How to Cite Project MUSE in MLA 9 Format

What Project MUSE is and why it changes your MLA citation

Project MUSE is a database and publishing platform that provides access to scholarly books and journal articles, usually from university presses. In MLA 9, you cite the original source (the journal article or book chapter), then you add the database information because you accessed it through Project MUSE.

This matters because readers need two things:

1. What you used, for example a specific journal article or a chapter in an edited book.
2. Where you found it online, for example Project MUSE, plus a stable link or DOI so someone else can locate it.

In MLA terms, your citation often has two containers:

• Container 1, the journal or the edited book.
• Container 2, the database, which is Project MUSE.

Core MLA 9 template for Project MUSE sources

MLA citations are built from a standard set of elements, in roughly this order:

Author. "Title of Source." Title of Container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location. Title of Second Container, location, access date (optional).

For most Project MUSE citations, you will use a simpler version:

Journal article on Project MUSE (most common)

Author. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. xx-xx. Project MUSE, DOI or URL.

Chapter in an edited book on Project MUSE

Author. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Editor Name(s), Publisher, Year, pp. xx-xx. Project MUSE, DOI or URL.

Entire book on Project MUSE

Author. Book Title. Publisher, Year. Project MUSE, DOI or URL.

Author rules you must follow (and why they matter)

Your rules about authors are stricter than standard MLA classroom advice, but they are easy to apply consistently. They matter because they create clear identity, consistent alphabetizing, and fair attribution.

1) Use full first names, not initials

• Required by your guide: Full first names provide clarity and respect for the author’s identity.
• Practical benefit: Avoids confusion when multiple scholars share a last name and first initial.

2) Invert the first author’s name

Format: Last, First Middle.

• Example: Nguyen, Anh Minh.
• Why it matters: Works Cited entries are alphabetized by the first element, usually the author’s last name. Inversion makes sorting consistent.

3) Two authors, use “and,” second author not inverted

Format: Last, First Middle, and First Middle Last.

• Why it matters: MLA uses “and” to clearly show a two person authorship relationship. Keeping the second name in normal order improves readability.

4) Three or more authors, use “et al.” after the first author only

Format: Last, First Middle, et al.

• Why it matters: It keeps citations readable and consistent, especially for articles with long author lists. It also matches MLA’s goal of giving enough information without overwhelming the entry.

5) No author, start with the title

• Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.”
• Why it matters: MLA treats the title as the primary identifying element when no author is credited. It also ensures the entry can still be alphabetized.

Example 1, Journal article on Project MUSE (two authors)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting)

Garcia, Marisol Elena, and Thomas Andrew Keller. “Reframing Urban Memory in Contemporary Literature.” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 67, no. 2, 2021, pp. 245-268. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/123456.

Why each part is there

• Garcia, Marisol Elena, and Thomas Andrew Keller.
  First author inverted, full first names, second author normal order, joined with “and.”
• “Reframing Urban Memory in Contemporary Literature.”
  Article titles are in quotation marks in MLA.
• Modern Fiction Studies
  The journal is the first container, italicized.
• vol. 67, no. 2, 2021, pp. 245-268.
  Volume and issue help locate the article in the journal. Page range is useful even online.
• Project MUSE
  This is the second container, the database where you accessed it.
• URL
  MLA 9 allows URLs. Project MUSE links are often stable. If a DOI is available, you can use the DOI instead of the URL.

Practical tip

If both a DOI and a URL appear, prefer the DOI because it is designed to be permanent. If no DOI is shown, use the Project MUSE stable URL.

Example 2, Chapter in an edited book on Project MUSE (three or more authors)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting)

Patel, Rina Shalini, et al. “Language Policy and Classroom Practice.” Education and Power in the Twenty-First Century, edited by Daniel Marcus Rivera and Helen Sophia Wong, University Press of Colorado, 2020, pp. 91-118. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/7891011.

Why each part is there

• Patel, Rina Shalini, et al.
  Three or more authors, list only the first author, then “et al.” You still use the full first name.
• “Language Policy and Classroom Practice.”
  Chapter title in quotation marks.
• Education and Power in the Twenty-First Century
  Book title italicized, this is the container for the chapter.
• edited by Daniel Marcus Rivera and Helen Sophia Wong
  Editors are important for edited collections. Use full first names. The names are not inverted here because they are not in the author position.
• University Press of Colorado, 2020, pp. 91-118.
  Publisher and year identify the book edition. Page range identifies the chapter’s location in print and PDF.
• Project MUSE, URL
  Project MUSE is the access platform, and the link helps the reader retrieve the chapter.

Practical tip

If the chapter PDF shows a different page numbering than the book’s page range, use the page numbers given for the chapter in the book record or PDF header if available. Consistency matters more than perfection, but always use a page range when you have one.

Example 3, No author listed (journal article on Project MUSE)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting)

“Mapping Coastal Change with Community Archives.” Journal of Environmental History, vol. 28, no. 1, 2023, pp. 33-60. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/24681012.

Why this format works

• No author appears, so the entry begins with the title in quotation marks.
• The rest follows the journal article pattern.
• For alphabetizing in your Works Cited list, you alphabetize by Mapping, not by The or A or An. Here the title does not start with an article, but the same rule applies if it did.

Practical tip

Before deciding there is no author, check the Project MUSE page carefully. Sometimes the author appears under a “Details” section or within the PDF’s first page.

Common pitfalls when citing Project MUSE in MLA 9 (and how to avoid them)

Pitfall 1: Treating Project MUSE as the publisher

Project MUSE is usually the database platform, not the publisher of the journal or book. In MLA, you typically list the journal or book publisher in the first container when relevant, then list Project MUSE as the second container.

Pitfall 2: Using initials for authors

Your guide requires full first names. If Project MUSE displays initials, look inside the PDF or search the journal’s official site to confirm the full name.

Pitfall 3: Listing all authors for long author lists

For three or more authors, list only the first author, then et al. Do not list the second and third authors before et al.

Pitfall 4: Omitting volume and issue numbers for journal articles

Even though you accessed the article online, volume and issue numbers still help readers verify the exact source, especially if URLs change.

Pitfall 5: Using the wrong link

Avoid copying a long browser URL with tracking parameters if Project MUSE provides a clean, stable link. Prefer a DOI when available.

When to include an access date

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they can be helpful when content is likely to change or when no publication date is clear. Project MUSE content is usually stable, so you often do not need an access date. If your instructor or department requires it, add it at the end:

Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Quick checklist for a correct Project MUSE Works Cited entry

• Full first names for authors.
• First author inverted, subsequent author normal order for two authors.
• Three or more authors, first author plus et al.
• No author, start with the title.
• Article and chapter titles in quotation marks.
• Journal and book titles italicized.
• Include volume, issue, year, and page range when available.
• Add Project MUSE as the second container.
• Use a DOI if available, otherwise use a stable Project MUSE URL.

If you tell me whether your source is a journal article, book chapter, or whole book, and you paste the Project MUSE record details, I can format a Works Cited entry that follows your exact author rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Project Muse Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

How Project MUSE fits into MLA 9 citations

Project MUSE is usually not the “publisher” of what you are citing. It is most often a database or platform that hosts content from journals and university presses. In MLA 9, you cite the work itself first (article, book chapter, book), then you add the container information. For Project MUSE items, Project MUSE is typically the second container, because the first container is often the journal or the book.

This matters because MLA’s container system helps readers find the exact version you used. If you treat Project MUSE as the main publisher, you can accidentally hide the journal or press that actually produced the work, and that can make your citation less accurate and harder to verify.

Special cases and edge cases you will see on Project MUSE

1) When Project MUSE is a second container (most common)

Typical situation: You are citing a journal article on Project MUSE.

• First container: the journal title, plus volume, issue, year, and pages.
• Second container: Project MUSE, plus the URL (or DOI, if provided).

Why it matters: If you skip the journal details and only cite Project MUSE, you lose key publication facts like volume and issue. Those details are crucial for academic verification.

Practical tip: If a DOI is available, MLA generally prefers it because it is stable. Project MUSE often provides a stable URL too. Use what is provided, and do not include both unless your instructor requires it.

2) When the item is a chapter in an edited book hosted on Project MUSE

Project MUSE hosts many edited collections from university presses. In this case, you are not citing a journal article, you are citing a chapter.

• The chapter title goes in quotation marks.
• The book title is italicized.
• If the book has editors, include them after the book title using “edited by.”
• Include publisher and year for the book, then the page range for the chapter.
• Then add Project MUSE as the second container and include the URL.

Common pitfall: Treating a chapter like an article and putting the book title where the journal title would go, while leaving out editors and publisher. That creates confusion about what kind of source it is.

3) When Project MUSE shows “PDF” pages that do not match the site pages

Sometimes the Project MUSE web display shows one set of page numbers, while the PDF shows another, or the HTML view shows no pages at all.

• If the source has stable page numbers in the PDF, use those.
• If there are no page numbers (common in HTML views), omit the page range. Do not invent page numbers.
• If you have to cite a passage without pages, use what MLA allows, like chapter number, section heading, or paragraph numbers if clearly provided.

Why it matters: Page numbers are used for precision. Making them up or guessing based on the screen length weakens credibility and can mislead a reader.

4) When there is no author listed on Project MUSE

Some Project MUSE pages, especially introductions, editorial notes, or institutional statements, may not list an author.

Under your rules, do not use “Anonymous” and do not use “n.d.” Start with the title instead.

• For a short work like an article, introduction, or note, put the title in quotation marks.
• For a complete work like a whole book, italicize the title.

Practical tip: Make sure the “author” is truly missing. Sometimes Project MUSE places the author name near the PDF, or in a citation download box, rather than at the top of the HTML page.

5) Corporate or group authors (edge case)

Sometimes an organization is the author, for example, a research institute or an editorial board statement.

• Use the organization name as the author.
• Do not invert it like a personal name. Keep it in normal order.

This matters because inversion is designed for personal names, and forcing inversion on organizations can look incorrect and can harm alphabetization.

6) Multiple authors and your formatting rules

Project MUSE often lists multiple authors clearly. Follow your rules exactly:

• One author: Invert the first author name, use the full first name.
• Two authors: First author inverted, second author normal order, joined by and.
• Three or more authors: First author inverted, then et al. Do not list the rest.

Why it matters: Consistent author formatting improves readability, helps alphabetization in Works Cited, and respects author identity by using full first names.

7) Reprints and “previously published” notes

Some works on Project MUSE may be reprinted, translated, or republished from earlier versions.

• Cite the version you used on Project MUSE.
• If the item clearly states an original publication date that matters to your argument, you can mention it in your writing, but the Works Cited entry should reflect the version you accessed unless your instructor wants a more complex entry.

Common pitfall: Mixing publication details from the original version with the Project MUSE version in one citation, which can create a hybrid that does not accurately describe any real edition.

8) Stable URLs, long URLs, and access dates

Project MUSE provides stable URLs that usually work well.

• Use the stable URL provided by Project MUSE.
• MLA 9 does not require an access date for most stable academic sources, but it can be useful if your instructor requests it or if the content is likely to change.
• Do not paste extremely long tracking URLs if a cleaner stable link exists.

Examples (with explanations and correct formatting)

Example 1, Journal article on Project MUSE (second container)

Works Cited entry:

Nguyen, Priya Asha, and Michael Torres. “Reframing Memory in Contemporary Diaspora Fiction.” Modern Language Quarterly, vol. 84, no. 2, 2023, pp. 175-198. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/000000.

Why this is correct:
- Authors: Full first names are used. The first author is inverted, the second is not, and they are joined by and.
- Title formatting: Article title is in quotation marks, journal title is italicized.
- Journal details: Volume, issue, year, and page range appear before the database.
- Project MUSE as container: Project MUSE is included after the journal information, followed by the URL, because it is the platform you used to access the article.

Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Listing Project MUSE as the publisher of the article.
- Omitting volume and issue, which are essential for journal articles.

Example 2, Chapter in an edited book on Project MUSE (edited collection)

Works Cited entry:

Delgado, Sofia Marisol. “Sound, Silence, and Witness in Postwar Testimonio.” Listening after Conflict, edited by Hannah Elise Park and Jonathan Reed, University Press of Colorado, 2020, pp. 41-68. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/book/000000.

Why this is correct:
- Chapter title: In quotation marks, because it is part of a larger work.
- Book title: Italicized, because it is the container.
- Editors included: Because the chapter is part of an edited collection.
- Publisher and year: Included for the book, not for Project MUSE.
- Project MUSE added: As the access platform, with the URL.

Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Treating the chapter like a journal article and adding volume and issue fields.
- Putting the editors in the author position, which would misattribute authorship.

Example 3, Three or more authors on Project MUSE (use et al.)

Works Cited entry:

Khan, Amina Rahman, et al. “Mapping Coastal Risk Narratives across Public Policy Genres.” Journal of Environmental Humanities, vol. 15, no. 1, 2024, pp. 22-49. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/000001.

Why this is correct:
- Three or more authors: Only the first author is listed, inverted, followed by et al.
- Full first name: “Amina Rahman” is not reduced to initials.
- Containers: Journal is the first container, Project MUSE is the second container.

Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Listing all authors, which breaks your rule for three or more authors.
- Writing the first author in normal order, which breaks MLA Works Cited alphabetizing conventions.

Why these rules matter in an MLA 9 Project MUSE context

• Findability: Correct containers and stable links help readers locate the exact source quickly.
• Credibility: Accurate author and publication details show careful research habits.
• Consistency: MLA formatting is designed to be predictable. When citations follow the same structure, a reader can scan and understand them easily.
• Respect for authorship: Using full first names supports clarity and avoids confusion between authors with similar initials.

Practical tips for citing Project MUSE accurately

• Check the PDF for page numbers if the HTML view does not show them.
• Identify the real source type first, article, chapter, or book, then build the citation around that.
• Use the stable Project MUSE URL rather than a copied browser link with tracking parameters.
• Do not rely blindly on auto generated citations. They often shorten first names to initials, misplace editors, or treat Project MUSE as the publisher.
• Confirm author placement and spelling directly from the article or chapter PDF when possible.

If you want, paste one Project MUSE item’s details (title, authors, journal or book info, and link), and I will format it into a Works Cited entry using your exact author name rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a journal article I found on Project MUSE in MLA 9?

In MLA 9, you cite the journal article itself, Project MUSE is usually the database or platform container. Start with the author, then the article title in quotation marks. Next list the journal title in italics, volume, issue, year, and page range. After that, add the database name, Project MUSE, in italics, followed by the DOI or a stable URL, and then your access date if your instructor requires it or if the content is likely to change. Practical scenario, if you read a PDF on MUSE, you still cite it as a journal article, not as a PDF. If the article has a DOI, prefer it over a URL. For formatting help, see Purdue OWL MLA Works Cited guidance, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

Do I need to list Project MUSE as the publisher, the website, or a database in my Works Cited entry?

Project MUSE is typically treated as a database or platform, not the publisher of the article or book. The publisher is usually the journal’s publisher, or the university press for a book, and it appears in the container information for books, not for journal articles in the same way. Practical scenario, you found an article from a journal published by Johns Hopkins University Press, hosted on Project MUSE. You list the journal as the main container, then add Project MUSE as the second container with a DOI or URL. If you are citing a chapter from an edited book on MUSE, you cite the chapter, then the book title, editor, publisher, year, and then Project MUSE with the link. For container rules, see MLA Style Center on works cited, https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/

Should I use the DOI or the Project MUSE URL when I cite a source, and what if there is no DOI?

Use a DOI when it is available, because it is designed to be stable over time. In MLA 9, you can present it as a URL, for example https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx. If there is no DOI, use a stable Project MUSE URL. Practical scenario, you copied the address from your browser and it includes long tracking parameters. Remove unnecessary session or tracking parts and keep the clean, persistent link. If Project MUSE provides a “stable URL” or “permalink,” use that. Add an access date if your instructor asks for it, or if you suspect the link might change. For MLA guidance on DOIs and URLs, see the MLA Style Center, https://style.mla.org/dois-and-urls/

How do I cite a chapter from an edited book on Project MUSE in MLA 9?

Cite the chapter first, then the book as the container. Begin with the chapter author and the chapter title in quotation marks. Then give the book title in italics, followed by the editor(s), the publisher, and the publication year. Include the chapter page range if it is provided. After the book details, add Project MUSE in italics as the database, then include the DOI or stable URL, and optionally the access date if required. Practical scenario, you downloaded a chapter PDF from an edited collection on MUSE. You still cite it as a chapter in an edited book, not as a standalone PDF. If the book has an edition or volume number, include it after the title. For examples of citing chapters, see Purdue OWL MLA, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html

What date should I use in an MLA citation for something on Project MUSE, publication date or access date?

Use the publication date that belongs to the item you are citing, such as the journal issue year for an article, or the book publication year for a chapter. An access date is optional in MLA 9, but many instructors still want it for online materials, especially when URLs can change or when the item is updated. Practical scenario, you cite a journal article that has a year and volume, you use that year, and you only add “Accessed” plus the date you viewed it if your course requires it. If you are citing a web page with no clear publication date, then an access date becomes more important. For MLA’s position on access dates, consult the MLA Style Center quick guide, https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/

How do I do in-text citations for Project MUSE sources, especially if there are no page numbers?

In-text citations in MLA usually use the author’s last name and a page number, for example (Nguyen 42). If you are using a PDF from Project MUSE, you often have stable page numbers, so cite those. Practical scenario, you read the HTML version of an article and it does not show page numbers. If the PDF has pages, switch to it and cite the PDF page number. If there truly are no page numbers, omit them and cite only the author, for example (Nguyen). Do not use paragraph numbers unless your instructor asks and the text is clearly numbered. If there are two authors, use both last names, and for three or more use the first author plus “et al.” For in-text citation rules, see the MLA Style Center, https://style.mla.org/in-text-citations/

Last Updated: 2026-01-01
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