MLA Format Guide 9th Edition | Citation Standards and English Academic Paper Format

What this page helps you do first

• Latest MLA 9th Edition changes and key differences from 8th Edition
• Complete examples for in-text citations and works cited entries
• MLA paper font, spacing, and margin layout requirements

What is MLA format and when is it required

MLA (Modern Language Association) format is an academic writing style published by the Modern Language Association, primarily used for papers in English literature, humanities, social sciences, and related disciplines. MLA is one of the most commonly required citation formats for undergraduate and graduate papers in the US, especially dominant in literary criticism, cultural studies, film studies, and similar fields.

The latest MLA edition is the 9th Edition (published 2021). Unlike APA, MLA uses an "author-page" citation system—in-text citations note author surname and page number, works cited entries are arranged alphabetically by author surname.

Core changes in MLA 9th Edition

• Containers concept: classify publications into different "containers," such as journals as containers for articles, websites as containers for web pages. Cite needs complete container information
• DOI handling: prioritize DOI links, unified format https://doi.org/xxxxx, no longer using "doi:" prefix
• Author number notation: for four or more authors, can use "et al." after first author, e.g., (Huang et al. 23)
• Web resource citations: clearly distinguish different types of web resources (webpages, social media posts, online videos, etc.), with different citation formats
• Print vs non-print distinction: clearly distinguish books, journals and other print resources from digital resources like webpages and databases

MLA in-text citation format examples

• Single author: (Zhang 23) or Zhang argues... (23)
• Two authors: (Zhang and Li 45)
• Three authors: (Zhang, Li, and Wang 67)
• Four or more authors: (Zhang et al. 89)
• Same author multiple works: (Zhang, Novel 34) to distinguish different works of same author
• Direct quotes: must include page number, e.g., (Zhang 34); poetry or drama citations need act/scene/line numbers

MLA works cited format examples

• Journal article: Author. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. X, no. X, Year, pp. XX-XX. DOI.
• Book: Author. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
• Webpage: Author. "Page Title." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
• Book chapter: Author. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. XX-XX.
• Dissertation: Author. "Title." Dissertational Name, University, Year.
• All entries use hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented)

MLA paper formatting requirements

• Font: recommended clear readable font like Times New Roman 12pt
• Spacing: double spacing throughout, no extra blank lines between paragraphs
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
• Heading format: no numbering, use title case conventions (major words capitalized, articles/prepositions/conjunctions lowercase unless first in sentence)
• Header: surname and page number in upper right corner, consistent with title page

Common MLA formatting mistakes and corrections

• Mistake 1: In-text citations missing page numbers → All direct quotes must have page numbers; indirect citations (paraphrasing) can omit page numbers but not recommended
• Mistake 2: Works cited order incorrect → Arrange by author surname alphabetical order; same author multiple works ordered by publication year
• Mistake 3: DOI format incorrect → Unified to https://doi.org/xxxxx, no longer using doi: format
• Mistake 4: Book titles not italicized → In MLA format, book titles are italicized, article titles use quotation marks
• Mistake 5: Missing access dates for web sources → Except for library database resources, web resources usually need access dates noted

Frequently asked questions

Can MLA and APA be used together?

No. A single paper must use one citation format consistently. MLA suits literature and humanities; APA suits psychology, education, social sciences; GB/T 7714 suits Chinese university theses. Choose based on school or journal requirements.

What are MLA abstract requirements?

MLA does not have mandatory abstract requirements, but if included, abstracts typically go after the title page and before the main text. Double-spaced, title "Abstract" centered, not bold or italicized. Typically no more than 250 words.

Should Chinese literature author names be translated when citing in MLA?

When citing Chinese literature in MLA format, author names remain as is (Chinese name order unchanged), such as "Zhang San". Journal names should provide English translations, publisher names keep original Chinese.

How to cite web sources with no author in MLA?

In MLA format, if a web source has no author, start citation with the title. Position alphabetically by title. If title is too long, truncate to first few words. Use n.d. (no date) or actual access date.

What is the difference between MLA and Chicago format?

MLA uses "author-page" system (in-text like Zhang 23), more concise; Chicago uses footnote/endnote system or "author-date" system, more detailed. MLA suits literary research; Chicago suits history, art history, and other humanities with higher requirements for citation detail.