This guide will help you understand how to properly cite sources in MLA format, the standard citation style for literature, languages, and humanities disciplines, ensuring that your academic work meets the Modern Language Association's current guidelines and conventions.
Feb 5, 2026
By
Joe Pacal, MSc
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TL;DR
MLA style uses author-page citations like (Smith 45) with a Works Cited list at the end of your paper. This guide covers in-text citation formats, the container system for nested sources, and reference entries for journals, books, websites, and multimedia. Key 9th edition features include optional URLs and flexible core elements. Perfect for literature, languages, and humanities papers.
The Official Source
The MLA Handbook, 9th Edition (2021) is the only official guide for MLA style, published by the Modern Language Association. Available in paperback, hardcover, and spiral-bound formats at mla.org, with online access through MLA Handbook Plus.
The 9th edition expanded guidance on inclusive language, added hundreds of citation examples, and refined the core elements template introduced in the 8th edition.
Quick Overview
MLA uses a core elements system—a flexible template that works for any source type:
In-text citations — Author and page number in parentheses
Works Cited — Full source details at the end of your paper
In-Text Citations
MLA in-text citations include the author's last name and page number (no comma between them).
Basic Format
The novel explores themes of identity and belonging (Morrison 45).
Morrison explores themes of identity and belonging (45).
Two Authors
The study revealed unexpected patterns (Smith and Jones 112).
Three or More Authors
Use the first author's name followed by "et al."
Recent scholarship challenges this interpretation (Garcia et al. 78).
No Author
Use a shortened version of the title.
The article highlights growing concerns ("Climate Crisis" 12).
No Page Numbers
For online sources without page numbers, omit the page number entirely. You may include paragraph numbers if provided.
The report emphasizes prevention strategies (World Health Organization).
Works Cited Basics
Your Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper on a new page. Center the title "Works Cited" (not bold, not italicized). Use hanging indents for each entry.
The Core Elements Template
MLA 9th edition uses nine core elements in this order:
Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.
Not every source has all elements—include only what's available and relevant.
Common Source Examples
Book
Smith, Zadie. White Teeth. Vintage Books, 2000.
Journal Article (Print)
Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The New Yorker, 26 June 1978, pp. 29–32.
Journal Article (Database)
Lanser, Susan S. "The Feminist Poetics of Narrative Voice." Style, vol. 50, no. 4, 2016, pp. 473–94. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/style.50.4.0473.
Website
Hollmichel, Stefanie. "The Reading Brain: Differences between Digital and Print." So Many Books, 25 Apr. 2013, somanybooksblog.com/reading-brain-differences/.
YouTube Video
"How to Cite Sources in MLA Format." YouTube, uploaded by Scribbr, 14 Mar. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=example.
Interview
Elba, Idris. Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air, NPR, 4 Sept. 2017.
Key 9th Edition Updates
The MLA 9th edition (2021) refined several guidelines:
Inclusive language — New chapter on writing with respect and avoiding bias
URLs optional — DOIs and permalinks preferred; URLs may be omitted if stable access exists
Grammar guidance — Expanded chapters on punctuation, spelling, and mechanics
More examples — New appendix with hundreds of sample entries by format
Annotated bibliographies — New guidance for creating annotations
Formatting Your Paper
MLA format requirements:
Font: Readable 12-point font (Times New Roman, Arial, or similar)
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
Header: Your last name and page number in the upper right corner
Heading: Your name, instructor, course, and date (left-aligned, double-spaced)
Title: Centered, not bold or italicized (unless it contains a title)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Title capitalization — Use title case for all titles in Works Cited entries (capitalize major words)
Punctuation between elements — Most elements end with periods; container titles are followed by commas
Author names — Invert only the first author's name: "Smith, John, and Jane Doe"
URLs — Remove "https://" when including URLs; DOIs are preferred when available
Quotation marks vs. italics — Italicize standalone works (books, films, albums); use quotation marks for works within containers (articles, chapters, songs)
Who Uses MLA Style?
MLA is the standard citation format for:
Literature and literary criticism
Languages and linguistics
Cultural studies
Philosophy
Religious studies
Art history
Theater and performance studies
Most English composition courses at the high school and undergraduate level require MLA format.
Further Resources
MLA Style Center — Official answers and guidance from MLA
Purdue OWL MLA Guide — Free comprehensive resource
MLA Handbook Plus — Subscription-based full access with video tutorials
Need help generating MLA citations? Research tools like Wonders can export your sources in MLA format automatically.
