MLA 9th edition (published 2021) is the standard citation style for humanities — literature, language studies, cultural theory, film, and the arts. Unlike APA or IEEE, MLA uses an in-text citation of (Author page) rather than a year, and organises the Works Cited list alphabetically by author surname. This free generator produces correct MLA 9th edition entries for every source type.
Get free access to all citation tools
No credit card. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Generate MLA 9th Edition Citation
MLA 9th Edition — Complete Guide
MLA 9th edition Works Cited structure
MLA 9th edition uses a "container" model — every source exists within one or more containers. An article (the source) sits inside a journal (the container). A chapter sits inside a book. A webpage sits inside a website. The Works Cited entry lists the source title in quotation marks, and the container title in italics. MLA in-text citations use the author surname and page number: (Kumar 123) or, if the author is named in the sentence, just the page number: (123).
How to cite a book in MLA 9th
Book titles are in italics, title case. Edition information appears after the title with "ed." Publisher name comes next, followed by a comma and year.
How to cite a journal article in MLA 9th
How to cite a website in MLA 9th
How to cite a film in MLA 9th
Films are cited by title. The director's name follows "Directed by". Streaming films include the platform name as the container.
MLA in-text citations — author, page format
MLA in-text citations appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence, before the period. They include the author's last name and the page number, with no comma between them: (Kumar 123). If citing a whole work with no page number (a website, for example), use just the author's name: (Kumar). If the author is named in the sentence, only include the page number in parentheses.
8 common MLA mistakes
- Using "Works Cited" instead of "References" (MLA = Works Cited; APA = References)
- Putting article titles in italics instead of quotation marks
- Omitting "pp." before page numbers in journal entries
- Using "vol." and "no." without the words — MLA requires the labels
- Forgetting a period at the very end of each Works Cited entry
- Using first name first instead of Last, First for the first author
- Not hanging-indenting the Works Cited list (first line flush, rest indented 0.5 in)
- Listing references in the order cited instead of alphabetically by author surname
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MLA 8th and 9th edition?
MLA 9th edition added clearer guidance on how to cite new media types, strengthened the container model, and improved guidance on inclusive language. The core citation structure did not change — if you were citing correctly in 8th edition, your citations will work in 9th with minor updates.
Does MLA require a page number in every in-text citation?
No. Include page numbers when citing printed sources where a specific page is relevant. For websites, videos, or other non-paginated sources, omit the page number and use just the author name: (Kumar).
How do I cite a source with no author in MLA?
Use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation, in quotation marks for articles or in italics for books: ("Global Report" 14) or (Quantum Biology 55). In the Works Cited, alphabetise the entry by the first significant word of the title.
What disciplines use MLA?
MLA is used primarily in the humanities — English literature, comparative literature, cultural studies, media studies, film studies, linguistics, and language learning. If your department studies texts and interpretations more than data and experiments, MLA is likely your style.
Can ScholarFlow format my bibliography in MLA 9th?
Yes. ScholarFlow supports MLA 9th edition alongside APA, IEEE, Nature, and 50+ other styles. Upload your bibliography and ScholarFlow reformats all entries automatically, applying correct italics, quotation marks, and container labelling.
Get the Indian Researcher's Citation Handbook (PDF)
15-page quick reference for IEEE, APA, Nature, Elsevier & ACS — used by 1,000+ Indian PhD scholars. Free.
Format your entire bibliography automatically
ScholarFlow · IEEE · APA · Nature · Elsevier · ACS · 50+ journals