1. In-text citations (author–page)

In MLA 9, you cite by author surname and page number. No comma between author and page.

• One author: (Smith 15) or Smith argues that … (15).
• Two authors: (Smith and Jones 22) — use “and,” not &.
• Three or more authors: (Smith et al. 8) — use “et al.” for three+ authors.
• No page number (e.g. webpage): (Smith) or (Smith, “Article Title”).

If you name the author in the sentence, put only the page in parentheses: Smith notes that … (15).

2. Works Cited basics

Start a new page titled Works Cited. Entries are alphabetized by author (or title if no author). Use a hanging indent. Every source cited in the text must appear in Works Cited.

3. Common Works Cited formats (MLA 9)

Book: Author Last, First. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Journal article: Author. “Title of Article.” Journal Name, vol. X, no. X, Year, pp. XX–XX.

Webpage: Author or “Title of Page.” Site Name, Publisher (if different), Date, URL.

No author: Start with the title in quotation marks or italics (depending on type of source). Use a shortened title in the in-text citation.

For more examples, see the MLA Handbook or your instructor’s guidelines. Our editing and proofreading services can check your citations and Works Cited.

4. MLA vs APA

MLA uses author–page in text and “Works Cited”; APA uses author–date and “References.” MLA is common in English and humanities; APA in social sciences.

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