Website
Website example
Modern Language Association. "MLA Style Guide." MLA Handbook, 15 Mar. 2024, www.mla.org/MLA-Style.
Humanities citation style
Free MLA 8th edition Citation Generator
MLA 8th edition style is published by the Modern Language Association and is commonly used in literature, language, and humanities disciplines.
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MLA 8Journal article
Smith, Jane A., and Mark B. Doe. "The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems." Journal of Environmental Science, vol. 45, no. 3, 2024, pp. 234-51.
Book
Smith, Jane A. Coastal Ecosystems in a Changing Climate. 2nd ed., Cambridge UP, 2023.
Website
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Climate Change Indicators: Sea Surface Temperature." NOAA Climate.gov, 2024, www.climate.gov/news-features/sea-surface-temperature. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
In-text
(Smith and Doe 237)
Sample formatted to the official MLA 8th edition rules. Your real citation fills in from any URL, DOI, or ISBN.
MLA 8th edition Citation Examples
See how to format different source types in MLA 8th edition.
Journal article
Journal article example
Smith, John, and Mary Doe. "Literary Analysis in Modern Times." Journal of Literature, vol. 45, no. 2, 2024, pp. 123-145.
Book
Book example
Brown, Charles. The Art of Writing. 3rd ed., Academic Publishers, 2023.
Quick MLA 8th edition Rules
Author Format
Last name, First name Middle name. Use 'and' before last author. Reverse order for first author only.
Title Format
Title case for article titles in quotation marks. Italicize book and journal titles.
Date Format
Publication date follows publisher. Use day month year format for web sources (e.g., 15 Mar. 2024).
Journal/Source
Journal name italicized, volume number, issue number, year, and page range.
In-text Citations
Use author-page format: (Author 123) or Author states (123). No comma between author and page number.
MLA 8th edition Frequently Asked Questions
What is MLA 8th edition citation style?
MLA 8th edition (Modern Language Association) style is used primarily in literature, language, and humanities. It uses author-page in-text citations.
How do I cite a website in MLA 8?
Include author (if available), page title in quotation marks, website name italicized, publication date, and URL without https://.
Does MLA 8 require URLs?
Yes, MLA 8th edition requires URLs for web sources. Remove https:// or http:// from the URL.
How do I format in-text citations in MLA 8?
Use author-page format: (Smith 123) for paraphrases or quotes. If author is mentioned in text, only include page number: (123).
MLA 8th edition Citation Guides
How to Alphabetize a Works Cited Page in MLA 9
The MLA 9 rules that decide where every entry goes when you alphabetize works cited: same-author stacks, numbers, The, Mc and Mac, particles, and symbols.
How to Cite the Bible in MLA 9th Edition
MLA separates chapter and verse with a period, not a colon. Covers the works-cited entry, the version rule, Bible apps, study Bibles, and abbreviations.
How to Cite a Movie in MLA 9th Edition
The MLA 9 film format with worked examples: director or title first, streaming platforms as containers, timestamps, and TV episodes.
MLA Paper Format: How to Set Up Your Paper (9th Edition)
Every MLA paper format rule from the 9th edition Handbook: margins, font, the four-line heading, running head, and title, plus exact Word and Google Docs steps.
How to Cite a Government Document in MLA 9th Edition
Worked MLA 9 examples for every government document type: layered agency authors, congressional reports, laws, court cases, and executive orders.
How to Cite a Report in MLA 9th Edition
Worked examples show how to cite a report in MLA 9: government and corporate reports, organizational authors, missing dates, and in-text forms.
How to Cite a Conference Paper in MLA 9
MLA 9 Works Cited and in-text formats for a presented talk, a paper in published proceedings, a database PDF, a poster, and a recorded session.
How to Cite a Dissertation or Thesis in MLA 9
Works Cited and in-text formats for a PhD dissertation, master's thesis, ProQuest record, repository PDF, and honors thesis, with the MLA 7 habits to drop.
How to Cite a Newspaper Article in MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9 newspaper article citations for print, online, op-eds, editorials, database access, and wire-service stories. Eight worked examples and the key rules.
How to Format a Works Cited Page in MLA 9
How to format an MLA 9 Works Cited page: hanging indents, alphabetization, multiple works by one author, and a complete formatting checklist.
How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA 9th Edition
How to cite journal articles in MLA 9, step by step: print journals, online journals with DOIs, database articles, and articles with multiple authors.
How to Cite a Book in MLA 9th Edition
Complete guide to citing books in MLA 9 format - print books, ebooks, edited collections, translated works, and multi-volume sets with worked examples.
How to Cite a Website in MLA 9th Edition
The MLA 9 format for citing websites with the core elements, plus examples for pages with an author, no author, no date, and organizational sources.
APA vs MLA: Which Citation Style Should You Use?
A clear comparison of APA and MLA citation styles - when to use each, key differences in formatting, and quick reference examples.
How to Check If a Citation Is Real Before You Submit
The four levels of checking whether a citation is real: identifier resolution, metadata match, publication confirmation, and what the source actually says.
How to Cite a Source You Can't Find or Access
What APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago say about secondary citations, paywalled papers, dead links, and quotes whose original source has vanished.
How to Write an Annotated Bibliography
How to write an annotated bibliography in APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago, with real examples, formatting rules, and what makes a strong annotation.
Complete Guide to In-Text Citations
Everything you need to know about in-text citations across APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and IEEE - with examples for every situation.
How to Cite a YouTube Video (All Major Styles)
Complete guide to citing YouTube videos in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, and Vancouver formats - with templates, worked examples, and special cases.