many do for black and Black, for example—choose one and be consistent. If you are working directly with an author or discussing a person or community whose preferences are known, however, follow that preference. |
When the dictionary gives both capitalized and lowercased forms as options, choose one and be consistent. When the dictionary notes that one form is the more commonly used one, as Merriam-Webster does for Black, generally use the more common form. But when you are working directly with an author or discussing a person or community whose preferences are known, follow that preference. |
To reflect a dictionary change after the handbook went to press |
3rd |
91 |
| 5.41 | Othello. Performances by Laurence Olivier et al., BHE Films, 1965. |
Othello. Directed by Stuart Burge, performances by Laurence Olivier et al., BHE Films, 1965. |
Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element |
3rd |
148 |
| 5.44 | introduction by |
Removed from list of labels describing the contributor’s role |
Generally don’t list the author of an introduction in the Contributor element |
5th |
151 |
| 5.44 | Burge, Stuart, director. Othello. Japanese subtitles by Shunji Shimizu, BHE Films, 1965. |
Othello. Directed by Stuart Burge, Japanese subtitles by Shunji Shimizu, BHE Films, 1965. |
Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element |
3rd |
151 |
| 5.48 | Blade Runner. 1982. Director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Blade Runner. 1982. Directed by Ridley Scott, director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element |
3rd |
154 |
| 5.108 | Blade Runner. 1982. Director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Blade Runner. 1982. Directed by Ridley Scott, director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element |
3rd |
210 |
| 5.112 | Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi:10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Correction |
5th | 213 |
| 6.10 | And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street / And to Think |
In the Time of the Butterflies / In the Time |
Replaced example |
3rd | 238 |
| 7.1 | Added cross-reference “Bilingual quotations: 6.75.” |
To aid navigation |
3rd | 288 | |
| appendix 2 contents | “With a generic label in place of title” |
“With a generic label and no unique title” |
To clarify terms “general label” and “unique title” |
3rd | 304 |
| appendix 2 contents | “With Original Release Date Given Optionally” |
“With Original Release Date Given as Supplemental Element” |
To clarify use of supplemental elements |
3rd | 307 |
| appendix 2 contents |
“With format optionally given in final supplemental element” | “With format given in final supplemental element” |
To clarify use of supplemental elements |
3rd | 308 |
| appendix 2 | “With a generic label in place of title” |
“With a generic label and no unique title” |
To clarify terms “general label” and “unique title” |
3rd | 318 |
| appendix 2 | Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi:10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Correction |
5th | 321 |
| appendix 2 | Erhardt, Julian, et al. “National Identity between Democracy and Autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of Twenty-Four Countries.” European Political Science Review, 2020. Cambridge Core, https://doi.10.1017/ S1755773920000351. |
Erhardt, Julian, et al. “National Identity between Democracy and Autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of Twenty-Four Countries.” European Political Science Review, 2020. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/ S1755773920000351. |
Correction |
5th | 321 |
| appendix 2 | Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi:10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Moskowitz, Daniel J. “Local News, Information, and the Nationalization of U.S. Elections.” American Political Science Review, vol. 115, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 114–29. Cambridge Core, https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0003055420000829. Moskowitz supplementary material. |
Correction |
5th | 325 |
| appendix 2 |
“With Original Release Date Given Optionally” |
“With Original Release Date Given as Supplemental Element” |
To clarify use of supplemental elements |
3rd | 329 |
| appendix 2 |
Blade Runner. 1982. Director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Blade Runner. 1982. Directed by Ridley Scott, director’s cut, Warner Bros., 1992. |
Generally list film directors as key contributors in the Contributor element |
3rd | 329 |
| appendix 2 |
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Narrated by Sissy Spacek, audiobook ed., unabridged ed., HarperAudio, 8 July 2014. |
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Narrated by Sissy Spacek, audiobook ed., unabridged ed., HarperAudio, 2014. |
The year alone is usually sufficient as a publication date for an audiobook. |
5th | 330 |
| appendix 2 | “With format optionally given in final supplemental element” |
“With format given in final supplemental element” |
To clarify use of supplemental elements |
3rd | 331 |
| appendix 2 | Sternberg, Rachel. E-mail interview with the author, 7 Jan. 2021. | Sternberg, Rachel. E-mail interview with the author. 7 Jan. 2021. |
Correction |
5th | 340 |
| index | numbered lists, 1.9–1.13 |
numbered lists, 1.9–1.12 |
Correction |
5th | 357 |
| index |
A subentry of “online journal articles” shows the following: Location element for, 5.73, fig. 5.87 |
Location element for, 5.87, figs. 5.87–5.89 |
Correction |
3rd | 358 |
| index |
A subentry of “question marks” shows the following: in titles of works, 1.102, fig. 2.11, 2.102, 2.105 |
in titles of works, fig. 2.11, fig. 2.14, 2.101, 2.102, 2.105 |
Correction |
3rd | 361 |
| index |
unnumbered lists, 1.9–1.13 |
unnumbered lists, 1.9–1.12 |
Correction |
5th | 366 |
