William Shakespeare, often referred to as the Bard, is one of the most influential playwrights and poets in English literature. With numerous plays and sonnets under his belt, it is no wonder that students and scholars frequently encounter his work in various academic settings. To accurately pay homage to the brilliance of Shakespeare and avoid plagiarism when citing his work, it is essential to understand how to correctly cite his writings.

In this article, we’ll explore how to cite Shakespeare using different citation styles – Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and Chicago Manual of Style (CMS).

1. Modern Language Association (MLA)

Here’s a quick guide when citing Shakespeare in MLA format:

– Plays: Write the name of the play, act, scene, and line numbers with periods separating them. Enclose this information in parentheses.

Example: (Macbeth 1.5.15-18)

– Sonnets: If you’re citing Shakespeare’s sonnets, provide the sonnet number followed by a period and then the line number(s) enclosed in parentheses.

Example: (Sonnet 18.9-12)

Don’t forget to include a complete citation in your Works Cited page that includes the following elements:

– Author’s name

– Title of the play or sonnet

– Editor’s name (if applicable)

– Publisher

– Year of publication

2. American Psychological Association (APA)

For citations using APA format, simply adhere to the following guidelines:

– Plays: Indicate act, scene, and line numbers separated by periods without mentioning specific lines.

Example: (Shakespeare, 1606/1997, 1.5)

Include a full reference within your References page containing:

– Name of the author

– Year of publication

– Title of the play or sonnet

– Publisher’s location

– Publisher

3. Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)

Citing Shakespeare using the Chicago Manual of Style involves the following:

– Plays: Use roman numerals for act and scene numbers, followed by a comma and Arabic numerals for line numbers all in parentheses.

Example: (Macbeth, I.v, 15-18)

A complete citation within your Bibliography page should include:

– Author’s name

– Title of the play or sonnet

– Editor’s name (if applicable)

– Publisher’s location

– Publisher

– Year of publication

In conclusion, citing Shakespeare accurately makes your research credible and honors the legendary Bard’s work. Following these guidelines for MLA, APA, and CMS formats will enable you to correctly reference his iconic plays and sonnets in your academic and scholarly assignments.