MLA Conference Paper Citations
Learn to cite conference papers, presentations, and proceedings in MLA format with detailed examples and best practices.
Basic Conference Paper Format
MLA format for conference papers varies depending on whether the paper is published in proceedings or unpublished.
MLA Conference Paper Format:
Published Conference Proceedings
When conference papers are published in proceedings, treat them as chapters in an edited book.
Print Proceedings Example:
In-text citation: (Smith 148)
Elements:
- Author: John A. Smith
- Paper title: "Machine Learning in Healthcare Applications" (in quotes)
- Proceedings title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (italicized)
- Editors: Mary Johnson and David Lee
- Publisher: IEEE Computer Society
- Year: 2023
- Pages: 145-152
Online Conference Proceedings
For proceedings available online, include the URL and any relevant database information.
Example:
In-text citation: (Garcia 82)
Unpublished Conference Papers
For papers presented at conferences but not published in proceedings.
Example:
In-text citation: (Thompson)
Elements:
- Author: Lisa Thompson
- Paper title: "Climate Change and Agricultural Productivity" (in quotes)
- Conference: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
- Dates: 12-16 Dec. 2022
- Location: Chicago, IL
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations follow a similar format but should specify the presentation type.
Example:
In-text citation: (Chen and Johnson)
Keynote Speeches and Invited Talks
For keynote addresses and invited presentations, specify the type of presentation.
Example:
Virtual Conferences
For virtual or hybrid conferences, include relevant platform or access information.
Example:
Workshop and Symposium Papers
Papers from workshops, symposiums, or smaller academic gatherings.
Example:
Key Citation Elements
Required Elements:
- • Author name(s)
- • Paper title
- • Conference name
- • Conference dates
- • Conference location
- • Publication details (if published)
Optional Elements:
- • Session title
- • Presentation type
- • Abstract number
- • DOI or URL
- • Page numbers
Best Practices
MLA Conference Citation Tips:
- Publication Status: Determine if the paper was published in proceedings
- Complete Information: Include full conference names and official dates
- Presentation Type: Specify if it's a poster, keynote, or workshop presentation
- Multiple Authors: Follow MLA guidelines for multiple author citations
- Access Information: Include URLs for online proceedings when available