MLA Citation Generator
Free MLA citation generator for the 9th edition. Create accurate Works Cited entries and in‑text citations for websites, books, and journals — no sign‑up.
Create accurate MLA 9 Works Cited entries and in‑text citations — free, no sign‑up.
How to Cite in MLA Format
The MLA 9th edition is the current standard for academic writing in language, literature, and humanities disciplines. Published by the Modern Language Association, this updated framework simplifies source documentation across both print and digital formats. Learning how to properly format your references prevents plagiarism and gives your work strong academic credibility.
At the core of MLA 9th edition rules is the "container" concept. A container is the larger host work that holds your specific source. For instance, a blog post or web article lives inside a larger website container. Similarly, a journal article sits inside a journal container, which might also be housed within a database container like JSTOR.
Grab All Core Elements of MLA Citation
When you need to cite a website in MLA or document any other source type, you assemble your reference using 9 core elements in a fixed order. You only include the elements available for your specific material:
- Author: Creator or organization behind the work.
- Title of Source: Specific name of article or chapter.
- Title of Container: Larger work housing the source material.
- Contributor: Editors, translators, or key contributors involved.
- Version: Edition status or revised volume type.
- Number: Volume and issue number identification details.
- Publisher: Company or organization releasing the work.
- Publication Date: Day, month, and year of publication.
- Location: Page range, DOI, or direct URL.
Building each reference manually from these core elements can be time-consuming. Using a free MLA citation generator 9th edition streamlines this process by arranging every author, container, and date into perfect MLA format automatically. That is the reason why our MLA Citation Generator is here! In addition, if you are working on multidisciplinary research, you can also seamlessly switch to our APA Citation Generator, Chicago Citation Generator, or Harvard Citation Generator to format all your sources effortlessly.
How MLA Citation Generator Works
- Choose a Source Type: Select the material you want to cite, such as a website, book, journal, chapter, newspaper, video, report, or thesis.
- Enter Source Information: Fill in the available details, including the author, publication date, title, container, URL, and any other requested fields. You can also search by title, URL, DOI, or ISBN to fill in information more quickly.
- Review the Live Preview: Check the citation preview before adding it to your bibliography. This allows you to spot missing information while editing.
- Build Your Bibliography: Select Cite & Add to List to save each reference. The bibliography updates automatically, and you can sort the entries alphabetically.
- Copy or Export Your References: When your bibliography is complete, copy all citations or export them in Word or BibTeX format for your assignment.
The MLA Works Cited List
The Works Cited page appears at the very end of your research paper. This dedicated section lists every source cited within your text, providing complete publication details for your readers. Proper formatting ensures your reference list looks clean, professional, and easy to navigate.
When formatting an MLA Works Cited list, follow these standard layout rules:
- Title Heading: Center the title "Works Cited" at the top of the page without bold, italics, or quotation marks.
- Alphabetical Order: Arrange all entries alphabetically by the author's last name. If a source has no author, alphabetize by the first major word in its title.
- Hanging Indent: Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry by 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) from the left margin.
- Line Spacing: Double-space the entire page throughout, leaving no extra blank lines between entries.
- Title Capitalization: Use Title Case for all source titles, capitalizing every principal word.
Formatting dozens of sources according to these strict rules can take significant effort. An online MLA works cited generator automates the layout process, sorting your entries alphabetically and applying hanging indents with flawless precision.
MLA In-Text Citations
An in-text citation is a brief parenthetical pointer placed directly within your body paragraphs. It guides readers from a specific quote, paraphrase, or statistic to the full reference on your Works Cited page. Modern Language Association style follows an Author-Page formatting system.
Unlike APA style, an MLA in-text citation does not include the publication year or commas between elements:
- Parenthetical Citation: Place the author's last name and page number inside parentheses at the end of the sentence: (Smith 45).
- Narrative Citation: Include the author's name in your sentence prose and place only the page number in parentheses: Smith argues that memory retention improves with rest (45).
Depending on your source's authorship, format your parenthetical citations as follows:
- 1 Author: (Smith 45)
- 2 Authors: (Smith and Lee 45)
- 3+ Authors: List the first author followed by et al.: (Smith et al. 45)
- No Author: Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: ("Sleep Patterns" 45)
An automated MLA in-text citation generator accurately formats these parenthetical notes across all author variations, ensuring your in-paper citations match your final reference list perfectly.
Sources with No Page Numbers
Many modern digital sources—such as web pages, YouTube videos, podcasts, and online news articles—do not feature traditional page numbers. When citing these unpaginated materials, simply omit the page number entirely: (Smith).
If a non-print source provides explicit locators like paragraph numbers, time stamps, or scene markers, you may include them: (Smith, par. 4) or (Smith 00:12:15). For web pages without fixed locators, rely solely on the author's last name or shortened source title.
MLA Citation Examples (9th Edition)
Applying citation rules correctly depends on your specific source type. Below are standard reference entries and in-text formats for the most common research materials, structured according to 9th edition guidelines.
Website
Book
Journal article
In-text citation
Missing Information
With MLA Citation Generator, you can guarantee accurate citations while saving you hours during your research process. But you also need to know that not every source provides a complete set of details. When key elements are missing from your source material, adapt your reference using these standard MLA substitutes:
Missing Element | Works Cited Entry Solution | In-Text Citation Solution |
No Author | Start the entry with the source title in quotation marks or italics. | Use a shortened version of the title in parentheses: ("How Sleep Shapes"). |
No Title | Use a short, neutral description of the work without quotes or italics (e.g., Untitled photograph or Map of ancient Rome). | Use the author's name or a brief description if no author exists. |
No Date | Omit the publication date element entirely and proceed directly to the location or URL. | No change needed; use the author's name and page number: (Smith 45). |
Frequently asked questions
Yes, our MLA generator is 100% free to use. You can create, edit, and export unlimited citations instantly without any account registration or sign-up.
Released in 2021, MLA 9 retains the foundational container model from MLA 8. However, it provides clearer, expanded guidelines for digital sources, online media, in-text citations, and overall paper formatting.
Use the author's last name and the page number inside parentheses without commas or publication years. If you mention the author's name in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses.
When a source has no credited author, begin your Works Cited entry with the title of the work. For in-text citations, use a shortened version of the title enclosed in quotation marks or italics.
For unpaginated sources like web pages or online articles, simply omit the page number. If the source includes fixed locators like paragraph numbers or video timestamps, you can use those instead.