When formatting a primary-source letter in MLA, how should you treat the letter?

• A. Cite it as a diary entry in a collection with date.
• B. Cite it as a webpage with a URL.
• C. Cite it as a report with title.
• D. Treat the letter as a short work by an author; include author, a brief title or description, date, and collection/repository.

Answer: (D)

Treating a primary-source letter as a short work by an author reflects how MLA handles pieces that come from a larger collection or archive. Because the letter is written by a specific person and has a date, you identify the author, give a brief title or description of the letter, include the date, and specify the collection or repository where the letter is found. This format makes clear who wrote it, what the document is, when it was written, and where to locate it.

For example, you would present the citation with the author’s name, a concise description or title of the letter, the date, and the collection or repository that houses it. If the letter appears in a published collection, include the collection’s title and publisher or editor as part of the citation. If it’s in an online archive, you would follow MLA guidance for online collections, but the core idea remains: author, a brief title/description, date, and the collection/repository.