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This guide is a quick introduction to the Modern Language Association 9th edition citation style. Be sure to consult the MLA Handbook or the online MLA Style Center for detailed standards and procedures.

MLA Style is primarily used to cite sources within the language arts, cultural studies, & other humanities disciplines such as:

English Studies - Language and Literature
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Literary Criticism
Comparative Literature

The expanded 9th edition of the MLA Style Manual was published April 2021.

Refer to the library events calendar for upcoming workshops or make an appointment with a librarian for one-on-one assistance.

MLA Handbook by The Modern Language Association of America
Call Number: LB2369 .M52 2021
ISBN: 9781603293518
Publication Date: 2021-04-06
Relied on by generations of writers, the MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association and is the only official, authorized book on MLA style. The new, ninth edition builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements--facts, common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date--that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today.

The many new and updated chapters make this edition the comprehensive, go-to resource for writers of research papers, and anyone citing sources, from business writers, technical writers, and freelance writers and editors to student writers and the teachers and librarians working with them.

Introduction to Citation Styles: MLA 9th ed.

MLA Style Center

MLA Style Center
The online MLA Style Center (style.mla.org) features a growing set of resources that support the use of the MLA Handbook, including:

sample papers in MLA Style
guidelines for avoiding plagiarism
a works-cited quick guide providing an overview of how to use the template of core elements
an interactive version of the template that can be used for practice
hundreds of example citations, including examples grouped by format
writing tips from the MLA editors

Template

MLA Style Paper Template

Sample Papers

What's New in the 9th Edition?

The main change is that the MLA Handbook is now acting both as a textbook and a great reference guide. If you already know how to cite by using MLA 8 format, you will already be familiar with how to use the current MLA edition. The significant changes you will encounter are mostly related to the use of containers for different media types and the use (or principles) of inclusive language. The new edition makes the previous MLA 8 format clearer with minor updates and examples that must be considered to avoid confusion.

From Style.MLA.org:

expanded, in-depth guidance on how to use the MLA template of core elements to create works-cited-list entries
- shows what each core element is, where to find it, and how to style it
clarification that element names are not always literal and can apply to a range of situations (e.g., the Publisher element can refer to the publisher of a book or a sponsoring organization like the theater company that put on a play)
a new, easy-to-follow explanation of in-text citations
a new chapter containing recommendations for using inclusive language
updated guidelines on avoiding plagiarism
a new chapter on formatting a research paper
new, expanded guidelines on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and more
a new chapter on using notes in MLA style