What is MLA (9th ed.) citation style?
MLA is common in language and humanities courses. Works Cited entries use reusable source containers, while in-text citations normally identify the author and relevant page or location.
Key MLA (9th ed.) formatting rules
- Alphabetize Works Cited entries by the first meaningful element, usually the author’s surname.
- Use author and page in the in-text citation when stable page numbers are available.
- Include the title, container, version, number, publisher, date, and location elements that apply to the source.
- Preserve title capitalization and confirm URLs, DOIs, dates, and access dates against the original source.
Worked MLA (9th ed.) journal-article example
- Source metadata
- Journal article: Dawei Wang and 13 coauthors, “Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China,” JAMA 323(11), page 1061 (2020), DOI 10.1001/jama.2020.1585. Verify the source record.
- Reference-list entry
- Wang, Dawei, et al. “Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China.” JAMA, vol. 323, no. 11, Mar. 2020, p. 1061, https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.1585.
- In-text citation
- (Wang et al.)
The Crossref record currently supplies only the first page (1061), illustrating why the final locator should be checked against the article itself.
MLA (9th ed.) source-type checklist
The formatter can only use the fields supplied by the source record. Check these details before submitting your work.
| Source type | Fields to verify |
|---|---|
| Journal article | Authors, article title, journal container, volume, issue, date, pages or article number, and DOI. |
| Book | Authors, italicized book title, edition, publisher, and publication year. |
| Chapter or essay | Chapter author and title, book title, editors, publisher, year, and page range. |
| Web page | Author or organization, page title, website container, date, URL, and access date when useful or required. |
| Video | Creator, video title, platform container, uploader, date, and URL. |
| Identify whether the PDF is a report, article, book, or other work and cite that source type rather than “PDF.” |
How to cite in MLA (9th ed.) with NeatCite
- 1Keep MLA (9th ed.) selected in the generator above.
- 2Paste a DOI, PMID, ISBN, or web address—or use manual entry when an identifier is unavailable.
- 3Compare the imported authors, title, date, and publication details with the original source.
- 4Copy the formatted MLA (9th ed.) reference and in-text citation, or export the list to Word, BibTeX, or RIS.
How output is produced
- The MLA (9th ed.) rule file is bundled locally and rendered with the open citeproc-js engine.
- Identifier lookups can retrieve metadata from Crossref, PubMed, and Open Library; you can edit every field before copying.
- No account is required, and your citation list remains in your browser unless you export or clear it.
MLA (9th ed.) citation questions
Does MLA 9 require a URL?
A DOI is generally preferred for a journal article when one exists. For an online source without a DOI, include a stable URL when it helps readers locate the work.
Is a Works Cited entry the same as an in-text citation?
No. The short in-text citation points to the full source description in the Works Cited list.