problem getting proper MLA citation

EndNote EndNote How To
1

I’m having trouble getting the Endnote Web bibliography to conform to the recent MLA format guidelines. (And I’m fairly certain I’m using the most recent version of Endnote Web.)

In particular, I can’t get it to cite an electronic source properly. As an example, I need to cite an essay from an edited collection I accessed on Google Books. The proper format, according to the MLA Handbook, ought to be:

Barnett, Samuel. “Hospitalities.” The Universities and the Social Problem: An Account of the University Settlements in East London. Ed. John Knapp. London: Rivington, 1895. 51-66. Google Book Search. Web. 14 June 2010.

I’m not able to reproduce this in EndNote Web, whatever Reference Type I try. When I choose Electronic Book Section, for instance, it produces something like this on the bibliography:

Barnett, Samuel. “Hospitalities.” The Universities and the Social Problem: An Account of the University Settlements in East London. Ed. Knapp, John. London: Rivington, 1895. 51-66. Print.

The problem is that it’s reversing the order of the editor’s names, and more significantly, that it’s not recognizing this as a Web resource. I’ve put Google Book Search in the database field, and again, I’ve chosen Electronic Book Section as the Reference Type. So what am I doing wrong?

Thanks,

Danny

2

It sounds like the problem may be due to the way the MLA output style is formatting the references - and a quick check of the MLA output style file does align with what you’ve identified as the “wrong” result.

You won’t be able to modify the EndNote Web MLA output style file but could notify the developers to request they update the MLA style for:  EndNote Web (http://www.endnote.com/support/enwstylereq.asp), and EndNote (http://www.endnote.com/support/enstylereq.asp)

In the interim as a workaround, if you have the EndNote client program* on your computer you could modify the MLA output style yourself to fit your needs.  (This also means you’ll need to confine your work to  EndNote program library on your computer, instead of EndNote Web, in order to use the modified MLA output style.)

*Just wanted to add that if you do not have the program a band-aid solution for the time being is to download the trial version which runs for 30 days: http://www.endnote.com/endemo.asp   (Check the system requirements first, and backup your document files.)

3

You should be able to use the “Electronic Article” reference type in EndNote Web to get the result you need in MLA.