This guide is distilled from the official Modern Language Association (MLA) regulations in an attempt to make it easier to read and reference. Full copies of the MLA Handbook are available at the library for in-library use. There is also a great deal of free help available at the online MLA Style Center.
If you have a question not covered by this guide, please consult a librarian.
MLA Handbook - 9th Edition by
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. Intended for a variety of classroom contexts―middle school, high school, and college courses in composition, communication, literature, language arts, film, media studies, digital humanities, and related fields―the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook offers:
• New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language
• Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group project
• Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before
• A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more
• Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources
• Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work
• Detailed guidance on footnotes and endnotes
• Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism
• A sample essay in MLA format
• Annotated bibliography examples
• Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation
• Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars
Request a physical copy of the handbook through the Library Catalog.
The Modern Language Association (MLA) was founded in 1883, and their mission is to promote "the study, teaching, and understanding of languages, literatures, and culture." They champion their values of Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy in the service of the humanities.
The MLA Style is the primary style used across the humanities, especially English and literature studies, though other academic disciplines often use it as well.
The MLA provides a robust online resource known as the MLA Style Center, which includes free resources on research, writing, and documentation within the MLA style. There is also the opportunity to subscribe to an online version of the MLA Handbook, but there's no need to spend money if you don't want to. The library also has several copies of the current edition of the MLA Handbook available for referencing for free.
Some other useful online guides include the Purdue Owl Writing Lab, Scribbr and EasyBib by Chegg. All of these online guides include help with citation formatting, sample papers, and even some video tutorials.
We are always looking to improve the resources we provide to our students and faculty, so please let us know if you see something that should be added, updated, corrected, or otherwise modified. Contact our Reference Librarian to let us know what changes would be helpful to see.
