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Ready, Set, Cite (MLA 9th)

Explanations and examples of MLA 9th edition formatting rules.

Essential Information You Need to Know

To cite sources successfully, it's crucial you have a clear understanding of the following:

  1. The TYPE of source you're using (magazine article vs. book vs. reference book article)
     
  2. The PLACE where you found that source (in print at the library vs. online via a database vs. online via a Web site). This is also known as FORMAT
     
  3. The source's full "bibliographic information" (authors/editors, title, edition, publisher, pages, etc.)

Formatting Your Works Cited Page

Placement: The Works Cited list appears at the end of the paper, on its own page(s). For example, If your research paper ends on page 8, your Works Cited begins on page 9. 

Arrangement: Alphabetize entries by author's last name. If source has no named author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring A, An, or The.

Spacing: Like the rest of the MLA paper, the Works Cited list is double-spaced throughout. Be sure NOT to add extra spaces between citations.

Indentation: To make citations easier to scan, add a hanging indent to any citation that runs more than one line.

 

Citation Examples

MLA Core Elements

Each entry in your Works Cited list is built from a set of elements common to most sources—things like the author, title, and publication date. MLA calls these the core elements, and they must appear in a specific order (top to bottom in this list):

Author.
Title of source.
Title of container,
Other contributors,
Version,
Number,
Publisher,
Publication date,
Location.

Not every source will include every element. If one isn’t present (for example, no “other contributors”), simply skip it and move on to the next element.

Use the links below to see examples. 
If you don’t find what you need, check out Ask the MLA on the MLA’s official site.

Citation Examples by Format: