To cite a source in MLA (Modern Language Association) format, you generally need to create two types of citations: in-text citations within the body of your paper and a Works Cited list at the end of your paper [1] [2]. The MLA Handbook, currently in its 9th edition, provides comprehensive guidelines for this style [1] [3].

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The core principle of MLA 9th edition is flexibility, focusing on a few guiding elements rather than rigid rules for every source type [1]. This approach acknowledges the increasingly digital nature of texts and the various ways a single document might be found [1].

In-Text Citations

In-text citations are brief references within your paper that direct readers to the full entry in your Works Cited list [2] [4]. They are used whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize information from another source [4] [5].

• Basic Format: The most common in-text citation includes the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the information was taken, enclosed in parentheses [2] [4]. For example: (Smith 163) [4].
• Author in Prose: If you mention the author's name in the sentence itself (known as a "citation in prose"), you only need to include the page number in parentheses [4] [5]. For example: According to Smith, "..." (163) [4].
• No Page Numbers: If a source does not have page numbers (common for many websites), you omit the page number from the parenthetical citation [4] [5]. For example: (Kraizer) [4].
• Multiple Authors:
  • Two Authors: Include both last names [4] [6]. For example: (Gass and Varonis 163) [4].
  • Three or More Authors: Use the first author's last name followed by "et al." (Latin for "and others") [2] [4] [6]. For example: (Munro et al. 70) [4].
• No Author: If no author is listed, use a shortened version of the source's title [2] [4]. If it's a short work (like an article or webpage), put the title in quotation marks; if it's a longer work (like a book or entire website), italicize it [2]. For example: ("Practical Oral") or (Back to the Future) [2].
• Media with Runtime: For sources like films or podcasts, include a timestamp (hours:minutes:seconds) to specify the exact part referenced [1] [2]. For example: (Back to the Future 00:23:86) [2].
• Block Quotes: For direct quotes longer than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, format them as a block quote (indented half an inch from the left margin, without quotation marks) [2] [4]. The parenthetical citation goes after the final punctuation of the block quote [2] [4].

Works Cited List

The Works Cited list, located on a separate page at the end of your paper, provides the complete bibliographic information for every source cited in your text [2] [4].

• General Formatting:
  • Title: Center the title "Works Cited" (or "Work Cited" if only one source) one inch from the top of the page [2] [4].
  • Spacing: Double-space the entire list, both between and within entries [2] [4].
  • Alphabetical Order: Entries are listed alphabetically by the first word of the citation (usually the author's last name or the title if no author) [2] [4]. Ignore "A," "An," and "The" when alphabetizing by title [2].
  • Hanging Indent: The first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented half an inch (a "hanging indent") [2] [4].
  • Font: Use a legible font (e.g., Times New Roman) in 12-point size, consistent with the rest of your paper [2] [7].
• Core Elements of a Works Cited Entry: The MLA 9th edition emphasizes a flexible "template" approach using nine core elements, which are included if applicable and available [1]
• ↩
  1. Author. (Last name, First name. For multiple authors, the first author is inverted, and subsequent authors are listed First name Last name. For three or more, use "et al." after the first author) [1] [2] [8].
  2. Title of source. (Italicized for stand-alone works like books, journals, websites; in quotation marks for parts of a larger work like articles, chapters, webpages) [1] [2] [8].
  3. Title of container, (Italicized, followed by a comma. A container is the larger whole in which the source is located, e.g., a book containing a chapter, a website containing an article, a journal containing an article) [1] [8].
  4. Other contributors, (e.g., edited by, translated by, performance by, followed by their names) [1] [8].
  5. Version, (e.g., 3rd ed., Director's cut) [1] [8].
  6. Number, (e.g., vol. 6, no. 2, season 2, episode 21) [1] [8].
  7. Publisher, (The organization that produced or distributed the source. Omit for periodicals, works published by their author/editor, websites with the same title as the publisher, or platforms like YouTube/JSTOR that host content but don't publish it) [1] [8].
  8. Publication date, (Day Month Year format, abbreviating months with more than four letters) [1] [8].
  9. Location. (Page numbers for print, URL or DOI for online sources, physical location for objects viewed firsthand) [1] [8].

• Examples of Common Source Types:
  • Book (One Author): Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication. [2] [6] Example: Bradley, Heather. Design Funny: A Graphic Designer's Guide to Humor. 1st ed., HOW Books, 2015. [4]
  • Website (Individual Page with Author): Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Title of Website, Publisher (if different from website title or author), Date published, URL. [2] [9] Example: Rothfeld, Lindsay. "Smarter Education: The Rise of Big Data in the Classroom." Mashable, 3 Sept. 2014, mashable.com/2014/09/03/education-data-video/#hViqdPbFbgqH. [9]
  • Online Journal Article with DOI: Author(s). "Article Title: Subtitle of Article." Title of Journal, volume, issue number, date of publication, page numbers. Library Database Title, DOI. [4] [6] Example: Barlow, David H., and Katherine Ann Kennedy. "New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment in Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders: A Focus on Temperament." Canadian Psychology, vol. 57, no. 1, 2016, pp. 8-20. ProQuest, https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cap0000039. [4]
  • Online Video (e.g., YouTube): Author (screen name or real name). "Title of Video." YouTube, Publication Date, URL. [4] [8] Example: sayerb123. "Husky Puppy Talking Saying 'I Love You'." YouTube, 13 Dec. 2009, youtu.be/N_Qqs0Q2w5CE. [4]
  • Social Media Post (e.g., X/Twitter): Author (Name [@Username]). "Full text of post (or shortened with ellipsis if long)." Platform Name, Date and Time of Post, URL. [2] [4] [10] Example: Johnson, Dwayne [@TheRock]. "Here’s a peek at my new Iron Paradise I built out here in the country farm..." X, 20 July 2019, twitter.com/TheRock/status/1152650347963387904. [4]
  • Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT): "Description of what was generated by the AI tool" prompt. Name of AI Tool, version, Publisher, Date generated, URL of the tool. [4] [11] Example: "Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald" prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat. [11]

Key Considerations

• Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your paper and Works Cited list [2] [7].
• Instructor Guidelines: Always prioritize your instructor's specific requirements, as they may have preferences that differ slightly from the general MLA guidelines [5].
• Plagiarism Prevention: Proper citation is crucial for avoiding plagiarism, which involves using others' work without proper attribution [2] [5] [7].
• Citation Generators: While online citation generators can be helpful, always double-check their output for accuracy, as they are not always perfect [3] [4].

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