How to Cite Sources in MLA Format (9th Edition)

Quick Scoop

If you’re writing a paper in MLA, you need two things: in-text citations in the body of your paper and a Works Cited list at the end. MLA 9 uses a consistent set of “core elements” (author, title, container, publisher, date, etc.) in a specific order so you can cite almost any kind of source.[2][3][4][5]

Core Idea: The MLA “Formula”

Most Works Cited entries follow a standard pattern made from nine core elements.
  • Author.
  • Title of source.
  • Title of container. (e.g., journal, website, anthology)
  • Other contributors. (editors, translators, etc.)
  • Version. (edition, director’s cut, etc.)
  • Number. (volume, issue, episode)
  • Publisher.
  • Publication date.
  • Location. (page range, URL, DOI)
[2][3] These appear in this order with specific punctuation, and you skip elements that don’t apply.

In-Text Citations: Inside Your Paragraphs

MLA in‑text citations show readers which source each quote or idea comes from. Every in‑text citation must match a full entry in your Works Cited list.

Basic patterns

  • Author + page number: Put the author’s last name and page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence: (Smith 163).
    • [9][5]
  • Author already named: If you mention the author in the sentence, just give the page number in parentheses: Smith argues that this is true (163).
    • [9]
  • No page numbers: Use just the author’s last name: (Smith).
    • [5]

Special cases

  • Two authors: list both last names: (Smith and Lee 45).
    • [9]
  • Three or more authors: use first author + “et al.” or “and others”: (Smith et al. 22) or Smith and others explain… (22).
    • [9]
  • No author: use the title (shortened if long): (“Climate Change Report” 7).
    • [2][9]
Place the in‑text citation directly after the quote or paraphrase and before the period (except for block quotes, where it comes after the period).

Works Cited Page: The Big List at the End

Your Works Cited page gives full details for every source you cited in the text. It appears on a separate page titled “Works Cited,” centered at the top.

General formatting

  • Start on a new page at the end of your paper.
    • [4]
  • Title the page Works Cited (no bold, no underline, no quotes).
    • [4]
  • Double‑space everything, just like the rest of the paper.
    • [6][4]
  • Use a hanging indent: the first line of each entry at the left margin, and all following lines indented.
    • [2]
  • Alphabetize entries by the first element (usually author’s last name).
    • [3][4]

Template for many sources

This is the generalized MLA pattern for a lot of source types:

[3][2]
Author last name, First name. “Title of Source.” Title of Container, other contributors, version, number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.
[1][2][3]

Common Source Types (With Examples)

Below is a quick guide to the most common things students cite now: web pages, books, articles, videos, and sources without an author.

1\. Website article (with author)

  • In‑text: (Garcia) or Garcia argues that…
    • [9]
  • Works Cited format:
Garcia, Maria. “Title of Article.” Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
[2][3]

2\. Website article (no author)

If there is no named author, start with the title.
  • In‑text: (“Title of Article”) (shorten a long title to the first few words).
    • [2][9]
  • Works Cited format:
“Title of Article.” Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
[3][2] A common table pattern for a web article with no author is: in‑text citation (“Title”) and Works Cited entry beginning with the title.

3\. Book (one author)

  • In‑text: (Smith 45).
  • Works Cited format:
Smith, John. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
[4][3]

4\. Chapter in an edited book

  • In‑text: (Chen 32).
    • [2]
  • Works Cited format:
Chen, Mei. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book, edited by Editor First name Last name, Publisher, Year, pp. page range.
[3][2]

5\. Journal article

Journal articles use the article as the “source” and the journal as the “container.”
  • In‑text: (Davis 210).
  • Works Cited pattern:
Davis, Rose. “Title of Article.” Journal Name, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range.
[4][3]

6\. Online video (YouTube, etc.)

Modern MLA treats online videos like any other digital source, using the same core elements.
  • In‑text: If no individual author, use the title: (“Video Title”).
    • [9][2]
  • Works Cited format:
“Title of Video.” Website Name, uploaded by Name, Day Month Year, URL.
[2][3]

7\. Entire website

If you are citing a whole website rather than one page, focus on the site as a whole.
Website Name. Publisher, Date, URL.
[3]

Formatting Rules for Your Paper (MLA Style)

MLA isn’t just about citations—it also covers how your paper looks.
  • Use a readable font (often 12‑point Times New Roman) and double spacing throughout.
    • [4]
  • Set 1‑inch margins on all sides.
    • [6][4]
  • Indent each new paragraph by half an inch.
    • [4]
  • Include an MLA‑style heading on the first page (your name, instructor, course, date) and a centered title.
    • [4]
These layout details help teachers instantly recognize that your paper follows MLA formatting.

Common MLA Citation Mistakes (and Fixes)

Many errors come from skipping or mis‑ordering the MLA elements or mixing in styles like APA. [2] [4][2] [2] [4][2] [2] [2]
Problem What Went Wrong Quick Fix
Missing author Generator left the author field blank. Check the source and add the author before the title.
Title in ALL CAPS Copied a headline exactly as styled. Change to normal title case (capitalize main words only).
Overlong URL Tracking code left on the end of the link. Trim to the main URL that opens the source.
Wrong “container” Site name used as article title. Give the article its own title, and treat the site as the container.
No hanging indent Each line starts at the left margin. Use the hanging‑indent feature in your word processor.
Mixed styles APA punctuation or abbreviations appear in MLA entries. Compare every entry to a single MLA 9 guide and fix punctuation.

Mini Walkthrough: Citing One Web Article

Imagine you used an article called “How Sleep Affects Memory” on a site called Health Today, written by Alex Rivera, published 5 May 2024, with a simple URL.
  1. In‑text citation: If you quote a line, you might write: “Sleep plays a central role in memory consolidation” (Rivera).
    2. [9][2]
  2. Works Cited entry (no page numbers, so location is the URL):
Rivera, Alex. “How Sleep Affects Memory.” Health Today, 5 May 2024, www.healthtoday.example/sleep‑memory.
[3][2] That’s the core process: identify the author, title, container (site name), date, and location, then put them in MLA order with correct punctuation.

SEO Bits (For Your Post)

If you’re turning this into a blog or forum post about how to cite sources in MLA format, you can naturally mention related phrases like “MLA Works Cited,” “MLA in‑text citation,” and why correct citation matters in 2026 to maintain academic integrity. Guides from universities and educational tools continue to emphasize the same MLA 9 principles: clear in‑text links to a detailed Works Cited page, plus consistent use of the nine core elements.

TL;DR

  • Use author–page in‑text citations that match a Works Cited entry.
    • [5][9]
  • Build Works Cited entries from MLA’s nine core elements in a fixed order.
    • [3][2]
  • Format the page with a hanging indent, double spacing, and alphabetical order.
    • [4][2]
  • Adjust the pattern slightly for books, articles, web pages, and videos—but keep the same underlying structure.
    • [4][2][3]

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.