How to Cite in MLA 9th Edition Format: Step-by-Step Guide
This guide explains how to cite MLA 9th Edition and gives step-by-step examples for the most common source types. MLA (Modern Language Association) is commonly used in literature, language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities courses. The 9th edition clarifies the "core elements" approach and emphasizes consistent, readable entries.
Introduction — What MLA 9th Edition Is and Who Uses It
MLA 9th Edition refines previous MLA recommendations while keeping the same container-based approach to citation. It focuses on core elements: author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location.
Students, researchers, and writers in the humanities use MLA to credit sources, avoid plagiarism, and help readers locate original material. For quick citations, try Rephrasely's free citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation.
General Rules — Key Formatting Rules
- Use double-spacing throughout the document, including the Works Cited list.
- Use a readable font (e.g., 12-pt Times New Roman) and 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Include a header with your last name and page number in the upper right corner.
- Titles of larger works (books, journals, websites) are italicized; shorter works (articles, poems, chapters) are in quotation marks.
- Use a hanging indent (0.5 inch) for each Works Cited entry.
- List entries alphabetically by the author's last name. If no author, alphabetize by the title (ignore initial articles like "A," "An," "The").
- MLA uses the "author–page" style for in-text citations (e.g., (Smith 23)).
- Prefer including URLs for online sources; omit "http://" or "https://" only if you choose, but include the DOI or stable link when available.
How to Cite by Source Type
Below are step-by-step formats and examples for common source types. All examples use MLA 9 core elements and are shown in code-style for clarity.
Books (Single Author)
Format: Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.
Smith, John. The Modern Essay. New Leaf Press, 2020.Actionable tip: If the book has an editor instead of an author, place the editor's name followed by ", editor" after the title.
Edited Book Chapter or Essay
Format: Author of chapter. "Title of Chapter." Title of Book, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
Garcia, Elena. "Narrative Voices in Modern Fiction." Literary Perspectives, edited by Mark J. Hill, Brightview Press, 2018, pp. 45–67.Scholarly Journal Article (Print or Online)
Format: Author. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. xx–xx. DOI or URL (if online).
Lee, Amanda. "Memory and Place." Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 112–130. doi:10.1080/xyz12345.Actionable tip: If a DOI exists, include it. If no DOI, add the stable URL of the article.
Website
Format: Author (if available). "Title of Page." Title of Website, Publisher (if different from website title), Publication date, URL.
Johnson, Mara. "How to Read Poetry." Poetry Resource, Poetry Collective, 10 Mar. 2021, www.poetryresource.org/read-poetry.If no author is present, start with the page title and alphabetize by that title in your Works Cited.
Film or Video
Format: Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, performance by Performer (if relevant), Production Company, Year.
The Quiet Sun. Directed by Rachel Kim, performance by David Chen, Northstar Films, 2017.For YouTube or Vimeo videos, include the uploader and the URL.
Social Media Post (e.g., Tweet)
Format: Author's Last Name, First Name (or Account Name). "Full text of post" (if short), Platform, Day Month Year, time, URL.
@ClimateNow. "New study shows urgent action is needed to cut emissions." Twitter, 4 Apr. 2022, 9:15 a.m., twitter.com/ClimateNow/status/1234567890123456789.In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples
MLA uses parenthetical author–page citations that correspond to full entries on the Works Cited page. Place citations at the end of the sentence before the period.
Examples:
- Single author: (Smith 23)
- Two authors: (Smith and Johnson 88)
- Three or more authors: (Garcia et al. 45)
- No author: use shortened title: ("Memory and Place" 112)
Direct quotations should include the page number: "..." (Lee 118). For time-based media, include a timestamp: (The Quiet Sun 01:12:45–01:13:05).
Actionable tip: If the author's name appears naturally in the sentence, give only the page number in parentheses: According to Smith, the study shows... (23).
Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example
In MLA, the reference list is titled Works Cited and appears at the end of your paper. Center the heading "Works Cited" (no bold or underline). Each entry uses a hanging indent and is double-spaced.
Key points:
- Alphabetize by the author's last name or by title if no author.
- Use italics for container titles (books, journals, websites).
- Include publication details and locations (page ranges, URLs, DOIs).
Example Works Cited (short set):
Works Cited
Garcia, Elena. "Narrative Voices in Modern Fiction." Literary Perspectives, edited by Mark J. Hill, Brightview Press, 2018, pp. 45–67.
Johnson, Mara. "How to Read Poetry." Poetry Resource, Poetry Collective, 10 Mar. 2021, www.poetryresource.org/read-poetry.
Lee, Amanda. "Memory and Place." Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 112–130. doi:10.1080/xyz12345.
Smith, John. The Modern Essay. New Leaf Press, 2020.Actionable tip: Use Rephrasely's citation generator (https://rephrasely.com/citation) to create properly formatted MLA 9 citations and paste them into your Works Cited with a hanging indent.
Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid
- Mixing citation styles: Don’t combine MLA formatting with APA or Chicago elements. Keep author–page in-text style and Works Cited formatting consistent.
- Incorrect title formatting: Use italics for book/journal titles and quotation marks for article or chapter titles. Misformatting titles is a common error.
- Missing core elements: Always include the essential elements (author, title, container, publisher, date, location when applicable). If an element is unavailable, skip it but maintain the order.
- In-text citation mismatches: Ensure every parenthetical citation matches a Works Cited entry. Missing or mismatched entries can lead to plagiarism concerns.
Actionable tip: Run your draft through a plagiarism checker (see Rephrasely's plagiarism checker) to confirm source attribution and avoid accidental copying.
Practical Workflow — Quick Steps to Follow
- Collect full citation details as you research: author, title, container, publisher, date, pages, DOI/URL.
- Use Rephrasely's citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation to build MLA 9 entries quickly.
- Insert in-text citations as you write, using author–page format.
- Assemble your Works Cited list, alphabetize, apply hanging indents, and double-space.
- Proofread: check title formatting, punctuation, and that every in-text citation appears on the Works Cited page.
If you're drafting sections or need AI-assisted phrasing, Rephrasely's AI writer (/composer) can help craft text that integrates citations neatly. After writing, use the AI detector (/ai-detector) and paraphraser to refine copy and ensure originality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include URLs in MLA 9 citations?
MLA 9 encourages including URLs for online sources, especially stable links or DOIs. If a URL is very long, you may use a DOI or a shortened stable link. Include "doi:" when available. Use your instructor's preference if they differ.
How do I cite a source with no author in MLA 9th Edition?
Start the entry with the title of the source. In-text, use a shortened version of the title (in quotation marks for articles or in italics for full works) followed by the page number if available: ("Title Shortened" 45).
Can I rely on citation generators for perfect MLA formatting?
Citation generators like Rephrasely's citation generator speed up citation creation, but always verify details (punctuation, capitalization, access dates). After generating citations, consider checking originality with the plagiarism checker and running content through the AI detector if you used AI drafting tools.