MLA 9th Edition Format: Complete Citation Guide (2026)
This guide explains the MLA 9th Edition format—who uses it, the core rules, and step-by-step citation examples for common source types. If you want to generate citations quickly, try Rephrasely’s free citation generator at Rephrasely Citation Generator.
Introduction — What MLA 9th Edition Format Is and Who Uses It
MLA (Modern Language Association) 9th Edition is a widely used style for writing and documenting research in the humanities, especially literature, languages, and cultural studies. The 9th Edition updates scope, examples, and clarifies guidance for digital sources, inclusive language, and consistent formatting.
Students, professors, and authors in humanities disciplines commonly use MLA for in-text citations and a “Works Cited” list. It emphasizes author-page in-text citations and readable, concise reference entries.
General Rules — Key Formatting Rules
- Use one-inch margins on all sides and a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman 12 pt) unless otherwise required.
- Double-space the entire document, including the Works Cited list. Do not add extra spacing between entries.
- Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inches. Use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) for each Works Cited entry after the first line.
- Use italics for titles of longer works (books, films, journals). Use quotation marks for shorter works (articles, poems, chapters).
- List the Works Cited at the end of the paper, alphabetized by author’s last name or by title if no author is given.
- Include URLs for online sources without “http://” or “https://” unless required; DOIs are preferred for journal articles.
How to Cite by Source Type — Step-by-Step
Below are common source types with format templates and examples. Use the code examples as ready-to-use patterns. If you have many citations, generate them using Rephrasely’s citation tool to speed the process.
Books (Single Author)
Format: Author Last name, First name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Smith, Jane. Understanding Narrative. Academic Press, 2020.Actionable tip: Include edition only if not the first (e.g., 2nd ed.). For translated books, add translator before the publisher.
Edited Book Chapter
Format: Chapter Author Last name, First name. "Chapter Title." Title of Book, edited by Editor First name Last name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
Garcia, Luis. "Narrative and Memory." Memory Studies, edited by Irene Park, University Press, 2018, pp. 45–62.Journal Article (Print or Online)
Format (with DOI): Author Last name, First name. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. xx–xx. DOI.
Lee, Angela. "Digital Archives and the Reader." Journal of Modern Critique, vol. 12, no. 3, 2022, pp. 112–130. doi:10.1234/jmc.2022.003.Actionable tip: If no DOI is available and you accessed it online, include the URL (without http/https) after the pages.
Website
Format: Author Last name, First name (if available). "Page Title." Website Name, Publisher or Sponsor (if different), Date of publication, URL.
Johnson, Mark. "How to Read Contemporary Poetry." Poetry Today, Poetry Society, 5 May 2024, poetrysociety.org/read-contemporary.Actionable tip: If no author, start with the page title. Include an access date only when content is likely to change or no publication date is given.
Film or Video
Format: Title of Film. Directed by Director First name Last name, performance by Main Actor, Production Company, Year.
Half-Light. Directed by A. K. Rivers, perf. Maya Cole, Horizon Films, 2021.Social Media Post
Format: Author Last name, First name (or Username). "Full text of post" (or first 160 characters). Platform, Day Month Year, time, URL.
@lit_senate. "New anthology release this fall—preorders open now!" Twitter, 10 Aug. 2025, twitter.com/lit_senate/status/1234567890.In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples
MLA uses an author-page in-text citation style: include the author’s last name and the page number(s) with no comma. Place citations at the end of the sentence before the period.
(Smith 45)If you name the author in the sentence, include only the page number in parentheses.
Smith argues that narrative shapes memory (45).For two authors, include both last names in the citation.
(Garcia and Park 102)For three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by et al.
(Lee et al. 214)If a source has no page numbers (e.g., a website), use the author’s name only or a short title if no author exists.
(Johnson)Actionable tip: For block quotations (4 lines or longer), format as a block and put the citation after the closing punctuation.
Long quotation starts here and continues across multiple lines,
indented one inch from the left margin. No quotation marks are used.
(Lee 127)Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example
In MLA, the reference list is titled "Works Cited." Center the title and double-space the section. Alphabetize entries by the author’s last name. Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each entry.
Key elements to include: author, title, container (if applicable), contributors (editors, translators), version, number, publisher, publication date, and location (page range, DOI, or URL).
Example Works Cited page (code-style entries):
Works Cited
Garcia, Luis. "Narrative and Memory." Memory Studies, edited by Irene Park, University Press, 2018, pp. 45–62.
Johnson, Mark. "How to Read Contemporary Poetry." Poetry Today, Poetry Society, 5 May 2024, poetrysociety.org/read-contemporary.
Lee, Angela. "Digital Archives and the Reader." Journal of Modern Critique, vol. 12, no. 3, 2022, pp. 112–130. doi:10.1234/jmc.2022.003.
Smith, Jane. Understanding Narrative. Academic Press, 2020.Actionable formatting checklist:
- Title the page "Works Cited" and center it.
- Alphabetize entries by authors’ last names; use title if no author.
- Double-space entries and use hanging indents.
- Italicize titles of longer works and place quotation marks around shorter works.
- Prefer DOIs for scholarly articles; use stable URLs when necessary.
Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid
1. Incorrect author formatting: Don’t invert names for single authors (use "Smith, Jane."), but invert for multiple authors only on the first author. Double-check author order and punctuation.
2. Missing or misformatted DOIs and URLs: Use DOIs when available and format them as doi:10.xxxx or the full DOI link. Avoid unnecessary "Retrieved from" phrases.
3. Wrong title styling: Italicize book and journal titles; use quotation marks for article, chapter, poem, and web page titles. Mixing these is a frequent error.
4. Improper in-text citations: Forgetting page numbers for print sources or placing punctuation before the citation are common. Always place the citation before the period unless it follows a block quote.
Actionable tip: Use Rephrasely’s AI writer to draft papers and the plagiarism checker to validate originality. Use the AI detector where institutional policies require disclosure of AI involvement.
Practical Steps for Rapid MLA Compliance
- Create a template document with MLA margins, font, header, and a centered Works Cited title to save formatting time.
- Collect full bibliographic details when you first find a source: author, title, publisher, date, DOI/URL, and page range.
- Use Rephrasely’s citation generator for quick, consistent entries and then verify each entry against this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include URLs for all online sources?
Include a URL or DOI for online sources when it helps the reader locate the source. Prefer DOIs for academic articles. Omit the protocol (http:// or https://) unless required. Include an access date only if the source lacks a publication date or if the content is likely to change.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Begin the entry with the title of the work. In-text, use a shortened title in quotation marks or italics (depending on the source type) instead of an author name. Alphabetize the Works Cited entry by the first significant word of the title.
Can I use citation tools to create my Works Cited?
Yes. Citation tools like Rephrasely’s citation generator speed up formatting, but always check entries against the MLA Handbook 9th Edition. Automated tools can misapply punctuation or omit necessary information, so verify authorship, dates, and DOI/URL formatting.