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.
Every source type
MLA 9 at a glance
One worked example per source type, formatted in MLA 9 and produced by the same engine as the citation generator. MLA 9 is an author–date style, so the author and year lead every entry.
| Source type | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| book | Bolton, Gillie. Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2018. | (Bolton) |
| journal article | 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. | (Thomas 412) |
| web page | Agency, Quality Assurance. "Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education." QAA, 2025, https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity. Accessed 14 August 2026. | (Agency) |
| book chapter | Moon, Jennifer. "Reflection in Higher Education Learning." Handbook of Reflective Practice, Routledge, 2013, pp. 45-62. | (Moon 45) |
| report | Students, Office for. Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence. Office for Students, 2025. | (Students) |