MLA format is a set of guidelines for how to format and cite academic papers, like other styles such as Chicago or APA format. It’s used for subjects in the humanities, such as languages, philosophy, and the arts, but not for history or social sciences like psychology or education.

Most schools require humanities courses, so you’ll likely write a paper in MLA format at some point. Below, we’ll explain how MLA format works and what makes it different from other formats. We’ll also show you how to cite sources in MLA format with examples.

What is MLA format?

The Modern Language Association developed MLA format to provide a consistent way for academics in the arts and humanities to write and reference their sources. MLA format specifies requirements for paper headings, in-text citations, works cited pages, quotations, abbreviations, and margin size.

Using MLA format, like other academic styles, ensures that your academic writing is properly formatted and your sources are correctly credited, so you and your readers can focus on the content of your paper.

When to use MLA format

Use MLA format for the final draft of all academic writing assignments in your arts and humanities courses, including essays, reports, and research papers. This includes English, arts, philosophy, religion, and ethics courses, and any other courses in these areas.

If you’re unsure whether you should use MLA or a specific formatting style for a particular project, ask your instructor.

Use MLA format for all parts of an assignment you submit, including an essay outline, research proposal, literature review, or source list your instructor requests before or with your final work.

You don’t need to format your initial draft or any other documents your professor won’t see, but you can use MLA format throughout the writing process if you want. This can help you estimate how many pages your final draft will be before you finish it.

MLA vs. APA, Chicago, and other formats

MLA is widely used, especially among high school and university students. You may also be familiar with APA format (American Psychological Association) or Chicago style (Chicago Manual of Style). Each style provides instructions for structuring citations, crediting sources, and incorporating quotations into your work.

MLA format focuses more on authorship than other formats because it’s used for humanities subjects. This means the authors’ names are prominent in the text. APA format emphasizes dates, while Chicago promotes supplementary notes like footnotes and endnotes.

Though these styles have similar techniques for referencing sources, each has its own rules for different source types. Make sure you understand the guidelines for the format you’re using to avoid following the rules of another style accidentally.

How to set up your paper in MLA format

MLA formatting rules

• The works referenced page is commonly called the source page. It comes at the end of the paper, after any endnotes.
• The whole document is double-spaced, including long quotations and references on the works referenced page.
• Use block quotes for quotations that are four or more lines long.
• Abbreviations don’t have periods between letters (for example, US instead of U.S.).
• Use standard 8½-by-11-inch paper for printing.
• Leave a 1-inch margin on both sides of the paper (except for the running head).
• Use Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica font, with a size between 11 and 13.
• Each page should have a running head with the author’s last name and page number in the top-right corner. The running head should start 1.5 inches from the top of the page.
• A title page isn’t needed.

The heading on the first page should be left-aligned and include:

• Author’s name
• Instructor’s name
• Course number
• Due date of the paper

MLA style rules

• MLA format uses the Oxford comma, also called the serial comma.
• Write out whole numbers or fractions that can be said in one or two words (for example, 88, 5 million, or two-thirds). Use numbers for longer numbers (like 101, 2,981, or 2 ½). But when you’re talking about numbers together or they’re often mentioned, use numbers (for example, between 3 and 125 people).
• Use numbers for items in a list (for example, chapter 6, page 12, or room 34).
• Always write out a number at the start of a sentence. Or try starting the sentence differently.
• Don’t shorten dates. You can use the month-day-year or day-month-year format, but be consistent.
• Use a person’s full name the first time you mention them, unless they’re usually known by their last name only, like Cervantes or Cicero. After that, just use their last name, including parts like de, O’, and von.

How to cite sources in MLA: citation examples

In every academic paper you write, it’s important to acknowledge your sources—that is, explain where your evidence or points came from. This is necessary not only to avoid plagiarism but also to support your ideas with evidence.

The MLA Handbook specifies that you should credit sources “when the work of others informs your ideas.” This means that every idea that isn’t your own needs to be cited separately, even if two ideas are in the same sentence.

How to present evidence and quotes in MLA

There are two ways to refer to another work: paraphrasing and direct quoting.

Paraphrasing means putting the original idea into your own words. However, your paraphrased version must be different from the original text; you can’t just change a few words. It’s best to change both the wording and the sentence structure.

You can also directly quote a passage from a source, especially if the original wording is important. However, using too many exact quotes may suggest that you’re relying too much on other people’s ideas instead of your own. It’s better to use them sparingly, only when absolutely necessary. Also, when using quotes, try to keep them as short as possible, even if it’s just one word.

Whether you use paraphrasing or quotes, you need to cite the source.

In-text citations in MLA

MLA format prefers in-text citations, where you cite the source immediately in the text, next to the reference. In-text citations can be either parenthetical or narrative.

Parenthetical citations are brief and provide only basic information. MLA format requires only the author’s last name, though a page number, line number, or time stamp is optional.

The story of Sisyphus is an example of humanity’s struggle with life’s absurdity (Camus 78).

Narrative citations happen when you mention the author’s name in the text, making the second mention in the citation unnecessary. In this case, parenthetical citations are only needed if you include the page number or location.

Camus discusses Sisyphus as a model for humanity’s effort to cope with life’s absurdity (78).

Both types of in-text citations need a full source citation on the works cited page.

If the author’s name isn’t available, use whatever comes first for that entry on the works cited page, typically the work title.

Footnotes and Endnotes in MLA

MLA format prefers using in-text citations instead of footnotes and endnotes. However, there are some situations where footnotes and endnotes are necessary:

• A Series Of Sources: If you need to cite many sources in one sentence, it’s better to list them all in a note rather than using in-text citations.

• Deviations from Standard Documentation: If you’re not following typical documentation practices, such as citing line numbers instead of page numbers in poetry, make a note of it. You only need to mention this the first time you cite the source.

• Flagging Editions or Translations: Some works, especially classic texts, have multiple versions. Use a note to specify the edition or translation you’re using. Again, you only need to do this the first time you cite the source.

• Content Notes: You can use notes to provide additional—but not essential—information, such as personal comments or explanations of word choices. Footnotes and endnotes are appropriate for these extra details that don’t fit into the main text.

MLA-formatted papers use either footnotes or endnotes, but not both. You need to choose one and stick with it. Footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page they refer to, while endnotes appear on a separate page labeled “Notes” or “Endnotes” at the end of a section, chapter, or the entire work.

To add a note, put a superscript number (1) at the end of the sentence it relates to. If a note is needed in the middle of a sentence, place it after a punctuation mark like a comma, colon, or semicolon. However, if there’s a dash, put the numeral before it.

• Some translations use different words.1
• Camus seemed to admire Sisyphus’ determination, despite differing opinions.
• Sisyphus ruled in Ephyra3, also known as Corinth.

Each number in the text corresponds to a footnote or endnote later in the work.

Notes are listed in numerical order, starting with the superscript number that matches its location in the text.

• Thomas Warren suggests translating Camus’ la mesure as “measurement” rather than the usual “moderation.”
• Check out Thomas Nagel’s “The Absurd.”
• According to Wikipedia, Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Peloponnese to mainland Greece.

MLA does not allow the abbreviation “ibid.”

Works Cited Page for MLA

According to MLA format guidelines, every source you use in your paper needs to be listed on a page called “Works Cited” at the end of your document. This page includes all the details of the sources you’ve referenced.

The works cited page comes after your paper, following any endnotes. It should have the same margins and font size as the rest of your paper.

Entries on the works cited page are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name.

The only special formatting required for the works cited page is a hanging indent. This means that each line after the first in an entry is indented by half an inch.

Example:

Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O’Brien. New York: Random House, 1955.

How To Cite Different Types of Sources in MLA Format

MLA citation guidelines vary depending on the type of source, such as books, journal articles, films, and so on. Please see our previous guidelines below for information on how to properly cite each source in MLA format.

• How to cite a book in MLA format
• How to cite a website in MLA format
• How to cite an image or photograph in MLA format
• How to cite a movie in MLA format
• How to cite a TV show in MLA format
• How to cite Wikipedia in MLA format
• How to cite a YouTube video in MLA format
• How to cite a PDF in MLA format
• How to cite a lecture or speech in MLA format

MLA format FAQs

What is MLA format?

MLA format is a style used in academic writing that was created by the Modern Language Association. It’s the preferred format for papers in subjects like literature and history. MLA has rules for how to cite different types of sources like books, movies, TV shows, newspaper articles, PDFs, and more.

How is it different from other formats?

There are significant differences between MLA and other academic formats. One of the most noticeable differences is the way sources are cited.

Can you provide some examples of MLA citations?

In the text, you can cite sources like this: (Lamott 28). In the works cited page, you would include a reference to a book like this: Ta-Nehisi Coates. Between the World and Me. Spiegel & Gray, 2015.

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