MLA 9 Citation Generator

Generate accurate MLA 9th edition citations for your research papers. Automatically extract metadata from websites, DOIs, and ISBNs. Get both in-text citations and full Works Cited entries.

Tip: Copy and paste your source information from your document, or enter it manually following the format shown above.

MLA 9 Citation Generator Guide

An MLA 9 citation generator builds references following the 9th edition of the MLA Handbook (2021) — the current standard for literature, language, and humanities courses. Unlike APA, an MLA 9 citation generator produces Author-Page format citations rather than Author-Date, making it the right choice for English and writing courses.

MLA 9 Basic Format

(Author Page)

MLA 9 standard — no comma, no year, no "p."

(Author)

MLA 9 for websites and sources without page numbers

MLA 9 Author Rules

  • One author: MLA 9 — (Smith 45)
  • Two authors: MLA 9 — (Smith and Jones 102)
  • Three or more: MLA 9 uses et al. — (Smith et al. 67)
  • No author: MLA 9 uses a shortened title — ("Climate Change" 12)

MLA 9 Works Cited

Every entry from an MLA 9 citation generator must correspond to a Works Cited entry using the MLA 9 core elements — container, contributor, version, number, publisher, date, location. This applies to all source types: books, websites, articles, and streaming content. Use an MLA 9 citation generator for any humanities paper requiring the latest MLA Handbook edition.

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Container System

MLA 9 uses a flexible container concept — a journal article's container is the journal; a webpage's container is the website.

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Author-Page Format

MLA in-text citations use the author's last name and page number: (Smith 45). No year needed like APA.

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Works Cited

MLA uses a "Works Cited" list (not "References" or "Bibliography") with hanging indents for each entry.

MLA 9 In-Text Citation Guide

What Are MLA In-Text Citations?

MLA uses parenthetical citations placed directly in the text. Unlike APA, MLA citations typically include the author's last name and page number — not the year. This keeps citations brief while giving readers exactly what they need to find the full Works Cited entry.

Use an in-text citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source.

Basic MLA 9 In-Text Format

(Author Page#)

Use when the source has an author and page number

(Author)

Use for websites and sources with no page numbers

Common Citation Scenarios

One Author

Paraphrase:

Recent research shows social media shapes political opinion (Smith).

Direct quote with page:

Smith argues that "social media fundamentally altered civic discourse" (45).

When you name the author in the sentence, only the page goes in parentheses.

Two Authors

Use "and" between names:

Digital learning tools improve engagement (Smith and Jones 78).

Three or More Authors

Use "et al." after first author:

The study found significant improvements across all groups (Williams et al. 112).

No Author

Use a shortened title in quotes:

Climate risks are accelerating ("Global Warming" 3).

Use the first significant words of the Works Cited title.

Website or Source with No Page Numbers

Omit page number:

The organization recommends annual screenings (CDC).

Do not use "n.p." or "n.pag." — simply omit page numbers for digital sources.

Multiple Sources in One Citation

Separate with semicolons:

Several studies confirm this outcome (Brown 12; Davis 88; Miller 204).

Placement Rules

  • ✓Before the period: Place the citation before the sentence's closing punctuation
  • ✓Block quotes exception: For quotes longer than 4 lines, place citation after the final punctuation
  • ✓Named author: If you mention the author in the sentence, put only the page number in parentheses

Correct:

Language shapes thought (Whorf 23).

Incorrect:

Language shapes thought. (Whorf 23)

MLA 9 Works Cited Format

The Nine Core Elements

MLA 9 uses a universal template of nine core elements. Include only the elements that apply to your source, in this order:

  1. Author.
  2. Title of Source. (in quotes for articles/chapters; italicized for books/websites)
  3. Title of Container, (italicized — the journal, website, or book the source lives in)
  4. Other Contributors, (editors, translators, directors)
  5. Version, (edition, season)
  6. Number, (vol. and no. for journals)
  7. Publisher,
  8. Publication Date,
  9. Location. (page numbers, URL, or DOI)

Author Format Rules

One author:

Smith, John.

Two authors:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe.

First author: Last, First. Second author: First Last (normal order).

Three or more authors:

Smith, John, et al.

Organization as author:

World Health Organization.

Format by Source Type

Website Article

Smith, John. "Understanding Climate Change." Science Today, 15 Jan. 2024, www.sciencetoday.com/climate.

Article title in quotes; site name italicized; include day, abbreviated month, year; then URL.

Journal Article

Jones, Sarah. "Advances in Renewable Energy." Energy Research, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1234/example

Article title in quotes; journal italicized; vol. and no.; year; pp. for pages; DOI preferred over URL.

Book

Brown, Michael. The Digital Age. University Press, 2023.

Book title italicized; publisher; year. For edited books add "edited by" after title.

YouTube Video

TED. "The Power of Introverts." YouTube, uploaded by TED, 2 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4.

Video title in quotes; platform italicized; include "uploaded by" if channel differs from author.

No Author

"Climate Change Evidence." NASA, 10 Mar. 2024, climate.nasa.gov/evidence.

Begin with the title when no author is available. Alphabetize by title in the Works Cited list.

Formatting the Works Cited Page

  • ✓Title: Center the title "Works Cited" at the top (not bold, not italicized)
  • ✓Alphabetical order: Sort entries by the first word (usually author's last name)
  • ✓Hanging indent: First line flush left; subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
  • ✓Double spacing: Double-space all entries (no extra space between entries)
  • ✓Abbreviate months: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

MLA 9 vs MLA 8: Key Differences

  • MLA 9 (2021) expands guidance on inclusive language in citations
  • More detailed examples for citing social media, podcasts, and streaming services
  • Clarified rules about when to include access dates for URLs
  • Updated guidance on citing works with non-binary or gender-neutral authors
  • The core container system from MLA 8 remains unchanged

Connecting In-Text to Works Cited

Every in-text citation must match an entry in your Works Cited list. Readers find the full citation by matching the author's last name (or title) from the parenthetical to the Works Cited entry.

Example:

In your text:

Language fundamentally shapes perception (Sapir 23).

In your Works Cited:

Sapir, Edward. Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech. Harcourt, Brace, 1921.

Quick Tips for MLA 9 Citations

  • 💡Use author last name + page, never year (that's APA). (Smith 45) not (Smith, 2024)
  • 💡Italicize titles of longer works (books, journals, websites); put shorter works in "quotes"
  • 💡For websites, include the URL but omit "https://" or "http://" if your instructor prefers bare URLs
  • 💡Use "pp." for a range of pages (pp. 12-15) and "p." for a single page
  • 💡When in doubt about access dates for websites, include them — some instructors require them

Citation Style Examples

MLA 9 (current)

Smith, John. "Technology in Education." Journal of Learning, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 123-145.

In-text: (Smith) or (Smith 130)

APA 7 (comparison)

Smith, J. (2024). Technology in education. Journal of Learning, 15(3), 123–145.

In-text: (Smith, 2024) or (Smith, 2024, p. 130)

Chicago (comparison)

Smith, John. "Technology in Education." Journal of Learning 15, no. 3 (2024): 123-145.

In-text: (Smith 2024, 130)

Frequently Asked Questions

What fields use MLA 9 citation style?

MLA is used primarily in humanities disciplines including English literature, literary criticism, comparative literature, cultural studies, foreign languages, and some fields of history and philosophy. If your course is in a humanities subject, MLA is likely required.

Do I need a page number in every MLA citation?

No. Include page numbers only when the source has them — mainly print books, journals, and magazines. For websites, online articles, and videos, simply use the author name: (Smith). Never make up page numbers.

What is the "container" in MLA 9?

The container is the larger work that holds your source. A journal article's container is the journal. A webpage's container is the website. A book chapter's container is the book. Some sources have two containers — for example, an article in a database: the journal is container 1, the database (JSTOR, PubMed) is container 2.

Should I include access dates for websites?

MLA 9 recommends including access dates when a page may change or lacks a publication date. Format: Accessed 5 Mar. 2026. Many instructors require them for all web sources — check your assignment guidelines.

What is the difference between MLA 8 and MLA 9?

MLA 9 (published 2021) is the current edition. It maintains the same nine core element container system from MLA 8 (2016) but adds more examples for digital sources, clearer guidance on inclusive language, and updated rules for citing social media, podcasts, and streaming content. For most citations the formats are identical.

How do I cite a source with no author?

Begin the Works Cited entry with the title. For the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title (first two to four words) in quotation marks: ("Climate Change Evidence"). Alphabetize the Works Cited entry by the title's first significant word (skip articles like A, An, The).