Do I cite a play by page or by line?

By act.scene.line for plays with numbered lines (e.g., Hamlet 3.1.56) — that's findable in any edition. Use page numbers only for modern prose plays without line numbering.

How do I cite a play from an anthology?

The play is the piece and the anthology is the container: Playwright. Title. Anthology, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.

How do I quote dialogue between characters?

Use a block quote with the character names in capitals exactly as printed, preserving the layout.

Does the translation matter?

Yes — for translated classics, name the translator, and remember your line numbers come from that specific edition.

How to Cite a Play

Updated October 2026

A play is cited like a book or an anthology piece, depending on where you read it. The interesting part is quoting it: classic and verse drama is cited by act, scene, and line — (3.1.56) — not by page number, so any reader with any edition can find the passage.

The format

MLA (single edition): Playwright Last, First. Play Title. Edited by Editor, Publisher, Year. MLA (in an anthology): Playwright. Play Title. Anthology Title, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. xx-xx.

A literary work — MLA 9 (same pattern)

Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. Henry Holt, 1916.

In-text(Frost)

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Citation style

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020). The 7th dropped the publisher location and the "Retrieved from" prefix that the 6th required.

Quoting by act, scene, and line

For plays with numbered lines (Shakespeare, most verse drama), cite act.scene.line rather than a page: (Hamlet 3.1.56) points to Act 3, Scene 1, Line 56 — findable in any edition. Establish the format on first use ("3.1.56"). For modern prose plays without line numbers, cite the page and note the act/scene.

Where you read it

Single edition — cite like a book; include the editor of a scholarly edition.
In an anthology — the play is the piece, the anthology the container, with page range.
Quoting dialogue — set off exchanges between characters as a block quote with names in caps, as printed.
Translations — name the translator; for classics, the translation you used matters to your line numbers.

In-text citations

Verse drama, MLA: (Shakespeare 3.1.56) — or just (3.1.56) once the play is clear. Prose play: (Miller 42). APA uses the same act/scene/line idea with the year: (Shakespeare, 1603/1992, 3.1.56).

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Frequently asked questions

Do I cite a play by page or by line?: By act.scene.line for plays with numbered lines (e.g., Hamlet 3.1.56) — that's findable in any edition. Use page numbers only for modern prose plays without line numbering.
How do I cite a play from an anthology?: The play is the piece and the anthology is the container: Playwright. Title. Anthology, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
How do I quote dialogue between characters?: Use a block quote with the character names in capitals exactly as printed, preserving the layout.
Does the translation matter?: Yes — for translated classics, name the translator, and remember your line numbers come from that specific edition.

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