The essentials of MLA Style (9th edition) for student papers — paper format, in-text citations, and the Works Cited list, explained plainly. Every rule below links to its official MLA Style source.
MLA Style is the citation and formatting system published by the Modern Language Association. The 9th edition is the current standard and is used most often in the humanities — literature, languages, philosophy, and the arts. Unlike APA, MLA generally does not require a separate title page; instead the first page carries a heading with your details.
Official source: MLA Style Center — official website (style.mla.org)
Use 1-inch margins on all sides, double-spacing throughout, and a readable font such as Times New Roman at 12 pt. On the first page, place a left-aligned heading with your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date, each on its own double-spaced line. Below that, center the paper title (no extra formatting — not bold or larger). Add a right-aligned header with your last name and the page number on every page. MLA does not require a separate title page unless your instructor asks for one.
Official source: MLA Style Center · Formatting a Research Paper
MLA uses the author-page method. Cite a print source in the text as (Author 23) — the author's last name and the page number in parentheses, with no comma between them. For a direct quotation, include the page number. For sources without page numbers (such as most websites), cite the author's last name alone, or add a paragraph number as (Author par. 4). Place the period after the closing parenthesis.
Official source: MLA Style Center · In-Text Citations
The Works Cited list appears at the end of the paper and includes every source you cited. Center the title "Works Cited" at the top, then list entries alphabetically by the author's last name, double-spaced, with a hanging indent (the first line starts at the margin, following lines indent). MLA 9th organizes each entry by nine core elements — author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location — used as needed for the type of source.
Official source: MLA Style Center · Works Cited
The biggest practical difference is the in-text citation: MLA uses author-page; APA uses author-date. MLA's reference list is called "Works Cited" and is alphabetical; APA's is "References." The table shows the key contrasts.
| Element | MLA 9th | APA 7th |
|---|---|---|
| In-text citation | (Author 23) | (Author, 2020) |
| Reference list name | Works Cited | References |
| Reference order | Alphabetical by author | Alphabetical by author |
| Title page | Usually not required | Required (student paper) |
| Common fields | Humanities | Social sciences |
These common templates follow MLA 9th. Verify unusual source types against the official Works Cited guide.
| Source | Format |
|---|---|
| Book | Author, First. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. |
| Journal article | Author, First. "Title of Article." Journal Name, vol. X, no. Y, Year, pp. ##-##. |
| Website | Author, First. "Title of Page." Site Name, Day Month Year, URL. |
Official source: MLA Style Center · Works Cited
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No. MLA does not require a separate title page; the first page carries a left-aligned heading with your name, instructor, course, and date, followed by the centered title. Follow your instructor if they ask for a title page.
MLA uses the author-page method: cite the author's last name and page number in parentheses, e.g., (Smith 23). For sources without page numbers, use the author's name alone or a paragraph number.
The Works Cited list appears at the end of the paper and includes every source you cited, alphabetized by the author's last name, with a hanging indent and double-spacing.
MLA recommends a readable font such as Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spacing throughout, and 1-inch margins on all sides.
This guide summarizes MLA Style 9th edition. For the complete, authoritative rules, consult the official MLA Style pages (all links verified live):
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