MLA 8th Edition Citation Guide
Introduction to MLA Style
Modern Language Association (MLA) style is one of the most widely used citation formats in academic writing, particularly in the humanities. The 8th edition, published in 2016, introduced significant changes to MLA citation guidelines that make them more flexible and adaptable to various media formats.
Unlike previous editions that provided specific formats for each source type, the 8th edition uses a universal set of guidelines that can be applied to any type of source. This approach recognizes the evolving nature of information sources in the digital age and provides a framework for citing both traditional and emerging media.
MLA citations serve two primary purposes: to give proper credit to original authors and ideas and to provide readers with the information needed to locate these sources. Proper citation is essential to academic integrity and helps avoid plagiarism.
The Core Elements of MLA Citation
The 8th edition of MLA style is built around nine core elements that form the structure of any citation. These elements are described as a "template" that can be applied to any source, regardless of format:
1. Author: The person or organization primarily responsible for creating the work.
2. Title of Source: The name of the specific work being cited.
3. Title of Container: The larger work that contains the source (e.g., a book containing a chapter, a journal containing an article).
4. Other Contributors: Editors, translators, or other people who contributed to the work besides the primary author.
5. Version: The edition, version, or state of the work (e.g., "2nd edition," "director's cut").
6. Number: Volume or issue numbers for periodicals, episode numbers for TV shows, etc.
7. Publisher: The organization responsible for making the work available.
8. Publication Date: When the work was published or made available.
9. Location: Page numbers, URLs, or physical locations for where the content can be found.
Note: Include only the elements that are relevant to your source. If an element doesn't apply to your source or isn't available, simply skip it in your citation.
In-Text Citations
MLA uses parenthetical citations within your text to point readers to the full source information in your Works Cited list. These typically include the author's last name and the page number where the information was found.
Basic Format
(Author's Last Name Page Number)
Example: (Smith 42)
When the Author is Mentioned in the Text
When you mention the author in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses.
Example: Smith argues that "the data suggests a correlation" (42).
Multiple Authors
Two authors: (Author1 and Author2 Page Number)
Three or more authors: (Author1 et al. Page Number)
Examples:
(Johnson and Williams 15)
(Davis et al. 102)
Works with No Author
Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks or italics.
Examples:
"Article Title" (23)
Book Title (76)
Multiple Works by the Same Author
Include a shortened version of the title to distinguish between works.
Example: (Smith, "Article Name" 23)
The Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper and provides complete information for all sources you referenced in your text.
General Formatting
- Begin on a new page after the body of your paper
- Label the page "Works Cited" (centered, plain text)
- Double-space the entire list
- Use hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented half an inch)
- List sources alphabetically by the author's last name
- Italicize titles of larger works (books, journals)
- Use quotation marks for titles of shorter works (articles, essays)
Core Element Order
Author. "Title of Source." Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.
Remember to include a period after each element except the last one. When an element is missing, simply move to the next one.
Multiple Works by the Same Author
For three or more works by the same author, list the first entry alphabetically. Subsequent entries should begin with three hyphens followed by a period instead of the author's name.
Common Citation Examples
Book
Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.
Example:
Silver, Nate. The Signal and the Noise. Penguin Press, 2012.
Journal Article
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, pp. Page Numbers. Database Name, DOI or URL.
Example:
Johnson, Maria. "Digital Literacy in the Modern Classroom." Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 34, no. 2, 2021, pp. 45-60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26789123.
Website
Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Web Page." Title of Website, Publisher, Publication Date, URL.
Example:
Smith, John. "The History of Digital Publishing." Publishing Weekly, 15 Mar. 2020, www.publishingweekly.com/history-digital-publishing.
Film
Title of Film. Directed by Director's First Name Last Name, Performance by Principal Actors, Production Company, Year.
Example:
Get Out. Directed by Jordan Peele, performance by Daniel Kaluuya, Blumhouse Productions, 2017.
Online Video
Author's Username. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Date, URL.
Example:
CrashCourse. "MLA Citations 8th Edition." YouTube, uploaded by 12 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vB1bCZ7I.
E-book
Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of E-book. Publisher, Year. Database Name, DOI or URL.
Example:
Gates, Bill. The Road Ahead. Penguin, 1996. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=5vU2AQAAMAAJ.
Government Document
Name of Government Agency. Title of Document. Publisher, Publication Date.
Example:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Government Printing Office, 2018.
Making Your Research Paper Stand Out
Beyond citation rules, MLA 8th edition includes guidelines for formatting your entire research paper:
Basic Paper Format
| Element | MLA 8 Guidelines |
|---|---|
| Paper | White, 8.5 x 11 inches |
| Font | Times New Roman, 12 point |
| Spacing | Double-spaced throughout |
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides |
| Alignment | Left-aligned (not justified) |
| Indentation | First line of paragraphs indented half an inch |
First Page Formatting
- No separate title page is needed
- In the top left corner: your name, instructor's name, course name, and date
- Center your title (no italics, bold, or quotation marks)
- Begin your text on the next line
- Include a header with your last name and page number in the upper right
Section Headings
- Use headings to organize longer papers
- Headings should be flush left and bold
- Use a consistent hierarchy of headings throughout your paper
- Leave one blank line before and after headings
Additional Citation Tips
- Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs): When available, include DOIs rather than URLs for stable electronic sources.
- URLs: When including URLs in citations, omit http:// and https://.
- Dates: Use the format "Day Month Year" (e.g., "15 May 2020") for all dates in citations.
- Multiple Containers: For complex sources like articles in a journal within a database, include both container titles.
- Online Sources: For online sources with no publication date, use the date you accessed the material.
- Indenting Long Quotes: Prose quotations longer than four lines should be set off as a block quotation. These should start on a new line, be indented one inch from the left margin, and maintain double-spacing without quotation marks.
- Revised Editions: When citing revised editions, include the edition information before the publication date.
MLA 8th Edition Paper Formatting Guidelines and Reference File Download Link
