MLA (Modern Language Association) style is widely used in the humanities, especially in fields

like literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. Here’s a breakdown of how to format research
citations in a bibliography or Works Cited page according to MLA 9 guidelines:

General MLA 9 Formatting for Works Cited Page

1. Title: The bibliography page should be titled Works Cited (centered, no bold,
italics, or underline).
2. Order: Entries should be listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
3. Spacing: Use double spacing throughout the page.
4. Indentation: Use a hanging indent for each entry (the first line is flush left, and
subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches).
5. Font: Use a readable font like Times New Roman, 12-point.

Below are examples of commonly used MLA 9 citations for different types of sources.

1. Book Citation

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

Example:
Smith, John. Understanding Human Nature. Random House, 2021.

2. Chapter or Essay in an Edited Book

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Chapter or Essay.” Title of Book, edited by Editor First
Name Last Name, Publisher, Publication Year, Page Range.

Example:
Adams, Samuel. “Philosophy in the Modern Age.” Essays in Philosophy, edited by Grace
Harper, Cambridge UP, 2019, pp. 34-56.

3. Journal Article

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue
Number, Publication Year, pp. Page Range. DOI or URL (if available).

Example:
Johnson, Emily. “Renaissance Art and Its Influence.” Art History Review, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020,
pp. 112-130. doi:10.1234/ahr.v15i2.5678.

4. Magazine Article

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine, Publication Date, Page
Range.

Example:
Turner, Robert. “The Rise of Digital Art.” Art Monthly, March 2023, pp. 45-47.

5. Newspaper Article

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper, Publication Date, Page
Range.

Example:
Williams, Sarah. “Exploring Climate Change Solutions.” The New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023, p.
A3.

6. Website

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Web Page.” Website Name, Publication Date, URL.

Example:
Miller, James. “The Future of Renewable Energy.” Green Tech Journal, 8 June 2022,
www.greentechjournal.com/future-renewables.

7. Video (YouTube or Other Online Platforms)

Format:
Creator Last Name, First Name or Organization Name. “Title of Video.” Platform, uploaded by
Username, Date of Upload, URL.

Example:
Harvard University. “The Future of Medicine.” YouTube, uploaded by Harvard Medical, 15 Aug.
2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefg.

8. Academic Report or Study

Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Report. Publisher, Year of Publication. DOI or URL (if
available).

Example:
Anderson, Mark. Impact of Climate Policies on Urban Development. World Bank, 2020,
doi:10.1596/12345.

9. Interview

• Published Interview
Format: Interviewee Last Name, First Name. Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name.
Title of Publication, Date, Page Range.
Example:
Garcia, Lucia. Interview by Maria Lopez. The Artist’s Voice, 3 Apr. 2022, pp. 24-26.
• Personal Interview
Format: Interviewee Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Date of Interview.
Example:
Lee, Michael. Personal interview. 9 Oct. 2023.

Additional Tips

• Authors: If a work has two authors, list both (e.g., Smith, John, and Jane Doe).
For three or more authors, use et al. after the first author’s name (e.g., Smith, John, et al.).
• Italicization: Use italics for titles of books, journals, and websites. Use quotation
marks for titles of articles, chapters, essays, and web pages.
• URLs and DOIs: Use complete URLs without “https://” unless the citation would
be incomplete otherwise. For DOIs, use the format doi:xxxx.

MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guidelines for a Research Paper

In academic writing, adhering to a specific style guide is essential for ensuring consistency and
clarity. The Modern Language Association (MLA) 9th Edition offers a standardized format widely
used in the humanities, particularly in language, literature, and cultural studies. The following
guidelines cover essential aspects such as font, spacing, indentation, and organization to format
a research paper in MLA style effectively.

1. Font and Text Size

• Font Style: Use a readable, professional font. The MLA Handbook recommends
Times New Roman as the standard font due to its clarity and wide acceptance; however, other
fonts such as Arial or Calibri may also be acceptable if they are legible and used consistently.
• Font Size: Use 12-point font throughout the entire paper. This size ensures
readability without detracting from the professional appearance of the document.
2. Line Spacing and Paragraphing

• Double Spacing: All text in the document, including the title, headings, main
content, block quotes, and Works Cited page, should be double-spaced. This spacing ensures
readability and provides space for annotations or corrections.
• No Extra Spacing Between Paragraphs: Maintain a consistent double-space
between paragraphs. Avoid additional spacing before or after paragraphs unless explicitly
requested by the instructor.

3. Margins

• One-Inch Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right) of
each page. These uniform margins are required to maintain the paper’s visual balance and are
standard in MLA format.

4. Paragraph Indentation

• First Line Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches from
the left margin. This is typically done by pressing the Tab key once at the beginning of each
paragraph.
• Block Quotations: For quotations that are longer than four lines of prose or three
lines of verse, use a block format. Begin the block quote on a new line, indent it 1 inch from the
left margin, and continue the double-spacing. Do not add quotation marks around block quotes;
instead, place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation of the quoted material.

5. Page Headers and Page Numbers

• Header: Each page should have a header in the upper right corner that includes
the writer’s last name and the page number.
• Example: Smith 2
• Right Alignment: Align the header to the right margin, half an inch from the top of
the page. This should be in the same font and font size as the main text.

6. Title Page and Heading

• No Separate Title Page: MLA style generally does not require a separate title
page unless specifically requested by the instructor. In such cases, the title page may include
the paper title, author’s name, instructor’s name, course name, and date.
• Main Heading: On the first page, in the top left corner, include the following
information, double-spaced:
• Student’s Name
• Instructor’s Name
• Course Name (e.g., English 101)
• Date (formatted as Day Month Year, e.g., 9 December 2023)
 • Paper Title: Center the title of the paper directly below the heading on the first
page. Capitalize key words but do not italicize, underline, or use bold text. Avoid using quotation
marks in the title unless referring to a specific work within it.

7. In-Text Citations and Quotations

• In-Text Citations: MLA format uses parenthetical citations within the text to
reference sources. Typically, these citations include the author’s last name and the page
number without any punctuation in between (e.g., (Smith 45)).
• Long Quotations (Block Quotes): When quoting prose longer than four lines or
poetry longer than three lines, format it as a block quote:
• Start the quote on a new line, indented 1 inch from the left margin.
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Place the parenthetical citation after the punctuation of the last line in the block
quote.

8. Works Cited Page

• Separate Page: The Works Cited page should begin on a new page at the end of
the paper.
• Title: Center the title “Works Cited” at the top of the page. Do not use bold, italics,
or underline for the title.
• Alphabetical Order: List all sources alphabetically by the author’s last name. If
there is no author, begin with the title of the work.
• Hanging Indent: Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each entry. This means
the first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, while subsequent lines are indented.

9. Sample Layout of an MLA Paper

Here is an example of the first page layout in MLA format:

Jane Doe
Professor Williams
English 101
9 December 2023

The Influence of Renaissance Literature on Modern Thought

Renaissance literature has had a profound impact on modern philosophical thought, bridging
the gap between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Indent the first line of each paragraph by
0.5 inches, as shown here, and maintain double-spacing. For example, when quoting from a
source, cite it in the text (Smith 45). Longer quotations, known as block quotes, should
be formatted as follows:
 If the quotation exceeds four lines, start it on a new line and indent it by 1 inch.
Do not use quotation marks for block quotes, and ensure the text remains double-spaced.
End block quotes with a parenthetical citation following the punctuation (Smith 46).

The Works Cited page would be formatted as follows:

Works Cited

Smith, John. *The Influence of Renaissance Literature*. Oxford University Press, 2018.

These MLA formatting rules are designed to ensure that your paper is organized, professional,
and accessible. Consistently applying these guidelines will help create a polished, scholarly
document appropriate for academic submissions. If you need clarification or additional
assistance with MLA formatting specifics, feel free to reach out.