MLA Format (9th Edition): Citations, Works Cited, Paper Layout
Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Holtermann · Updated 16 October 2026 · 5 min read
MLA 9 uses author–page citations like (Morgan 45) and a Works Cited list built from core elements. Papers are double-spaced with a header and no title page.
Key takeaways
- In-text citations give author and page without a comma: (Morgan 45); two authors (Nguyen and Patel 120); three or more (Garcia et al. 12).
- Works Cited entries are built from nine core elements: author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location.
- MLA papers usually have no title page: your name, instructor, course, and date go top left; your last name and page number top right on every page.
- Titles of standalone works (books, journals, websites) are italicized; titles of parts (articles, chapters, web pages) go in quotation marks.
- MLA is standard in English, literature, languages, and many humanities courses, especially in US high schools and colleges.
When to use MLA
MLA style, published by the Modern Language Association in the MLA Handbook (9th edition, 2021), is the default in English and literature, foreign languages, cultural studies, and many introductory college writing courses in the US. Its author–page system suits disciplines where you quote and analyze texts closely, because readers can find the exact passage quickly.
If your course does not specify a style and you write in the humanities, MLA is a safe choice in the US; in the UK, Harvard or a footnote style is more common.
One rule beats every guide on the internet, including this one: your own university’s or department’s style guide, handbook, or assignment brief always takes precedence. If it differs from what you read here, follow it. You can upload that handbook to Professor Digital, and everything (outline, citations, checks) is tailored to it.
In-text citations
MLA in-text citations are short: the author’s last name and the page number, with no comma and no “p.” If you name the author in your sentence, only the page goes in parentheses.
| Situation | Parenthetical | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| One author | (Morgan 45) | Morgan argues that… (45). |
| Two authors | (Nguyen and Patel 120) | Nguyen and Patel show… (120). |
| Three or more | (Garcia et al. 12) | Garcia and colleagues… (12). |
| No author | (“Student Outcomes”) | The report “Student Outcomes” states… |
| Two works by same author | (Morgan, Learning 45) | In Learning, Morgan… (45). |
| No page numbers | (Morgan) | Morgan suggests… |
| Indirect source | (qtd. in Morgan 45) | – |
| Poem or play | (Shakespeare, Hamlet 3.1.56) | act.scene.line instead of page |
The core elements of a Works Cited entry
Instead of separate templates for every source type, MLA 9 uses one template of core elements. You include the elements that apply in this order, each followed by the punctuation shown. A source inside a larger whole (an article in a journal, a chapter in a book, a page on a website) sits in a container.
| # | Element | Punctuation after | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Author | Period | Nguyen, Thanh, and Ravi Patel. |
| 2 | Title of source | Period | “Working While Studying.” |
| 3 | Title of container | Comma | Journal of Higher Education Research, |
| 4 | Other contributors | Comma | edited by Jane Brown, |
| 5 | Version | Comma | 2nd ed., |
| 6 | Number | Comma | vol. 14, no. 2, |
| 7 | Publisher | Comma | Publisher Name, |
| 8 | Publication date | Comma | 2021, |
| 9 | Location | Period | pp. 115–32. / https://doi.org/… |
Works Cited examples
The Works Cited list starts on a new page, titled “Works Cited” (centered, not bold). Entries are alphabetical, double-spaced, with a 0.5-inch hanging indent. Use title case for all titles. The examples below use invented authors.
- Book: Morgan, Lena. Learning in the Digital Age. 2nd ed., Publisher Name, 2019.
- Journal article: Nguyen, Thanh, and Ravi Patel. “Working While Studying.” Journal of Higher Education Research, vol. 14, no. 2, 2021, pp. 115–32, https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx.
- Three or more authors: Garcia, Ana, et al. Title of Book. Publisher Name, 2022.
- Chapter in edited book: Kim, Soo. “Feedback and Motivation.” Assessment in Higher Education, edited by Jane Brown, Publisher Name, 2020, pp. 45–67.
- Web page: “Student Outcomes.” Name of Website, Publisher if different, 5 Mar. 2024, www.example.org/outcomes.
- Film: Title of Film. Directed by First Last, Production Company, 2023.
Formatting an MLA paper
MLA papers are simple to format. Unless your instructor requires one, do not add a separate title page.
- Font: a legible font such as 12-pt Times New Roman.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides; double-spaced throughout, including quotations and Works Cited.
- Header: your last name and page number, top right, 0.5 inch from the top, on every page (Morgan 1).
- First-page heading: top left, double-spaced: your name, instructor’s name, course, date (16 October 2026).
- Title: centered, in title case, no bold, italics, or underlining (unless it contains a title of another work).
- Paragraphs: first line indented 0.5 inch.
- Block quotes: prose of more than four lines, indented 0.5 inch, no quotation marks, citation after the final period.
Common MLA mistakes
These are the corrections instructors write most often on MLA papers.
- Adding a comma or “p.” in the citation: (Morgan, p. 45) → (Morgan 45).
- Calling the list “Bibliography” or “References” instead of “Works Cited”.
- Bold or underlined paper title.
- Missing “vol.” and “no.” labels for journal articles.
- Putting article titles in italics instead of quotation marks.
- Using full page ranges where MLA abbreviates (115–132 → 115–32).
- Using APA-style dates (2024, March 5) instead of 5 Mar. 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is MLA format?
A citation and formatting style by the Modern Language Association, used mainly in English, literature, and the humanities. It uses author–page in-text citations and a Works Cited list.
What is the latest MLA edition?
The MLA Handbook, 9th edition, published in 2021.
Does an MLA paper need a title page?
No, not by default. Put your name, instructor, course, and date at the top left of the first page, unless your instructor asks for a title page.
How do you cite a website in MLA?
In text: (Author) or a shortened title if there is no author. Works Cited: Author. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Publisher if different, Day Mon. Year, URL.
How do you cite three authors in MLA?
Use the first author followed by “et al.”: (Garcia et al. 12) in text, and Garcia, Ana, et al. in Works Cited.
Sources and further reading
- Modern Language Association of America. (2021). MLA Handbook (9th ed.). Modern Language Association of America.
Your university’s examination regulations and style guide always take precedence.
Related articles
- APA 7th editionAPA 7 uses author–date citations: (Nguyen & Patel, 2021) or Nguyen and Patel (2021). Use “et al.” for three or more authors from the first citation.
- Chicago styleChicago style has two systems: notes-bibliography (footnotes plus bibliography, used in history and the arts) and author-date (used in the sciences).
- Reference listA reference list contains every source cited in your text; a bibliography may include works you consulted. APA says “References”, MLA “Works Cited”.
- Quote, paraphrase, summarizeQuote when exact wording matters, paraphrase to restate one idea in your own words, summarize to condense main points. All three need a citation.
- Avoiding plagiarismCite every idea, quote, and data point you take from others, paraphrase properly, never reuse graded work without permission, and track your sources.
