Free MLA 9th Edition Citation Generator
Generate MLA 9 Works Cited entries and in-text citations in seconds. Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, or search by title — CiteMe searches 250M+ real academic sources from OpenAlex, PubMed, Semantic Scholar & CrossRef. Free, no account required.
· Editorial team, CiteMe
Search will start automatically once loaded…
What to do next
Journal MLA citations
Works Cited entries for journal articles, containers, databases, and MLA 9 source details.
PDF MLA citations
MLA examples for reports, downloadable PDFs, and research documents with the right source-type logic.
Website MLA citations
Website and online source citations with author, title, publisher, and URL rules for MLA 9.
Why Use Our MLA Citation Generator?
Generate MLA 9 Works Cited entries and in-text citations from a DOI, URL, ISBN, or title.
Real Academic Databases
Search 250M+ works from OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, and CrossRef. Every MLA citation is real and verifiable.
MLA 9th Edition Compliant
Automatically formatted according to the MLA Handbook (9th edition). Proper core elements, containers, and punctuation.
Works Cited Ready
Citations are formatted with proper italics, quotation marks, and hanging indents. Ready to paste into your Works Cited page.
In-Text Citations Included
Get both the full Works Cited entry and the parenthetical citation format (Author Page) for easy reference.
Popular Source Types
How to Cite in MLA
Here are the most common citation templates:
General Format (Core Elements)
Journal Article
Book
Website
MLA Citation Examples
Journal Article
Book
Website
YouTube Video
Podcast Episode
3+ Authors (et al.)
Examples formatted in MLA
MLA In-Text Citations
With Page Number
Author in Sentence
How It Works
Search for your source
Enter a DOI, URL, title, or author name to find the source in 250M+ academic records.
Verify and select
Review the source details and select the correct match from search results.
Copy your citation
Get the formatted MLA Works Cited entry and in-text citation. Copy or export to BibTeX/RIS.
Quick Reference by Source Type
| Source Type | Works Cited Format | In-Text |
|---|---|---|
| Journal | Author. "Title." Journal, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #-#. | (Author #) |
| Website | Author. "Title." Site Name, Publisher, Day Mon. Year, URL. | (Author) |
| Book | Author. Title. Publisher, Year. | (Author #) |
| Video | "Title." YouTube, uploaded by Creator, Day Mon. Year, URL. | ("Title") |
| No Author | "Title of Source." Container, Publisher, Year, URL. | ("Shortened Title") |
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
Correct:
Missing volume and issue numbers. Journal name should be in italics. MLA requires vol. and no. abbreviations.
Wrong:
Correct:
MLA uses author + page number, not author + year (that is APA). No comma between author and page.
Wrong:
Correct:
MLA 9 uses "et al." for 3+ authors in Works Cited. Only the first author is listed in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MLA format?
MLA (Modern Language Association) format is a citation style commonly used in humanities, literature, languages, and cultural studies. The current version is the 9th edition, published in 2021.
How do I cite a book in MLA format?
For books, include the author, title in italics, publisher, and year. Example: Smith, John. The Art of Writing. Academic Press, 2024.
What is a Works Cited page in MLA?
A Works Cited page is the bibliography at the end of your paper listing all sources you referenced. It should be alphabetized by author's last name and use hanging indentation.
How do MLA in-text citations work?
MLA uses parenthetical citations with author and page number: (Smith 45). For sources without page numbers, use just the author: (Smith). Include the title if the author is unknown.
Is this MLA generator accurate?
Yes. We search real academic databases and format citations according to official MLA 9th edition guidelines. Every citation includes verifiable source information.
What is the difference between MLA and APA?
MLA uses author-page citations (Smith 45) and is standard in humanities and literature. APA uses author-date citations (Smith, 2024) and is standard in social sciences. MLA calls its bibliography "Works Cited"; APA calls it "References."
How do I cite a website with no author in MLA?
When there is no author, start the Works Cited entry with the article or page title in quotation marks. For in-text citations, use a shortened title: ("Article Title").
What are containers in MLA 9th edition?
Containers are the larger works that hold your source. For example, a journal article's container is the journal itself. MLA 9 allows nested containers (e.g., an article in a journal accessed through a database).
How do I format a Works Cited page?
Center "Works Cited" at the top, double-space all entries, use hanging indentation (0.5 inch), alphabetize by author's last name, and use the same font and margins as the rest of your paper.
Do I need to include URLs in MLA citations?
MLA 9th edition recommends including URLs for online sources, but omitting the "https://" prefix. If a DOI is available, use that instead. Your instructor may have specific preferences.
Is MLA 9th edition the latest MLA format?
Yes. MLA 9th edition is the current version of the MLA Handbook. If your assignment says MLA without another edition, MLA 9 is usually the correct standard to use.
What changed in MLA 9 compared to MLA 8?
MLA 9 (2021) keeps the core-elements system introduced in MLA 8 but expands its guidance: clearer rules for citing online works, updated advice on URLs and DOIs, new coverage for sources like social media and streaming video, and added chapters on inclusive language and formatting research papers. Citations built for MLA 8 are almost always still valid in MLA 9.
Citation tools & comparisons
Need a Different Citation Style?
Start Generating MLA Citations
Generate accurate citations from real databases. Free to use.
Try MLA GeneratorMLA vs APA: Quick Reference
| Feature | MLA (9th Edition) | APA (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| In-text format | (Author Page) | (Author, Year) |
| Bibliography name | Works Cited | References |
| Used in | Humanities, literature, languages | Social sciences, psychology, education |
| Emphasis | Page numbers prominent | Publication year prominent |
| Title case | Title case in Works Cited | Sentence case in references |
Not sure which to use? Check your assignment guidelines or ask your instructor. Try our APA generator
Citation Checker
Check one MLA Works Cited entry before you submit
Verify a suspicious citation against real academic databases before it becomes a Works Cited problem.
Chicago Citation Generator
Writing a history or arts paper? Chicago style uses footnotes and is common in history, theology, and fine arts.