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Citation Style Guide: MLA 9th edition (2021)

Citation Guide for MLA 8th, APA 7th Edition, Chicago/Turabian, WestLaw

MLA Style

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The MLA style was developed by the Modern Language Association of America. There are several rules to follow when publishing a paper in the MLA style. It consists of two parts: In-text citations and the Works Cited list. Below you will find the guiding principles for MLA 9th edition citation style, brief examples, as well as additional resources worth checking out. For a more detailed explanation, access the latest MLA citation guide here. 

Understanding MLA Style (9th edition, 2021)

MLA Resources

Order from the MLA Bookstore.
Publication Date 2021
ISBN 9781603293518

Need additional help? Purdue Online Writing Center provides an MLA Style formatting guide and tons of examples! Check it out by clicking on the icon below.

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MLA 9th Edition

What is new in the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook (Spring 2021)

Published in April 2021, the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook works as both a textbook and a reference guide. You can order a copy from the MLA Bookstore. It is an all-in-one resource that makes MLA style easier to learn and use for writers at any level, the handbook includes:

  • Expanded, in-depth guidance on how to use the MLA template of core elements to create works-cited-list entries that shows what each core element is, where to find it, and how to style it,
  • Clarification that element names are not always literal and can apply to a range of situations (e.g., the Publisher element can refer to the publisher of a book or a sponsoring organization like the theater company that puts on a play),
  • A new, easy-to-follow explanation of in-text citations,
  • A new chapter containing recommendations for using inclusive language,
  • A new appendix with hundreds of sample works-cited-list entries listed by publication format, including books, databases, websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more,
  • Updated guidelines on avoiding plagiarism,
  • A new chapter on formatting a research paper,
  • New, expanded guidelines on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and more,
  • A new chapter on using notes in MLA style.

MLA Style - The Basics

The general MLA Style paper format is as follows:

  • Double-space your entire paper,
  • Margins should be 1” on all sides,
  • The font needs to be legible (ex: Times New Roman),
  • Font size needs to be 12 pt.,
  • The header should be in the upper right-hand corner and should include your last name and respective page number,
  • The title should be centered, not underlined/italicized,
  • Title pages are not required unless your professor requests it,
    • Your name, professor’s name, course, and date should be listed in the upper left-hand corner of your first page.
  • Entries are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name or, in the case of anonymous works, by title,
  • New entries begin at the left-hand margin with subsequent lines for the same entry indented one-half inch. This is referred to as a “hanging indent.”

The current MLA citation style is composed of the following core elements, listed in their respective order and with the punctuation mark that should be used after listing the information:

  1. Author(s).
  2. Tile of the source.
  3. Title of container,
  4. Other contributors,
  5. Version,
  6. Number,
  7. Publisher,
  8. Publication Date,
  9. Location. (DOI or URL, if applicable)

If the source you are using does not have one of the core elements listed above (which happens often!), don't panic and simply move on to the next step. For example, if the article you are using does not have an author, simply move on to number two, "title of source", and begin with that..

Book >> outside cover, title page
Journal article >> detailed record, the first page of the article
Newspaper or magazine article >> the first page of the article, end of the article, front of the newspaper or magazine
Website >> URL, "About" page, "Home" page
DVD >> outside cover, opening credits
Film or television episode >> opening credits
YouTube video >> credits underneath the video

How do in-text citations look like when using MLA Style?

In-text citations are found in your paper when you directly quote or paraphrase information from a source. They typically consist of the author’s last name and the page number where the information was found.

Here is a general example of an in-text citation with a direct quote:

Dinosaurs roamed the earth and have been described as “terrifying beings capable of inflicting great bodily harm” (Banks 6).

Here is a general example of an in-text citation when paraphrasing:

Banks (6) described dinosaurs as being able to cause great harm.

How to create a Works Cited Page

The Works Cited Page is located at the end of your paper, on a separate page. It should still have the same one-inch margins as the rest of your paper and be doubled spaced. Below are some general rules to follow when creating the Works Cited Page:

  • The page should be titled Works Cited (do not bold, underline, or italicize it),
  • Include last name and page number header,
  • The entries should be doubled space (do not add extra spaces between the citation entries),
  • All citations will be aligned to the left. This means, don’t center them. An important detail to note here is if the citation is more than one line, only the first line stays aligned to the left, and any lines after that are indented 0.5”. This is called a hanging indent.
  • Your list should be in alphabetical order,
  • Double-check that the information on your Works Cited Page matches your in-text citations.

For a detailed explanation of in-text citations and Works Cited page creation, check out the Additional Information box at the left.

Book example:

FORMAT: Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title. Edition number, Publisher, Publication Date.

Martin, Anthony. Introduction to the Study of Dinosaurs. 2nd ed., Blackwell Pub., 2006.

Article example:

FORMAT: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Title, volume, number, Publication date, location/doi.

Rieppel, Lukas. “Bringing Dinosaurs Back to Life.” ISIS: Journal of the History of Science in Society, vol. 103, no. 3, Sept. 2012, pp. 460-490. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1086/667969.

How to do Hanging Indent in Word?

Highlight the citation with your cursor >> Right-click >> Select Paragraph >> Find "Indentation", and select "Special and Hanging"

MLA Essay Format