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MLA citation generator

Sit back and relax. Let SciSpace give you instant and accurate MLA citations

Browse among 9000+ citation styles

Writing for a different discipline or publication? Have an appropriate citation style for them all.

Here's how SciSpace's MLA citation generator works

Creating your references is about as easy as it gets with SciSpace. Just follow these simple steps below:

🔎Select the source material
Journal article, Conference proceeding, Webpage, Book
📚Select the citation format
MLA 9th edition
📝Edit or add metadata via these methods
1. Copy and paste raw text from any website 2. Use the search bar to find the source by URL, DOI, or ISBN 3. Input field values manually
⚡️Click 'Generate Citation'
Get MLA in-text citations and works cited entries in seconds — without any ads
💥Save and export citation
Download the output in BibTeX format or copy the text for free

Generate accurate MLA citations

Paste content or enter the source URL and our AI will scan, capture, and categorize the relevant info to generate in-text and bibliographic in seconds — no more missing details or manually filling boxes and fields.

Proceed with confidence

Submit assignments, papers, or essays confidently, knowing our AI is trained on the latest MLA guidelines and manuscripts. You no longer have to sift the internet for MLA citation examples.

Refer to different types of sources

Cite websites, books, book chapters, articles, and press releases, in MLA style — with just a few clicks. More sources to be supported soon.

Save progress and come back later

Don't wait till the writing process is complete to start working on your bibliography. Generate MLA style in-text citations and reference entries as you go and save them, so you don't miss any sources.

Easily export to BibTeX

Using LatTeX for document preparation? No problem, export the MLA formatted output directly as BibTeX files and add them to your project without hassle.

Complete your bibliography for free

Our MLA citation generator is free to use. So, you can turn your sources into accurately formatted in-text and bibliographic MLA citations without spending anything.

Enjoy a clutter-free experience

No ads or annoying pop-ups to deal with — just a top-of-the-line, AI-powered MLA citation generator that takes you through the whole process in fewer steps and less time.

Speed up in-text citation

Let our AI take care of MLA in-text citation formatting so you can focus on writing. Our AI scans what you've already written and offers relevant autocompletion suggestions as per the MLA style.

Why our citation generator is the easiest and most effective way to cite sources?

Wondering which citation generator should you go for? Here is a list of features that you should look out for, so you can make an informed decision.

FeaturesCitation Generator by
SciSpace		Citation Generator by
Quillbot		Citation Generator by
Scribbr		Citation Generator by
Cite this for me		Citation Generator by
Citation Machine		Citation Generator by
Easybib
Capture information from the InternetFullyPartiallyPartiallyPartiallyPartiallyPartially
AutoformattingYesPartiallyPartiallyPartiallyPartiallyPartially
ExportBibTeX, ClipboardWord, Clipboard, CSL-JSON, BibTeXWord, LaTeX, ClipboardWordWordWord
CostFreeFreeFreeAfter 15 references$8.54/moFree version + paid$9.95/moFree version + paid$9.95/mo
Ad-FreeYesYesYesNoNoNo

Common questions about referencing your sources in MLA style

Questions around citing in the MLA style are fairly common, especially among students and new researchers. So, we've answered some of the most frequently asked ones below.

  • 1. What is MLA citation?
    MLA citation format is a citation style developed by the Modern Language Association. It is one of the most widely used forms of citation in both the academic and non-academic world today. The MLA Style Citation is common in humanities, especially for literature and language studies and social sciences, with many journals adopting the style to cite sources. A writer can cite in two ways using the MLA format; in-text, which is included in the body, and bibliography, which comes on the work’s cited page.
  • 2. An MLA citation example
    In-text citation -
    (Kerouac 169)
    Bibliography -
    Kerouac, Jack. On the Road, The Viking Press, New York, 1957, p. 169.
  • 3. What is an MLA works cited page?
    A works cited page is a dedicated page at the end of research where the writer lists out all the references in bibliography style. Citations on the works cited page have to be detailed and should match the references included in the body of the text.MLA works cited entry example:
    Johns, Scott. “Making the Impossible Possible.” *People Magazine*, April 2021, pp. 56-61.
  • 4. How to reference a website in MLA format?
    Here's what a MLA citation of a website would look like:Use the following format when you’re citing a webpage in the MLA format: 
    Last name, First name. “Title of Web Page.” Title of Website, Publisher, Date published, and URL.
    MLA website citation (works cited entry) example:
    Reith, Jerry. “The Physics Behind the Formation of Auroras.” The Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2018, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-physics-behind-the-formation-of-auroras/
  • 5. How to cite a book in MLA format?
    When you’re citing a book in MLA style, use the format -
    Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.
    MLA books citation (works cited entry) example:
    Johnson, Jane. Climate Change: Understanding the Facts. 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2021
  • 6. How to cite a journal article in MLA format?
    The set style for citing a journal article in MLA style is -
    Last name. First Name. "Title of Article." Publication, Day Month Year, pages.
    If you’re citing an online publication, replace ‘pages’ with ‘URL.’
  • 7. What's the difference between works cited, reference list, and bibliography?
    The MLA Works Cited page arranges sources alphabetically by author's last name at the end of a manuscript on a separate page. You'll have to use it if you're following MLA formatting (Modern Language Association) style.
    Work cited entry example in MLA format:
    Johns, Scott. “Making the Impossible Possible.” People Magazine, April 2021, pp. 56-61.
    The Reference List is an alphabetized list of sources used when following the APA citation (American Psychological Association) style. While it may sound similar to Works Cited, the order and the framing of the text will be different. Plus, the page should be titled References.
    Reference list entry example:
    Gardner, J. (2011). The Price of Empire: The Decline of Spain in the 17th Century. London, UK: Cambridge University Press.
    A Bibliography differs from Works Cited or Reference Lists, as it includes all sources used for research, even the ones not mentioned in the paper. It is usually used in Chicago and Turabian citation styles and contains a long reference with a corresponding footnote.
    Bibliography entry example:
    Cunningham, Emily. A World Unravelled: The American Revolution. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 2019.
  • 8. How to use et al. in MLA citation format?
    In MLA citation, et al. are used to cite three or more authors. Include the first author’s name followed by “et al.””
  • 9. How to cite a YouTube video in MLA format?
    When citing YouTube or other online videos, be as descriptive as possible to help your readers locate the video. This typically includes the creator's full name or screen name, the publication date, the title of the video, the hosting website (e.g., YouTube), and the URL for the video. This will ensure that readers can easily access and watch the video and understand the context of your reference.””Here’s how to cite a YouTube video in MLA format;PBS NewsHour. “What is the First Amendment?” YouTube, 7 Apr. 2022, youtu.be/t_FoD7SeHOQ.
  • 10. How to cite multiple authors in MLA format?
    It can be confusing and verbose to include every author’s name for one source. Thus, MLA guidelines suggest you use “et al.” after the first author’s name.
  • 11. How to cite a pdf in MLA format?
    There are no specific MLA guidelines on how to cite a pdf. Depending on the type of material a pdf is (book, chapter, article), use the appropriate format to cite the document.
  • 12. Is SciSpace's MLA citation generator completely free?
    Absolutely! Our MLA Citation Generator is totally free, and better yet, it's super accurate compared to other citation style generators — particularly for MLA citation style.
  • 13. Do you follow the latest MLA format guidelines?
    Yes, the format complies with the MLA format guidelines. Our AI model is trained on the latest data. If there are any changes to the guidelines, we'll change our algorithm accordingly.
  • 14. What are the other citation generators offered by SciSpace?
    Besides the MLA style, we also offer citation generators for Harvard, Chicago, IEEE, APA, and 9000+ other citation styles. All of them use the latest data and technology to ensure your citations are accurate and up-to-date.

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