If you need to cite Shakespeare in an essay, article, or presentation, the main challenge is usually not the quotation itself but the format. Because Shakespeare appears in many editions and his plays are often cited by act, scene, and line, the right citation style matters as much as the wording you choose.
This guide explains how to cite Shakespeare clearly in MLA, APA, and Chicago style, with practical examples for plays, sonnets, and quotations from different editions. It also shows how to cite Shakespeare when line numbers are available, when they are not, and when you are referencing a specific modern edition.
How do you cite Shakespeare correctly?
You usually cite Shakespeare by act, scene, and line numbers rather than page numbers, especially for plays. For sonnets and poems, cite the poem title and line numbers. If you use a modern edition, include that edition in your works cited or bibliography, but keep in-text citations based on the work’s internal divisions whenever possible.
Why Shakespeare citations are different
Shakespeare’s plays and poems are widely reprinted in editions that differ in page layout, spelling, and lineation. That makes page numbers unreliable for readers who may be using a different book or online text.
Most academic styles therefore prefer references that stay stable across editions. For plays, that means act, scene, and line; for poems, line numbers; and for collected works, a full bibliographic entry for the edition you used.
What makes a Shakespeare citation useful?
- It helps readers find the passage fast.
- It works across editions.
- It shows you are citing the text precisely.
- It distinguishes Shakespeare’s work from your interpretation.
MLA style: how to cite Shakespeare
In MLA style, Shakespeare is usually cited in-text by act, scene, and line numbers, with the play title in italics in the Works Cited entry. If you mention the author in your sentence, you can often leave out the author’s name in the parenthetical citation.
MLA in-text citation for a play
Use Arabic numerals separated by periods, with no punctuation between the title and the numbers in the parenthetical citation.
- Example: Hamlet explores uncertainty and action (3.1.56–58).
- Example with author named in the sentence: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare presents love as urgent and impulsive (2.2.33–36).
If your edition uses line numbers, cite the lines. If it does not, you may cite page numbers, but act and scene are usually better for Shakespeare.
MLA Works Cited entry for a play
A basic MLA entry for a play in an anthology or edition includes the author, title, editor if relevant, publisher, and year.
- Example: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor, Arden Shakespeare, 2006.
If you are using a single-volume collected edition, follow the details of the specific book you consulted.
MLA citation for a sonnet
For a sonnet, cite the poem title or number and line numbers.
- Example: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 compares love to enduring beauty (1–4).
- Example in text: In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare rejects exaggerated praise (1–4).
In the Works Cited, list the edition or collection where you found the poem.
APA style: how to cite Shakespeare
APA style is less common in literature classes, but it still allows Shakespeare citations. The principle is similar: use the most precise locator available, usually act, scene, and line numbers for plays.
APA in-text citation
APA typically uses the author’s last name, year of the edition, and locator if needed. For classic texts, instructors may allow the title and line references instead of a year-based citation.
- Example: (Shakespeare, 2003, 1.5.17–20)
- Example in a sentence: Shakespeare’s language in Macbeth links ambition with moral disorder (2003, 2.1.33–35).
Because APA rules can vary depending on course expectations and the edition used, it is wise to check your instructor’s preferred format for classical literature.
APA reference entry
In APA, the reference entry should identify the edition you used.
- Example: Shakespeare, W. (2003). Macbeth (A. R. Braunmuller, Ed.). Cambridge University Press.
If you are quoting from a database or website, cite the version you accessed, but do not rely on a web page alone if you used a scholarly edition.
Chicago style: how to cite Shakespeare
Chicago style is often used in history and humanities writing. It may use either notes and bibliography or author-date format, depending on the assignment. For Shakespeare, notes and bibliography is especially common.
Chicago footnote example
In a footnote, cite the play title, act, scene, and line numbers, along with the edition if needed.
- Example: 1. William Shakespeare, King Lear, 1.1.89–92.
If you are using a specific edition, include that information in the first note or in the bibliography entry.
Chicago bibliography entry
A bibliography entry should identify the edition clearly.
- Example: Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Edited by R. A. Foakes. Arden Shakespeare. London: Bloomsbury, 1997.
Chicago author-date citations can also be used if required, but notes and bibliography is often the smoother choice for literary work.
Step-by-step guide to citing a Shakespeare quote
If you are unsure where to begin, use this simple process. It works for most academic assignments and helps prevent citation mistakes.
- Identify the work. Decide whether you are citing a play, sonnet, or other poem.
- Find the exact passage. Note the act, scene, and line numbers if it is a play.
- Check your edition. Record the editor, publisher, and year for your bibliography or reference list.
- Choose the style guide. Follow MLA, APA, or Chicago according to your assignment.
- Format the in-text citation. Use line-based references where possible.
- Build the full entry. Include the edition details in Works Cited, References, or Bibliography.
Example workflow
Suppose you quote a line from Julius Caesar. You would first locate the act, scene, and line numbers, then cite the passage in your chosen style, and finally list the edition in your bibliography. The exact wording of the quote matters less than the precision of the reference.
How to cite Shakespeare when line numbers are missing
Sometimes a classroom edition, website, or older printing does not provide line numbers. In that case, page numbers may be acceptable, but they are less ideal for Shakespeare because they vary by edition.
If you are working from a digital text, try to find a version that includes line numbering. If that is impossible, use the citation method your instructor or style guide allows, and make sure your bibliography identifies the version you used.
Best practice when line numbers are unavailable
- Use page numbers only if no better locator exists.
- Include the edition details in the full citation.
- Do not invent line numbers from a different edition.
- Be consistent throughout the essay.
How to cite Shakespeare in a paper without direct quotations
You do not need quotation marks every time you refer to Shakespeare. If you paraphrase an idea, you should still cite the passage. This is especially important when discussing themes, imagery, or a character’s speech pattern.
For example, if you write that Othello connects jealousy with destructive imagination, you should cite the scene where that idea appears, even if you are not quoting the exact words.
Common mistakes to avoid
Many citation errors come from treating Shakespeare like a modern novel. His works need a slightly different approach, but the rules are manageable once you know the pattern.
- Using page numbers when act, scene, and line numbers are available.
- Mixing editions without noting which one you used.
- Omitting the full bibliography entry.
- Formatting line numbers inconsistently.
- Quoting from memory instead of checking the text.
Another common issue is citing a famous line without verifying the exact wording. Shakespeare is often paraphrased in popular culture, so it is worth checking the text before you quote.
Quick citation examples for Shakespeare
These examples show the basic pattern in a compact form. Adjust them to match your required style and edition.
MLA
- In-text: (Macbeth 1.7.27–28)
- Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Sandra Clark and Pamela Mason, Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare, 2015.
APA
- In-text: (Shakespeare, 2015, 1.7.27–28)
- Reference: Shakespeare, W. (2015). Macbeth (S. Clark & P. Mason, Eds.). Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare.
Chicago
- Footnote: William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 1.7.27–28.
- Bibliography: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Sandra Clark and Pamela Mason. London: Bloomsbury, 2015.
Final takeaway
To cite Shakespeare well, think in terms of structure, not page count. Use act, scene, and line numbers for plays whenever possible, identify the edition you consulted, and follow the citation style your assignment requires. Once you learn that pattern, Shakespeare becomes one of the easiest authors to cite accurately.
If you are also working on Shakespeare-related analysis, you may find it helpful to read more about how old Juliet is in Romeo and Juliet or explore what ethos means in literature.