MLA 9th edition referencing
English literature, languages, cultural studies and the humanities.
Short answer
What is MLA 9 referencing?
MLA 9 uses author–page in-text citations — (Smith 42) — and a 'Works Cited' list rather than a bibliography. It is built on a containers model: you describe the source, then the larger work containing it, which makes it unusually consistent across new media types.
Worked examples
MLA 9 for every source type
Each example below is produced by the same engine that powers our free generator.
book
Full guide →Reference list entry
Bolton, Gillie. Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2018.
In-text
(Bolton)
journal article
Full guide →Reference list entry
Thomas, Liz, and Michael Hill. "Belonging and Continuation Among First-Generation Undergraduates." Studies in Higher Education, vol. 49, no. 3, 2024, pp. 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471.
In-text
(Thomas 412)
web page
Full guide →Reference list entry
Agency, Quality Assurance. "Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education." QAA, 2025, https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity. Accessed 14 August 2026.
In-text
(Agency)
book chapter
Full guide →Reference list entry
Moon, Jennifer. "Reflection in Higher Education Learning." Handbook of Reflective Practice, Routledge, 2013, pp. 45-62.
In-text
(Moon 45)
report
Full guide →Reference list entry
Students, Office for. Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence. Office for Students, 2025.
In-text
(Students)
Watch out for
MLA 9 quirks that cost marks
- The list is called 'Works Cited', not 'Bibliography' or 'References'.
- In-text citations give a page number, not a year.
- Titles use title case, and article titles sit in double quotation marks.
- MLA 9 uses the containers model — a source can sit inside up to two containers.
- URLs are included but the http:// or https:// prefix is omitted.
MLA 9 — FAQs
- What is MLA 9 referencing?
- MLA 9 uses author–page in-text citations — (Smith 42) — and a 'Works Cited' list rather than a bibliography. It is built on a containers model: you describe the source, then the larger work containing it, which makes it unusually consistent across new media types.
- Who uses MLA 9?
- English literature, languages, cultural studies and the humanities. It is most common in United States, Canada. Always confirm against your own module handbook, because departments within one university often differ.
- Is MLA 9 an author–date or numeric system?
- MLA 9 is an author–date system: in-text citations name the author and year, and the reference list is alphabetical.