MLA (Modern Language Association)  

Welcome to the MLA resource page. MLA is a style of writing and formatting that is created and updated by the Modern Language Association. MLA style is most commonly used in the humanities, such as in English and General Studies Writing courses.

Within this guide, you'll find sample reference citations for a Works Cited page as well as links to sample citations in text. Use these pages as an introduction to basic MLA citation style; further examples are found in the MLA Style Guide and MLA Handbook.

Want to learn more? Choose one of the links below (or tabs above) to learn about how to cite a specific type of resource.

Citing a book

Citing parts of a book

Citing a newspaper article

Citing a journal or magazine article

Citing a website

Examples in this guide are based on:

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: MLA, 2009. Print.

Many citation sites that help students create bibliographies have not updated their information to include the recent changes to MLA style. Check with your professors to see which version of MLA style you should use for your classes.

For further MLA guidance, see the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. 3rd ed.

Firelands Writing Lab helps writers improve their work. Contact the Writing Center for an appointment, or visit its web site to learn what resources the center offers.

The MLA handout below can be printed out and taken with you for fast reference.