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Student's Guide to MLA Style (2021) | Citation & Format

To cite sources in MLA style, you need

In-text citations that give the author’s last name and a page number.
A list of Works Cited that gives full details of every source.

Make sure your paper also adheres to MLA format : one-inch margins, double spacing, and indented paragraphs, with an MLA style heading on the first page.

You can create citations automatically with our free MLA Citation Generator . Enter a URL, DOI , or ISBN, and the generator will retrieve the necessary information.

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Mla works cited list, the nine core elements of mla citations, mla in-text citations, free lecture slides, frequently asked questions about mla style.

The Works Cited list is where you give full details of all sources you have cited in the text. Other citation styles sometimes call this the “reference list” or “bibliography.” An annotated bibliography is slightly different.

Author . “Source Title.” Container Title , Other contributors , Version , Number , Publisher , Publication date , Location .

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Begin each source entry with the name of the author(s) or creator(s). The name of the first author is always inverted (Last name, First name).

When a source has two authors, the second author’s name is shown in the normal order (First name Last name).

For sources with three or more authors, state only the first author’s name, followed by “ et al. ”

The author of a source is not necessarily a person; it can also be an organization. If so, simply use the name of the organization.

However, if the organization is both the author and publisher , start with the title of the source instead.

MLA author element

Always include the full title of the source, including subtitles (separated by a colon and space).

Use title case —capitalize all words apart from conjunctions , prepositions , and articles . If there is no title, give a short description of the source, with normal sentence case capitalization.

The styling of the title depends on the type of source:

Italics when the source is self-contained (e.g. a whole book, movie or website).
Quotation marks when the source is part of a larger whole (e.g. a chapter of a book , a page on a website, or an article in a journal).
No styling when describing a source without a title.

3. Container

A container is the larger work that the source you’re citing appears in. For example, a chapter is part of a book, a page is part of a website, and an article is part of a journal.

If the source you’re citing is a self-contained whole (e.g. a whole book), leave out this element.

The container title is always italicized.

Elements 3 (container title) to 9 (location) all provide information about the container.

Sources with two containers

A source can also have two containers. If you watched an episode of a TV show on Netflix, the show title is the first container and Netflix is the second container. If you accessed a journal article through the database JSTOR, the journal name is the first container and JSTOR is the second container.

In most cases, only the title and location (often the URL or DOI ) of the second container are included in the source entry. This is because databases like JSTOR don’t have relevant contributors, versions, publishers, or publication dates.

Datta, Hannes, et al. “The Challenge of Retaining Customers Acquired with Free Trials”. Journal of Marketing Research , vol. 52, no. 2, Apr. 2015, pp. 217–234. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/43832354.

Pay attention to the punctuation. The author and source title elements each end with a period. Elements within a container are separated by commas, and a period is used to close the container.

4. Other contributors

Contributors are added right after the container title and always end with a comma. Use a description like “translated by,” “directed by,” or “illustrated by” to indicate the role of the contributor. For example:

Latour, Bruno. Politics of Nature: How to Bring the Sciences into Democracy . Translated by Catherine Porter, Harvard UP, 2004.

When a source has three or more contributors with the same role, include the name of the first contributor followed by “et al.”

If there are no other relevant contributors, leave out this element.

When there is more than one version of a source, you should include the version you used. For example, a second-edition book , an expanded version of a collection, or a director’s cut of a movie would require the version to be included:

Porter, Michael E. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors . 2nd ed. , Simon and Schuster, 1998.
Columbus, Chris, director. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . director’s cut, Warner Bros., 2002.

Sources such as journal articles (“vol. 18”), magazines (“no. 25”) and TV shows (“season 3, episode 5”) are often numbered. If your source has numbered parts, include this in the source entry:

Wieseke, Jan, et al. “Willing to Pay More, Eager to Pay Less: The Role of Customer Loyalty in Price Negotiations.” Journal of Marketing , vol. 68, no. 6, 2014, pp. 17–37.

It is also possible for a source to have an edition, volume, and number. Just separate them using commas.

7. Publisher

Book and movie citations always include the publisher element. The publisher is the company responsible for producing and distributing the source—usually a book publisher (e.g. Macmillan or Oxford UP ) or a movie production company (e.g. Paramount Pictures or Warner Bros ).

Note that “University Press” is abbreviated to “UP” in a Works Cited entry. For example, the University of Minnesota Press becomes “U of Minnesota P”; Oxford University Press becomes “Oxford UP.”

When not to add a publisher Sometimes the publisher is already included elsewhere in the source entry, such as in the container title or author element. For example, the publisher of a website is often the same as the website name. In this case, omit the publisher element.

You generally don’t need to include a publisher for the following source types:

Newspapers and magazines
Platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or JSTOR

8. Publication date

When available, always include the publication year . If you also know the month, day, or even time of publication, you can include this if it helps the reader to locate the source. Date ranges are also possible. For example:

25 Jan. 2019
14 Aug. 2017, 4:45 p.m.
Jan. 2017–Apr. 2018

Multiple publication dates If there is more than one publication date, use the one that is most relevant to your research and take the date of the edition that you have used.

No date When a source does not state a publication date, add the date on which you accessed the information. For example: Accessed 22 Sep. 2018 .

9. Location

What you include in the location element depends on the type of source you are citing:

Book chapter : Page range of the chapter (e.g. pp. 164–180. )
Web page : URL, without “https://” (e.g. www.scribbr.com/mla-style/quick-guide/. )
Journal article : DOI , with “https://”—or stable URL, without: (e.g. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2018.1560449. or www.jstor.org/stable/43832354. )
Physical object or live event : Name of the location and city (e.g. Moscone Center, San Francisco. or The Museum of Modern Art, New York. )

MLA in-text citations are brief references in the body of your document which direct your reader to the full reference in the Works Cited list. You must include an in-text citation whenever you quote or paraphrase a source.

A standard MLA in-text citation includes the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses. The page number refers to the exact location of the quote or information that you are citing:

66% of voters disagree with the policy (Smith 13) .

If the author is already named in the sentence, you only need to include the page number in parentheses:

According to Smith , 66% of voters disagree with the policy (13) .

Multiple authors

For a source with two authors, include the last names of both authors. If a source has three or more authors, only include the last name of the first author, followed by “et al.” if in parentheses or “and colleagues” if in the text.

Smith and Morrison claim that “MLA is the second most popular citation style” (17) .
According to Reynolds and colleagues , social and demographic circumstances still have a major effect on job prospects (17–19) .

If a source does not state a specific author, the in-text citation should match the first word(s) of the Works Cited entry, whether that’s an organization name or the source title.

Format titles the same as they appear in the Works Cited, with italics or quotation marks. Use the full title if mentioned in the text itself, but an abbreviated title if included in parentheses.

The article “New Ways to Slow Down Global Warming” claims that . . . (4).
Reducing carbon emissions slows down climate change (“New Ways” 4) .

No page number

If a source has no page numbers, but is divided into numbered sections (e.g. chapters or numbered paragraphs), use these instead:

Morrison has shown that there is a great need for . . . (par. 38) .
Reynolds devotes a chapter to the rise of poverty in some states in the US (ch. 6) .

For audiovisual sources (such as YouTube videos ), use a timestamp:

In his recent video, Smith argues that climate change should be the main political priority of all governments today (03:15–05:21) .

If there is no numbering system in the original source, include only the author’s name in your citation.

Are you a teacher or professor looking to introduce your students to MLA style? Download our free introductory lecture slides, available for Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.

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MLA Style is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition , published in 2021.

This quick guide to MLA style explains the latest guidelines for citing sources and formatting papers according to MLA.

A standard MLA Works Cited entry is structured as follows:

Only include information that is available for and relevant to your source.

The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .

Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.

If information about your source is not available, you can either leave it out of the MLA citation or replace it with something else, depending on the type of information.

No author : Start with the source title.
No title : Provide a description of the source.
No date : Provide an access date for online sources; omit for other sources.

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13.4 Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Learning objectives.

Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style.
Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper.

We have addressed American Psychological Association (APA) style, as well as the importance of giving credit where credit is due, so now let’s turn our attention to the formatting and citation style of the Modern Language Association, known as MLA style.

MLA style is often used in the liberal arts and humanities. Like APA style, it provides a uniform framework for consistency across a document in several areas. MLA style provides a format for the manuscript text and parenthetical citations, or in-text citations. It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is to your advantage to be familiar with both major styles, and this section will outline the main points of MLA as well as offer specific examples of commonly used references. Remember that your writing represents you in your absence. The correct use of a citation style demonstrates your attention to detail and ability to produce a scholarly work in an acceptable style, and it can help prevent the appearance or accusations of plagiarism.

If you are taking an English, art history, or music appreciation class, chances are that you will be asked to write an essay in MLA format. One common question goes something like “What’s the difference?” referring to APA and MLA style, and it deserves our consideration. The liberal arts and humanities often reflect works of creativity that come from individual and group effort, but they may adapt, change, or build on previous creative works. The inspiration to create something new, from a song to a music video, may contain elements of previous works. Drawing on your fellow artists and authors is part of the creative process, and so is giving credit where credit is due.

A reader interested in your subject wants not only to read what you wrote but also to be aware of the works that you used to create it. Readers want to examine your sources to see if you know your subject, to see if you missed anything, or if you offer anything new and interesting. Your new or up-to-date sources may offer the reader additional insight on the subject being considered. It also demonstrates that you, as the author, are up-to-date on what is happening in the field or on the subject. Giving credit where it is due enhances your credibility, and the MLA style offers a clear format to use.

Uncredited work that is incorporated into your own writing is considered plagiarism. In the professional world, plagiarism results in loss of credibility and often compensation, including future opportunities. In a classroom setting, plagiarism results in a range of sanctions, from loss of a grade to expulsion from a school or university. In both professional and academic settings, the penalties are severe. MLA offers artists and authors a systematic style of reference, again giving credit where credit is due, to protect MLA users from accusations of plagiarism.

MLA style uses a citation in the body of the essay that links to the works cited page at the end. The in-text citation is offset with parentheses, clearly calling attention to itself for the reader. The reference to the author or title is like a signal to the reader that information was incorporated from a separate source. It also provides the reader with information to then turn to the works cited section of your essay (at the end) where they can find the complete reference. If you follow the MLA style, and indicate your source both in your essay and in the works cited section, you will prevent the possibility of plagiarism. If you follow the MLA guidelines, pay attention to detail, and clearly indicate your sources, then this approach to formatting and citation offers a proven way to demonstrate your respect for other authors and artists.

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

To demonstrate your ability to present a professional, academic essay in the correct style
To gain credibility and authenticity for your work
To enhance the ability of the reader to locate information discussed in your essay
To give credit where credit is due and prevent plagiarism
To get a good grade or demonstrate excellence in your writing

Before we transition to specifics, please consider one word of caution: consistency. If you are instructed to use the MLA style and need to indicate a date, you have options. For example, you could use an international or a US style:

International style: 18 May 1980 (day/month/year)
US style: May 18, 1980 (month/day/year)

If you are going to the US style, be consistent in its use. You’ll find you have the option on page 83 of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers , 7th edition. You have many options when writing in English as the language itself has several conventions, or acceptable ways of writing particular parts of speech or information. For example, on the next page our MLA Handbook addresses the question:

Which convention is preferred in MLA style:

twentieth century Twentieth Century 20th century 20th Century

You are welcome to look in the MLA Handbook and see there is one preferred style or convention (you will also find the answer at end of this section marked by an asterisk [*]). Now you may say to yourself that you won’t write that term and it may be true, but you will come to a term or word that has more than one way it can be written. In that case, what convention is acceptable in MLA style? This is where the MLA Handbook serves as an invaluable resource. Again, your attention to detail and the professional presentation of your work are aspects of learning to write in an academic setting.

Now let’s transition from a general discussion on the advantages of MLA style to what we are required to do to write a standard academic essay. We will first examine a general “to do” list, then review a few “do not” suggestions, and finally take a tour through a sample of MLA features. Links to sample MLA papers are located at the end of this section.

General MLA List

Use standard white paper (8.5 × 11 inches).
Double space the essay and quotes.
Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
Use one-inch margins on all sides
Indent paragraphs (five spaces or 1.5 inches).
Include consecutive page numbers in the upper-right corner.
Use italics to indicate a title, as in Writing for Success .
On the first page, place your name, course, date, and instructor’s name in the upper-left corner.
On the first page, place the title centered on the page, with no bold or italics and all words capitalized.
On all pages, place the header, student’s name + one space + page number, 1.5 inches from the top, aligned on the right.

Depending on your field of study, you may sometimes write research papers in either APA or MLA style. Recognize that each has its advantages and preferred use in fields and disciplines. Learn to write and reference in both styles with proficiency.

Title Block Format

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and your title block (not a separate title page; just a section at the top of the first page) makes an impression on the reader. If correctly formatted with each element of information in its proper place, form, and format, it says to the reader that you mean business, that you are a professional, and that you take your work seriously, so it should, in turn, be seriously considered. Your title block in MLA style contributes to your credibility. Remember that your writing represents you in your absence, and the title block is the tailored suit or outfit that represents you best. That said, sometimes a separate title page is necessary, but it is best both to know how to properly format a title block or page in MLA style and to ask your instructor if it is included as part of the assignment.

Course number

Title of Paper

Paragraphs and Indentation

Make sure you indent five spaces (from the left margin). You’ll see that the indent offsets the beginning of a new paragraph. We use paragraphs to express single ideas or topics that reinforce our central purpose or thesis statement. Paragraphs include topic sentences, supporting sentences, and conclusion or transitional sentences that link paragraphs together to support the main focus of the essay.

Tables and Illustrations

Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the text they reinforce or complement. Here’s an example of a table in MLA.

As we can see in Table 13.2 , we have experienced significant growth since 2008.

This example demonstrates that the words that you write and the tables, figures, illustrations, or images that you include should be next to each other in your paper.

Parenthetical Citations

You must cite your sources as you use them. In the same way that a table or figure should be located right next to the sentence that discusses it (see the previous example), parenthetical citations, or citations enclosed in parenthesis that appear in the text, are required. You need to cite all your information. If someone else wrote it, said it, drew it, demonstrated it, or otherwise expressed it, you need to cite it. The exception to this statement is common, widespread knowledge. For example, if you search online for MLA resources, and specifically MLA sample papers, you will find many similar discussions on MLA style. MLA is a style and cannot be copyrighted because it is a style, but the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook can be copyright protected. If you reference a specific page in that handbook, you need to indicate it. If you write about a general MLA style issue that is commonly covered or addressed in multiple sources, you do not. When in doubt, reference the specific resource you used to write your essay.

Your in-text, or parenthetical, citations should do the following:

Clearly indicate the specific sources also referenced in the works cited
Specifically identify the location of the information that you used
Keep the citation clear and concise, always confirming its accuracy

Works Cited Page

After the body of your paper comes the works cited page. It features the reference sources used in your essay. List the sources alphabetically by last name, or list them by title if the author is not known as is often the case of web-based articles. You will find links to examples of the works cited page in several of the sample MLA essays at the end of this section.

As a point of reference and comparison to our APA examples, let’s examine the following three citations and the order of the information needed.

In Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting” , Section 13.1 “Formatting a Research Paper” , you created a sample essay in APA style. After reviewing this section and exploring the resources linked at the end of the section (including California State University–Sacramento’s clear example of a paper in MLA format), please convert your paper to MLA style using the formatting and citation guidelines. You may find it helpful to use online applications that quickly, easily, and at no cost convert your citations to MLA format.

Please convert the APA-style citations to MLA style. You may find that online applications can quickly, easily, and at no cost convert your citations to MLA format. There are several websites and applications available free (or as a free trial) that will allow you to input the information and will produce a correct citation in the style of your choice. Consider these two sites:

http://www.noodletools.com
http://bibcitation.com/

Hint: You may need access to the Internet to find any missing information required to correctly cite in MLA style. This demonstrates an important difference between APA and MLA style—the information provided to the reader.

Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style

Arizona State University Libraries offers an excellent resource with clear examples.

http://libguides.asu.edu/content.php?pid=122697&sid=1132964

Purdue Online Writing Lab includes sample pages and works cited.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01

California State University–Sacramento’s Online Writing Lab has an excellent visual description and example of an MLA paper.

http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/mla/mla_format.htm

SUNY offers an excellent, brief, side-by-side comparison of MLA and APA citations.

http://www.sunywcc.edu/LIBRARY/research/MLA_APA_08.03.10.pdf

Cornell University Library provides comprehensive MLA information on its Citation Management website.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla

The University of Kansas Writing Center is an excellent resource.

http://www.writing.ku.edu/guides

* (a) is the correct answer to the question at the beginning of this section. The MLA Handbook prefers “twentieth century.”

Key Takeaways

MLA style is often used in the liberal arts and humanities.
MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity.
A reader interested in your subject wants not only to read what you wrote but also to be informed of the works you used to create it.
MLA style uses a citation in the body of the essay that refers to the works cited section at the end.
If you follow MLA style, and indicate your source both in your essay and in the works cited section, you will prevent the possibility of plagiarism.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format

MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know Here

Welcome to an overview of “What is MLA Format?” in relation to paper formatting. You’ll find in-depth guidelines, examples, and visual samples to help you easily format your paper. This guide does not serve as a reference for MLA citation format.

For help determining the proper structure for citing, refer to the other guides on EasyBib.com. Here is another informative site which may help with further understanding of MLA citation format.

Guidelines for Formatting a Paper in MLA

Use white 8 ½ x 11” paper.
Make 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides.
The first word in every paragraph should be indented one half inch.
Indent set-off or block quotations one half inch from the left margin.
Use any type of font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman. Make sure that italics look different from the regular typeface.
Use 12-point size.
Double space the entire research paper, even the Works Cited page.
Leave one space after periods and other punctuation marks, unless your instructor tells you to leave two spaces.

These guidelines come from the MLA Style Center’s web page “Formatting a Research Paper.”

MLA Guide Overview

There are various sections in this guide. Each section provides an in-depth overview of the different components to keep in mind when developing an MLA paper.

This guide includes the following sections:

Format background
General paper formatting
MLA heading format & title page instructions
Running head & page numbers
Paraphrases
Abbreviations
Numbers (includes the use of numbers in MLA outline format)
Images, tables, and musical scores
MLA works cited format
MLA citation format (for in-depth citation rules visit this MLA citation guide or MLA in-text citation guide)
Edits & proofreading

If you need more guidance, a website like EasyBib.com usually has guides and tools to help you out. There’s also resources on other styles, like our guide on “ APA reference page ”, otherwise known as a “References” page.

MLA Format Background

The Modern Language Association (MLA) is an organization responsible for developing MLA format. It was developed as a means for researchers, students, and scholars in the literature and language fields to uniformly format their papers and assignments. This uniform, or consistent, method to developing a paper or assignment allows for easy reading. Today, MLA is not only used in literature and language subject areas; many others have adopted it as well.

The Modern Language Association released the 9th and most current edition of their MLA Handbook in April 2021. The Handbook provides thorough instructions on citing, as well as guidelines for submitting work that adheres to the Modern Language Association’s rules and standards. Although we’re not affiliated with the MLA, our citation specialists bring you this thoughtful and informative guide on the format.

Looking for information about previous editions to the Handbook ? Want to learn more about the origin of “What is MLA format?” Click here to learn about the previous editions to the Handbook .

Actually, are you looking for help on using another style? See how to cite an APA journal , learn to create an APA book citation , and more!

Formatting the Header in MLA

To create a header for your first page, follow these steps:

Begin one inch from the top of the first page and flush with the left margin.
Type your name, your instructor’s name, the course name and number, and the date on separate lines, using double spaces between each.
Double space once more and center the title. Do NOT underline, bold, or type the title in all capital letters. Only italicize words that would normally be italicized in the text. Example: Character Development in The Great Gatsby
Do not place a period after the title or after any headings
Double space between the title and first lines of the text

General Paper Formatting

Paper choice.

While many professors, instructors, and publications allow electronic submission, some prefer printed, hard copies of papers. This section focuses on the type of paper to use for printed submission.

If you choose to print your paper, use white paper only. Do not use ivory, off-white, or any other shades or colors.

Choose a standard, high quality paper to print your project on. Do not use cardstock. It is not necessary to use resum é paper. Use typical, high quality printer or copy paper.

When it comes to size, 8 ½-by-11-inch paper is the recommended size. If you’d like to use a different size, ask your teacher prior to submission.

Use One-Inch Margins in MLA

Use one-inch margins around the entire page. The running head should be the only item seen in the one inch margin (see below for more on running heads).

Most word processing programs automatically default to using one inch margins. Check the page settings section of the program to locate the margin size.

Indenting Paragraphs in MLA

Indent the first word in every paragraph. Sentences should begin one half inch from the left margin.

It is not necessary to manually measure half an inch. Use the “tab” button on the keyboard to create a half inch space.

Double Space Paragraphs in MLA

MLA research paper format requires that the entire research paper or MLA format essay includes double-spaced lines. Double-spaced lines should be found in between the written body of the work, in the heading, and also on the MLA reference page.

While it may seem tempting to place a few extra lines between the heading, title, and beginning of the paper, lines should all be double spaced.

Font and Font Size in MLA

In an MLA paper, it is acceptable to use any font type that is easy to read. Many source types, such as books and articles, use fonts that are easy to read, so if you’re seeking an appropriate font style, look at other sources for guidance. Two of the most commonly used fonts are Arial and Times New Roman.

It is important for the reader to be able to distinguish the difference between italicized and regular font, so if you choose a font style different than Arial or Times New Roman, make sure the difference between the two type styles is evident.

The use of a 12-point font size is recommended as this is the default size for many word processing programs. It is acceptable to use another standard size, such as 11-point or 11.5-point.

Some professors or instructors will provide guidance on how to secure hard copies of projects. If your instructor does not provide you with any expectations or guidance, a simple staple in the top left corner should suffice. If a stapler is not available, some instructors allow paper or binder clips.

Do not fold the top left corner down to secure the pages together. The page could easily unfold, causing a mess of papers. While binders and plastic holders are cute, in reality, they add bulk to a professor or instructor who may like to take the papers home for grading purposes. Keep the binding simple and clean. Staples work best, and binder and paper clips are the next best option.

As always, follow any instructions your professor or teacher may provide. The guidelines found here are simply recommendations.

MLA Heading & Title Page Instructions

The web page “Formatting a Research Paper” gives two options when it comes to creating the header for your project:

An MLA format heading can be placed at the top of the first page
A title page can grace the front of the assignment. If you choose to create a title page, keep in mind that there aren’t any official title page or cover page guidelines in MLA format. See more information below.

If choosing option one, creating an MLA heading, you’ll need to include four main components:

Your full name
Your instructor’s name
The name and number of the course or class
The assignment’s due date

The first item typed on the paper should be your full name.

Position your name one inch from the top and left margins of the page.
Add a double space beneath your name, and type the name of your instructor.
Below the professor or instructor’s name should be a double space, followed by the name of the course, class, or section number (if available).
Below it, include another double space and add the assignment’s due date (Day Month Year).

Here’s an example:

The assignment’s title should be placed below the due date, after a double space. Align the title so it sits in the center of the MLA format paper. The title should be written in standard lettering, without underlines, bold font, italicized font, or any quotation marks. Only include italics or quotation marks if your title includes the title of another source.

Here is an example of an MLA header for an MLA format essay, paper, or assignment:

Neal E. Bibdarsh

Professor Haujeemoto

English 201

The Trials and Tribulations of Lincoln’s Reciting of “The Gettysburg Address”

*Note: The quotation marks here are around the title of a speech included in the paper’s title.

Most research papers use a standard MLA format heading, like the one seen above. If your instructor requires you to create a standalone title page, ask him or her for specifications. MLA does not have specific instructions for developing an MLA title page. We recommend you use an MLA header for your project.

If your teacher or professor requires a standalone title page, but has not provided any guidance or specifications, here are a few suggestions from EasyBib.com and this MLA guide :

Center and double space all of the text on your page.
Place the name of your school at the top of the page.
Skip down to about the center of the page and type the title of your paper. Do not bold the title, italicize the entire title, place quotation marks around it, or type the title out in capital letters.
Use italics for the titles of any sources in the title of your paper. Example: An Analysis of Mythical Creatures in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
first letter of the title
first letter of the last word
first letter of any adjectives, adverbs, nouns, pronouns, and verbs
If your paper has a subtitle, include on the next line below your title.
Skip down to the bottom third of the page and add your name, the the name of your instructor, the name/number of the course or class, and the assignment’s due date on four separate lines.
Keep the font size at 12 pt., or a size close to it, to make it look professional.
Use the same font as the text of the paper. The Modern Language Association recommends any font that is easy to read and has a clear distinction between italics and standard font. Times New Roman and Arial are recommended, but many other fonts work as well.
Include a page number in the top right corner of the paper. For more information on how to style page numbers, check out the next section, “Running Head and Page Numbers.”
We do not recommend adding any images or cover art to the title page.

Click additional information about essays to see an example of a formatted header.

You can either create a title page using the EasyBib Title Page creator or omit the title page completely and use a header.

Running Head & Page Numbers in MLA

A running head is a brief heading that is placed in the top right corner of every page in a project. The Modern Language Association Style Center (online) states that the running head consists of:

Last name of the paper’s author
Page number

General tips to keep in mind:

The running head is placed in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the top margin and one inch from the right margin of the page.
Type your last name before the page number.
The last name and page number should be separated by a single space.
Do not place the word “page” or use an abbreviation, such as p. or pg., before the page number.
Quite often, the running head begins on the second page, but your instructor may ask you to include the running head on the first page of the assignment. As always, if your instructor provides you with specific directions, follow his or her guidelines.

Before adding this information manually onto every single page, check to see if the word processor you’re using has the capability to automatically add this information for you. Try looking in the settings area where page numbers or headers can be added or modified.

Google Docs: Adding a header

Go to the menu section “Insert.”
Select “Page numbers” and select the option that places the page number in the upper-right corner.
A page number will appear; your cursor will blink next to it.
Move your cursor to the left of the page number.
Type your last name. Add a space between your name and the page number.
You should now have a properly formatted header on every page!

Microsoft Word Document: Adding a header

Double-click in the space at the top of the page (where the page number is).
OR Go to the “Insert” menu, select “Header,” and select “Edit Header.”
Type your last name next to page number. If it isn’t already right-aligned, go to the “Home” menu and right-align your name.

Quotations in MLA

Quotes are added into assignments to help defend an argument, prove a point, add emphasis, or simply liven up a project.

Quotes should not take up the majority of your paper or assignment. Quotes should be sprinkled sparingly throughout, and quotes longer than 4 lines should be formatted as MLA block quotes . Use direct quotes from outside sources to enhance and expand on your own writing and ideas.

Words from quotes belong to the individual who spoke or wrote them, so it is essential to credit that individual’s work. Credit him or her by adding what is called an “in-text citation” into the body of the project.

There are three ways to add quotes: 1. With the author’s name in the sentence (a citation in prose).

Dan Gutman shares a glimpse into the overall plot by stating, “I didn’t know it at the time, but a baseball card—for me—could function like a time machine” (5).

In the above example, Dan Gutman is the author of the book that this quote is pulled from.

2. Without the author’s name in the sentence (a parenthetical citation).

The main character’s confusing experience is realized and explained when he states “I didn’t know it at the time, but a baseball card—for me—could function like a time machine” (Gutman 5).

In the above example, Dan Gutman’s name isn’t included in the sentence. It’s included in the parentheses at the end of the sentence. This is an example of a proper MLA style citation in the body of a project.

3. In a block quote, which is used when a large quote, of 4 lines or more, is added into a project.

Using footnotes and endnotes

The Modern Language Association generally promotes the use of references as described in the sections above, but footnotes and endnotes are also acceptable forms of references to use in your paper.

Footnotes and endnotes are helpful to use in a variety of circumstances. Here are a few scenarios when it may seem appropriate to use this type of referencing:

When you are referring to a number of various sources, by various authors, in a section of your paper. In this situation, it is a good idea to use a footnote or endnote to share information for parenthetical references. This will encourage the reader to stay focused on the text of the research paper, instead of having to read through all of the reference information.
When you are sharing additional information that doesn’t quite fit into the scope of the paper, but is beneficial for the reader. These types of footnotes and endnotes are helpful when explaining translations, adding background information, or sharing counterexamples to research.

To include a footnote or endnote, add a superscript number at the end of the sentence the footnote or endnote refers to. They can be included mid-sentence if necessary, but be sure to add it after any punctuation, such as commas or periods. Find a location that doesn’t distract the reader from the content and flow of the paper.

Within the text example:

Numerous well-known children’s books include characters from a wide range of races and ethnicities, thus promoting diversity and multiculturalism.¹

At the bottom of the page (footnote) or at the end of the section (endnote):

¹See Isadora, Parr, and Velazquez. While Parr’s work features characters of various colors, such as pink or blue, children easily correlate it with individuals of different races and ethnicities.

On the last page of the assignment, the writer includes the full references for the books by Isadora, Parr, and Velazquez.

For more on block quotes and a further, detailed explanation on the use of quotes, including MLA footnotes, refer to our MLA In-Text Citation and Parenthetical Citations Guide. In this guide you’ll find further information including directions for the use of quotes without an author, page numbers, and how to properly credit work from electronic sources.

For guides on citations in another style, check out APA parenthetical citation and APA in-text citation .

Paraphrases in MLA

Paraphrases are created when text or speech from another source are added into a project, but the writer chooses to summarize them and weave in his or her own writing and writing style.

Even though the writer modifies the information from another source, it is still necessary to credit the source using proper format ( Handbook 98). Paraphrased information uses the same MLA reference format as stated in the section directly above this one.

Here is an acceptable paraphrase:

Original text:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” Steve Jobs

Paraphrase:

Steve Jobs encouraged students at Stanford to continue with their determination, drive, and ambitious behavior. They should never be simply satisfied with the status quo. They should continue to push themselves despite possible obstacles and failures.

To develop a well-written paraphrase, follow these simple, step-by-step instructions.

Find a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or section of original text you’d like to turn into a paraphrase.
Read the text carefully and make sure you fully comprehend its meaning. A writer can only develop a well-written paraphrase if the information has been fully grasped and understood. If you’re having difficulty understanding the information, take a few minutes to read up on tricky words and background information. If all else fails, ask a friend to see if they’re able to make sense of the concepts.
After analyzing and completely understanding the original text, put it to the side. Take a moment to think about what you’ve read and connect the idea to your own assignment.
Now that the information is completely understood, take a moment to rewrite what you’ve read, in your own words and writing style. Do not simply substitute words in the original text with synonyms. That’s plagiarism! Show off and demonstrate your ability to process the original information, connect it to the content in your paper, and write it in your own individual and unique writing style.
Include an in-text reference next to the paraphrase. All paraphrases include references, similar to direct quotes. See the “Quotations” section of this guide to learn how to properly attribute your paraphrased information.
Give yourself a pat on the back! Paraphrasing is an important part of the research and writing process.

Wondering if it’s better to quote or paraphrase?

An essential part of the research process involves adding direct quotes and paraphrases into projects. Direct quotes provide word-for-word evidence and allow writers to use another author’s eloquent words and language in their own projects. When it comes to paraphrases, writers are able to take a block of text and shrink the scope of it into the their papers. Paper writers can also use paraphrases to demonstrate their ability to analyze and reiterate information in a meaningful and relevant way.

If you’re wondering which one is better to consistently use, quotes or paraphrases, there’s a clear winner. Paraphrases come out on top. Sure, direct quotes are incredibly beneficial, but copying and pasting too many of these into a project can cause a reader to lose sight of the writer’s own voice. Mixing your own voice with another author’s too much can make for choppy and disjointed reading.

The ultimate goal of a research project is to have your voice and research merged together as one. Paraphrases allow just that. When you combine information from outside sources with your own writing style, it demonstrates your ability as a researcher to showcase your understanding and analyzation of a topic.

Remember, whether you’re adding direct quotes or paraphrases into a project, both types of additions need references. References are placed after the quotes and paraphrases, and also at the end of an assignment.

If you’re looking for additional help with your punctuation or grammar, check out the EasyBib plagiarism checker !

Using Abbreviations in MLA

Abbreviations are commonly used in many source types including websites, blog posts, books, and journal articles. It is acceptable to use abbreviations in all of these sources.

When it comes to school and research assignments, however, the MLA Handbook states that abbreviations should be used rarely in the prose of your paper (293). Spelling out abbreviations into their full words and meanings is recommended. This ensures understanding and avoids any confusion from your reader.

There are times when you may feel it is perfectly acceptable to use an abbreviation rather than its typed out counterpart in a paper. If you do abbreviate, be sure you are using commonly accepted abbreviations, which you can find in the dictionary. You can also review Appendix 1 in the MLA Handbook .

General Abbreviation Tips

Human Immunodeficiency Virus can be abbreviated to HIV, not H.I.V.
United States should be US, not U.S.
Digital video disc should be DVD, not D.V.D.
For lower case abbreviations, it is acceptable to include periods between the letters.
The abbreviation, “For example” = e.g.
If there is a mix of lower case and upper case letters, do not use periods if the majority of the letters are upper case. Examples include PhD and EdD

Abbreviating Months

Type out entire month names when being used in the body of a research paper or assignment.

She rented out the beach house from May through September

When it comes to references, MLA bibliography format requires months longer than four letters to be abbreviated.

July = July
November = Nov.

Other abbreviations that are perfectly acceptable to use in a bibliography (not the body of a project) include:

p. or pp. for page and page numbers
ch. for chapter
ed. for edition
trans. for translation or translated
vol. for volume
no. for number
rev. for revised

Again, these abbreviations should only be used in the final page(s) of a project, the MLA Works Cited list. They should not be used in the body of a project.

For more information on bibliographies, see our MLA format Works Cited List page.

Abbreviating Publishers

One of the quirkiest things about this particular style is how publisher names are structured on the final page of references. Certain words are abbreviated, some words are omitted, and other words are written in full.

Words describing what type of business the publisher is are omitted from the works cited. Here’s a breakdown of the words that should be excluded:

Co. (Company)
Corp. (Corporation)
Inc. (Incorporated)
Ltd. (Limited)
The (when at the beginning of the name)

If a publisher’s name contains the words “University” and “Press” (or the equivalent in another language), the words should be abbreviated to the letters “U” and “P” in your citation. But if only one of the words appears, it should be written out normally.

Here are a few examples:

University of Delaware
U College of London P

All other words related to the names of publishers should be written out in full.

Abbreviating Titles

Certain classical and biblical works are abbreviated in a bibliography, but also in any parenthetical references in the text.

The official handbook provides a lengthy list, spanning over multiple pages, of the preferred abbreviations to use for classical and biblical works ( Handbook 295-301), but here’s a quick snapshot of some of the commonly used ones:

Hebrew Bible or Old Testament = OT

Deut. = Deuteronomy
Gen. = Genesis
Lev. = Leviticus
Num. = Numbers
Ps. = Psalms

New Testament = NT

1 Cor. = 1 Corinthians
Jas. = James
Matt. = Matthew

Shakespeare:

Ado = Much Ado about Nothing
3H6 = Henry VI, Part 3
JC = Julius Caesar
Mac. = Macbeth
MND = A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Oth. = Othello
Rom. = Romeo and Juliet

Again, the titles above are allowed to be abbreviated both in references in parentheses in the body of a project and also on the final page of references. If you’re wondering why, it’s because they’re cited often and it’s unnecessary to type out the entire title names.

Formatting Numbers in MLA

Use of numerals.

If the project calls for frequent use of numbers (such as a scientific study or statistics), use numerals that precede measurements.

247 milligrams

Other items to keep in mind:

In divisions, use numbers, ex: In page 5 of the study

Arabic Numbers

When including a number in a paper, spell out the number if it can be written as one word (such as six ) or two words (such as sixty-two ). For fractions, decimals, or longer numbers, type them out using digits. For larger numbers, write the number itself ( Handbook 82-84).

twenty-seven
one hundred

If the number comes before a unit of measurement or label, type the number using digits.

8 tablespoons
3 July 2018
25 King Street

More on Numbers

Starting a sentence with a number is generally frowned upon. Try modifying the sentence so that the number, or number word, is found elsewhere.

Instead of:

225 children were found in the warehouse, some malnourished and diseased.

Use this sentence:

A total of 225 children were found in the warehouse, some malnourished and diseased.

If modifying the sentence is not possible or does not work well with the flow of the assignment or paper, type out the written number:

Two hundred twenty five children were found in the warehouse, some malnourished and diseased.

Do not include any ISBN numbers in your paper.

Outline Format

The Modern Language Association does not have any requirements regarding the structure of an outline. If your teacher asks you to create an MLA outline, we recommend using roman numerals, capital and lowercase letters, and numbers.

Here is an example of a recommended outline structure:

In addition to outlines, use roman numerals for suffixes.

King George IV

Using Images, Tables, & Musical Scores in MLA

Photographs, data sets, tables, graphs, and other images are often added into projects or papers to promote or aid understanding. They provide meaningful visuals for the reader. If the illustration or visual image does not enhance the quality of the paper, do not include it in the project.

Tables and illustrations should be placed as close as possible to the text that they most closely refer to.

For an image to be significant and easily identifiable, place it as close as possible to the text in the project where it is discussed.

It is not acceptable to simply place an image in a project without including identifiable information. All images must include information about its origin.

Here are the directions to properly attribute an image:

Assign an Arabic number. The image closest to the beginning of the project should be labeled as Fig. 1. The next image in the project should be Fig. 2. and so on.
Provide a caption. The caption should be a brief explanation or the title of the contents of the image. Place the caption directly next to the label.
Immediately following the caption, it is acceptable to include attribution information. If the image is not discussed further in the rest of the paper or project, it is acceptable to include the MLA bibliography format citation below the image and omit it from the bibliography or MLA format works cited page.

In the text of the project or paper where the figure is discussed, include the label in parentheses to ensure the reader knows where to find the figure in your paper.

In the text:

Sarah’s tattoo design was filled with two of her favorite flowers: lilies and daffodils along a thinly curved vine (fig. 1).

Image formatting:

(Image Would Be Here) Fig. 1. Sarah’s Tattoo. barneyWILLIAMSable, Deviant Art , 2011, barneywilliamsable.deviantart.com/art/Sarah-s-Tattoo-design-193048938.

Fig. 1. White Studio. “Houdini and Jennie, the Elephant, Performing at the Hippodrome, New York.” Library of Congress , www.loc.gov/item/96518833/.

When adding a table or data set into a project, it is formatted a little differently. Above the data set, include the label “Table” with an Arabic numeral, and title it. The table number and title should be located flush left and on separate lines. The first table seen in the project is labeled as Table 1. The second table in the project is Table 2, and so on. The table’s title should be written in title case form (the first letter of each word is capitalized, except for small, insignificant words).

Underneath the table, provide the source and any notes. Notes should be labeled with a letter, rather than a numeral, so the reader is able to differentiate between the notes of the text and the notes of the table.

International Scholars from India Enrolled at Yale University a

Source: “International Scholars Academic Year 2015-2016.” Yale University , Office of International Students and Scholars, yale.app.box.com/v/scholar-2015-2016. a. The numbers reflect students who are enrolled full-time.

The information included above and below any images or table should be double spaced, similar to the rest of the project or paper.

Musical Scores

Musical scores need to be labeled as well. When including a musical score in a project, label musical scores with “Ex.” which is short for example. This label should be placed below the musical score. Next to the abbreviation “Ex.”, assign the score an Arabic numeral. The first musical score in the project should be labeled as Ex. 1. The second musical score found in an assignment should be labeled as Ex. 2., and so on.

If possible, provide a caption after to the label. If the caption below the sheet music includes enough information about the source, it is not necessary to include the full reference at the end of the assignment.

Here is an example of a possible label and caption:

Ex. 4. Scott Joplin, The Entertainer, piano, C major.

Another example:

Here’s more on tables and illustrations.

Using Lists in MLA

It’s appropriate to add lists into an MLA format essay as long as the proper rules are followed.

Lists created using MLA essay format look different than a grocery list or any other type of vertical listing of items. Items in a list are included in your prose, rather than the traditional vertical style.

Often, you will use a colon between the introductory sentence and the list. But you should not include a colon if the first item in the list is part of the sentence.

List Example #1

Here is an example of how a list may look incorporated into the prose of a research project or assignment:

William Shakespeare wrote numerous plays, many of which were considered tragedies: Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet , Macbeth , Othello , Julius Caesar , and King Lear .

List Example #2 Here is an example of how a list may look in a research project or assignment when the list is part of the introductory sentence:

Many of William Shakespeare’s were tragedies. Some of his most popular tragedies include Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet , Macbeth , Othello , Julius Caesar , and King Lear.

MLA Works Cited Format

EasyBib.com has a full, comprehensive guide to creating a proper works cited MLA format , but here are a few items to keep in mind when developing this portion of a project:

The list of citations should be the very last page of a research project or essay.
The top of the page should include the running head and the page number.
All entries should be placed in alphabetical order by the first item in the MLA format citation.
The entire page should be double spaced.

For more detailed information, make sure to check out the EasyBib guide to MLA format Works Cited pages.

MLA Citation Format

The majority of this guide focuses on MLA formatting in regards to MLA paper format rules and guidelines. If you’re seeking information related to the proper formatting of an MLA citation, refer to our individual pages and posts on various types of citations.

If you’re simply looking for the general structure for full references, which are found on the final pages of projects, here’s the proper order:

Author’s Last name, Author’s First name. “Title of Source.”* Title of Container , Names of other contributors along with their specific roles, version of the source (if it differs from the original or is unique), any key numbers associated with the source that aren’t dates (such as journal issue numbers or volume numbers), Name of the Publisher, publication date, location (such as the URL or page numbers).

*Note: A title may be in italics instead of quotation marks, depending of the type of source. The general rule is that works that are self-contained (like books, journals, or television shows) are formatted in italics. Works that are part of a larger work (like articles, chapters, or specific episodes) are formatting in quotation marks.

MLA Format Citing FAQs:

“What in the world are containers?”

Containers are what hold the source. If you’re creating a reference for a chapter in a book, the title of the chapter is the title of the source , and the container is the title of the book . The book holds the chapter, so it’s the container. If you’re searching for how to cite a website, here’s a tip: the title of the source is the name of the individual page and the title of the container is the name of the full website.

“This seems like a lot of information for a reference. Is it all necessary?”

The short answer is “No!” When citing, only include the components that help the reader locate the exact same source themselves.

It isn’t necessary to go digging for items such as numbers, version types, or names of other individuals or contributors associated with the source if they aren’t applicable. If you think it’s beneficial for the reader, then include it.

Related to citations, here are helpful pages on:

MLA citation website format
Citing a book
Citing a journal
What is a DOI ?
More on PDFs

If you’re looking for an MLA citation generator, head to the EasyBib homepage. Our formatter will help you create citations quickly and easily!

Need APA, too? There are also EasyBib tools and an APA citation website reference guide to help you learn the basics.

Edits and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading your assignment prior to submission is an incredibly important step in the research process. Editing involves checking the paper for the following items:

Spelling : Are all words spelled correctly? Review all proper names, places, and other unique words to ensure correct spelling. When finished, run the project through a spell checker. Many word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word and Google Drive, provide a free spell checking feature. While spell checks are beneficial, they do not always spot every mistake, so make sure you take the time to read through the assignment carefully. If you’re still not sure if your project contains proper spelling, ask a friend to read through it. They may find a mistake you missed!
Grammar : Check your assignment to make sure you’ve included proper word usage. There are numerous grammar checkers available to review your project prior to submission. Again, take the time to review any recommendations from these programs prior to accepting the suggestions and revisions.
Punctuation : Check to make sure the end of every sentence has an ending punctuation mark. Also make sure commas, hyphens, colons, and other punctuation marks are placed in the appropriate places.
Attribution : Do all quotes and paraphrases include a citation? Did you create an in-text citation for each individual piece of information?

Smart idea: running your paper through a paper checker before you turn it in. EasyBib Plus offers a checker that scans for grammar errors and unintentional plagiarism.

Check out our MLA sample papers . Also, check out the EasyBib MLA Annotated Bibliography Guide.

Don’t forget to use the EasyBib citation generator to develop your Modern Language Association style references.EasyBib.com also has helpful guides on APA format and more styles . Lastly, stay up-to-date on what’s coming by following our EasyBib Twitter account.

Works Cited

“Formatting a Research Paper.” The MLA Style Center , Modern Language Association of America, style.mla.org/formatting-papers/.

MLA Handbook. 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

Published October 31, 2011. Updated July 25, 2021.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau . Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. You can find her here on Twitter. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

MLA Formatting Guide

MLA Formatting

Annotated Bibliography
Bibliography
Block Quotes
et al Usage
In-text Citations
Paraphrasing
Page Numbers
Sample Paper
MLA 8 Updates
MLA 9 Updates
View MLA Guide

Citation Examples

Book Chapter
Journal Article
Magazine Article
Newspaper Article
Website (no author)
View all MLA Examples

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The works-cited list provides the reader full information so that a reader can locate the source for further use.

Basic formatting

The works-cited list appears at the end of the paper, after any endnotes if they are present.

Page margins

All margins (top, bottom, left, and right) should be set at 1 inch.

Running head

Write the running head in the top right of the page at 0.5 inch from the top. Use the running head “Surname Page #.”

The font should be clear enough to read. For example, Times New Roman font set to 12 points.

Formatting entries

Entries should be double-spaced, including a double-space between the heading and the first entry. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent line(s) 0.5 inch from the left margin.

Formatting the title

The title should be “Works Cited.” Center the title. Do not bold, italicize, or underline the title. If you cite only one source in the list, the title should be “Work Cited.” If you include sources that you only consulted and didn’t cite directly, the title should be changed accordingly to “Works Cited and Consulted.”

Arranging works cited

Works-cited-list entries are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name (or the editor’s last name for entire edited collections). Double-space all entries. Begin each entry flush with the left margin. If any entry runs over more than one line, indent the subsequent line(s) 0.5 inch from the left margin (sometimes called a hanging indent).

Example works cited

Damasio, Antonio. The Feeling of What Happens: Body, Emotion and the Making of Consciousness . Vintage, 2000.

Hill, R. T. “Legitimizing Colonial Privilege: Native Americans at a Quincentenary of Discourse.” Text and Performance Quarterly , vol. 16, no. 1, 1996, pp. 92–100.

MacDonald, Shauna M. “Performance as Critical Posthuman Pedagogy.” Text and Performance Quarterly , vol. 34, no. 2, 2014, pp. 164–81.

Zilio, M. “Canada Will Not Move Embassy to Jerusalem, Federal Government Says.” The Globe and Mail . 7 Sept. 2017, www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-will-not-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-federal-government-says/article37219576/ .

An in-text citation is a short citation that is placed in the text. It is styled in two ways: a citation in prose or a parenthetical citation.

The basic element needed for an in-text citation is the author’s name . The publication year is not required in in-text citations. Sometimes, page numbers or line numbers are also included, especially when directly quoting text from the source being cited. When including a page number, do not include a comma or any other punctuation mark between the author’s surname and the page number.

Parenthetical citations usually add only the author’s surname at the end of the sentence in parentheses. Sometimes they include a page number or other locator. An example of a parenthetical citation is given below:

The spiritual geography of the landscape is explained (Cooper).

If you want to cite a chapter number, a scene, or a line number, follow the abbreviation guidelines below:

When including a more specific locator number rather than a page number, place a comma between the author’s surname and the label.

(Cooper, ch. 2).

Here are a few examples of in-text citations for sources with different numbers or types of authors:

Use only the surname of the author in parenthetical citations. If you want to add a page number (or another indicator of the place in a work), add it after the author’s surname without any punctuation between the surname and the page number.

(Abraham 7).

Two authors

Add only the surnames of the authors. Use “and” to separate the two authors.

(Langmuir and Einstein).

Three or more authors

Add only the surname of the first author followed by “et al.”

(Low et al.).

Corporate author

Shorten the organization name wherever possible, excluding any initial articles and using the shortest noun phrase (e.g., shorten Literary Society of Tamil Culture to Literary Society).

(Literary Society).

If there is no author for the source, use the source title in place of the author’s surname.

When you add such in-text citations, italicize the text of the title. If the source title is longer than a noun phrase, use a shortened version of the title. For example, the title Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is shortened to Fantastic Beasts .

( Fantastic Beasts 160).

MLA Citation Examples

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MLA Guide: Welcome to MLA - Why We Cite

Welcome to MLA - Why We Cite
MLA-When We Cite
MLA-How We Cite
MLA Samples (References & Papers)
Formatting in a Flash
Integrating Sources
Research Process

Main Parts of MLA Style and Formatting

MLA is often required in academic writing in the humanities, including religion, literature, and history. APA guides students in

1) how the paper looks on the page (also called formatting ) and

2) making sure the reader knows what sources you used and when you used them .

Why use documentation style (MLA) for your classes?

Allows your instructor to find your sources and follow your research
Shows your research and knowledge of subject
Gives writer and reader a standard style. If your instructor had to figure out every single student's paper, it would be confusing! Documentation style makes it easy for you to be clear.

There are 3 main components of MLA style

Works Cited (end of paper)
In-text Citations (within paper)
MLA formatting (header, student's information on first page, font, etc.)

MLA Tutorial

Links to citation guides.

APA7 Citation Help This page links to the APA7 Citation Help page.
MLA Citation Help This link opens to the MLA Citation Help page.
APA - The Basics This page explains the 3 main components of APA style: references, in-text citations, and formatting.
APA Changes from 6 to 7 Page shows the major changes of APA after it updated to the 7th edition in October 2019.
Plagiarism and Integrating Sources
Next: MLA-When We Cite >>
Last Updated: Mar 7, 2024 11:08 AM
URL: https://libguides.rccc.edu/MLAGuide

College-wide MLA Citation Guide: 9th edition

MLA RESEARCH PAPER
CITING AN ANTHOLOGY
CITING BOOKS & eBOOKS
CITING PRINT ARTICLES
CITING DIGITAL ARTICLES
CITING LITERATURE RESOURCES
CITING NEWSPAPERS
CITING WEBSITES
IN-TEXT CITATIONS
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MLA's Official Site

A print copy of this manual is available at your campus library's reference desk.

Ref LB 2369.G52 2021

Components of a MLA-Style Research Paper

Your MLA-style research paper should have the following (confirmed by your professor).

1. MLA-style title on the first page

2. Properly formatted header

3. Correct margins, in-text citations, spacing, etc.

4. Works Cited page

Note: This guide represents MLA Style as published in the MLA Handbook , 9th Edition (2021) .

Example of an MLA-Style Paper

Please use the papers only for examples of MLA-style formatting. Check with your professor for assignment requirements and any additional specifics. Remember, your professor has the final say on how the formatting should be done, regardless of the style.

Sample MLA Papers:

MLA Sample Paper #1

MLA Sample Paper #2 - English literature

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

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MLA Citation Guide

Paper Formatting
Figures and Images

MLA Citation Components

Title of source, title of container, contributor, publication date, supplemental information.

Book Examples
Article Examples
Media Examples
Internet Resources Examples
Other Examples
In-Text Citations

This page covers each of the core elements in depth, providing examples and guidelines to help you format your citations.

Author Element
General Author
Multiple Authors
Group Authors
Screen Name
Repeat Authors

The first component in every MLA citation is the author . Sometimes an author can be a corporation or group. End the author component with a period. The MLA Handbook has detailed guidance on identifying and formatting the author component in section 5.3 (starting on page 107).

See MLA Handbook , pages 107-121.

List the full last name, a comma, and then full first and middle name/initial of an author.

William Shakespeare: Shakespeare, William
Louisa May Alcott: Alcott, Louisa May
Leonardo da Vinci: da Vinci, Leonardo
George W. Ogden: Ogden, George W.
Jean-Luc Lebrun: Lebrun, Jean-Luc

Do not use courtesy or academic titles in your citations. Do include suffixes such as Jr., Sr., III, etc. For people referred to by a religious or noble title, without last names, start with the first name.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Doyle, Arthur Conan
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Ronald C. White, Sr.: White, Ronald C., Sr.
King Henry VIII: Henry VIII
Saint Francis of Assisi: Francis of Assisi
Lady Gaga : Lady Gaga

List up to two authors in a citation. The second author is listed in normal format. For works with three or more authors, list the first author and then et al.

Sloan, Nate, and Charlie Harding . Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why It Matters . Oxford UP, 2020.

(Sloan and Harding 31)

Ducheneaut, Nicolas, et al. "Building an MMO with Mass Appeal: A Look at Gameplay in World of Warcraft ." Games and Culture , vol. 1, no. 4, 2006, pp. 281-317. https://doi.org/10.1177/1555412006292613.

(Ducheneaut et al. 290)

See MLA Handbook , pages 111-113.

Some resources may be attributed to a group or organization, instead of a specific person or persons. In this case, give the name of the group or organization, capitalized as needed. Remove initial articles (a, an, the).

Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Utah Model: A Path Forward for Investigating and Building Resilience to Cyber Crime . Law Enforcement Cyber Center, 2017, www.iacpcybercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/The-Utah-Model-A-Path-Forward-for-Investigating-and-Building-Resilience-to-Cybercrime.pdf.

(Bureau of Justice Assistance)

If the resource is published by the same organization that is the author, do not include an author, and begin your citation with the title.

MLA Handbook. 9th ed., The Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

(MLA Handbook 25)

"Ways to Pay." Santa Fe College, www.sfcollege.edu/fa/ways-to-pay/index. Accessed 19 June 2021.

("Ways to Pay")

See MLA Handbook pages 119-120.

If a book is compiled by an editor (usually specified on the cover or title page), list the names as usual, but add the word editor or editors after the name(s).

Forrester, David Anthony , editor . Nursing's Greatest Leaders: A History of Activism . Springer, 2016.

(Forrester 102)

See MLA Handbook, page 111.

If there is no listed author or editor, start your citation with the title and continue the citation as normal. Remember that authors can be a company, organization, or group author, and that should be used as the author if provided and if they are not the same as the publisher.

Title OR "Title ." ...

Go Ask Alice. 1971. Simon Pulse, 2006.

*In this example, the original publication date (1971) is included.

For in-text citations, use the title of the item, followed by the date. If the title is long, you may abbreviate it to the first few words. Book titles are italicized; articles and webpages are enclosed in quotations.

( Go Ask 5).

("Many Parents")

See MLA Handbook , pages 108 and 119.

If you are only able to identify a screen name as an author, use that as the author's name. List names in regular order.

Life Where I'm From . "What a Japanese Apartment is Like." YouTube , 12 Feb. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_-QJO802Yc.

(Life Where I'm From, 00:00:20)

If you have both a name and a screen name, and they are different from each other, you may include the screen name in square brackets after the name.

Pope Francis [ @Pontifex ]. "Everyone's existence is tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions." Twitter , 15 June 2017, twitter.com/Pontifex/status/875314447497252866.

(Pope Francis)

See MLA Handbook , page 118.

For multiple entries in your Works Cited list by the same author, use three em dashes or three hyphens to replace the author in subsequent citations. Order your citations alphabetically by title. If there are works with co-authors, those are listed separately.

Hawking, Stephen. Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays . Bantam Books, 1993.

---. My Brief History . Bantam Books, 2013.

---. The Universe in a Nutshell . Bantam Books, 2001.

Hawking, Stephen, and Leonard Mlodinow. The Grand Design . Bantam Books, 2010.

To differentiate these works in in-text citations, add a title (or the first few words of a title) to your citation.

(Hawking, Black Holes 114)

See MLA Handbook , pages 221 and 235-236.

Title of Source Element
Punctuation in Titles
Untitled Sources

The next component is the title of the source you are using. Depending on what you are citing, your title will be formatted differently. Capitalize all important words in the title. End the title with a period. The MLA Handbook has detailed guidance on identifying and formatting the title component in section 5.23 (starting on page 121).

See MLA Handbook , pages 121-134.

You should italicize the titles of stand-alone works:

If you are citing something that is part of a bigger work, you should place the title in "quotation marks":

chapters in books
essays, poems, or stories in an anthology
entries in a reference book
articles in a journal, magazine, or newspaper
videos uploaded to YouTube
episodes of television or podcasts

See MLA Handbook , pages 66-69.

If a title ends in a question mark or exclamation point, you do not need to add a period to the end of the title element.

Dupret, Baudoin. What Is Sharia? Translated by David Bond, C. Hurst, 2018.

See MLA Handbook , page 130.

If your source does not have an official title, provide a general description to use as the title, and do not format with italics or quotation marks. Only capitalize the first word. Examples:

Stained glass window

Beatles. Concert. 15 Aug. 1965, Shea Stadium, New York.

See MLA Handbook , page 132.

Title of Container Element
Examples of Containers

When items are contained within something larger, that container can be added on to a base citation. There may be more than one container.

For instance, a short story (source) can be in a book (container 1) that is accessed through a library database (container 2). Or an episode (source) of a television series (container 1) can be streamed through a video service (container 2).

Typically you should italicize the names of containers, and end with a comma.

See MLA Handbook , pages 134-140.

a book is the container for a cited chapter, entry, poem, story, etc.
a journal/magazine/newspaper is the container for an article
a website is the container for a webpage
a database is a container for items accessed through them
a television series is a container for an episode

In the following citation examples, the containers are bolded:

Hecht, Johanna. "Colonial Kero Cups." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oct. 2003, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kero/hd_kero.htm.

Sharpe, Thomasina H. "Later Life Sexuality." Sex and Sexuality, edited by Richard D. McAnulty and M. Michele Burnette, vol. 1, Praeger, 2006, pp. 133-151.

Shook, Anthony, et al. "Musical Experience Influences Statistical Learning of a Novel Language." The American Journal of Psychology, vol. 126, no. 1, 2013, pp. 95-104. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.126.1.0095.

Tizon, Alex. "My Family's Slave." The Atlantic, June 2007, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/06/lolas-story/524490/.

Contributor Element
Examples of Contributors

You may wish to include other contributors in your citation that are involved in a work while not being the primary creator/author. Examples include editors, translators, illustrators, and directors.

Just like with authors, if there are three or more editors, translators, etc., list the first contributor and then include the abbreviation et al. Typically, you will end the Contributors element with a comma.

See MLA Handbook , pages 145-148.

Here are some common examples of contributors:

translated by
illustrated by
introduction by
directed by
performance by
uploaded by

In the following citation examples, the contributors are bolded:

Boyhood . Directed by Richard Linklater, performance by Patricia Arquette, IFC Productions / Detour Filmproduction, 2015.

Homer. The Odyssey . Translated by Herbert Jordan, U of Oklahoma P, 2014.

Redd, Nancy. Bedtime Bonnet . Illustrated by Nneka Myers , Random House, 2020.

Spiotta, Dana. "Jelly and Jack." The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2016 , edited by Rachel Kushner, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, pp. 39-56.

Version Element
Examples of Versions

Include the version or edition you are using to help your reader identify the source you are using.

The most common version is the edition of a book, but you may also provide the version of a holy text such as the Bible, information about an eBook version, or a specific version of a film, such as a director's cut.

Typically you will end the version component with a comma.

See MLA Handbook , pages 154-158.

In the following citation examples, the version is bolded:

Gendrich, Cynthia M., and Stephen Archer. Theatre: Its Art and Craft . 7th ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.

Gladwell, Malcom. Outliers: The Story of Success . Kindle ed., Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

Holy Bible . New Living Translation, Tyndale House, 2016.

Stone, Oliver, director. JFK . 1991. Director's cut, Le Studio Canal+ / Regency Enterprises, 2003.

Number Element
Examples of Numbers

Some sources are numbered, and providing the number will help your reader track down the source you are using.

The most common numbering element is the volume and issue of a journal, but you may also provide a volume number for books or a season/episode number for television episodes or podcasts.

Typically, you will end the number component with a comma.

See MLA Handbook , pages 39-40.

In the following citation examples, the number component is bolded:

McNeill, Ann, et al. "Tobacco Packaging Design for Reducing Tobacco Use." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1-346. Cochrane Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011244.pub2.

Orme, Nicholas. "Christianity, Cornwall." The Celts: History, Life, and Culture , edited by John T. Koch and Antone Minard, vol. 1, ABC-CLIO, 2012, pp. 192-193.

"Person to Person." Mad Men , created by Matthew Weiner, performance by Jon Hamm, season 7, episode 14, Weiner Bros., 2015.

Shook, Anthony, et al. "Musical Experience Influences Statistical Learning of a Novel Language." The American Journal of Psychology , vol. 126, no. 1, 2013, pp. 95-104. JSTOR , https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.126.1.0095.

"Tunnel Vision." Hidden Brain , hosted by Shankar Vedantam, episode 65, NPR, 20 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=520136937.

Publisher Element
Abbreviations
Multiple Publishers
Government Agencies
No Publisher

Most citations include a publisher . This is the organization that produced the source. Examples of publishers are:

a book publishing company
a production company for a film or television series
the organization that produces a website
a music label

Typically you will end the publisher component with a comma.

See MLA Handbook , pages 164-173.

Many book publisher names can be abbreviated. Leave off words such as Company , Corporation , Limited , etc. and initial articles, such as The . For academic presses, abbreviate University to U and Press to P. Spell out ampersands (&) as the word and .

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.: W.W. Norton
Health Forum LLC: Health Forum
Image Comics, Inc.: Image Comics
University of Illinois Press: U of Illinois P
The MIT Press: MIT Press
Princeton University Press: Princeton UP
Rowman & Littlefield: Rowman and Littlefield.

See MLA Handbook , page 172.

If there are two or organizations that are equally responsible for a source, include them with a forward slash ( / ) separating them. This is especially common with films.

Boyhood . Directed by Richard Linklater, IFC Productions / Detour Filmproduction, 2015.

See MLA Handbook , page 170.

For government publications, there are often many departments listed hierarchically. You can use the primary agency (i.e., the biggest) as the publisher, as opposed to listing all departments.

In this example, three agencies are listed:

National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The largest is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is used as the joint publisher in the citation.

Global Health and Aging . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services / World Health Organization, Oct. 2011, www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-06/global_health_aging.pdf. NIH Publication no. 11-7737.

See MLA Handbook , page 171.

Some sources do not need a publisher. Examples include:

magazine, journal, or newspaper articles
a self-published work
a webpage where the publisher is the same as the website title

See MLA Handbook , page 165.

Publication Date Element
Formatting Dates
Approximate Date
Original Date
Date of Access

The next component is the publication date . List the date as: Day Month Year . Abbreviate all months but May, June, and July. The date is usually followed by a comma.

See MLA Handbook , page 173-187.

Here are a few examples of dates formatted properly in MLA.

January 1, 1995: 1 Jan. 1995
January/February 2015: Jan.-Feb. 2015
April 14, 1976: 14 Apr. 1976
May 13, 2016: 13 May 2016
June 2006: June 2006
September 27, 2016: 27 Sept. 2016

Some works, such as historical texts or artwork, may have an approximate date. Use the term Circa or spell out the approximate date.

Eberhardt, Anton. Saint George . Circa. 1760, Artstor , library.artstor.org/#/asset/AMICO_CHICAGO_1031150789. Sculpture.

Bayeux Tapestry . Eleventh century, Bayeux Museum, www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/discover-the-bayeux-tapestry/explore-online/.

See MLA Handbook , page 186.

If you are citing a work that has been reprinted or republished, you can include the original date after the title.

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Pit and the Pendulum." 1842. The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe , introduction by Wilbur S. Scott, Castle Books, 2002, pp. 237-246.

See MLA Handbook , pages 209-210.

If an item does not have a discernible date, leave off the date element. Do not use abbreviations to indicate there is no date.

For online sources, you may elect to include a date of access. If there is no date associated with a work, a date of access becomes even more important.

"Ways to Pay." Santa Fe College, www.sfcollege.edu/fa/ways-to-pay/. Accessed 25 July 2021.

See MLA Handbook , page 211.

Location Element
Examples of Locations

The final component of a citation is the location . The location will differ depending on the type of source you are citing. The location is usually followed by a period.

Print sources (such as a book chapter, entry, or journal article) will include page numbers. Online sources will typically include a URL (note that the preliminary http:// is removed in MLA format). Scholarly articles often have a DOI. Items seen or experienced in person include a physical place.

See MLA Handbook , pages 187-197.

In the following citation examples, the location is bolded:

Enola Holmes . Directed by Harry Bradbeer, Netflix / Legendary Legendary Pictures / PCMA, 2020. Netflix , www.netflix.com/title/81277950 .

Hecht, Johanna. "Colonial Kero Cups." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History , The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oct. 2003, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kero/hd_kero.htm.

Miranda, Lin-Manuel. Hamilton . Directed by Thomas Kail, 28 Jan. 2017, PrivateBank Theatre, Chicago .

Mondrian, Piet. Composition with Blue and Yellow . 1932, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Oil on canvas.

If a DOI is present for a journal article, include it instead of a URL. DOI stands for Digital Object Identifier and they serve as a permanent link to electronic content.

Format DOIs as follows: https://doi.org/XXXXXXXXXXXXX . Do not omit the https:// prefix. DOIs are a string of numbers and letters that typically begin with 10. You may need to edit DOIs that appear in different formats (e.g., http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251557 or doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0251557) to the proper format.

Lukowski, Angela F., and Dmitry Tsukerman. "Temperament, Sleep Quality, and Insomnia Severity in University Students: Examining the Mediating and Moderating Role of Sleep Hygiene." PLoS ONE , vol. 16, no. 7, 2021. Gale Academic OneFile , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251557.

See MLA Handbook , page 194.

URLs should omit the http:// and https:// prefix (except in the case of DOIs). A period will end the citation after the URL.

"Dance Your Way to Better Brain Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 4 June 2018, www.cdc.gov/features/alzheimers-and-exercise/index.html.

If a URL is three full lines or longer than the rest of the entry, you may shorten it to the host.

See MLA Handbook , pages 195-196.

Supplemental Information Element
Date of Original Publication
Original Publication Information

Sometimes you may wish to include supplemental information about a source to help your readers. Supplemental information may be inserted after the title of the source or at the end of the citation, with a period after the information. Here are a few common types of supplemental information.

See MLA Handbook , pages 208-217.

If the source you are using is part of a series, you may place that information at the end of the citation, after the location.

Cahill, Kevin E., et al. How Does Occupational Status Impact Bridge Job Prevalence? U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2011, www.bls.gov/osmr/pdf/ec110050.pdf. BLS Working Paper 447.

Winter, Marcus A. "More Charter Schools Should Be Opened." Charter Schools , edited by Margaret Haerens and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven, 2012, pp. 169-179. Opposing Viewpoints.

See MLA Handbook , page 214.

If you are citing a source that needs to have its format clarified, you may include that information at the end of the citation.

"Tunnel Vision." Hidden Brain , hosted by Shankar Vedantam, episode 65, NPR, 20 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=520136937. Transcript.

See MLA Handbook , pages 211-213.

If the source you are using was originally published elsewhere, you may choose to include the original publication information.

Schroeder, Natalie. "Stephen King's Misery : Freudian Sexual Symbolism and the Battle of the Sexes." Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Jeffrey W. Hunter, vol. 244, Thomson Gale, 2008, pp. 50-55. Originally published in Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 30, no. 2, 1996, pp. 137-48.

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Commitment to Equal Access and Equal Opportunity

Santa Fe College is committed to an environment that embraces diversity, respects the rights of all individuals, is open and accessible, and is free of harassment and discrimination. For more information, visit sfcollege.edu/eaeo or contact [email protected] .

SACSCOC Accreditation Statement

Santa Fe College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). For more information, visit sfcollege.edu/sacscoc .

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“Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style” provided by University of Minnesota Libraries

Learning Objectives

Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style.
Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper.

Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

provided by University of Minnesota Libraries

MLA style provides a format for the manuscript text and parenthetical citations, or in-text citations. It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is to your advantage to be familiar with both major styles, and this section will outline the main points of MLA as well as offer specific examples of commonly used references. Remember that your writing represents you in your absence. The correct use of a citation style demonstrates your attention to detail and ability to produce a scholarly work in an acceptable style, and it can help prevent the appearance or accusations of plagiarism.

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

To demonstrate your ability to present a professional, academic essay in the correct style
To gain credibility and authenticity for your work
To enhance the ability of the reader to locate information discussed in your essay
To give credit where credit is due and prevent plagiarism
To get a good grade or demonstrate excellence in your writing

International style: 18 May 1980 (day/month/year)
US style: May 18, 1980 (month/day/year)

Now you may say to yourself that you won’t write that term and it may be true, but you will come to a term or word that has more than one way it can be written. In that case, what convention is acceptable in MLA style? This is where the MLA Handbook serves as an invaluable resource. Again, your attention to detail and the professional presentation of your work are aspects of learning to write in an academic setting.

General MLA List

Use standard white paper (8.5 × 11 inches).
Double space the essay and quotes.
Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
Use one-inch margins on all sides
Indent paragraphs (five spaces or 1.5 inches).
Include consecutive page numbers in the upper-right corner.
Use italics to indicate a title, as in Writing for Success .
On the first page, place your name, course, date, and instructor’s name in the upper-left corner.
On the first page, place the title centered on the page, with no bold or italics and all words capitalized.
On all pages, place the header, student’s name + one space + page number, 1.5 inches from the top, aligned on the right.

Title Block Format

Course number

Title of Paper

Paragraphs and Indentation

Tables and Illustrations

Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the text they reinforce or complement. Here’s an example of a table in MLA.

As we can see in Table 5.4, we have experienced significant growth since 2008.

This example demonstrates that the words that you write and the tables, figures, illustrations, or images that you include should be next to each other in your paper.

Parenthetical Citations

Your in-text, or parenthetical, citations should do the following:

Clearly indicate the specific sources also referenced in the works cited
Specifically identify the location of the information that you used
Keep the citation clear and concise, always confirming its accuracy

Works Cited Page

As a point of reference and comparison to our APA examples, let’s examine the following three citations and the order of the information needed.

Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style

Arizona State University Libraries offers an excellent resource with clear examples.

http://libguides.asu.edu/content.php?pid=122697&sid=1132964

Purdue Online Writing Lab includes sample pages and works cited.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01

California State University–Sacramento’s Online Writing Lab has an excellent visual description and example of an MLA paper.

http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/mla/mla_format.htm

SUNY offers an excellent, brief, side-by-side comparison of MLA and APA citations.

http://www.sunywcc.edu/LIBRARY/research/MLA_APA_08.03.10.pdf

Cornell University Library provides comprehensive MLA information on its Citation Management website.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla

The University of Kansas Writing Center is an excellent resource.

http://www.writing.ku.edu/guides

Key Takeaways

MLA style is often used in the liberal arts and humanities.
MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity.
A reader interested in your subject wants not only to read what you wrote but also to be informed of the works you used to create it.
MLA style uses a citation in the body of the essay that refers to the works cited section at the end.
If you follow MLA style, and indicate your source both in your essay and in the works cited section, you will prevent the possibility of plagiarism.

Licenses and Attributions

CC LICENSED CONTENT, ORIGINAL

Composing Ourselves and Our World, Provided by: the authors. License: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

CC LICENSED CONTENT INCLUDED

13.4 Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

MULTIMEDIA CONTENT INCLUDED

Video 1: License: Standard YouTube License Attribution: MLA Style Essay Format – Word Tutorial by David Taylor .

Composing Ourselves and Our World Copyright © 2019 by Auburn University at Montgomery is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Citation guides

MLA Citation Generator

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The complete guide to mla & citations, what you’ll find in this guide.

This page provides an in-depth overview of MLA format. It includes information related to MLA citations, plagiarism, proper formatting for in-text and regular citations, and examples of citations for many different types of sources.

Looking for APA? Check out the Citation Machine’s guide on APA format . We also have resources for Chicago citation style as well.

How to be a responsible researcher or scholar

Putting together a research project involves searching for information, disseminating and analyzing information, collecting information, and repurposing information. Being a responsible researcher requires keeping track of the sources that were used to help develop your research project, sharing the information you borrowed in an ethical way, and giving credit to the authors of the sources you used. Doing all of these things prevents plagiarism.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the act of using others’ information without giving credit or acknowledging them. There are many examples of plagiarism. Completely copying another individual’s work without providing credit to the original author is a very blatant example of plagiarism. Plagiarism also occurs when another individual’s idea or concept is passed off as your own. Changing or modifying quotes, text, or any work of another individual is also plagiarism. Believe it or not, you can even plagiarize yourself! Reusing a project or paper from another class or time and saying that it’s new is plagiarism. One way to prevent plagiarism is to add citations in your project where appropriate.

What is a Citation?

A citation shows the reader of your project where you found your information. Citations are included in the body of a project when you add a quote to your project. Citations are also included in the body when you’re paraphrasing another individual’s information. These citations in the body of a research paper are called in-text citations. They are found directly next to the information that was borrowed and are very brief to avoid causing distraction while reading a project. These brief citations include the last name of the author and a page number. Scroll down for an in-depth explanation and examples of MLA in-text citations.

In-text citations provide us with a brief idea as to where you found your information, though they usually don't include the title and other components. Look on the last page of a research project to find complete citations.

Complete citations are found on what MLA calls a works-cited list, which is sometimes called an MLA bibliography. All sources that were used to develop a research project are found on the works-cited list. Complete citations are also created for any quotes or paraphrased information used in the text. Complete citations include the author’s name, the title, publisher, year published, page numbers, URLs, and a few other pieces of information.

Looking to create your citations in just a few clicks? Need an MLA format website or book citation? Visit Citation Machine.net! Our Citation Machine MLA generator, which is an MLA citation website, will create all of your citations in just a few clicks. Click here to see more styles .

Why Does it Matter?

Citing your sources is an extremely important component of your research project. It shows that you’re a responsible researcher and that you located appropriate and reputable sources that support your thesis or claim. In addition, if your work ends up being posted online or in print, there is a chance that others will use your research project in their own work!

Scroll down to find directions on how to create citations.

How the Modern Language Association Helps You Become a Responsible Researcher

What is mla format.

The Modern Language Association is an organization that was created to develop guidelines on everything language and literature related. They have guidelines on proper grammar usage and research paper layouts. In addition, they have English and foreign language committees, numerous books and journal publications, and an annual conference. They are not connected with this guide, but the information here reflects the association’s rules for formatting papers and citations.

What are citations?

The Modern Language Association is responsible for creating standards and guidelines on how to properly cite sources to prevent plagiarism. Their style is most often used when writing papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities fields. “Liberal arts” is a broad term used to describe a range of subjects including the humanities, formal sciences such as mathematics and statistics, natural sciences such as biology and astronomy, and social sciences such as geography, economics, history, and others. The humanities focuses specifically on subjects related to languages, art, philosophy, religion, music, theater, literature, and ethics.

Believe it or not, there are thousands of other types of citation styles. While this citation style is most often used for the liberal arts and humanities fields, many other subjects, professors, and schools prefer citations and papers to be styled in MLA format.

What’s the difference between a bibliography and a works-cited list?

Great question. The two terms cause a lot of confusion and are consistently misused not only by students but educators as well! Let’s start with what the two words mean.

A bibliography displays the sources the writer used to gain background knowledge on the topic and also research it in-depth. Before starting a research project, you might read up on the topic in websites, books, and other sources. You might even dive a bit deeper to find more information elsewhere. All of these sources you used to help you learn about the topic would go in an MLA format bibliography. You might even include other sources that relate to the topic.

A works-cited list displays all of the sources that were mentioned in the writing of the actual paper or project. If a quote was taken from a source and placed into a research paper, then the full citation goes on the works-cited list.

Both the works-cited list and bibliography go at the end of a paper. Most teachers do not expect students to hand in both a bibliography AND a works-cited list. Teachers generally expect to see a works-cited list, but sometimes erroneously call it a bibliography. If you’re not sure what your teacher expects, a page in MLA bibliography format, a works-cited list, or both, ask for guidance.

Why do we use this MLA style?

These specific guidelines and standards for creating citations were developed for numerous reasons. When scholars and researchers in literature, language, and numerous other fields all cite their sources in the same manner, it makes it easier for readers to look at a citation and understand the different components of a source. By looking at an MLA citation, we can see who the author is, the title of the source, when it was published, and other identifiable pieces of information.

Imagine how difficult it would be to understand the various components of a source if we didn’t all follow the same guidelines! Not only would it make it difficult to understand the source that was used, but it would also make it difficult for readers to locate it themselves. This streamlined process aides us in understanding a researcher’s sources.

How is the new version different than previous versions?

This citation style has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. The MLA Handbook is currently in its 9th edition.

The new version expands upon standards previously set in the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook, including the core elements. The structure of citations remains the same, but some formatting guidance and terminology have changed.

DOI numbers are now formatted as https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx
Seasons in publishing daters are lowercased: spring 2020
The term “optional elements” is now “supplemental elements”
“Narrative in-text citations” are called “citations in prose”

In addition, new information was added on the following:

Hundreds of works-cited-list entries
MLA formatting for papers
Punctuation, spelling, and other mechanics of prose
Chapter on inclusive language
Notes (bibliographic and content)

For more information on MLA 9, click here .

A Deeper Look at Citations

What do they look like.

There are two types of citations. The first is a full, or complete, citation. These are found at the end of research projects. These citations are usually listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last names and include all of the information necessary for readers to be able to locate the source themselves.

Full citations are generally placed in this MLA citation format:

There are times when additional information is added into the full citation.

Not sure how to transfer the information from your source into your citation? Confused about the term, “containers”? See below for information and complete explanations of each citation component.

The second type of citation, called an “in-text citation,” is included in the main part, or body, of a project when a researcher uses a quote or paraphrases information from another source. See the next section to find out how to create in-text citations.

What are in-text citations?

As stated above, in-text citations are included in the main part of a project when using a quote or paraphrasing a piece of information from another source. We include these types of citations in the body of a project for readers to quickly gain an idea as to where we found the information.

These in-text citations are found directly next to the quote or paraphrased information. They contain a small tidbit of the information found in the regular MLA citation. The regular, or complete, citation is located at the end of a project, on the works-cited list.

Here’s what a typical in-text citation looks like:

In the book The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements…. Too much fire and you have a bad temper...too little wood and you bent too quickly...too much water and you flowed in too many directions” (Tan 31).

This specific in text citation, (Tan 31), is called an MLA parenthetical citation because the author’s name is in parentheses. It’s included so the reader sees that we are quoting something from page 31 in Tan’s book. The complete, regular citation isn’t included in the main part of the project because it would be too distracting for the reader. We want the reader to focus on our work and research, not get caught up on our sources.

Here’s another way to cite in the text:

In Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club, the mother uses a vast amount of Chinese wisdom to explain the world and people’s temperaments. She states, “Each person is made of five elements... Too much fire and you have a bad temper... too little wood and you bent too quickly... too much water and you flowed in too many directions" (31).

If the reader would like to see the source’s full information, and possibly locate the source themselves, they can refer to the last part of the project to find the regular citation.

The regular citation, at the end of the project looks like this:

%%Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Penguin, 1989, p. 31.

Notice that the first word in the full citation (Tan) matches the “Tan” used in the body of the project. It’s important to have the first word of the full citation match the term used in the text. Why? It allows readers to easily find the full citation on the works-cited list.

If your direct quote or paraphrase comes from a source that does not have page numbers, it is acceptable to place a line number (use line or lines), paragraph number (use the abbreviation par. or pars.), sections (sec. or secs.), or chapters (ch. or chs.). Only use these other terms if they are actually labeled on the source. If it specifically says on the source, “Section 1,” for example, then it is acceptable to use “sec. 1” in the in-text citation.

If there are no numbers to help readers locate the exact point in the source, only include the author’s last name.

To determine how to create in-text citations for more than one author, no authors, or corporate authors, refer to the “Authors” section below.

More about quotations and how to cite a quote:

Use quotes from outside sources to help illustrate and expand on your own points. The majority of your paper should be your own writing and ideas.
Include the quote exactly as you found it. It is okay to use only certain words or phrases from the quote, but keep the words (spelling and capitalization) and punctuation the same.
It is acceptable to break up a direct quote with your own writing.

Example from a movie:

Dorothy stated, "Toto," then looked up and took in her surroundings, "I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore" ( Wizard of Oz ).

The entire paper should be double-spaced, including quotes.
If the quote is longer than four lines, it is necessary to make a block quote. Block quotes show the reader that they are about to read a lengthy amount of text from another source.
Start the quote on the next line, half an inch from the left margin.
Do not use any indents at the beginning of the block quote.
Only use quotation marks if there are quotation marks present in the source.
If there is more than one paragraph in the block quote, indent the beginning of the paragraphs after the first one an additional half an inch from the left margin.
Add your in-text citation after the final period of the block quote. Do not add an additional period after the parenthetical citation.

While his parents sat there in surprise, Colton went onto say:

“Cause I could see you,” Colon said matter-of-factly. “I went up and out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body. And I saw you and Mommy. You were in a little room by yourself, praying; and Mommy was in a different room, and she was praying and talking on the phone.” (Burpo xxi)

How to create a paraphrase:

As stated above, the majority of your paper should be your own writing and ideas. It’s acceptable to include quotes, but they shouldn’t crowd your paper. If you’re finding that you’re using too many quotes in your paper, consider adding paraphrases. When you reiterate a piece of information from an outside source in your own words, you create a paraphrase.

Here’s an example:

Readers discover in the very first sentence of Peter Pan that he doesn’t grow up (Barrie 1).

What paraphrases are:

Recycled information in the paper writer’s own words and writing style.
They’re still references! Include an in-text citation next to the paraphrased information.

What paraphrases are not:

A copy and pasted sentence with a few words substituted for synonyms.

Confused about whether footnotes and endnotes should be used?

Footnotes and endnotes are completely acceptable to use in this style. Use a footnote or endnote if:

Adding additional information will help the reader understand the content. This is called a content note .
You need to cite numerous sources in one small section of your writing. Instead of clogging up a small paragraph with in-text citations (which could cause confusion for the reader), include a footnote or endnote. This is called a bibliographic note .

Keep in mind that whether you choose to include in-text citations or footnotes/endnotes, you need to also include a full reference on the MLA format works-cited list.

Content note example:

Even Maurice Sendak’s work (the mastermind behind Where the Wild Things Are and numerous other popular children’s picture books) can be found on the banned books list. It seems as though nobody is granted immunity. 1

In the Night Kitchen ’s main character is nude on numerous pages. Problematic for most is not the nudity of the behind, but the frontal nudity.

Work Cited:

%%Sendak, Maurice. In The Night Kitchen. Harper Collins, 1996.

Bibliographic note example:

Dahl had a difficult childhood. Both his father and sister passed away when he was a toddler. He was then sent away by his mother to boarding school (de Castella). 1

Numerous books, such as Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, all feature characters with absent or difficult parents.

MLA Works Cited:

Include 4 full citations for: de Castella’s article, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG .

Don’t forget to create full, or regular citations, and place them at the end of your project.

If you need help with in-text and parenthetical citations, CitationMachine.net can help. Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use!

Common Knowledge: What Is It and How Will It Affect My Writing?

Footnotes, endnotes, references, proper structuring. We know it’s a lot. Thankfully, you don’t have to include a reference for EVERY piece of information you add to your paper. You can forget about including a reference when you share a piece of common knowledge.

Common knowledge is information that most people know. For example, these are a few facts that are considered common knowledge:

The Statue of Liberty is located in New York City
Tokyo is the capital of Japan
Romeo and Juliet is a play written by William Shakespeare
English is the language most people speak in England
An elephant is an animal

We could go on and on. When you include common knowledge in your paper, omit a reference. One less thing to worry about, right?

Before you start adding tons of common knowledge occurrences to your paper to ease the burden of creating references, we need to stop you right there. Remember, the goal of a research paper is to develop new information or knowledge. You’re expected to seek out information from outside sources and analyze and distribute the information from those sources to form new ideas. Using only common knowledge facts in your writing involves absolutely zero research. It’s okay to include some common knowledge facts here and there, but do not make it the core of your paper.

If you’re unsure if the fact you’re including is common knowledge or not, it doesn’t hurt to include a reference. There is no such thing as being overly responsible when it comes to writing and citing.

Wikipedia - Yay or Nay?

If you’re wondering whether it’s okay to use Wikipedia in your project, the answer is, it depends.

If Wikipedia is your go-to source for quick information on a topic, you’re not alone. Chances are, it’s one of the first websites to appear on your results page. It’s used by tons of people, it’s easily accessible, and it contains millions of concise articles. So, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the problem?”

The issue with Wikipedia is that it’s a user-generated site, meaning information is constantly added and modified by registered users. Who these users are and their expertise is somewhat of a mystery. The truth is anyone can register on the site and make changes to articles.

Knowing this makes some cringe, especially educators and librarians, since the validity of the information is questionable. However, some people argue that because Wikipedia is a user-generated site, the community of registered users serve as “watchdogs,” ensuring that information is valid. In addition, references are included at the bottom of each article and serve as proof of credibility. Furthermore, Wikipedia lets readers know when there’s a problem with an article. Warnings such as “this article needs clarification,” or “this article needs references to prove its validity” are shared with the reader, thus promoting transparency.

If you choose to reference a Wikipedia article in your research project, and your teacher or professor says it’s okay, then you must reference it in your project. You would treat it just as you would with any other web source.

However, you may want to instead consider locating the original source of the information. This should be fairly easy to do thanks to the references at the bottom of each article.

Specific Components of a Citation

This section explains each individual component of the citation, with examples for each section for full citations and in-text citations.

Name of the author

The author’s name is usually the first item listed in the MLA citation. Author names start with the last name, then a comma is added, and then the author’s first name (and middle name if applicable) is at the end. A period closes this information.

Here are two examples of how an author’s name can be listed in a full citation:

Twain, Mark.

Poe, Edgar Allan.

For in-text:

(Author’s Last name page number) or Author’s Last name... (page).

Wondering how to format the author’s name when there are two authors working jointly on a source? When there are two authors that work together on a source, the author names are placed in the order in which they appear on the source. Place their names in this format:

Author 1’s Last Name, First name, and Author 2’s First Name Last Name.

Here are two examples of how to cite two authors:

Clifton, Mark, and Frank Riley.

Paxton, Roberta J., and Michael Jacob Fox.

(Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name page number) or Author 1’s Last name and Author 2’s Last name... (page).

There are many times when three or more authors work together on a source. This often happens with journal articles, edited books, and textbooks.

To cite a source with three or more authors, place the information in this format:

Author 1’s Last name, First name, et al.

As you can see, only include the first author’s name. The other authors are accounted for by using “et al.” In Latin, et al. is translated to “and others.” If using the Citation Machine citation generator, this abbreviation is automatically added for you.

Here’s an example of a citation for three or more authors:

%%Warner, Ralph, et al. How to Buy a House in California. Edited by Alayna Schroeder, 12th ed., Nolo, 2009.

(Author 1’s Last name et al. page number)

Is there no author listed on your source? If so, exclude the author’s information from the citation and begin the citation with the title of the source.

For in-text: Use the title of the source in parentheses. Place the title in italics if the source stands alone. Books and films stand alone. If it’s part of a larger whole, such as a chapter in an edited book or an article on a website, place the title in quotation marks without italics.

( Back to the Future )

(“Citing And Writing”)

Other in-text structures:

Authors with the same last name in your paper? MLA essay format requires the use of first initials in-text in this scenario.

Ex: (J. Silver 45)

Are you citing more than one source by the same author? For example, two books by Ernest Hemingway? Include the title in-text.

Example: (Hemingway, For Whom The Bell Tolls 12).

Are you citing a film or song? Include a timestamp in the format of hours:minutes:seconds. ( Back to the Future 00:23:86)

Was the source found on social media, such as a tweet, Reddit, or Instagram post? If this is the case, in an MLA format paper, you are allowed to start the citation with the author’s handle, username, or screen name.

Here is an example of how to cite a tweet:

%%@CarlaHayden. “I’m so honored to talk about digital access at @UMBCHumanities. We want to share the @libraryofcongress collection.” Twitter , 13 Apr. 2017, 6:04 p.m., twitter.com/LibnOfCongress/status/852643691802091521.

While most citations begin with the name of the author, they do not necessarily have to. Quite often, sources are compiled by editors. Or, your source may be done by a performer or composer. If your project focuses on someone other than the author, it is acceptable to place that person’s name first in the citation. If you’re using the MLA works cited generator at Citation Machine.net, you can choose the individual’s role from a drop-down box.

For example, let’s say that in your research project, you focus on Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances as an actor. You’re quoting a line from the movie Titanic in your project, and you’re creating a complete citation for it in the works-cited list.

It is acceptable to show the reader that you’re focusing on Leonardo DiCaprio’s work by citing it like this in the MLA works-cited list:

%%DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. Titanic . Directed by James Cameron. Paramount, 1997.

Notice that when citing an individual other than the author, place the individual’s role after their name. In this case, Leonardo DiCaprio is the performer.

This is often done with edited books, too. Place the editor’s name first (in reverse order), add a comma, and then add the word editor.

If you’re still confused about how to place the authors together in a citation, the tools at CitationMachine.net can help! Our website is easy to use and will create your citations in just a few clicks!

Titles and containers

The titles are written as they are found on the source and in title form, meaning the important words start with a capital.

Here’s an example of a properly written title:

Practical Digital Libraries: Books, Bytes, and Bucks.

Wondering whether to place your title in italics or quotation marks? It depends on whether the source sits by itself or not. If the source stands alone, meaning that it is an independent source, place the title in italics. If the title is part of a larger whole, place the title of the source in quotation marks and the source it is from in italics.

When citing full books, movies, websites, or albums in their entirety, these titles are written in italics.

However, when citing part of a source, such as an article on a website, a chapter in a book, a song on an album, or an article in a scholarly journal, the part is written with quotation marks and then the titles of the sources that they are found in are written in italics.

Here are some examples to help you understand how to format titles and their containers.

To cite Pink Floyd’s entire album, The Wall , cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. The Wall. Columbia, 1979.

To cite one of the songs on Pink Floyd’s album in MLA formatting, cite it as:

%%Pink Floyd. “Another Brick in the Wall (Part I).” The Wall, Columbia, 1979, track 3.

To cite a fairy tale book in its entirety, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. The Land of Stories. Little Brown, 2016.

To cite a specific story or chapter in the book, cite it as:

%%Colfer, Chris. “Little Red Riding Hood.” The Land of Stories, Little Brown, 2016, pp. 58-65.

More about containers

From the section above, you can see that titles can stand alone, or they can sit in a container. Many times, sources can sit in more than one container. Wondering how? When citing an article in a scholarly journal, the first container is the journal. The second container? It’s the database that the scholarly journal is found in. It is important to account for all containers, so readers are able to locate the exact source themselves.

When citing a television episode, the first container is the name of the show and the second container is the name of the service that it could be streaming on, such as Netflix .

If your source sits in more than one container, the information about the second container is found at the end of the citation.

Use the following format to cite your source with multiple containers :

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

If the source has more than two containers, add on another full section at the end for each container.

Not all of the fields in the citation format above need to be included in your citation. In fact, many of these fields will most likely be omitted from your citations. Only include the elements that will help your readers locate the source themselves.

Here is an example of a citation for a scholarly journal article found in a database. This source has two containers: the journal itself is one container, and the site it sits on is the other.

%%Zanetti, Francois. “Curing with Machine: Medical Electricity in Eighteenth-Century Paris.” Technology and Culture, vol. 54, no. 3, July 2013, pp. 503-530. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/520280.

If you’re still confused about containers, the Citation Machine MLA cite generator can help! MLA citing is easier when using the tools at CitationMachine.net.

Other contributors

Many sources have people besides the author who contribute to the source. If your research project focuses on an additional individual besides the author, or you feel as though including other contributors will help the reader locate the source themselves, include their names in the citation.

To include another individual in the citation, after the title, place the role of the individual, the word “by,” and then their name in standard order.

If the name of the contributor comes after a period, capitalize the first letter in the role of the individual. If it comes after a comma, the first letter in the role of the individual is lowercased.

Here’s an example of a citation for a children’s book with the name of the illustrator included:

%%Rubin, Adam. Dragons Love Tacos. Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, Penguin, 2012.

The names of editors, directors, performers, translators, illustrators, and narrators can often be found in this part of the citation.

If the source that you’re citing states that it is a specific version or edition, this information is placed in the “versions” section of the citation.

When including a numbered edition, do not type out the number, use the numeral. Also, abbreviate the word “edition” to “ed.”

Here is an example of a citation with a specific edition:

%%Koger, Gregory. “Filibustering and Parties in the Modern State.” Congress Reconsidered, edited by Lawrence C. Dodd and Bruce I. Oppenheimer, 10th ed., CQ Press, 2013, pp. 221-236. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=b7gkLlSEeqwC&lpg=PP1&dq=10th%20edition&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q=10th%20edition&f=false.

Many sources have numbers associated with them. If you see a number different than the date, page numbers, or editions, include this information in the “numbers” section of the citation. For MLA citing, this includes volume and/or issue numbers (use the abbreviations vol. and no.), episode numbers, track numbers, or any other numbers that will help readers identify the specific source that you used. Do not include ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers) in the citation.

It is important to include the name of the publisher (the organization that created or published the source), so that readers can locate the exact source themselves.

Include publishers for all sources except periodicals. Also, for websites, exclude this information when the name of the publisher matches the name of the website. Furthermore, the name of the publisher is often excluded from the citation for second containers, since the publisher of the second container is not necessarily responsible for the creation or production of the source’s content.

Publication dates

Publication dates are extremely important to include in citations. They allow the reader to understand when sources were published. They are also used when readers are attempting to locate the source themselves.

Dates can be written in MLA in one of two ways. Researchers can write dates as:

Day Mo. Year

Mo. Day, Year

Whichever format you decide to use, use the same format for all of your citations. If using the Citation Machine citation generator, the date will be formatted in the same way for each citation.

While it isn’t necessary to include the full date for all source citations, use the amount of information that makes the most sense to help your readers understand and locate the source themselves.

Wondering what to do when your source has more than one date? Use the date that is most applicable to your research.

The location generally refers to the place where the readers can find the source. This includes page ranges, URLs, DOI numbers, track numbers, disc numbers, or even cities and towns.

You can usually leave out http:// or https:// from URLs unless you want to hyperlink them. For DOIs, use http:// or https:// before the DOI: https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxx.xxxx.xxxx .

For page numbers, when citing a source found on only one page, use p.

Example: p. 6.

When citing a source that has a page range, use pp. and then add the page numbers.

Example: pp. 24-38.

Since the location is the final piece of the citation, place a period at the end. When it comes to URLs, many students wonder if the links in citations should be live or not. If the paper is being shared electronically with a teacher and other readers, it may be helpful to include live links. If you’re not sure whether to include live links or not, ask your teacher or professor for guidance.

Looking for an online tool to do the work for you? Citation Machine citing tools could help! Our site is simple (and fun!) to use.

Need some more help? There is further good information here .

Common Citation Examples

ALL sources use this format:

%%Last name of the author, First name of the author. “Source’s Title.” Container’s Title, roles and names of any other individuals who helped contribute to the source, the version of the source, any numbers associated with the source, the name of the publisher, the date the source was published, the location where individuals can find the source themselves (usually a URL or page range). *Title of Second Container, roles and names of any other contributors, the version of the second container, any numbers associated with the second container, the name of the second container’s publisher, the date the second container was published, location.

*If the source does not have a second container, omit this last part of the citation.

Remember, the Citation Machine MLA formatter can help you save time and energy when creating your citations. Check out our MLA Citation Machine pages to learn more.

Journal Articles

How to Format a Paper

When it comes to formatting your paper or essay for academic purposes, there are specific MLA paper format guidelines to follow.

Use paper that is 8½-by-11 inch in size. This is the standard size for copier and printer paper.
Use high quality paper.
Your research paper or essay should have a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the paper.
While most word processors automatically format your paper to have one-inch margins, you can check or modify the margins of your paper by going to the “Page setup” section of your word processor.

Which font is acceptable to use?

Use an easily readable font, specifically one that allows readers to see the difference between regular and italicized letters.
Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica are recommended options.
Use 12-point size font.

Should I double-space the paper, including citations?

Double-space the entire paper.
There should be a double space between each piece of information in the heading.
Place a double space between the heading and the title.
Place a double space between the title and the beginning of the essay.
The works-cited list should be double-spaced as well. All citations are double-spaced.

Justification & Punctuation

Text should be left-justified, meaning that the text is aligned, or flush, against the left margin.
Indents signal to the reader that a new concept or idea is about to begin.
Use the “tab” button on your keyboard to create an indent.
Add one space after all punctuation marks.

Heading & Title

Include a proper heading and title
The heading should include the following, on separate lines, starting one inch from the top and left margins:
Your full name
Your teacher or professor’s name
The course number
Dates in the heading and the body of your essay should be consistent. Use the same format, either Day Month Year or Month Day, Year throughout the entire paper
Examples: 27 July 2017 or July 27, 2017
The title should be underneath the heading, centered in the middle of the page, without bold, underlined, italicized, or all capital letters.

Page numbers

Number all pages, including the very first page and the works-cited list.
Place page numbers in the top right corner, half an inch from the top margin and one inch from the right margin.
Include your last name to the left of the page number. Example: Jacobson 4

Here’s an example to provide you with a visual:

The image shows an example of the first page of an MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described above under the heading How to Format a Paper.

If you need help with sentence structure or grammar, check out our paper checker. The paper checker will help to check every noun , verb , and adjective . If there are words that are misspelled or out of place, the paper checker will suggest edits and provide recommendations.

If a citation flows onto the second line, indent it in half an inch from the left margin (called a “hanging indent”).
For more information on the works-cited list, refer to “How to Make a Works Cited Page,” which is found below.

How to Create a Title Page

According to the Modern Language Association’s official guidelines for formatting a research paper, it is unnecessary to create or include an individual title page, or MLA cover page, at the beginning of a research project. Instead, follow the directions above, under “Heading & Title,” to create a proper heading. This heading is featured at the top of the first page of the research paper or research assignment.

If your instructor or professor does in fact require or ask for an MLA title page, follow the directions that you are given. They should provide you with the information needed to create a separate, individual title page. If they do not provide you with instructions, and you are left to create it at your own discretion, use the header information above to help you develop your research paper title page. You may want to include other information, such as the name of your school or university.

How to Make a Works Cited Page

The MLA Works Cited page is generally found at the end of a research paper or project. It contains a list of all the citations of sources used for the research project. Follow these directions to format the works-cited list to match the Modern Language Association’s guidelines.

The “Works Cited” page has its own page at the end of a research project.
Include the same running head as the rest of the project (Your last name and then the page number). The “Works Cited” page has the final page number for the project.
Name the page “Works Cited,” unless your list only includes one citation. In that case, title it in MLA “Work Cited.”
The title of the page (either “Works Cited” or “Work Cited”) is placed one inch from the top of the page, centered in the middle of the document.
Double space the entire document, even between the title of the page and the first citation.
Citations are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the citation (usually the last name of the author or the first word in the title if the citation does not include the author’s name. Ignore “A,” “An,” and “The” if the title begins with these words.)
If there are multiple citations by the same author, place them in chronological order by the date published.
Also, instead of writing the author’s name twice in both citations, use three hyphens.

%%Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 2009.

%%---. Gather Together in My Name. Random House, 1974.

All citations begin flush against the left margin. If the citation is long and rolls onto a second or third line, indent the lines below the first line half an inch from the left margin. This is called a “hanging indent.” The purpose of a hanging indent is to make the citations easier to read. If you’re using our MLA citation machine, we’ll format each of your references with a hanging indent for you.

%%Wai-Chung, Ho. “Political Influences on Curriculum Content and Musical Meaning: Hong Kong Secondary Music Education, 1949-1997.” Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, vol. 22, no. 1, 1 Oct. 2000, pp. 5-25. Periodicals Index Online, search-proquest-com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/pio/docview/1297849364/citation/6B70D633F50C4EA0PQ/78?accountid=35635.

MLA “Works Cited” pages can be longer than one page. Use as many pages as necessary. If you have only one source to cite, do not place the one citation below the text of your paper. In MLA, a “Work Cited” page is still created for that individual citation.

Here’s a sample paper to give you an idea of what an MLA paper could look like. Included at the end is an MLA “Works Cited” page example.

The image shows the first page of an example MLA paper that is formatted using guidelines described under the heading How to Format a Paper.

Looking to add a relevant image, figure, table, or musical score to your paper? Here’s the easy way to do it, while following guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association:

Place the image, figure, table, or music close to where it’s mentioned in the text.
Provide source information and any additional notes directly below the image, figure, table, or music.

For tables:

Label the table as “Table” followed by an arabic numeral such as “1.” Table 1 is the table closest to the beginning of the paper. The next table mentioned in the text would be Table 2, and so on.
Create a title for the table and place it below the label. Capitalize all important words.
The label (Table 1) and the title should be flush against the left margin.
Double-space everything.

Example of formatting a table in MLA format.

A figure can be a map, photograph, painting, pie chart, or any other type of image.
Create a label and place it below the figure. The figure first mentioned in the text of the project is either “Figure 1” or “Fig 1.” Though figures are usually abbreviated to “Fig.” Choose one style and use it consistently. The next mentioned figure is “Figure 2” or “Fig. 2.”, and so on.
Place a caption next to the label. If all of the source information is included in the caption, there isn’t a need to replicate that information in the works-cited list.

Example of formatting a figure in MLA format.

MLA Final Checklist

Think you’re through? We know this guide covered a LOT of information, so before you hand in that assignment, here’s a checklist to help you determine if you have everything you need:

_ Are both in-text and full citations included in the project? Remember, for every piece of outside information included in the text, there should be a corresponding in-text citation next to it. Include the full citation at the end, on the “Works Cited” page.

_ Are all citations, both in-text and full, properly formatted in MLA style? If you’re unsure, try out our citation generator!

_ Is your paper double-spaced in its entirety with one inch margins?

_ Do you have a running header on each page? (Your last name followed by the page number)

_ Did you use a font that is easy to read?

_ Are all citations on the MLA format works-cited list in alphabetical order?

Our plagiarism checker scans for any accidental instances of plagiarism. It scans for grammar and spelling errors, too. If you have an adverb , preposition , or conjunction that needs a slight adjustment, we may be able to suggest an edit.

Common Ways Students Accidentally Plagiarize

We spoke a bit about plagiarism at the beginning of this guide. Since you’re a responsible researcher, we’re sure you didn’t purposely plagiarize any portions of your paper. Did you know students and scholars sometimes accidentally plagiarize? Unfortunately, it happens more often than you probably realize. Luckily, there are ways to prevent accidental plagiarism and even some online tools to help!

Here are some common ways students accidentally plagiarize in their research papers and assignments:

1. Poor Paraphrasing

In the “How to create a paraphrase” section towards the top of this page, we share that paraphrases are “recycled information, in the paper writer’s own words and writing style.” If you attempt to paraphrase a few lines of text and it ends up looking and sounding too close to the original author’s words, it’s a poor paraphrase and considered plagiarism.

2. Incorrect Citations

If you cite something incorrectly, even if it’s done accidentally, it’s plagiarism. Any incorrect information in a reference, such as the wrong author name or the incorrect title, results in plagiarism.

3. Forgetting to include quotation marks

When you include a quote in your paper, you must place quotation marks around it. Failing to do so results in plagiarism.

If you’re worried about accidental plagiarism, try our Citation Machine Plus essay tool. It scans for grammar, but it also checks for any instances of accidental plagiarism. It’s simple and user-friendly, making it a great choice for stress-free paper editing and publishing.

Updated June 15, 2021

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master’s degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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MLA Citation & MLA Format — A Roadmap For Researchers

MLA Citation provides a standardized method for acknowledging sources in academic writing.

Using the Modern Language Association (MLA) format ensures consistency and clarity, making it easier for readers to locate and verify sources.

This guide offers a comprehensive overview of the MLA format, highlighting its importance in the academic world and offering insights into its correct application.

As we delve deeper, you'll understand the essentials of MLA Citation and its role in producing credible and reliable research.

Without much ado, let's get started!

What is MLA Citation?

MLA (Modern Language Association) citation format is one of the most widely used forms of citation in the academic world today. The MLA citation style is used in the humanities, especially for literature and language studies. It is also the standard citation style in the social sciences, including many journals and articles related to psychology, communication, and cultural studies to cite sources.

The MLA citation style includes in-text citations, which are placed within the body of a paper, and full bibliographic information that is included on a reference page. The purpose of citing sources is to give credit to the original authors or creators of ideas and information. It also allows readers to find more information about the topic by looking at other sources that cite the same work.

The MLA Handbook is an essential reference for writers, editors, students, and professionals for MLA citations. It presents guidelines on all aspects of research tasks: citing sources; gathering source material; organizing that material; writing clearly, and documenting sources in print or electronic format. The latest and 9th edition of the MLA Handbook provides information about documenting sources and avoiding plagiarism, along with examples for citing books, articles, websites, CD-ROM, DVD formats, and more.

The History of the Modern Language Association (MLA)

The Modern Language Association, popularly called MLA, is an association of scholars in the humanities devoted to the study of language and literature. It was founded in 1883 and was one of the first scholarly societies in the United States.

The MLA's mission is to promote the study and teaching of languages and literature. This means that members try to create forums where people can exchange ideas about language and literature. They also try to educate people about how language and literature affect our lives.

The MLA publishes a journal, PMLA (Publications of the Modern Language Association of America), which examines current topics in literary studies and related fields. In addition to its journal, it also publishes a newsletter - PMLA Spectrum; a directory of periodicals; bibliographies on various topics; monographs; and an annual report. The MLA also sponsors several awards for outstanding publications by graduate students, professors, and independent scholars.

The association is best known for its style manual for English-language research papers and citations that have been published since 1906 under various titles (e.g., Publication Manuals [1906], Style Manuals [1952], Guide to Scholarly Publishing).

Click here to view an interactive timeline of the MLA history.

Components of MLA Citation

An MLA Citation has two major components: In-text and Works Cited.

In-text citation vs. Works Cited is a question you may have come across before. It is important to understand that the two are separate and should not be confused with each other.

In-text Citation

An in-text citation is a reference to a source used within your essay or paper. You can use an in text citations when you quote directly from a source or paraphrase someone else's words. If you use another author's words, then it is important to cite them as well so that others will know where you got this information from.

In text citations are used to give credit to your sources within your paper. They are placed in parentheses or quotation marks depending on the type of source you are citing.

For example, if you are writing about Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, you could write, "Einstein believed that time passes more slowly as one travels near the speed of light" (Vander Meer & Walker). This sentence uses Vander Meer & Walker's words (the author) and directs readers back to the page number where they can find more information about this topic.

As a result, in text citations are commonly referred to as "hanging" or "parenthetical" citation format.

Works Cited

The Works Cited page is where all your sources will be listed alphabetically by author’s/authors the last name followed by page number(s) if applicable, along with any other relevant information about the source. The Works Cited page is located at the end of your research paper, and it includes all of the sources you used to write your paper, including both print and electronic sources (e.g., books, articles). MLA works cited page is essential while citing your paper according to MLA citations.

An MLA Works Cited entry is built up of nine core elements:

Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container , Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

Using the above nine core elements, MLA works cited entry for any type of source can be created - a book, journal, article, website, or anything.

In-text Citation Examples

Citation and reference styles vary among different fields of study, but they all require that a writer include enough information so that readers can locate the source material. As mentioned earlier, in text citations are also known as a parenthetical citation and means that you place required information about available sources in parenthesis right after you cite or quote in a paragraph.

Here are various in text citations according to MLA format with examples:

Single known author

When using someone else's words, you should identify the author and add the page number if applicable and available. If the author's name is already mentioned in a sentence, you only need to include the page number in the parenthetical citation in MLA style.

Best writers, according to Collins, usually start with careful planning and strategic thinking (4).
Best writers tend to start with “careful planning and strategic thinking” (Collins 4).

Multiple book authors

If you must cite two or more authors for a book, list the last author names in the text of your paper or a parenthetical citation.

Shakespeare’s style of writing, as researched by Andrews and Burke, proved that natural settings are essential for rhyming patterns (7).
According to authors, natural settings in Shakespeare’s style of writing “have been essential for rhyming patterns” (Andrews and Burke 7).

No author or organization

When there is no known author of a source, use the shortened title of your article. If it is short, just put it in quotation marks, but if it is a long title, then italicize it. If a page number is available, provide it as well.

The impact of plastic bottle pollution in the United States has been carefully monitored, but the State of California had special policies implemented that could “significantly improve this situation by using school children and college students help” (“State of California Environmental Programs”).

No page number

In the MLA-9 style, if there is no page number, you should use chapter or paragraph numbers. However, if there is not a clear indication of chapters or paragraphs in the source, you do not need to include them.

Multiple sources in one citation

In such a case, separate your citations by a semi-colon.

… according to multiple research methods (Allen 4; Downes 32).

Different authors with the same last name

If such an instance occurs, provide the first initials of both or all the authors.

PTSD disorder should be eliminated at early stages, as innovators think (R. Corn 11), and conservators believe that chemical treatment is efficient at any stage (V. Corn 45).

Multiple works from the same author

In such a case, you should also add the title of the book or the article in the MLA style.

(Walden, “Artistic Creativity in Jazz Music” 32) [if it is an article]
(Walden, Musical Theory in the Middle East 121) [if it is a book]

Two or more works by the same author in the same year

If such an instance occurs, distinguish the source by adding a lower-case letter after the year in the MLA Style.

The evidence traits have always led to fashion agencies (Laurens, 2005a)

Multivolume works

In such a case, ensure to include the volume number followed by colon and space.

… as Hicks pointed out in Alchimia Naturalle (1: 12-19)

Electronic sources

In case the author is unknown, it comes first in electronic source in-text citation. However, if there is no author, we start with a title.

Indirect sources

An indirect source is cited in another source. In such cases, use “qtd. in” to specify the source you are referring to.

Nash believes that Montessori schools are “too liberal in terms of Physics and Chemistry with a focus on needless art and creativity” (qtd. in Rudnick 231).

Works Citation Examples

The works cited page lists all your sources in alphabetical order by their titles or authors' names. This allows readers to easily find the source they want to look up more information about without having to read through all of your citations one by one.

Here’s a general format of the works cited page:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title in italics . Source or name of publisher, then the year of publishing.

Here are various MLA works citation types with examples.

According to MLA works cited format, if a source has multiple authors, place the authors' names in order as they appear in the journal or book.

Anderssen, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Guide to Teen Tutoring . Carol Publishing, 2000.

If there are three or more authors, mention only the first author, followed by the Latin phrase et al.

Anderssen, Neal Lerner, et al. The Teenage Rebels . University Press, 2007.

Journal Articles and Academic Journals

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal , Volume, Issue, Year, pages.

Brown, Linda. “Conflicting Interests: The Voice of Suburban America.” America’s Social Studies , vol. 11, no. 1, 2014, pp. 21-32.

Website MLA Citation

Editor, author, or organization’s name (if available). Name of Site . Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI, or permalink. Date of your access (if applicable).

“Network Security in the State of Utah.” National Security Agency , 2007, nsa.gov/analysis/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2019.

Work in an Anthology

Author, First name. “Title.” Title of Collection , edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Year, Pages of entry.

Shakespeare, William. “Sonnet 13.” 50 Best-Loved Poems , edited by Philip Bunbury, Penguin Books, 20055, p. 156.

Social Media Citation

YouTube Citation Format:

Last name, First name of the Author. “Title of the film or video.” Title of the website , Publication date, URL.

NOTE: MLA 9th edition style format suggests using real names of the authors instead of nicknames or channel names.

Facebook Citation Format:

Author Last Name, First Name, or Account Name. Description of Post. Facebook , Day Month Year of Post, Time of Post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year post was viewed.

Twitter Citation Format:

Twitter Handle (First & Last Name if available). “The whole tweet copied.” Twitter , Day Month Year of Tweet, Time of Tweet, URL.

Blogs and Magazines

Author or Username (if a real name is not available). “Title of Blog Post.” Name of Blog , Blog Network/Publisher, Day Month Year of the blog post, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Songs Citation

Artist or band name. “Song title in quotation marks.” Album name italicized, Recording manufacturer, publication date.

Movie Citation

Film title. Name of the director, Studio or distributor, release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director’s name.

Lectures and Presentations

Speaker name. “Title of a speech (if available) in quotation marks.” Title of the particular conference or a meeting, name of an organization. Venue and city. Description.

These are some of the many types of work citation types present. And the best part is that you need not remember all these citation formats. Just head over to an MLA Citation Generator and get your citations in a jiffy.

What is MLA Format?

MLA format is a citation style created by the Modern Language Association and used primarily in the humanities to cite sources. It is similar to APA (American Psychological Association) and Chicago (The Chicago Manual of Style) formats - with all three using parenthetical citations to document sources. The key difference between MLA and other citation styles is that MLA allows users to create their footnotes and endnotes within a text.

In MLA format paper, the writer includes a title page that includes information about the source being cited, including its author(s), title, publication date and location (if relevant), publisher's name, volume number, and inclusive page numbers if applicable. The writer then lists all other works cited in alphabetical order on pages that follow directly after the title page. Each entry includes basic bibliographic information about each source, following standard rules for formatting such as punctuation and capitalization requirements. In addition, some entries may include more specialized elements such as annotations or quotations from an article or book chapter.

By now you would have ideally got a good idea about MLA Citation and MLA Format. Before we jump further, it's equally important for you as a scholar or researcher to learn about 'citation' and why does is actually matter.

What is a Citation?

Citation, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, is "the act of citing or referencing," but what does this essentially mean? The citation refers to how people acknowledge that a source of information has been used in the writing of their work.

Citation is a reference to any type of information that has been used in research. It helps you acknowledge where your ideas come from and helps others build upon your work. It is an integral part of academic integrity. Without citation, research would be an exercise in guessing what sources might have influenced another person's work.

Why does Citation Matter?

Citations have become increasingly important with the advent of online databases like Google Scholar and JSTOR. These sources have made it easier than ever for researchers to verify the facts and figures used within their papers. However, even though it might be easy to track down information on the web, this does not mean that authors should feel free to copy and paste any piece of information they find without citing its original source.

Citation is an important part of academia and intellectual integrity. It is the formal way to acknowledge that you used information from a source. The purpose of citation is to attribute credit to a source or sources for your research. Citations allow others reading your work to know where you found the information that you used. It provides evidence that you did not steal someone else's work and claimed it as your own, hence giving credit to those who are the original creators of the information. In addition, it helps create a more professional image for yourself within your academic institution by demonstrating initiative and citing all resources used in any research project.

In a nutshell, citations help you avoid any remote chances of plagiarism.

Interested in getting in-depth knowledge on plagiarism? Refer to our Plagiarism Guide and learn more.

Components of a Citation

The three most common pieces of information that are included in citations are — the author's name, the title of the work, and the publication of the information.

Author: The author's last name and first initial (or initials) followed by the year of publication.

Title: The title of the article is in italics.

Publication Information: The name of the journal or magazine, volume number, issue number, pages, date accessed, and URL (if available).

It is important to note that other factors may be included in citations as well, for example, if a quote from a certain text is used within another text or if a certain work is being cited multiple times within another work. This differs from one discipline to another; for example, citations in history textbooks may differ from those in literature textbooks.

MLA Citation - General Rules (9th Edition)

If you already know the basic rules of MLA 8th edition citing and basic MLA guidelines, you will already know the common formatting that must be applied. What has changed for the most part in the MLA 9th edition relates to inclusive language and the “Works Cited and Consulted” tag for your Bibliography page.

Listed below are some general rules for MLA Citation Format 9th edition.

When you type a paper, be sure to print it on a computer using a standard white 8.5 x 11 inches document.

Double-space your text, and use Times New Roman or Arial as the font.

The recommended font size for a document is 12 pt.

Punctuation marks should be followed by only one space unless otherwise specified.

In MLA format, margins are set to 1 inch on all sides.

Your first line paragraph should be indented half an inch from the left margin. Use the tab key to do this.

The header should contain a page number in the upper right-hand corner of every page unless specified otherwise.

When using longer sources, always use italics when referring to the title of the source or when noting the thesis statement.

Footnotes or endnotes should be listed on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Such a section should be centered, unformatted, and named “Notes.”

The title page is not required for an MLA paper unless requested by your instructor. If you are instructed to include a title page, use the MLA Title Page Generator to avoid mistakes.

The title of the paper should be centered. The shortening of the title is acceptable if it does not change the meaning of the title, according to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Remember to create a header with your last name in the upper right-hand corner, followed by a space and then the page number.

In MLA 9, seasons are not capitalized in Works Cited entries (Autumn, Summer, Spring, or Winter). They do not relate to the months of the year.

MLA Citation Generator — Every Researchers One Stop Solution

What is mla citation generator.

MLA Citation Generator is a free tool that allows you to create a citation for your research paper in MLA format. It is a free tool that generates citations and bibliographies for books, articles, websites, and more. You can create a citation for any source in seconds. Simply enter the name of the source, select an appropriate template and click "Generate." You can also use the tool to create a bibliography.

Who can use MLA Citation Generator?

This tool is designed for anyone who needs to create a bibliography or reference list in MLA style. It is especially useful for students conducting research in college or university courses that require MLA-style citations. This tool will help you understand how to add citations properly to your work and avoid plagiarism issues. In addition, it can also be used by professors who want to make sure their students cite their sources correctly. If you plan on publishing any of your written work or submitting it as part of an assignment, then you will want to make sure it follows this standard format by using this tool!

Why use MLA Citation Generator?

The main reason for students, scholars, and researchers to opt for a tool like MLA Citation Generator is the scarcity of time or resources to look up citations themselves and to avoid incorrect citations. It also eliminates any potential problems caused by misspelling a source's name or other information about it, which is common when writing manually in MLA-style format. Some of the prominent advantages of an MLA Citation Generator tool include:

It's fast: You don't have to spend hours manually typing out each entry for every source you need to cite. With just a few clicks of your mouse, your citations will be done!
It's accurate: MLA Formatting guidelines are followed closely by this generator, so there will never be any mistakes or issues with formatting or spacing when using it! The generator also double-checks each citation to make sure it looks exactly like one should look.

With SciSpace, you do not need a word template to create a generic template for MLA. The platform helps automatically format your research paper to MLA formatting guidelines and citation style. Finally, you can download a submission-ready research paper in pdf, LaTeX, and Docx formats. Sounds cool, right? Try SciSpace Generic Template for MLA format today.

The Final Word

Citations are the backbone of academic writing. They show your work has been reviewed, give credit for any borrowed material, and provide an easy way to track down sources if you need them again. But citations can be hard to create, especially when you're first starting.

One of the best ways to avoid problems with citations is to use an MLA Citation Generator. This tool will generate a properly formatted citation based on your chosen source material in seconds. You can then copy and paste it straight into your paper or project.

SciSpace offers an online citation generator tool that allows you to create citations in MLA format quickly and easily. You don’t need to know the exact citation rules or how to use them – just enter the information needed by the system, and it will do all the work for you! Also, we've created a comparison blog to help you decide pick the right citation generator. Take a look at it here !

Thank you for coming this far! Hope the guide helped you get a fair understanding of MLA Citation and the necessary guidelines around MLA Formatting.

Before You Leave

SciSpace provides researchers, universities, and publishers with all the tools they need. One such tool is SciSpace Discover which can be a useful for researchers, universities, and publishers interested in scholarly writing and publishing. There are over 200 million research papers in our research repository across multiple disciplines with search engine optimized abstracts, a publicly visible profile that highlights your expertise, a specially designed collaborative text editor, 20,000+ journal templates, and much more.

SciSpace products for Writers, Publishers and Literature Discovery

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. what is the mla citation format for a website.

MLA style requires that you include all the required information in your works cited entries, including the author’s name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date, and the URL (without “https://”).

2. Why should you use MLA citation format in your work?

Using MLA citation while writing papers help your instructor or professor understand your work and also assists in reducing the chances of you plagiarizing someone else's ideas.

3. What are the main formatting features of MLA citation?

MLA citation format consists of the following basic elements — Author's Last Name, First Name; "Title of Source"; Title of Container; Other Contributors; Version, Numbers, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

4. What is the key difference between MLA and APA styles?

The main differences between the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) citation styles are how title pages, in-text citations, and reference lists are created. While MLA uses author-page numbering for in-text citations, APA uses author-date style.

5. Can I check my MLA paper for accuracy?

One of the faster and more accurate ways to check your paper for accuracy and MLA citations is by using the SciSpace Generic Template for MLA Format.

6. What version of MLA style should I use?

MLA 9 is the latest version of the MLA citation and comes with significant improvements over the earlier MLA 8 edition. MLA 9 provides ample guidance on both in-text citation and works cited list. MLA 9 offers 333 sample citations as compared to 164 offered by MLA 8.

7. What information should I include in an MLA Works Cited entry?

A standard MLA Works Cited entry consists of the following nine core elements. Author. “Title of the Source.” Title of the Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location. It’s important to note that out of these nine elements, you should only include the information that is relevant to your work.

8. What are the 3 main components of MLA formating style?

The MLA format requires that your paper include the following elements: a body, (if applicable) footnotes, and a works cited page.

9. Why aren’t URLs accepted as sources in MLA format?

The latest edition of the MLA Handbook advises including URLs in works-cited-list entries for online works, but it also cautions readers to consider several drawbacks: they can cause clutter, become obsolete, and have limited use in a print work. URLs may also be inaccessible when the pages to which they refer are behind a paywall.

10. Why are MLA citations important?

MLA Style is the most commonly used style among academic writers because it allows readers to identify and trace citations in a text. Most editors and instructors encourage everyone to use MLA Style so there is consistency of style within a given field.

11. What is the purpose of MLA style?

MLA Style is one of the standard styles used in academic writing, and it has rules for students to follow when writing and formatting papers. Using MLA Style not only helps your instructors read and understand your work, but the act of creating citations and citing sources helps prevent plagiarism.

12. For which area is MLA commonly used?

MLA style is the most commonly used citation style in the language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines.

13. How do you cite in text MLA?

MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken.

14. How do you introduce a citation MLA?

According to the MLA Handbook, one should begin a quotation with an introductory phrase naming the source and follow it with a comma. If you change the case of a letter in a quotation, you must indicate this with brackets.

15. What are the 9 core elements of an MLA citation?

All MLA citations will follow a template of applicable core elements: author, title, container, contributors, version, number, publisher, date, and location.

16. What is standard MLA format?

Use 8 ½ x 11” white paper with one-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides. The first word in every paragraph should be indented ½” from the left margin. Block quotations should be indented 1" from the left margin. Use a font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman.

17. What are the two types of research according to MLA?

When writing a research paper, you can choose between two types: an informational paper and an analytical paper. An informational paper presents factual information in a coherent and organized way. An analytical paper includes your own analysis of the topic, as well as research findings from primary and secondary sources.

18. What are the two parts of MLA documentation?

The two most important things to learn about the Modern Language Association parenthetical documentation system are how to compose a list of works cited and how to cite these sources in your paper.

19. How do you write an outline in MLA format?

To write an MLA outline, draft your thesis statement and place it at the beginning of the paper. Then list major points to support your ideas and arguments with Roman numerals. Follow each point with a capital letter label for easier organization of your ideas.

What is a thesis | A Complete Guide with Examples

Plagiarism in Research — The Complete Guide [eBook]

APA Citation & APA Format — A beginner's guide

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

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Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the MLA Handbook and in chapter 7 of the MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in Nature in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's Evaluating Sources of Information resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like CNN.com or Forbes.com, as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009.

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.

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13.4: Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

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Learning Objectives

Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style.
Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper.

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

To demonstrate your ability to present a professional, academic essay in the correct style
To gain credibility and authenticity for your work
To enhance the ability of the reader to locate information discussed in your essay
To give credit where credit is due and prevent plagiarism
To get a good grade or demonstrate excellence in your writing

International style: 18 May 1980 (day/month/year)
US style: May 18, 1980 (month/day/year)

Which convention is preferred in MLA style:

twentieth century Twentieth Century 20th century 20th Century

General MLA List

Use standard white paper (8.5 × 11 inches).
Double space the essay and quotes.
Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
Use one-inch margins on all sides
Indent paragraphs (five spaces or 1.5 inches).
Include consecutive page numbers in the upper-right corner.
Use italics to indicate a title, as in Writing for Success .
On the first page, place your name, course, date, and instructor’s name in the upper-left corner.
On the first page, place the title centered on the page, with no bold or italics and all words capitalized.
On all pages, place the header, student’s name + one space + page number, 1.5 inches from the top, aligned on the right.

Title Block Format

Course number

Title of Paper

Paragraphs and Indentation

Tables and Illustrations

Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the text they reinforce or complement. Here’s an example of a table in MLA.

As we can see in Table 13.2, we have experienced significant growth since 2008.

This example demonstrates that the words that you write and the tables, figures, illustrations, or images that you include should be next to each other in your paper.

Parenthetical Citations

Your in-text, or parenthetical, citations should do the following:

Clearly indicate the specific sources also referenced in the works cited
Specifically identify the location of the information that you used
Keep the citation clear and concise, always confirming its accuracy

Works Cited Page

As a point of reference and comparison to our APA examples, let’s examine the following three citations and the order of the information needed.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

In Section 13.1 , you created a sample essay in APA style. After reviewing this section and exploring the resources linked at the end of the section (including California State University–Sacramento’s clear example of a paper in MLA format), please convert your paper to MLA style using the formatting and citation guidelines. You may find it helpful to use online applications that quickly, easily, and at no cost convert your citations to MLA format.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

http://www.noodletools.com
http://citationmachine.net

Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style

http://libguides.asu.edu/content.php...97&sid=1132964
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01
www.csus.edu/owl/index/mla/mla_format.htm
www.sunywcc.edu/LIBRARY/resea...A_08.03.10.pdf
http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla
www.writing.ku.edu/guides

* (a) is the correct answer to the question at the beginning of this section. The MLA Handbook prefers “twentieth century.”

Key Takeaways

MLA style is often used in the liberal arts and humanities.
MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity.
A reader interested in your subject wants not only to read what you wrote but also to be informed of the works you used to create it.
MLA style uses a citation in the body of the essay that refers to the works cited section at the end.
If you follow MLA style, and indicate your source both in your essay and in the works cited section, you will prevent the possibility of plagiarism.

How To Do In-Text Citations in MLA Format: A Quick Guide for Students

An in-text citation is a reference to information originating from another source. In-text citations must be used when you summarize, quote, paraphrase or refer to another source within a written document, such as academic literature.

In-text citations are essential in academic writing. Without them, how would readers verify the information is reliable and accurate? Trustworthy authors include their sources for verifiable information rather than opinions so readers know where the evidence for claims can be explored further.

The Modern Language Association manages MLA style standards with the purpose to “strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature” and standardize how information sources are credited in scholarly writing. Not only does the MLA recommend proper citation format, but it also suggests proper general formatting, including document spacing, margins and font size.

As you begin authoring scholarly works, you’ll find the need to credit sources. Use this quick guide to learn how to do in-text citations in MLA format.

What is MLA format?

How to do in-text citations in mla, how to do a works cited page in mla, common challenges and solutions, tips for effective in-text citations.

MLA citation style is a system for crediting sources in scholarly writing and has been widely used in classrooms, journals and the press since 1931. What began with a three-page style sheet for the MLA’s scholarly journal became a uniform writing style preferred by academics and the editorial media everywhere.

Since its inception, the in-text citation style has changed from a recommended combination of footnotes and in-text citations in MLA format. The 1951 style guide suggested : “If the reference is brief, insert it, within parentheses, in the text itself . . . ; if it is lengthy, put it in a [foot]note.” As technology and society changed, so did the MLA style. In 1995, the document added recommendations for citing CD-ROMs and online databases. In 2016, the MLA published one of the most modern versions of the MLA Handbook , wherein in-text citations in MLA style should now be written according to a template of core elements.

The modern-day components of an in-text citation in MLA format, as of the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook , include:

Author’s name
Page numbers (if applicable)

These short in-text citations serve as references to a Works Cited list, which should follow a written piece of work and list all sources used in detail.

Authors who correctly use in-text citations in MLA style will prove their credibility, integrity and responsibility to share accurate and reliable information and simultaneously protect themselves from stealing sources and ideas from other writers, also known as plagiarism. Plagiarism is a severe offense , and many institutions have strict rules against the practice .

Now that you understand the importance of citations let’s review how to use in-text citations in MLA style. When referring to another author’s work in your own written text, you must use parenthetical citations, including the source in parentheses within the sentence that refers to the work.

If a source does not have page numbers, use another numbering system, such as chapters, sections, scenes or articles that are explicitly numbered. If there are no numbered divisions within the work, simply cite the author’s name.

The basic format for in-text citations in MLA writings is as follows:

The pail of water was at the top of the hill, which Jack and Jill decided to climb (Mother Goose 1) .

If including a direct quote from a source, enclose the entire quote within quotation marks to avoid confusing the reader. The in-text citation should fall outside the quotation marks at the end of the sentence before the sentence’s period. Paraphrased information does not need quotation marks but does need proper in-text citation.

It should be noted that any information included in your in-text citations must refer to the source information on the Works Cited page listed at the end of your document.

If you’re wondering how to list the references on the Works Cited page, the format varies depending on the type, such as a book or a website.

How to cite a book in MLA

Author last name, first name. Title. Publisher, year.

How to cite an article in MLA

Author last name, first name. “Article title.” Publication, volume/issue, publication month. Year, page numbers. Database, reference URL.

How to cite a website in MLA

Author last name, first name. “Title.” Publication, publication month. Year, web page URL.

While constructing your paper, you may encounter a few citation challenges, such as a source with multiple authors or no known author. Though this can be confusing, this is how to use in-text citations in MLA style for challenging situations.

How to cite multiple authors in MLA

To write an in-text citation in MLA format for a source with multiple authors , simply list each author’s last name before the page number. Sources with more than two authors should cite the first author, followed by “et al.” For example:

2 authors: (Hall and Oates 1)
3+ authors: (Hall et al. 1)

How to cite sources with no author in MLA

Sources with no author must match the first listed element within its Works Cited entry. For example:

In-text citation: (Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 0:15)
Works Cited entry: “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.” Spotify . https://open.spotify.com/track/1Zpe8ef70Wx20Bu2mLdXc1?si=7TlgCyj1SYmP6K-uy4isuQ

How to cite indirect or secondary sources in MLA

A secondary source is a publication that provides second-hand information from other researchers. You may use secondary sources in your research, though it’s best practice to search for the primary source that supplied the first-hand information, so cite it directly.

If you don’t have access to the original source, include the original author and the author of the secondary source , with the abbreviation “qtd. in” indicating where you accessed the secondary quote. “Qtd. in” stands for “quoted in.” For example:

(qtd. in Baa, Baa, Black Sheep 0:15)

Using et al. in MLA citations

As described above, et al. is used instead of listing all names of three or more authors, editors or contributors within your citations. It can also cite collections of essays, stories or poems with three or more contributors. When using et al., you should always use the last name of the first writer listed on the source. For example:

(Earth et al. “September” 0:15)
Contributors: Earth, Wind and Fire

The most crucial part of in-text citations in MLA style is to keep a consistent and accurate format within the entire body of work. Always use the same punctuation within the in-text citations and the same formatting for sources of the same type. Ensure that double-checking citations is part of your overall proofreading process. All citations, like the written work, should be precise and error-free.

Various tools exist to help you collect and manage your sources and citations. Popular tools include Zotero , EndNote and RefWorks . These tools can create citations for you and keep track of your research documents so you can reference them again if needed. It’s wise to track your sources as they’re included in your writing rather than compiling and citing them when finished.

More resources for writing in MLA format

For the most up-to-date in-text citation information, refer to the MLA Handbook , which can be found online, in bookstores and libraries. The most recent edition of the MLA Handbook is the 9th edition, published in spring 2021.

The MLA also operates the MLA Handbook Plus , a subscription-based digital platform that offers all of the content included in the print edition, plus annual updates and valuable resources, and can be accessed anywhere, whether you’re traveling, at home or in the classroom.

The MLA Style Center offers free online sources on the official MLA style, including templates, questions and answers and advice.

Furman University offers trained consultants for students on campus to provide one-on-one or small-group assistance for writing projects at the Writing & Media Lab (WML). You can make an appointment with a WML Consultant or stop by the James B. Duke Library in the Center for Academic Success (room 002) for on-demand help (subject to scheduling).

The Writing & Media Lab can help with many tasks related to student writing and multimedia projects, including:

Brainstorming a paper or project
Outlining your ideas
Reading through your writing
Creating a presentation or poster
Helping you practice your presentation
Planning a video or podcast
Revising, proofreading, or editing

Mastering the art of in-text citations in MLA format will ensure that you, as an academic author, will portray yourself as a serious, responsible and factual writer who uses accurate and reliable sources.

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

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A brand strategy and creative thinking reflection | go further podcast, how to become a software developer.

Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Learning objectives.

Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style.
Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper.

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

To demonstrate your ability to present a professional, academic essay in the correct style
To gain credibility and authenticity for your work
To enhance the ability of the reader to locate information discussed in your essay
To give credit where credit is due and prevent plagiarism
To get a good grade or demonstrate excellence in your writing

International style: 18 May 1980 (day/month/year)
US style: May 18, 1980 (month/day/year)

If you are going to the US style, be consistent in its use.

General MLA List

Use standard white paper (8.5 × 11 inches).
Double space the essay and quotes.
Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
Use one-inch margins on all sides
Indent paragraphs (five spaces or 1.5 inches).
Include consecutive page numbers in the upper-right corner.
Use italics to indicate a title, as in Writing for Success .
On the first page, place your name, course, date, and instructor’s name in the upper-left corner.
On the first page, place the title centered on the page, with no bold or italics and all words capitalized.
On all pages, place the header, student’s name + one space + page number, 1.5 inches from the top, aligned on the right.

Title Block Format

Course number

Paragraphs and Indentation

Parenthetical Citations

You must cite your sources as you use them. Parenthetical citations, or citations enclosed in parenthesis that appear in the text, are required. You need to cite all your information. If someone else wrote it, said it, drew it, demonstrated it, or otherwise expressed it, you need to cite it. The exception to this statement is common, widespread knowledge. For example, if you search online for MLA resources, and specifically MLA sample papers, you will find many similar discussions on MLA style. MLA is a style and cannot be copyrighted because it is a style, but the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook can be copyright protected. If you reference a specific page in that handbook, you need to indicate it. If you write about a general MLA style issue that is commonly covered or addressed in multiple sources, you do not. When in doubt, reference the specific resource you used to write your essay.

Your in-text, or parenthetical, citations should do the following:

Clearly indicate the specific sources also referenced in the works cited
Specifically identify the location of the information that you used
Keep the citation clear and concise, always confirming its accuracy

Works Cited Page

As a point of reference and comparison to our APA examples, let’s examine the following three citations and the order of the information needed.

In Chapter 13 “APA and MLA Documentation and Formatting”, Section 13.1 “Formatting a Research Paper,” you created a sample essay in APA style. After reviewing this section and exploring the resources linked at the end of the section (including California State University–Sacramento’s clear example of a paper in MLA format), please convert your paper to MLA style using the formatting and citation guidelines. You may find it helpful to use online applications that quickly, easily, and at no cost convert your citations to MLA format.

http://www.noodletools.com
http://citationmachine.net

Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style

http://libguides.asu.edu/content.php?pid=122697&sid=1132964
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01
http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/mla/mla_format.htm
http://www.sunywcc.edu/LIBRARY/research/MLA_APA_08.03.10.pdf
http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla
http://www.writing.ku.edu/guides

* (a) is the correct answer to the question at the beginning of this section. The MLA Handbook prefers “twentieth century.”

Key Takeaways

MLA style is often used in the liberal arts and humanities.
MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity.
A reader interested in your subject wants not only to read what you wrote but also to be informed of the works you used to create it.
MLA style uses a citation in the body of the essay that refers to the works cited section at the end.
If you follow MLA style, and indicate your source both in your essay and in the works cited section, you will prevent the possibility of plagiarism.
Successful Writing. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

COMMENTS

General Format
Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA Style: General Guidelines. Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles ...
MLA Format
Works Cited page. The Works Cited list is included on a separate page at the end of your paper. You list all the sources you referenced in your paper in alphabetical order. Don't include sources that weren't cited in the paper, except potentially in an MLA annotated bibliography assignment.. Place the title "Works Cited" in the center at the top of the page.
MLA Overview and Workshop
Welcome to the OWL Overview of MLA Style. This page introduces you to the Modern Language Association (MLA) Style for writing and formatting research papers. To get the most out of this page, you should begin with the introductory material below, which covers what is MLA Style, why it is used, and who should apply this style to their work. Then you are invited to browse through the OWL's ...
Student's Guide to MLA Style (2021)
This guide follows the 9th edition (the most recent) of the MLA Handbook, published by the Modern Language Association in 2021. To cite sources in MLA style, you need. In-text citations that give the author's last name and a page number. A list of Works Cited that gives full details of every source. Make sure your paper also adheres to MLA ...
13.4 Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
MLA style provides a format for the manuscript text and parenthetical citations, or in-text citations. It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is to your advantage to be familiar with both major styles, and this section will ...
MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know Here
Use 12-point size. Double space the entire research paper, even the Works Cited page. Leave one space after periods and other punctuation marks, unless your instructor tells you to leave two spaces. These guidelines come from the MLA Style Center's web page "Formatting a Research Paper.".
MLA Formatting and Style Guide
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
PDF INTRODUCTION TO MLA STYLE
the single main idea of the essay is. 3. Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay. 4. Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly. Introduction to MLA Style MLA Style was established in 1951 by the Modern Language Association; the first MLA handbook was established in 1977.
Research Guides: MLA Guide: Welcome to MLA
Main Parts of MLA Style and Formatting. MLA is a Documentation Style. MLA is often required in academic writing in the humanities, including religion, literature, and history. APA guides students in. 1) how the paper looks on the page (also called formatting) and. 2) making sure the reader knows what sources you used and when you used them.
6.10: MLA Essay Format
Adapted by Anna Mills from English Composition I: MLA Document Formatting, provided by Lumen Learning and licensed CC BY-SA. 6.10: MLA Essay Format is shared under a license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. Following the conventions of MLA essay formatting will boost your credibility as a writer.
MLA Documentation
General MLA Formatting Rules. Font : Your paper should be written in 12-point text. Whichever font you choose, MLA requires that regular and italicized text be easily distinguishable from each other. Times and Times New Roman are often recommended. Line Spacing : All text in your paper should be double-spaced.
4.5: MLA Documentation
Font: Your paper should be written in 12-point text. Whichever font you choose, MLA requires that regular and italicized text be easily distinguishable from each other. Times and Times New Roman are often recommended. Line Spacing: All text in your paper should be double-spaced.
MLA RESEARCH PAPER
Please use the papers only for examples of MLA-style formatting. Check with your professor for assignment requirements and any additional specifics. Remember, your professor has the final say on how the formatting should be done, regardless of the style. Sample MLA Papers: MLA Sample Paper #1 . MLA Sample Paper #2 - English literature
LibGuides: MLA Citation Guide: Citation Components
Author. The first component in every MLA citation is the author. Sometimes an author can be a corporation or group. End the author component with a period. The MLA Handbook has detailed guidance on identifying and formatting the author component in section 5.3 (starting on page 107). See MLA Handbook, pages 107-121.
5.4 MLA Formatting Conventions
Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style. Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper. ... It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is ...
Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style. Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper. ... It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is ...
5.4: MLA Formatting Conventions
Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style. Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper. ... It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is ...
Citation Machine®: MLA Format & MLA Citation Generator
These citations are usually listed in alphabetical order by the author's last names and include all of the information necessary for readers to be able to locate the source themselves. Full citations are generally placed in this MLA citation format: %%Last name of the author, First name of the author. "Source's Title.".
MLA Citation & Format: Guide for Researchers
The MLA Handbook is an essential reference for writers, editors, students, and professionals for MLA citations. It presents guidelines on all aspects of research tasks: citing sources; gathering source material; organizing that material; writing clearly, and documenting sources in print or electronic format.
MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
13.4: Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
Identify the major components of a research paper written using MLA style. Apply general Modern Language Association (MLA) style and formatting conventions in a research paper. ... It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is ...
How To Do In-Text Citations in MLA Format: A Quick Guide for Students
The modern-day components of an in-text citation in MLA format, as of the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook, include: Author's name; ... It can also cite collections of essays, stories or poems with three or more contributors. When using et al., you should always use the last name of the first writer listed on the source.
Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style
MLA style provides a format for the manuscript text and parenthetical citations, or in-text citations. It also provides the framework for the works cited area for references at the end of the essay. MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. As a student writer, it is to your advantage to be familiar with both major styles, and this section will ...

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Student's Guide to MLA Style (2021) | Citation & Format

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3. Container

4. Other contributors

7. Publisher

8. Publication date

9. Location

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Citation Styles Guide | Examples for All Major Styles

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13.4 Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

General MLA List

Title Block Format

Paragraphs and Indentation

Tables and Illustrations

Parenthetical Citations

Works Cited Page

Useful Sources of Examples of MLA Style

Key Takeaways

MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know Here

Guidelines for Formatting a Paper in MLA

MLA Guide Overview

MLA Format Background

Formatting the Header in MLA

General Paper Formatting

Use One-Inch Margins in MLA

Indenting Paragraphs in MLA

Double Space Paragraphs in MLA

Font and Font Size in MLA

MLA Heading & Title Page Instructions

Running Head & Page Numbers in MLA

Google Docs: Adding a header

Microsoft Word Document: Adding a header

Quotations in MLA

Using footnotes and endnotes

Paraphrases in MLA

Using Abbreviations in MLA

Abbreviating Months

Abbreviating Publishers

Abbreviating Titles

Formatting Numbers in MLA

Arabic Numbers

More on Numbers

Outline Format

Using Images, Tables, & Musical Scores in MLA

Musical Scores

Using Lists in MLA

MLA Works Cited Format

MLA Citation Format

MLA Format Citing FAQs:

Edits and Proofreading

MLA Formatting Guide

Citation Examples

Page margins

Running head

Formatting entries

Formatting the title

Arranging works cited

Example works cited

Plagiarism Checker

MLA Guide: Welcome to MLA - Why We Cite

Main Parts of MLA Style and Formatting

MLA Tutorial

College-wide MLA Citation Guide: 9th edition

MLA's Official Site

Components of a MLA-Style Research Paper

Example of an MLA-Style Paper

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MLA Citation Guide

MLA Citation Components

Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Five Reasons to Use MLA Style

General MLA List