MLA 9th Edition Quick Guide

Part 1: Paper Formatting

Setting up your paper
• Double-space your paper and use a clear font (like Times New Roman) size 12.
• In the header include your last name and page number and align right.
• On the first page include your name, date, course, and professor’s name, and align left.
• Center your title; do not bolden, enlarge, italicize, or underline the title. Do not add extra
spaces.

In-text citations
• Use the author’s last name and the page number(s) in parenthesis. Do not include commas or
p. abbreviations. Examples:
o Paraphrase: Active learning is needed to create strong neural networks for lasting
learning (Downing 22).
o Direct quote: Skip Downing notes, “In order to create strong neural networks, you’ve
got to actively participate in the learning process” (22).
• If there is no author, use a shortened version of the title and the page number if available.
Examples:
o Paraphrase: Mayo Clinic doctors are currently studying how stem cells can be used to
replace or repair diseased lung cells (“Lung Transplant”).
o Direct quote: According to the Mayo Clinic website, “Researchers study how
reprogrammed stem cells can be turned into specialized cells that can replace, repair
or regenerate diseased lung cells” (“Lung Transplant”).

Part 2: Works Cited Formatting

Setting up your Works Cited
• Start the Works Cited on a new page at the end of your paper.
• Center the Works Cited title; do not bolden, enlarge, italicize, or underline the title.
• List your citations in alphabetical order. Do not add extra spacing.
• Use a hanging indent for each citation. In Microsoft Word, highlight your citations, right-click,
and open Paragraph settings. In the Indentation section, use 0” left and 0” right, and select

Special: Hanging by 0.5”

Citation Rules
• Pay attention to date styling, punctuation, italicization, and abbreviations.
• Include a URL or doi for all sources found online. Do not include the https:// prefix.
• Common abbreviations include: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec., et al. (and
others; used for three or more authors), ed. (edition), vol. (volume), no. (issue number), p.
(page), pp. (pages), UP (University Press)
Book or eBook
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. Publisher Name, Publication Year. If
eBook, include Database or eBook Provider, URL.
Decety, Jean. The Social Brain: A Developmental Perspective. MIT Press, 2020. EBSCO eBook
Collection, search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.elac.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&
AN=2371144&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Entry in an Anthology
Author of Entry’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." Title of Anthology: Subtitle of
Anthology, edited by Editor’s Name, edition, Publisher Name, Publication Year, page numbers
of entry.
Soto, Gary. “Looking for Work.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and
Writing, edited by Gary Colombo, et al., 10th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016, pp. 19-24.

Magazine or Newspaper Article

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article: Subtitle of Article.” Title of Magazine or
Newspaper, Day Mon. Year Published, page numbers. If found online, exclude page numbers,
and include URL instead.
Hennessy-Fiske, Molly. “Why Border Patrol is Doing More to Rescue and Identify Missing Migrants.”
Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2021, latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-07-25/why-border-
patrol-is-doing-more-to-rescue-and-identify-missing-migrants.

Scholarly Journal Article

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article: Subtitle of Article.” Title of Scholarly Journal, vol.
x, no. x, Year Published, page numbers. If found online, include Database Name, URL or DOI.
Fernandez-Mateo, Isabel. “Cumulative Gender Disadvantage in Contract Employment.” American
Journal of Sociology, vol. 114, no. 4, 2009, pp. 871–923. JSTOR,
jstor.org/stable/10.1086/595941.

Webpage
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Title of Hosting Website, Day Mon. Year
Published, URL. [Access dates for online content are suggested, but not required. Ask your
professor’s preference.]
“Lung Transplant.” Mayo Clinic, 11 July 2019, mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lung-transplant/care-
at-mayo-clinic/pcc-20384757. Accessed 30 July 2021.
 Part 3: Sample Works Cited

Jimenez 7

Works Cited

Bierman, Noah. “Trump Seeks 'Extreme' Test for Migrants.” Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2016, p. A1.

Cashin, Sheryll. “Introduction from Place, Not Race: A New Vision of Opportunity in America.”

Everything’s an Argument, edited by Andrea A. Lunsford, et al., 7th ed., Bedford/St. Martins,

2016, pp. 712-722.

Farmer, Paul, et al. Reimagining Global Health: An Introduction. U of California P, 2013.

“The Great Gatsby: Thug Notes Summary and Analysis.” YouTube, uploaded by Wisecrack, 11 June

2013, youtube.com/watch?v=2VEQRPm_HyA&feature= youtu.be.

Harkness, Kate L., and Jeremy G. Stewart. “Symptom Specificity and the Prospective Generation of

Life Events in Adolescence.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, vol. 118, no. 2, 2009, pp. 278–

287. PubMed, doi: 10.1037/a0015749.

Hennessy-Fiske, Molly. “Why Border Patrol is Doing More to Rescue and Identify Missing Migrants.”

Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2021, latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-07-25/why-border-

patrol-is-doing-more-to-rescue-and-identify-missing-migrants.

“Sex-Based Discrimination.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,

eeoc.gov/laws/types/sex.cfm.

Part 4: MLA Resources

For detailed rules regarding common abbreviations, multiple authors, formatting, and further help
citing source types that are not included in this guide, check the following trusted resources:
• MLA Handbook > Location in Library: REF LB2369 .G53
• Excelsior Online Writing Lab > owl.excelsior.edu/citation-and-documentation/mla-style/

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