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MLA Style Guide, 9th Edition

Welcome

Welcome to the quick guide for the MLA Style Guide 9th Edition. This edition was released in 2021, and it comes with a few changes from the 8th Edition. Be sure to check with your instructor about which style is preferred.

Note: We also subscribe to the complete MLA 9 Style Guide online, which is called the MLA Handbook Plus.

The MLA Handbook, 9th edition offers:

  1. Expanded guidance on topics with recurring questions from students
  2. Introduction of inclusive language specifics
  3. More citation examples, updated plagiarism avoidance guidelines, whole new chapter on paper formatting
  4. New advice on annotated bibliographies
  5. Instructions on citing social media, apps, and databases

In the 9th edition, citations continue to be composed of core elements regardless of your source.

Author Title of Source Title of Container (journal, database, book, etc)
Other Contributors (editor, translator, illustrator) Version (edition, etc) Number (volume, issue)
Publisher Publication Date (season, year) Location (page numbers, URL, DOI)

These core elements are organized into citations in this format:

Author. "Title of Source." Title of Container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location.

MLA Style Resources