What if the same person wrote a book and edited an anthology? You still use the three-hyphen rule, but you indicate their role after the hyphens. For example: ---, editor. or ---, translator. It’s like giving them a little career update.
This keeps your bibliography accurate without repeating their name. Think of it as multi-hyphenate energy—your source list becomes a mini resume for the author’s versatility.
Fun Fact: The Hyphen Origin
This three-hyphen convention isn’t random. It mimics the ditto mark used in old library catalogues and record-keeping. Clerks would write three dashes to avoid scribbling “same author” a hundred times. You’re now part of that quiet, practical tradition.
PPT - MLA Source Integration PowerPoint Presentation, free download
Next time you hit those three hyphens, picture a librarian from the 1920s giving you a subtle nod of approval. You’ve got this.
