From academic papers and research presentations to professional development materials and educational assignments, referencing an interview in MLA style has become increasingly common. However, unlike citing books or journal articles, citing an interview presents unique complications. So, how to cite an interview MLA? In this article, we will introduce some practical methods to guide you.
Part 1: What is the MLA & Interview Citation?
When writing academic papers or professional documents, ensuring proper citation is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism. The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides one of the most widely used citation styles, particularly in humanities disciplines.
What is MLA?
The MLA style is a standardized format for writing and documenting scholarly work. Created by the Modern Language Association, it guides writers on how to format papers, cite sources, and structure references. It’s especially common in literature, philosophy, and the arts.
Key elements of MLA citation typically include:
Author’s name
Title of the source
Publisher
Publication date
Page numbers (if applicable)
However, interviews present a special case where these conventional elements might not always be available or applicable, requiring some adaptation.
What is an Interview Citation?
Citing an interview in MLA depends on whether the interview is published or unpublished:
Personal interviews (unpublished) require details about the interviewee, interviewer, and the date.
Published interviews need citation details such as the name of the interviewee, the interviewer (if available), the title of the interview, the publication it appeared in, and the publication date.
When Should You Cite an Interview?
You should cite an interview whenever you:
Quote directly from a conversation or interview.
Paraphrase ideas from a personal communication.
Refer to insights gathered through an interview in your research.
Example Scenarios:
Quoting a conversation with a subject matter expert in your thesis.
Referencing a celebrity interview published in a magazine.
Including insights from a lecture or panel discussion you attended.
Examples of MLA Interview Citations
Here are a few basic examples to illustrate:
Personal Interview (unpublished):
Smith, John. Personal Interview. 5 Mar. 2025.
Published Interview in a Magazine:
Johnson, Emily. “The Future of AI.” Tech Monthly, 12 Apr. 2025, pp. 45-47.
Direct In-Text Citation:
(Smith)
Paraphrased In-Text Citation:
According to Smith, the current research lacks practical applications.
These examples show the flexibility needed when learning how to cite an interview in MLA style, depending on the source type and publication status.
Part 2: How to Cite an Interview in MLA Style
Learning how to cite an interview MLA style can feel tricky, but once you understand the steps, it becomes much simpler. Whether you're citing a personal interview or a published one, the key is consistency and clarity.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering the MLA interview citation format:
Step 1: Identify the Type of Interview
First, determine whether the interview is:
A personal interview conducted by you.
A published interview found in a book, magazine, journal, website, or other media.
The citation method will differ slightly depending on the type.
Step 2: Gather Essential Information
For a personal interview:
Name of the person interviewed
Type of interview (Personal interview)
Date of the interview
For a published interview:
Name of the interviewee
Title of the interview (if available)
Name of the publication
Name of the interviewer (if relevant)
Date of publication
Page numbers (if available)
Step 3: Format the Citation
Let’s break it down with examples:
Type of Citation | Example |
|---|---|
Personal Interview - Works Cited | Doe, Jane. Personal interview. 15 Mar. 2025. |
Published Interview - Works Cited | Brown, Alex. “Insights into Renewable Energy.” Green World, 10 May 2025, pp. 32-34. |
In-Text Citation (Personal Interview) | (Doe) |
In-Text Citation (Published Interview) | (Brown 33) |
Direct Quote Example | Doe explained, “The findings were unexpected and groundbreaking.” (Doe). |
Paraphrased Example | Brown highlights that renewable energy adoption is growing steadily (33). |
Step 4: Common Variations
Online Published Interview:
Williams, Clara. “Innovating Tech Education.” EdTech Times, 22 Feb. 2025, www.edtechtimes.com/innovating-tech-education.
Group Interview:
Chen, Lisa, et al. Group Interview. 18 Apr. 2025.
In-Text Citation for Group Interview:
(Chen et al.)
Step 5: Tips for Accuracy
Use italics for the title of the interview (if available).
Always list the interviewee's last name first in the Works Cited entry.
For in-text citations, use just the last name or last name with the page number (if applicable).
Understanding how to quote an interview in MLA format ensures your work is polished and professional. Whether you're including direct quotes or paraphrased ideas, correct MLA interview citation practices keep your academic writing compliant and credible.
Part 3: Best Interview Citation Helper: WPS Office
Citing an interview in MLA style can be a meticulous task, but with the right tools, it becomes significantly easier. WPS Office, a powerful and free office suite, offers advanced features that simplify citation tasks, especially with its integrated WPS AI assistant.
Why Use WPS Office for MLA Interview Citations?
Free to Use: WPS Office provides a professional-grade word processor without cost.
Strong Compatibility: WPS Office supports a wide range of file formats including DOCX, PDF, and more.
AI-Powered Tools: WPS AI can assist with formatting, grammar checking, and even generating citations.
User-Friendly Interface: The layout is clean and intuitive, making it easier for users at all levels.
In academic writing, using tools like WPS Office ensures accuracy, saves time, and enhances productivity.
How to Use WPS Office to Cite an Interview in MLA Style
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a proper MLA interview citation using WPS Office:
Step 1: Open WPS Writer
Download and open WPS Writer from the official website if you haven’t already.
Step 2: Start Your Essay
Create a new document and select the MLA template if available, or set your font to Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced.
Step 3: Insert Your Interview Citation
Using the information you gathered:
For a personal interview:
Smith, Laura. Personal interview. 20 Mar. 2025.
For a published interview:
Adams, Brian. “Climate Change Realities.” Eco Future Journal, 5 May 2025, pp. 40-42.
Step 4: Step 4: Refine Your Essay Using WPS AI
Click on the AI Tools in WPS Writer. Proofread your citation and essay for grammar and style consistency. Simply click on the AI Tools button, choose Grammar Check or Style Suggestions, and let WPS AI guide you in refining your document.
Step 5: Insert In-Text Citations
When referencing in your essay:
Direct quote: (Smith)
Paraphrased information: (Adams 41)
WPS AI can also suggest where and how to insert MLA in-text citations correctly, helping avoid common mistakes.
I personally found that using WPS Office not only made citing an interview smoother but also improved my overall writing process. The integrated AI provided helpful suggestions, and the MLA formatting templates kept my document aligned with academic standards.
If you’re dealing with more complex citations, like how to cite a movie MLA style or how to quote a play MLA, WPS AI provides templates and examples to guide you through. It's a real productivity booster, especially during intense writing deadlines.
FAQs
Q1: How do I format a Works Cited entry for an unpublished interview in MLA style?
For an unpublished or personal interview, format the Works Cited entry like this:
Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Date of interview.
Example:
Carter, Olivia. Personal interview. 12 Feb. 2025.
Make sure to italicize Personal interview and end the citation with a period. In your essay, the MLA in-text citation would simply include the last name, like (Carter).
Q2: How do I cite a published interview in an online magazine?
For a published interview accessed online, cite it as follows:
Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Title of Interview.” Title of Website or Magazine, Publication Date, URL.
Example:
Davis, Michael. “Rethinking Renewable Energy.” Green Tech Today, 8 Mar. 2025, www.greentechtoday.com/interviews/davis.
In your text, a proper MLA interview citation would look like (Davis).
Q3: How to cite a movie MLA style?
When citing a movie in MLA, the basic format is:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Lead Actor’s Name, Production Company, Release Year.
Example:
Inception. Directed by Christopher Nolan, performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Warner Bros., 2010.
In-text citation:
(Inception)
While citing interviews, knowing how to cite a movie MLA style can help when quoting interviews featured within documentaries or films.
Q4: How to quote a play MLA style?
For quoting a play in MLA, especially longer plays:
Use block quotes for quotes longer than three lines.
Include act, scene, and line numbers if available.
Example:
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Act 3, Scene 1, lines 64-68.
In-text citation:
(Shakespeare 3.1.64–68)
Learning how to quote a play MLA style can be useful when interviews involve discussions or readings of dramatic works.
Summary
Citing an interview correctly in MLA style is a crucial skill for students and researchers aiming for precision and professionalism in their writing. Whether you are dealing with a personal interview or a published source, following the MLA guidelines ensures your work is credible and properly referenced.
Throughout this guide, we explored how to cite an interview MLA style, from in-text citations to creating full Works Cited entries. We also looked at different scenarios, like how to quote an interview in MLA and variations for online or group interviews.
Moreover, tools like WPS Office offer a significant advantage. With its free access, strong compatibility, and AI-powered assistance, WPS Office simplifies the citation process, saving time and enhancing the quality of academic writing. Whether you’re formatting an interview, learning how to cite a movie MLA style, or even quoting a play, WPS Office ensures you stay accurate and efficient.
For anyone seeking a reliable, intuitive writing assistant, WPS Office is an excellent choice for mastering MLA interview citations and beyond.
