MLA 9th Edition Citation Format — Examples and Complete Guide 2026
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MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style, now in its 9th edition (2021), is the standard format for humanities disciplines — literature, languages, arts, film studies, and philosophy. Its defining feature is the container system — a flexible framework that handles everything from books to tweets using the same nine core elements. This guide covers MLA 9th edition comprehensively, with formatted examples for every common source type.
MLA 9th Edition: The Nine Core Elements
Every MLA citation is built from these nine elements (in order). Omit any element that does not apply to your source:
| # | Element | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Author | Smith, John. |
| 2 | Title of Source | "The Digital Classroom." |
| 3 | Title of Container | Journal of Education Technology, |
| 4 | Other Contributors | edited by Jane Doe, |
| 5 | Version | 3rd ed., |
| 6 | Number | vol. 12, no. 3, |
| 7 | Publisher | Routledge, |
| 8 | Publication Date | 2024, |
| 9 | Location | pp. 45–67. |
MLA In-Text Citation Format
| Situation | In-Text Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One author, with page number | (Last name Page) | (Smith 45) |
| Author named in text | (Page number only) | Smith argues that "language shapes reality" (45). |
| Two authors | (Last and Last Page) | (Smith and Jones 78) |
| Three or more authors | (First author et al. Page) | (Smith et al. 102) |
| No page number (website) | (Author Last Name) | (Patel) |
| No author | ("Shortened Title" Page) | ("Digital Learning" 12) |
| Same author, multiple works | (Last name, Shortened Title Page) | (Smith, "Education" 34) |
Works Cited Examples by Source Type
Book (Single Author)
Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example: Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum, 2000.
Book (Two Authors)
Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title. Publisher, Year.
Example: Strunk, William, and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. Longman, 2000.
Journal Article
Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##–##, DOI or URL.
Example: Kumar, Priya. "Digital Literacy and Academic Writing." Journal of Higher Education, vol. 45, no. 2, 2024, pp. 112–134, https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx.
Website
Last Name, First Name. "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example: Sharma, Shruti. "How to Write a Literature Review." Thesis Ace Writers, 30 May 2026, www.thesisacewriters.com/blog/literature-review.
Chapter in Edited Book
Last Name, First Name. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by First Last, Publisher, Year, pp. ##–##.
Online Video (YouTube)
Last Name, First Name or Username. "Title of Video." YouTube, Day Month Year, URL.
Social Media Post
Last Name, First Name or @Username. "First 160 characters of post." Platform, Day Month Year, URL.
MLA Formatting Checklist
| Element | MLA 9th Requirement |
|---|---|
| Page setup | 1-inch margins; double-spaced; 12pt Times New Roman |
| First page header (no title page) | Name, instructor, course, date — top left; title centred below |
| Running header | Last name + page number, top right, every page |
| Works Cited | New page; centred heading "Works Cited"; alphabetical; hanging indent |
| Italics vs quotation marks | Italics for book/journal/film titles; quotes for articles/chapters/short works |
MLA 9th Quick Tip: Titles
In MLA, italicise titles of standalone works (books, films, journals, websites) and use quotation marks for titles of works within containers (articles, chapters, episodes). When in doubt: if you could hold it as a single object, italicise it; if it is part of a larger collection, quote it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
MLA 9th edition (2021) builds on the 8th edition's container system but adds several key updates: (1) more guidance on citing digital and online sources; (2) expanded guidance on inclusive language and sensitivity in writing; (3) clarification on page range formatting for journal articles (use 'pp.' for inclusive pages, 'p.' for a single page); (4) clearer guidance on titles in different languages; (5) expanded examples for social media, streaming services, and podcasts. The core container system (Author, Title, Container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Date, Location) remains unchanged from 8th edition.
The MLA container system organises citation elements into two 'containers'. The first container is the source itself (e.g., the journal article or the essay). The second container is where the source is found (e.g., the journal, the database, the website). Each container follows the same nine core elements: Author, Title, Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Location. Not all elements apply to every source — omit elements that are not applicable.
MLA in-text citations use the author's last name and the page number in parentheses, immediately after the quoted or paraphrased material: (Smith 45). If the author's name is mentioned in the text, only the page number is needed in parentheses: Smith argues that language shapes identity (45). For sources without page numbers (websites, videos), use only the author's last name: (Smith). For two authors: (Smith and Jones 78). For three or more authors: (Smith et al. 78).
Standard MLA format does not use a separate title page unless your instructor requires one. Instead, the identifying information (your name, instructor's name, course, and date) appears in the top-left corner of the first page. The paper title appears centred on a new line below the identifying information. The header on all subsequent pages contains your last name and page number in the top right corner. Some institutions may require a title page — check your specific guidelines.
To cite a website in MLA 9th edition: Author Last Name, First Name. 'Title of Web Page.' Title of Website, Publisher/Sponsor (if different from website title), Day Month Year published or updated, URL. Example: Patel, Riya. 'The Role of AI in Academic Writing.' Thesis Ace Writers, 30 May 2026, www.thesisacewriters.com/blog/ai-academic-writing. If no author is listed, begin with the title of the web page. Always include an access date if the page lacks a publication date.