MLA Format: The Complete Guide (9th Edition)

MLA format is the set of rules from the Modern Language Association for formatting papers and citing sources, used most often in English, literature, and the humanities. This guide covers the current 9th edition: the first-page header, the running page header, headings, the Works Cited page with the container system, in-text citations, and general formatting. You can also build entries automatically with our MLA citation generator.

What MLA format covers

MLA format has two jobs. First, it standardizes how your document looks: margins, font, spacing, and the headers on each page. Second, it standardizes how you credit sources, through brief in-text citations that point to a full list of sources at the end called the Works Cited page. Both parts work together, so a reader can move from a citation in your text to the full source detail in seconds.

The 9th edition (published 2021) keeps the flexible “container” approach introduced in the 8th edition and adds clearer guidance on formatting, inclusive language, and annotations. If you have used MLA before, the core mechanics will feel familiar.

Page setup and general formatting

Set up your document before you start writing. MLA expects a clean, readable layout with no decorative elements.

• Use white 8.5 x 11 inch paper with 1 inch margins on all sides.
• Choose a readable font where the regular and italic styles contrast clearly, such as Times New Roman 12 point.
• Double-space the entire paper, including the Works Cited list and any block quotations.
• Leave one space after a period or other end punctuation.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph one half inch (use the Tab key, not the space bar).
• Align text to the left, with a ragged (uneven) right edge. Do not justify.

First-page header (the heading)

MLA does not use a separate title page for student papers. Instead, in the top left corner of the first page, type four lines, double-spaced, each starting at the left margin:

1. Your full name
2. Your instructor’s name
3. The course name or number
4. The date in day month year order (for example, 7 June 2026)

Below that, center the title of your paper in title case (not bold, italic, underlined, or in quotation marks). Then begin your text on the next line.

Running page header (last name and page number)

Every page, including the first, carries a running header in the top right corner, one half inch from the top. It contains your last name, a space, and the page number:

• Smith 1
• Smith 2

Use your word processor’s header feature so the number updates automatically. Do not type “page,” “p.,” or “#” before the number.

Headings and section labels

Short papers often need no headings. For longer works, MLA allows headings to mark sections. Keep them consistent: use the same format for every heading at the same level, keep them short, and use title case. Many writers bold the top level and use plain or italic text for lower levels. Number headings only if your instructor asks. Whatever system you choose, apply it the same way throughout the paper.

In-text citations

MLA uses brief in-text citations that name the author and the location (usually a page number) of the borrowed material. The reader uses the author’s name to find the matching full entry on the Works Cited page. There are two forms.

Parenthetical and narrative citations

In a parenthetical citation, the author and page sit together in parentheses with no comma between them. In a narrative citation, you name the author in your sentence and put only the page number in parentheses. For more detail, see our guide on parenthetical vs narrative citations.

Place the citation at the end of the sentence, before the final period. The punctuation order matters: the closing parenthesis comes first, then the period. A few common cases:

• No page numbers (for example, a web page): cite the author’s name alone (Smith).
• Two authors: name both, joined by “and” (Smith and Jones 18).
• Three or more authors: name the first author followed by “et al.” (Smith et al. 23).
• No author: use a shortened form of the title in quotation marks or italics, matching the Works Cited entry (“Climate” 5).

For more on author rules across styles, see how to cite multiple authors and our overview of in-text citations.

The Works Cited page

The Works Cited page lists every source you cited in the paper, and only those sources. It starts on a new page at the end of the document, with the running header continuing.

• Center the title Works Cited at the top (plain text, not bold or italic).
• Double-space the whole list, with no extra space between entries.
• Alphabetize entries by the first word of each, usually the author’s last name.
• Use a hanging indent: the first line of each entry is flush left, and all later lines are indented one half inch.

Wondering how this differs from other styles? See Works Cited vs bibliography vs references.

The container system

The heart of MLA 9th is the container system. Instead of memorizing a different template for each source type, you describe any source using up to nine core elements, in this fixed order, each followed by the punctuation shown:

1. Author.
2. Title of source.
3. Title of container,
4. Contributor,
5. Version,
6. Number,
7. Publisher,
8. Publication date,
9. Location.

A “container” is the larger whole that holds the source: a journal that holds an article, an anthology that holds an essay, or a website that holds a page. Some sources sit inside two containers (an article in a database, for example), so you simply add a second container after the first. You include only the elements that apply, skipping any that do not exist for your source.

Works Cited examples

A book has the author and title, then the publisher and year. The book itself is the container, so several middle elements are skipped:

A journal article sits inside a container (the journal), which carries volume, issue, date, and page location:

A web page names the author and page title, then the website (container), the publisher if different, the date, and the URL as the location:

For source-specific walkthroughs, see how to cite a book, how to cite a journal article, and how to cite a website.

Quotations

Short quotations (up to four lines of prose or three lines of verse) run in the text inside double quotation marks, with the citation after the closing quotation mark. Longer quotations are set as a block: start a new line, indent the whole quotation one half inch, do not add quotation marks, and place the citation after the closing punctuation. For more, see how to cite a quote.

How MLA compares to other styles

MLA, APA, and Chicago share the same goal but differ in details such as how dates appear and whether you list a page number in the text. If you also write for other classes, our APA vs MLA comparison and the broader citation styles explained guide show the differences side by side. To draft entries quickly and accurately, the MLA citation generator applies the container rules for you, then you review and finalize.

Frequently asked questions

Does an MLA paper need a title page?

Most student papers do not. MLA uses a four-line heading (your name, instructor, course, and date) in the top left corner of the first page, with a centered title below it. Create a separate title page only if your instructor specifically requires one.

What is the container system in MLA 9th?

It is a single template for citing any source. You describe the source using up to nine core elements (author, title of source, title of container, contributor, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location) in a fixed order, including only the ones that apply. The “container” is the larger work that holds your source, such as a journal, anthology, or website.

How do I cite a source with no page numbers?

If a source has no stable page numbers, such as many web pages, give just the author’s last name in the in-text citation, for example (Smith). Do not invent page numbers and do not count screens or paragraphs unless the source itself numbers them.

What goes in the running page header?

Your last name, a single space, and the page number, placed in the top right corner one half inch from the top of every page, including the first. Use your word processor’s automatic page numbering so it updates correctly, and do not add “p.” or any symbol before the number.