The MLA citation formatter generates correctly formatted MLA 9th edition Works Cited entries and in-text citations for journal articles, books, websites, films, and podcast episodes.
Works Cited Entry (MLA 9)
In-text citation
MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guide
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is standard in humanities — literature, language, cultural studies, and many liberal arts programs. The 9th edition (2021) refined the "container" system introduced in MLA 8, where nested sources (article inside journal inside database) use the same structural template at each level.
Key MLA 9 formatting rules
Author format: Last, First. (One author). Last, First, and First Last. (Two authors). For three or more: Last, First, et al. Titles of containers (journals, books, websites, streaming services) are italicized. Article and chapter titles use quotation marks. Publication dates vary by source: books use year only; websites use Day Month Year format.
In-text vs Works Cited
MLA in-text citations use (Author page) — no comma, no "p." Example: (Smith 42). Works Cited list is alphabetized by first author's last name. Use hanging indent: first line flush, continuation lines indented half an inch. Double-space all entries (this tool shows single-spaced for display; apply double-spacing when pasting to your document).
FAQ
What changed in MLA 9th edition?
MLA 9th (2021) introduced a 'containers' framework — a standardized approach to nesting works within larger works (article in journal, episode in series). It added optional elements, updated guidance for digital sources, and formalized citation for social media, podcasts, and streaming content.
What is the MLA in-text citation format?
MLA uses (Author page number) format — no comma, no 'p.' Example: (Smith 42). For no page numbers (websites): (Smith). For no author: use first few words of title: ("Article Title" 42).
How do I format a Works Cited entry?
Works Cited entries use hanging indent format: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches. Alphabetize by author's last name. Elements are separated by periods and commas following MLA's container structure.
What is a container in MLA 9?
A container is the larger work in which a smaller work appears — a journal is the container for an article, a website is the container for a page, Netflix is the container for a film. Each container has the same set of core elements: Title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. All formatting happens in your browser.