MLA (9th Edition)
Modern Language Association style, commonly used in humanities, literature, and liberal arts.
Overview
MLA style uses parenthetical author-page citations that point to an alphabetical Works Cited list. The 9th edition emphasizes flexibility and a focus on core elements that apply across source types.
Common Use Cases
- Literature and language studies
- Humanities research and essays
- Cultural studies and arts criticism
Format Examples
Journal Article
Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The New Yorker, 26 June 1978, p. 29.Book
Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Harcourt, 1925.Website
Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. Accessed 6 July 2015.Key Elements
Author Names
Last name, First name. Reverse only the first author's name.
Title
Use quotation marks for articles, italics for books and journals.
Container
The larger work that contains the source (journal, website, etc.).
Access Date
Include for online sources without publication dates.
Tips for This Format
- Use title case for all titles (capitalize major words).
- Include page numbers in citations when available.
- URLs are optional but recommended for online sources.
Other Citation Styles
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