Citation style
We fill in the author, title, date and publisher for you — check them before adding.
Your citation
In-text citation
MLA 9 citations and a Works Cited page
The MLA citation generator formats sources in the MLA Handbook, 9th edition. Paste a link, a DOI, an ISBN or a title — the author, title, container, date and location are filled in for you. Add each source to the list and download a ready Works Cited page in Word.
The MLA core elements
MLA builds every entry from the same elements in this order: Author. Title of source. Title of container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location. Elements that a source does not have are skipped.
Book
Smith, John A. Psychology and Modern Life. 2nd ed., Pearson, 2020.
Journal article
Brown, Laura M., and Robert T. Green. “Cognitive Load and Learning.” Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 113, no. 2, 2021, pp. 200-15, https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000001.
Web page
Johnson, Mary. “Understanding Mental Health.” Psychology Today, 12 June 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/….
When a page has no date, the date you accessed it is added at the end: Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.
Chapter in an edited book
Khan, Sara. “Emotional Regulation in Youth.” Advances in Child Psychology, edited by David Miller, Springer, 2019, pp. 45-62.
YouTube video
CrashCourse. “The Scientific Method.” YouTube, 3 Mar. 2020, www.youtube.com/….
Authors in MLA
- One author: Last name, First name.
- Two authors: Brown, Laura, and Robert Green.
- Three or more: the first author followed by “et al.”: Lee, Anna, et al.
MLA in-text citations
In the text, give the author’s last name and the page number with no comma: (Smith 45). Two authors: (Brown and Green 210). Three or more: (Lee et al. 12). Without an author, use a short title: (“Understanding Mental Health”).
Formatting the Works Cited page
- The title “Works Cited” is centered, not bold.
- Entries are double-spaced in alphabetical order, with a 0.5-inch hanging indent.
- Months longer than four letters are abbreviated: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.
Need APA or Chicago instead? Switch the style at the top — your whole list is reformatted. See also the APA citation generator and the Chicago citation generator.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MLA citation generator free?
Yes, with no account and no limits for normal use. The Works Cited list and the Word file are free too.
Does it follow MLA 9th edition?
Yes. Entries follow the core elements of the MLA Handbook, 9th edition: “et al.” for three or more authors, page ranges like pp. 200-15, URLs without https://.
How do I cite a website in MLA?
Paste the link and press “Cite”: Author. “Title of the Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL. If the page has no date, the access date is added.
How do I make an MLA in-text citation?
Write the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses: (Smith 45). The generator shows the citation under each entry; add the page you quote.
How do I create a Works Cited page?
Add every source to the list and press “Download Word”. The file has the centered title Works Cited, double spacing and hanging indents, in alphabetical order.
Can I switch from MLA to APA later?
Yes. Choose another style at the top and the whole list is reformatted at once.