MLA Style

Any images used in your paper should be copyright free.

Always ask your instructor on how images should appear in your paper. If no instructions are given, MLA has some guidance:

• Start by labelling the image with a Figure number (any visual display that is not a table is considered a figure).
• Place the figure as close as you can to the related text.
• Place the full Works Cited entry in the caption for your image but do not invert the author's name (it should appear first name last name). If the image is not cited in text, no Works Cited entry is needed. Otherwise, create a caption and a Works Cited entry for your image.
• Include a date of access if the image does not have a publication date.

When referring to your image in the text of your paper, refer to it by the figure number.

For example:

• As shown in fig. 2.
• As compared in the image (see fig. 7).

In Your Paper

Example of how to include an image, with a caption and Works Cited entry

Insert the image in your paper following the format, below.

Fig. 1. Image of a padlock. 

Work Cited

"Padlock". Clipart Library, clipart-library.com/clipart/pcqd8Gn9i.htm. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Example of how to include an image with the full Works Cited entry in the caption

Fig. 1 Chris McCorkle. Bubbles! 2006. Flickr, flic.kr/p/NRiRR7

As the full Works Cited entry is in the caption and the image is not cited in-text, no entry is needed in the Works Cited list.

More sample figures can be found on MLA Style Center.

Work Cited

Creator's Surname, Given Name. "Title or Description of Image." Date. Name of Website, URL.

In-text Citation

(Creator's Surname).

If the creator is unknown, begin the reference with the title or description of the image.

Work Cited

"Title or Description of Image." Website Name, Uploaded by Name or Username, Uploaded Date, URL. 

In-text Citation

("Title or Description of Image").

Work Cited

Creator's Surname, Given Name. Title or Description of Image. Date of Creation. Database Name, URL.

In-text Citation

(Creator's Surname).

Work Cited

Creator's Surname, Given Name. “Image Title or Description of Image." Website Name, Publication date, URL.

In-text Citation

(Creator's Surname).

Work Cited

Creator's Surname, Given Name. Image Title. Date Created, Museum/Institution, Location.

In-text Citation

(Creator’s Surname).

Work Cited

Creator's Surname, Given Name. Image Title. Creation Date. Name of Museum, Location. Website Name, URL. Access Date.

In-text Citation

(Creator’s Surname).

Work Cited

Your Surname, Given Name. Image description (including format) or Image Title. Day Month Year taken. Author’s personal collection.  

In-text Citation

(Your Surname).

MLA Style by Centennial College Libraries is licensed under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license unless otherwise stated.