MLA Format & Citation Guide (9th Edition)
Meta description: Learn MLA format, 9th edition — in-text citations, works-cited entries, container rules, and paper formatting, with examples for every source type.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is the standard citation format for literature, language, and the humanities. This guide covers the current 9th edition (2021), still the official version as of 2026.
Need a different style? See our APA format guide and Chicago format guide.
Citations vs. the Works-Cited List
Every source you use needs two things:
- An in-text citation — a brief note (usually just the author's last name and a page number) placed right after a quote or paraphrase
- A full citation on the Works Cited page at the end of your paper
A works-cited list includes only sources actually cited in your paper. A bibliography includes everything you read for background, whether cited or not — most instructors want a works-cited list, not both.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Plagiarism means using someone else's words or ideas without credit — including reusing your own past work as if it's new ("self-plagiarism"). The most common accidental forms:
- Weak paraphrasing — swapping in synonyms instead of genuinely rewriting the idea
- Citation errors — even an unintentional wrong author or title counts
- Missing quotation marks around exact wording
You don't need a citation for common knowledge (widely known facts like "Tokyo is the capital of Japan") — but if you're unsure whether something counts, cite it anyway.
In-Text Citations
Place the author's last name and page number in parentheses after the borrowed information:
She states, "Too much fire and you have a bad temper" (Tan 31).
Or name the author in your sentence and just parenthesize the page:
In Tan's novel, the mother states, "Too much fire and you have a bad temper" (31).
No page numbers? Use line(s), paragraph(s) (par./pars.), section(s) (sec./secs.), or chapter(s) (ch./chs.) — only if the source itself labels them that way. If nothing is labeled, use just the author's name.
No author? Use the title — italicized if it stands alone (a book, film), in quotation marks if it's part of something larger (an article, a webpage).
By number of authors
| Authors | In-text citation |
| 1 | (Twain 45) |
| 2 | (Clifton and Riley 45) |
| 3+ | (Warner et al. 45) |
Other cases
- Same last name, different authors: add a first initial — (J. Silver 45)
- Two works by the same author: add a short title — (Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls 12)
- Film or song: use a timestamp — (Back to the Future 00:23:86)
- Social media: cite by the author's handle — (@CarlaHayden)
Block quotes
For quotes longer than 4 lines: start on a new line, indent ½ inch, no quotation marks unless they're in the original, and place the citation after the final punctuation with no extra period.
Building a Full Citation
MLA citations are built from a flexible set of "core elements" — only include what helps a reader find the source:
Author. "Title of Source." Title of Container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location.
Author
- One author:
Twain, Mark.
- Two authors:
Clifton, Mark, and Frank Riley.
- 3+ authors:
Warner, Ralph, et al.
- No author: start with the title instead.
- Focusing on a contributor other than the author (a performer, editor, director)? Lead with their name and role:
DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. Titanic, directed by James Cameron, Paramount, 1997.
Titles and "containers"
Italicize a title that stands alone (a book, film, album, website). Put a title in quotation marks if it's part of something larger, and italicize the larger "container" it sits in:
Colfer, Chris. "Little Red Riding Hood." The Land of Stories, Little Brown, 2016, pp. 58–65.
Multiple containers (e.g., a journal article found in a database) stack: journal info first, then database info after.
Zanetti, Francois. "Curing with Machine." Technology and Culture, vol. 54, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 503–530. Project Muse, http://muse.jhu.edu/article/520280.
Other elements
- Other contributors (editor, illustrator, translator):
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
- Version/edition: abbreviate —
10th ed.
- Numbers: volume/issue (
vol., no.), never ISBN
- Publisher: skip for periodicals, and skip if it matches the website's own name
- Date: pick one format (
27 July 2017 or July 27, 2017) and use it consistently throughout
- Location: page(s) (
p. 6 / pp. 24–38), URL (drop https:// unless you're linking it), or DOI (https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/...)
Paper Formatting
- Paper/margins: 8½×11", 1-inch margins on all sides
- Font: 12pt, readable with clear italics (Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica)
- Spacing: double-spaced throughout, including the works-cited list
- Indents: ½ inch for new paragraphs; use "tab," not spaces
- Heading: name, instructor, course, date — each on its own line, top-left
- Title: centered, plain text (no bold/italics/underline), below the heading
- Page numbers: top-right, with your last name before the number (e.g.,
Jacobson 4)
- MLA does not require a separate title page — the heading above replaces it, unless your instructor asks for one
Works Cited Page
- Own page at the end, titled "Works Cited" (or "Work Cited" for a single source)
- Centered title, double-spaced throughout
- Alphabetize by the first word (usually author's last name; ignore "A," "An," "The")
- Hanging indent: second and later lines of each entry indented ½ inch
- Multiple works by the same author: list chronologically, replacing the repeated name with three hyphens (
---)
What Changed in MLA 9 (vs. 8th Edition)
- DOIs now formatted as a full URL:
https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx
- Seasons in dates are lowercase:
spring 2020
- "Optional elements" renamed supplemental elements
- "Narrative in-text citations" renamed citations in prose
- New chapter on inclusive language, expanded works-cited examples, and added guidance on notes (bibliographic and content)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MLA 9 still the current edition?
Yes — as of 2026, MLA 9th edition (2021) remains the official standard; there is no 10th edition of the MLA Handbook.
Do I need a title page in MLA format?
No, not by default — MLA uses a heading on the first page instead, unless your instructor specifically requires a separate title page.
What's the difference between a bibliography and a works-cited list?
A works-cited list includes only sources cited in your paper; a bibliography includes everything you consulted, cited or not. Most assignments call for a works-cited list.
Can I cite Wikipedia in MLA?
You can, formatted like any other website, but check with your instructor first — many prefer you trace claims back to the original source Wikipedia cites.
Generate accurate MLA citations instantly with Citation Machine's free MLA citation generator, formatter, and works-cited builder.
Written and edited by Arpit Puri, Product Manager of Writing Tools at Chegg.
