How to Cite Sources in MLA Format
Overview
MLA format uses in-text parenthetical citations (author and page number) paired with a Works Cited page at the end of the essay. MLA 9th edition organizes every source using nine core elements: Author, Title, Container, Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Date, and Location.
The Nine Core Elements
Every MLA citation follows the same template. Fill in the elements that apply to your source and skip those that do not.
- Author. Last name, First name.
- Title of source. Italicize standalone works; quote contained works.
- Title of container, The larger work holding your source (journal, website, anthology).
- Contributors, Editors, translators, directors: "edited by," "translated by."
- Version, Edition number or version label.
- Number, Volume and issue for journals: vol. 12, no. 3.
- Publisher, The organization that produced the work.
- Publication date, Day Month Year format (15 Mar. 2026).
- Location. Page numbers (pp. 12-34), URL, or DOI.
Each element ends with the punctuation mark shown above (period or comma). This system replaces the older MLA approach of memorizing a different format for each source type.
In-Text Citations
MLA in-text citations use the author's last name and the page number, with no comma between them.
Parenthetical citation:
The novel explores "the weight of invisible expectations" (Nguyen 73).
Signal phrase (author named in the sentence):
Nguyen describes "the weight of invisible expectations" (73).
No author (use shortened title):
("Rising Sea Levels" 2).
No page number (common for websites):
(Nguyen).
Multiple authors:
- Two: (Smith and Lee 45)
- Three or more: (Garcia et al. 112)
Works Cited: Common Source Examples
**Book (single author):** Nguyen, Viet Thanh. *The Sympathizer*. Grove Press, 2015. **Journal article:** Chen, Angela. "Memory and Migration in Postwar Fiction." *American Literary History*, vol. 34, no. 2, 2022, pp. 301-328. **Website article:** "Climate Change Evidence." *NASA*, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 15 Jan. 2026, climate.nasa.gov/evidence/. **YouTube video:** Crash Course. "The Industrial Revolution." *YouTube*, 1 Feb. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhL5DCizj5c. **Edited anthology:** Anzaldua, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue." *Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza*, edited by Gloria Anzaldua, Aunt Lute Books, 1987, pp. 75-86.
Using Signal Phrases
Signal phrases introduce quoted or paraphrased material by naming the source in the sentence. They make your writing smoother and give the author credit before the borrowed language appears.
Common signal-phrase verbs:
argues, asserts, claims, contends, demonstrates, explains, finds, notes, observes, points out, suggests, writes
Example:
As Chen argues, "migration narratives in postwar fiction consistently blur the line between personal memory and collective history" (305).
When using a signal phrase, the parenthetical citation only needs the page number because the author is already named.
Works Cited Page Formatting
The Works Cited page follows the last page of your essay.
- Title: "Works Cited" centered at the top, no bold or underline
- Alphabetical order: sort entries by the first word (ignore "A," "An," "The")
- Hanging indent: the first line of each entry is flush left; subsequent lines indent 0.5 inches
- Double-spaced: the entire page, including between entries
- No numbering: do not number the entries
If two works share the same author, list them alphabetically by title and replace the author's name with three hyphens (---) in the second and subsequent entries.
Common MLA Mistakes
Adding a comma between author and page: Write (Smith 42), not (Smith, 42). The comma belongs in APA, not MLA.
Forgetting the hanging indent: Every Works Cited entry needs a 0.5-inch hanging indent. This is the single most common formatting error.
Using URLs without dates: MLA requires an access date only when the source has no publication date. Always include the URL or DOI as the location element.
Italicizing container titles incorrectly: The container (journal, website, database) is italicized. The source within it (article, page) is in quotation marks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start the Works Cited entry with the article or page title in quotation marks, then continue with the remaining core elements. For the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: ("Climate Change Impacts").
If the online source has page numbers, paragraph numbers, or section headings, include them. If none exist, simply use the author's name (or shortened title) in the parenthetical citation with no number.
A container is the larger work that holds your source. A journal article's container is the journal. A webpage's container is the website. A song's container is the album. Some sources have nested containers, like a journal article accessed through a database.
For two authors, list both: (Smith and Jones 15). For three or more, use the first author's name followed by "et al." both in-text and in the Works Cited entry: (Martinez et al. 88).
Write your essay with EssayGenius
AI-powered drafting with verified sources and proper citations.