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MLA Works Cited Page Examples

Examples6 min·Updated May 2024

MLA Works Cited Overview

An MLA Works Cited page lists all sources referenced in your essay, organized alphabetically by the author's last name. This collection includes 7 annotated examples covering common source types like books, digital articles, and AI-generated content to help you master MLA 9th edition formatting requirements.

1. Standard Book Citation

Example
Gaiman, Neil. ✓ *The Ocean at the End of the Lane*. ✓ William Morrow, 2013.

Standard Book Citation

This works because it follows the core MLA template: Author, Title, Publisher, and Year. The book title is italicized and the entry ends with a period. Use this format for any physical or digital book with a single author.

2. Journal Article from a Database

Example
Belton, John. ✓ "The Plain Sense of Things." ✓ *Film Quarterly*, vol. 64, no. 4, 2011, pp. 11-15. ✓ *JSTOR*, https://doi.org/10.1525/fq.2011.64.4.11.

Journal Article from a Database

This works because it includes the container (the journal) and the second container (the database). The DOI is prioritized over a URL for stability. This is the standard format for academic research found through university libraries.

3. Website Article with Author

Example
Deresiewicz, William. ✓ "The Death of the Artist—and the Birth of the Creative Entrepreneur." ✓ *The Atlantic*, 28 Dec. 2014, ✓ www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/01/the-death-of-the-artist-and-the-birth-of-the-creative-entrepreneur/383497/.

Website Article with Author

This works because it captures the specific publication date and the direct URL without the https:// protocol. The article title is in quotes while the website name is italicized. Use this for online magazines, news sites, and blogs.

4. Book with Two Authors

Example
Dorris, Michael, and Louise Erdrich. ✓ *The Crown of Columbus*. ✓ HarperCollins Publishers, 1991.

Book with Two Authors

This works because only the first author's name is inverted (Last, First), while the second author's name remains in standard order (First Last). This maintains alphabetical integrity while keeping the second name natural.

5. YouTube Video

Example
✓ "How to Paint Like Bob Ross." ✓ *YouTube*, uploaded by Art-to-Go, 15 Oct. 2022, ✓ www.youtube.com/watch?v=example123.

YouTube Video

This works because the video title acts as the lead element when no specific creator is credited as an author. The uploader is identified clearly after the platform name. Use this for any social media video content.

6. AI-Generated Content (ChatGPT)

Example
✓ "Describe the impact of the printing press." ✓ *ChatGPT*, 14 Mar. version, ✓ OpenAI, 25 May 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

AI-Generated Content (ChatGPT)

This works because it uses the prompt as the title and identifies the AI model as the container. Including the version date is essential as AI outputs change frequently. Always check your specific instructor's policy before citing AI.

7. Government Website (No Author)

Example
United States, ✓ Department of Labor. ✓ "The Employment Situation—April 2023." ✓ 5 May 2023, www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf.

Government Website (No Author)

This works because the government entity is treated as the corporate author. The larger entity (United States) comes first, followed by the specific agency. This is the standard for citing laws, reports, and public data.

Expert Tips for MLA Works Cited Pages

To ensure your Works Cited page is perfect, follow these final checks: ✓ Alphabetize by the first letter of the entry, ignoring 'A', 'An', or 'The'. ✓ Apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches to all entries. ✓ Ensure the entire page uses the same font and size as your essay body. ✓ Check that every in-text citation in your paper has a corresponding entry on this page.

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