MLA Format Works Cited Page Example

The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is one of the most commonly used citation styles in academic writing, particularly in the humanities. A correctly formatted Works Cited page is essential for giving proper credit to the sources you've used in your research paper or essay. This guide provides comprehensive examples and instructions to help you create an accurate MLA Works Cited page.

General Format for the Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page should be a separate page at the end of your paper. It should include all the sources that you cited within your paper. Here are the general formatting rules:

• Begin the Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper.
• Label the page "Works Cited" (do not italicize, bold, or put quotation marks around the title).
• Double-space the entire list, both within and between citations.
• Use hanging indentation for each entry (first line of each citation flush with left margin, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).
• Alphabetize entries by author's last name. If no author is given, alphabetize by the title.
• Include a medium of publication for every source (such as "Print," "Web," "Television," etc.).

Core Elements of MLA Citation

MLA 8th edition uses a template for citing sources that includes nine core elements. Not every source will use all nine elements, but they should be included in this order when available:

1. Author: The person or organization responsible for creating the work.
2. Title of Source: The name of the work being cited.
3. Title of Container: The larger work (book, journal, website) that contains the source.
4. Other Contributors: Editors, translators, illustrators, etc.
5. Version: Edition, volume, issue number.
6. Number: Volume or issue information.
7. Publisher: The organization responsible for publishing the source.
8. Publication Date: When the source was published.
9. Location: Page numbers, URLs, DOIs, or physical locations.

Common Citation Formats

Books

For a basic book citation, include the author, title, publisher, and publication date.

For a book with two or three authors, list the authors in the order they appear on the title page. Only the first author's name should be inverted (Last Name, First Name).

For a book with more than three authors, you may list all authors or use "et al." after the first author's name.

Articles in Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers

For journal articles, include the author, article title (in quotation marks), journal title (italicized), volume, issue, publication date, page numbers, and database (if applicable).

For magazine articles, include the date of publication in the format "12 June 2022."

For newspaper articles, include the name of the newspaper in italics, followed by the date of publication and page numbers.

Websites

For websites, include the author, page title (in quotation marks), website name (italicized), publisher, publication date, URL, and access date (if necessary).

If the website does not list an author, begin with the title of the page.

Online Videos

For online videos (including YouTube), include the uploader, video title, website, publisher, date, and URL.

Complete Works Cited Page Example

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Consistency is key: Ensure that your citations follow a consistent format throughout the Works Cited page.
• Check punctuation: Pay close attention to periods, commas, and italics in your citations. Each element in a citation should end with the appropriate punctuation.
• Watch capitalization: In titles, capitalize only the first word, the last word, and all principal words (including words with hyphens).
• Include all necessary information: Make sure each citation contains all the required elements for that type of source.
• Use digital object identifiers (DOIs) when available: DOIs provide a permanent link to digital content and are preferred over URLs for scholarly articles.
• Avoid including sources you didn't cite: The Works Cited page should only include sources that are cited in your paper, not all sources you consulted.