The MLA referencing style uses brief parenthetical in-text citations linked to an alphabetised list at the end of the document, known as the Works Cited list. MLA is commonly used in English and literature studies.
MLA style guides
Library resources
- MLA Handbook, 9th ed.
- MLA Handbook for writers of research papers, 4th ed.
Online resource
Referencing in MLA
Let's go through the steps of how to use a style guide to reference in MLA, using the Monash University guide to MLA.
The reference list entry
Start by doing the reference entry of your source for your Works Cited list. If you get this right early on, it will save you a lot of time.
1. Identify what the source is, where it's from, and who it's by.
Is it a book? A journal article? A government report? A podcast? A blog post? Did you access it online? How many authors does it have? The source's characteristics influence how to reference it.
2. Find a matching example in your style guide.
The aim is to find the closest example possible in your chosen MLA style guide, e.g. the Monash University guide to MLA.
3. Write out the reference following the style guide examples.
Your aim at this point is to make the information you have match the order and formatting of the example in the style guide. This includes details such as punctuation, italicisation, and case (e.g. Title Case).
If you're unsure about how to cite a particular source, remember that the person marking your assignment cares most of all about consistency and having enough information to be able to locate the source themselves. Check over your references to make sure they're following the same principles and formatting.
In-text citations
When you use MLA, you need to use parenthetical citations in the body of your work to show where the information comes from. In MLA, in-text citations only need to include the author surname and the page number that you're referring to. MLA in-text citations don’t include the year of publication.
Check your guide
Always remember to have your chosen style guide open while you are referencing, even if you use referencing software. It's useful to look out for inconsistencies and to make sure that you have all the right information in the correct order and format. Check out the style guides listed at the top of this page.
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