MLA Citation Guide 2026 – Complete MLA 9th Edition Reference
Complete MLA 9th Edition citation guide for 2025–2026. In-text citations, Works Cited examples for journal articles, books, websites, film, and more — with formatting rules.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is the standard citation format for humanities subjects including English literature, languages, film studies, philosophy, and cultural studies. The current edition — MLA 9th Edition — was published in 2021 and introduced a flexible, container-based system that adapts to new source types more easily than previous editions.
This guide provides a complete MLA 9 citation reference with examples for every common source type used by students in 2025–2026. For expert academic writing support with correctly formatted MLA citations, visit Academia Helper.
Quick Summary: MLA 9 uses a Works Cited list and parenthetical in-text citations showing (Author Page). It is built around a flexible "container" system where the same core elements apply to all source types. No publication location is needed; URLs are included for online sources.
The MLA 9 Core Elements
MLA 9 uses a universal set of nine core elements that apply to almost every source type. Not every element applies to every source — include only the elements that are relevant and available.
| # | Core Element | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Author | Smith, John. |
| 2 | Title of Source | "The Politics of Memory." |
| 3 | Title of Container | PMLA, |
| 4 | Other Contributors | edited by Sarah Jones, |
| 5 | Version | 3rd ed., |
| 6 | Number | vol. 12, no. 3, |
| 7 | Publisher | Oxford University Press, |
| 8 | Publication Date | 2023, |
| 9 | Location | pp. 45–67. |
MLA In-Text Citations
| Situation | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 author, with page | (Author Page) | (Smith 45) |
| 2 authors | (Author and Author Page) | (Smith and Jones 45) |
| 3+ authors | (First Author et al. Page) | (Smith et al. 45) |
| Author named in sentence | (Page) | Smith argues that… (45). |
| No author | (Shortened Title Page) | ("Climate Change" 12) |
| No page number (website) | (Author) | (Smith) |
| Organisation as author | (Organisation Page) | (WHO 7) |
Journal Articles
Print: Author Last, First. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. X, no. X, Year, pp. X–X.
Print Journal ArticleSmith, John A. "Memory and Identity in Postcolonial Fiction." Journal of Literary Studies, vol. 28, no. 2, 2023, pp. 112–130.Online Journal Article (with DOI)Jones, Sarah R. "Digital Surveillance and Civil Liberties." Media and Society, vol. 15, no. 4, 2024, pp. 45–67, https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123.Books
Single Author BookBrown, Laura K. Qualitative Research in Education. 3rd ed., Sage, 2022.Edited BookGreen, Peter A., editor. Advances in Cognitive Psychology. Cambridge UP, 2021.Chapter in Edited BookTaylor, Maria S. "Motivation in the Workplace." Advances in Organisational Behaviour, edited by Peter Green, Sage, 2022, pp. 45–67.TranslationCamus, Albert. The Stranger. Translated by Matthew Ward, Vintage, 1989.Websites
Format: Author Last, First (if known). "Page Title." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Webpage with AuthorWorld Health Organization. "Mental Health Facts." WHO, 15 Mar. 2024, www.who.int/mental-health/facts.No Author Webpage"Climate Change Overview." Environmental Agency, 2024, www.example.gov/climate.Film and Video
FilmNolan, Christopher, director. Oppenheimer. Universal Pictures, 2023.YouTube VideoTED. "The Power of Vulnerability." YouTube, uploaded by TED, 4 Jan. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o.Works Cited Formatting Rules
- Start on a new page headed "Works Cited" (centred, no bold or italic)
- List entries alphabetically by author's last name
- Use hanging indent: first line flush, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
- Double-space all entries throughout (no extra spacing between entries)
- Italicise titles of containers (journals, books, websites); put article/chapter titles in quotation marks
- Abbreviate months: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. (May, June, July not abbreviated)
Final Thoughts
MLA 9's container system makes it adaptable to new and digital source types — once you learn the nine core elements, citing almost anything becomes manageable. The most common errors are incorrect capitalisation of titles, missing container names, and wrong punctuation between elements. For expert academic writing with perfectly formatted MLA citations, Academia Helper provides professional support.
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