MLA Citation Format 2026: Complete Guide for Students (With Examples)

MLA (Modern Language Association) format is one of the most widely used citation styles in universities, particularly in English, literature, languages, and the humanities. If your professor has asked you to “use MLA,” this guide covers everything you need to know — from in-text citations to your Works Cited page, with examples you can follow directly.

What Is MLA Format?

MLA is a citation style published by the Modern Language Association, currently in its 9th edition (2021). It’s designed to be straightforward: short in-text citations point the reader to a full entry on your Works Cited page at the end of your paper.

Unlike APA or Harvard, which use author-date citations, MLA uses author-page number. There’s no year in the in-text citation — just the author’s surname and the page you’re referencing.

When Do You Use MLA?

MLA is the standard in:

• English literature and composition
• Languages and linguistics
• Cultural studies
• Philosophy (some departments)
• Other humanities courses

If you’re studying sciences, social sciences, or business, you’re more likely to need APA or Harvard. If you’re studying history, you’ll probably use Chicago style. Always check your assignment brief or unit guide — the required style is never your choice.

MLA In-Text Citations

MLA in-text citations go inside parentheses at the end of the sentence, before the full stop. They include the author’s surname and the page number, with no comma between them.

Basic Format

• One author: (Smith 45)
• Two authors: (Smith and Jones 45)
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 45)
• No author: Use a shortened version of the title (“Future of Writing” 12)
• No page number (e.g., websites): (Smith) — just the author name
• Author named in the sentence: Smith argues that “citation matters” (45).

Direct Quotes vs Paraphrasing

For direct quotes, you must include the page number:

According to recent research, “students who cite correctly score higher on average” (Williams 87).

For paraphrasing, page numbers are encouraged but not always required:

Research suggests a link between correct citation and higher grades (Williams 87).

If you’re quoting more than four lines, use a block quote — indent the entire passage one inch from the left margin, with no quotation marks. The parenthetical citation goes after the final punctuation.

The Works Cited Page

Your Works Cited page goes at the end of your paper. Every source you cite in the text must appear here, and every entry here must be cited in the text.

General Formatting Rules

• Title the page Works Cited (centred, not bold, not underlined)
• Double-space all entries
• Use hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches)
• Alphabetise by the first element of each entry (usually the author’s surname)
• Italicise titles of long works (books, journals, websites); use quotation marks for short works (articles, chapters, poems)

The MLA Core Elements

MLA 9th edition uses a container system. Every source is described using these core elements, in this order:

1. Author.
2. Title of source.
3. Title of container, (e.g., the journal, website, or anthology)
4. Other contributors, (e.g., editors, translators)
5. Version,
6. Number,
7. Publisher,
8. Publication date,
9. Location. (page numbers or URL)

Not every element applies to every source. You simply skip the ones that don’t apply.

Works Cited Examples

Book (Single Author)

Smith, John. The Art of Academic Writing. Oxford University Press, 2024.

Book (Two Authors)

Smith, John, and Mary Jones. Research Methods for Humanities Students. Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Book (Three or More Authors)

Smith, John, et al. Collaborative Writing in the Digital Age. Routledge, 2024.

Journal Article

Williams, Sarah. “Citation Practices in Undergraduate Essays.” Journal of Academic Writing, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 45-62.

Journal Article with DOI

Williams, Sarah. “Citation Practices in Undergraduate Essays.” Journal of Academic Writing, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 45-62. https://doi.org/10.xxxx.

Website

Brown, David. “How to Evaluate Online Sources.” Research Skills Hub, 15 Jan. 2025, www.researchskillshub.com/evaluate-sources.

Website (No Author)

“Academic Integrity Policy.” University of Melbourne, 2024, www.unimelb.edu.au/academic-integrity.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Taylor, Emma. “Modern Approaches to Literary Analysis.” The Humanities Handbook, edited by Robert Green, Penguin, 2023, pp. 112-134.

Common MLA Mistakes to Avoid

1. Putting the year in your in-text citation — MLA uses author-page, not author-date. If you write (Smith, 2024), that’s APA, not MLA.
2. Using a comma between author and page number — it’s (Smith 45), not (Smith, 45).
3. Forgetting the Works Cited page — in-text citations alone aren’t enough. Your reader needs the full reference to find the source.
4. Using “Bibliography” instead of “Works Cited” — the terminology matters. MLA calls it Works Cited.
5. Incorrect capitalisation — MLA uses title case for all titles in the Works Cited (capitalise all major words). This is different from APA, which uses sentence case.
6. Missing hanging indents — every entry after the first line should be indented. This is easy to forget when copy-pasting.
7. Not italicising container titles — the journal name, website name, or book title that “contains” the source should always be italicised.

MLA Format for Your Paper

Beyond citations, MLA has specific formatting rules for the paper itself:

• Font: 12pt Times New Roman (or another readable serif font)
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including the Works Cited page
• Header: Your surname and page number in the top-right corner
• First page: Your name, professor’s name, course name, and date — all left-aligned, double-spaced, on the first page (no separate title page unless requested)
• Title: Centred, not bold, not underlined, not in a larger font

Skip the Manual Formatting

Getting MLA right across a full essay with 15 or 20 sources means checking every comma, every italicisation, and every hanging indent. RefFinder can generate your entire Works Cited page in correct MLA format — just paste your essay, review the sources, and download.

If you need to switch to APA or Harvard later, you can do that with one click instead of reformatting everything by hand.

Try RefFinder free and get your Works Cited page right the first time.