The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is primarily used by the humanities, such as English, history, art history, philosophy, and religious studies.

MLA is in its 9th edition, and the information in this tab follows MLA 9 guidelines.

The Basics

Essays should be typed, double-spaced on standard paper (8.5” x 11”) and use 1-inch margins, a 12-point font, and a legible font type. We recommend Times New Roman.

Paper Formatting

MLA papers do not typically include a title page. Instead, the first page should include an MLA heading with paper and course details.

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, inside the header of the document, include the student-writer’s last name and the page number. This information belongs inside the header, so it appears on every page with sequential page numbers.
List the student-writer’s full name, the professor’s name, the course details, and the date outside of the header and justify left. Double-space this list one time and place it at the top of the first page. This information only appears on the first page; it does not repeat.
1 space below the date and centered, type the paper title. We recommend that you use title case and name your paper something that indicates what type of paper it is and the subject of the paper.

For example, the title below signals the paper is an analysis and its subject is Grendel, a character in Beowulf.

Analyzing Beowulf: Grendel, Man or Monster?

Begin the first paragraph 1 space below the title and signal each paragraph by indenting the first line 1-tab space. The entire document should be double-spaced evenly one time.

In-text Citations

An in-text citation refers to the attribution that follows a quote or paraphrase inside a parenthetical insertion. If known, these source details are provided about the author and the location of the source information: (Lastname #).

One Author

(Carson 207)

Mary Carson illustrates the consequences of her decision in her memoir: “I had…” (207).

Tip: Use a colon to introduce a quote when the introductory clause is independent.

Two Authors

(Popov and Garcia par. 63)

Popov and Garcia find, “the event led to…” (par. 63).

Tip: Only use paragraph numbers for electronic sources with numbered paragraphs or sections of text. Abbreviate paragraph as “par.” inside your in-text citation.

Three or More Authors

Use the Latin abbreviation “et al.” to signal there are more than two authors. Only name the first listed author on the source publication, and make sure to conjugate your verb for a plural noun.

(Park et al. 48)

According to Park et al., “the phenomenon is…” (48).

Unknown Author

When the author of a source is unknown, what belongs in the in-text citation must match what the end-of-text citation begins with. Usually, this is the title of the work, and an abbreviation should be used if the title is longer than a few words.

(Beowulf 39)

Citing the Bible

Specify the edition of the bible consulted in its first in-text citation along with the book, chapter, and verse(s). Subsequent in-text citations should not specify the edition unless multiple editions are consulted.

(English Standard Version, Prov. 16. 1-7).

(Lev. 19. 18).

Citing Indirect Sources

When you cite a source (source A) found in another source (source B), it is called an indirect source. It is indirect because you have not read the source (source A) completely. You have only read source B. Thus, the information from source A must be cited in a specific way.

In the example below, Martins is the indirect source (source A), which has not been read in its entirety. Keller is the source where Martins was found (source B); it has been read completely.

(Martins qtd. in Keller 127).

According to Martins, “the percentage of…” (qtd. in Keller 127).

Tip: Only list the source you have read completely in your Works Cited list, Keller (source B) in this case.

Works Cited (the end-of-text bibliographical list)

Center the title, Works Cited. Beneath the title, justified left, order your sources alphabetically, A-Z, according to what the end of text citation begins with. Usually, this is the author’s last name or the title of the source when the author is unknown.

Double-space the entire document 1 time and use a hanging indent for each individual source citation. This formatting allows the document to be scannable by readers.

Only list the sources on your Works Cited page that appear in your paper or project as quoted or paraphrased information with attribution.

Book Format

Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of publication, publisher, publication date.

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.

Tip: Only include the city of publication for sources published before 1900, or for sources when the publisher is unknown in North America or based in more than one country.

Chapter in Print Anthology

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Essay.” Title of Collection, edited by Editor's Name(s), publisher, year, page range of entry.

Simic, Charles. “Dinner at Uncle Boris’s.” In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction, edited by Lee Gutkind, W. W. Norton, 2005, pp. 85-91.

Article in a Scholarly Journal

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Periodical, volume, issue, year, pages.

Culler, Jonathan. “Why Lyric?” PMLA, vol. 123, no. 1, 2008, pp. 201-06.

Scholarly Article in an Online Database

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, year, pp. # - #. Database Name, URL.

Schrock, Chad. “Chaucer’s Biblical Turn.” The Modern Language Review, vol. 114, no. 4, 2019, pp. 643-61. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5699/modelangrevi.114.4.0643.

Citing a Webpage with an Author

Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Page.” Title of Website, URL. Accessed day month year.

Saffitz, Claire. “Selected Recipe Development.” I am a dessert person., https://www.dessertperson.com/recipe-development. Accessed 6 Feb. 2023.

Tip: Include the access date when the online content is likely to change in the future.

Citing a Webpage with an Unknown Author

“Title of Page.” Title of Website, publisher (if available), date of publication (if available), URL. Accessed day month year.

“Black-tailed prairie dog.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conversation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institute, https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/black-tailed-prairie-dog. Accessed 7 Feb. 2023.

The Bible

The Bible. Name of Specific Version, publisher, year.

The Bible. King James Version, Cambridge Bibles, 1984.

Other Resources

Madeline Vardell

Student Support Specialist, Runway Learning Center

316-942-4291 ext. 2234

Office: SHH302

Wesley Cornett

NU Asst. Professor of Library Science & Reference and Instr. Librarian

316-942-4291 ext. 2104

Office: DLCC108