In most cases, an in-text citation includes the author's last name and the page number, such as (Garcia 42). The Works Cited entry provides the full publication details so readers can identify and locate the source.

MLA style is widely used in English, literature, humanities, and other academic courses. This guide explains how to cite in MLA format using MLA 9th edition rules, with examples for websites, books, articles, multiple authors, and sources without page numbers. To generate citations automatically, you can use the free MLA Format Generator.

What Is an MLA Citation?

An MLA citation gives credit to the source of information, ideas, quotations, or research used in a paper. MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, the organization that publishes the MLA Handbook.

Most MLA citations work as a pair:

  • An in-text citation appears in the body of your paper.
  • A Works Cited entry provides complete information about the source.

The in-text citation should make it easy for the reader to find the matching entry on your Works Cited page.

The Two Parts of an MLA Citation

MLA In-Text Citation

MLA commonly uses the author's last name and a page number for sources that have numbered pages.

Basic format

(Author Page Number)

Example

(Garcia 42)

Notice that MLA does not place a comma between the author's name and the page number.

If you already mention the author's name in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses:

Garcia argues that access to public libraries can strengthen local communities (42).

For an online source without page numbers, do not create a page number yourself. The citation may simply use the author's name: (Garcia).

Works Cited Entry

The Works Cited page gives readers the full details of every source cited in your paper.

MLA builds these entries from relevant source information, which may include:

Author → Title → Container → Contributors → Version → Number → Publisher → Publication Date → Location

Not every source will contain every element. A book, website, and journal article will therefore have slightly different citations.

How to Cite a Source in MLA Format Step by Step

When you're learning how to cite in MLA format, start by identifying the source rather than trying to memorize one citation formula.

  1. Find the author. Look for the person or organization responsible for the work.
  2. Identify the source title. This could be the title of an article, webpage, book, video, or other work.
  3. Identify the container. A container is the larger work that contains your source. For example, a website can contain an article, and a journal can contain a scholarly paper.
  4. Add publication details. Depending on the source, these may include the publisher, publication date, volume, issue number, or edition.
  5. Add the location. The location may be a page range, DOI, URL, or another way of locating the source.
  6. Create the in-text citation. Use the first information that directs the reader to the matching Works Cited entry—usually the author's last name. Add a page number or other location marker when the source provides one and it is relevant.

MLA Citation Examples by Source Type

The exact MLA citation format changes slightly depending on what you are citing. Here are three of the most common source types.

How to Cite a Website in MLA Format

A typical webpage citation follows this structure:

Format

Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name, Publication Date, URL.

In-text citation

(Garcia)

The title of an individual webpage or article usually appears in quotation marks, while the website name is italicized. If the webpage does not have numbered pages, no page number is required.

How to Cite a Book in MLA Format

For a book written by one author, use:

Format

Author Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.

Page 75 in-text citation

(Garcia 75)

The title of the book should be italicized. If you mention Garcia in the sentence itself, use (75).

How to Cite an Article in MLA Format

For a scholarly journal article, the citation may include the author, article title, journal title, volume, issue, publication year, page range, and DOI or URL.

General format

Author Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #-#. DOI or URL.

A journal article is part of a larger publication, so the article title appears in quotation marks while the journal title is italicized.

More MLA Citation Cases

How to Cite Multiple Authors in MLA Format

The number of authors affects both the Works Cited entry and the in-text citation.

Two authors

(Garcia and Lee 42)

Three or more authors

(Garcia et al. 42)

For an in-text citation with two authors, include both last names. For a source with three or more authors, MLA uses the first author's last name followed by et al. Et al. means “and others” and prevents citations with several authors from becoming unnecessarily long.

How to Cite in MLA Format With No Author

If a source has no listed author, begin the Works Cited entry with the title. Your in-text citation should then use the title or a shortened version of it.

Short work, such as an article

(“Changing Cities”)

For a longer work such as a book, use an italicized shortened title instead. The goal is to make sure the wording in the in-text citation clearly leads the reader to the corresponding Works Cited entry.

How to Cite a Source With No Page Number

Many websites and digital sources do not provide page numbers. If the source has an author but no page numbers, an MLA in-text citation may contain only the author's last name: (Johnson).

Do not use page numbers generated by your browser's print preview, and do not count paragraphs unless your instructor specifically requires a different method. If you name Johnson directly in your sentence and there is no other location marker needed, an additional parenthetical citation may not be necessary as long as the source is clear.

How to Format an MLA Works Cited Page

Place the Works Cited list on a separate page at the end of your paper. Use these basic formatting rules:

  • Center the heading Works Cited at the top.
  • Double-space the page.
  • Arrange entries alphabetically.
  • Use a hanging indent for each entry.
  • Make sure sources cited in your paper have corresponding Works Cited entries.

A hanging indent means the first line begins at the left margin while additional lines of the same citation are indented.

Common MLA Citation Mistakes

Even a correctly researched paper can lose clarity when citations are inconsistent. Before submitting your work, check for these common problems:

  • Adding a comma between the author and page number.
  • Including a source in the paper but leaving it off the Works Cited page.
  • Inventing page numbers for online sources.
  • Using the wrong title formatting.
  • Listing multiple authors incorrectly.
  • Forgetting to use et al. when appropriate.
  • Copying a citation from a generator without checking the source details.

Citation generators can save time, but the final citation should still be reviewed for missing information, capitalization, italics, punctuation, and source type.

Final Check

Learning how to cite in MLA format becomes easier once you understand the relationship between in-text citations and the Works Cited page. Identify the source, record the publication information that applies to it, create the Works Cited entry, and then use a concise in-text citation that directs the reader back to that entry.

Before submitting an MLA paper, check that every citation is accurate, consistent, and connected to the correct source.

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