Everything you need to format MLA 8 citations correctly — the 9 core elements, container system, hanging indents, punctuation rules, and source-type examples.
MLA 8th edition (published 2016) introduced a universal formatting system — one set of rules that applies to every source type. Whether you're citing a book, a tweet, or a Netflix documentary, the same 9 core elements and container structure apply. This guide covers every formatting rule you need to know.
The Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper. These page-level formatting rules apply to the entire list:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Title | "Works Cited" — centred, not bolded, not in quotation marks, not italicised |
| Margins | 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides |
| Font | Times New Roman 12pt (or readable equivalent) |
| Line spacing | Double-spaced throughout (including between entries) |
| Indentation | Hanging indent: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented ½ inch |
| Sort order | Alphabetical by first element (usually author's last name) |
| No author | Alphabetise by the first significant word of the title |
| Multiple works, same author | Replace author name with three hyphens (---) after first entry |
MLA 8 identifies 9 elements that may appear in a Works Cited entry. You only include the elements that are relevant and available for your source. Each element is followed by a specific punctuation mark.
MLA 8's most important innovation is the container system. A "container" is any larger work that holds your source. A journal article is contained in a journal; a chapter in an edited book; a YouTube video in YouTube (the platform).
When a source has two levels of containers (e.g., a journal article accessed through a database), you list both containers in sequence. The second container typically adds the database name, URL, or DOI.
Author formatting varies by number of contributors:
| Number of Authors | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 author | Last, First. — e.g., Smith, John. |
| 2 authors | Last, First, and First Last. — e.g., Smith, John, and Jane Doe. |
| 3 or more authors | List first author then "et al." — e.g., Smith, John, et al. |
| Corporate author | Organisation name in full — e.g., World Health Organization. |
| No author | Skip element 1; begin with title of source |
| Editor (no author) | Last, First, editor. — or: Last, First, and First Last, editors. |
| Translator | Appears in element 4: translated by First Last, |
How you format a title depends on whether the source is standalone (independent) or part of a container (dependent):
| Source Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Book (standalone) | Italicised | The Great Gatsby |
| Journal (container) | Italicised | Nature |
| Website (container) | Italicised | BBC News |
| Article / chapter | Quotation marks | "Rethinking Climate Models" |
| Short poem / short story | Quotation marks | "The Road Not Taken" |
| Anthology / collection | Italicised | The Norton Anthology of Poetry |
| TV episode | Quotation marks (episode), then italics (show) | "Pilot," Breaking Bad |
| Film (standalone) | Italicised | Oppenheimer |
| Tweet / social post | First 160 characters in quotation marks | "This research changes everything..." |
Our free MLA 8 citation machine handles the 9 elements, container system, and punctuation rules for every source type — no memorisation required.
Use Free MLA 8 Citation Machine →MLA 8 uses parenthetical in-text citations that refer readers to the Works Cited entry. The standard format is (Author Page) — no comma between name and page number.
| Situation | In-Text Format |
|---|---|
| One author | (Smith 45) |
| Two authors | (Smith and Jones 45) |
| Three or more authors | (Smith et al. 45) |
| No author | (Shortened Title 45) — italicise or quote as appropriate |
| Corporate author, short name | (WHO 12) |
| Corporate author, long name | (World Health Organization 12) — or abbreviate in Works Cited |
| No page numbers (website) | (Smith) — omit page number |
| Multiple works by same author | (Smith, Title 45) |
| Author named in sentence | Smith argues that... (45) |
| Direct quote spanning pages | (Smith 45–46) |
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Parenthetical year after author | That's APA style, not MLA 8 | Move year to end of entry |
| Italicising article titles | Articles/chapters use quotation marks | Use "Article Title." format |
| Omitting "vol." and "no." | MLA 8 requires these labels | Write vol. 5, no. 2, not 5(2) |
| Bold or underline for titles | Only italics are standard in MLA 8 | Use italics only |
| Single-spaced list | Works Cited must be double-spaced | Double-space all entries |
| No hanging indent | Required formatting rule | 0.5 inch hanging indent on lines 2+ |
| "Works Cited" in bold/quotes | Plain centred text only | Centre it with no formatting |
| Comma between author and page in (Smith, 45) | MLA does not use a comma here | Write (Smith 45) |
MLA 8 allows optional elements when they add useful context. Add them before the final period:
| Optional Element | When to Include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Date of original publication | Classic texts in modern editions | 1813; rpt. ed., Penguin, 2003. |
| Access date | Content likely to change (blogs, social media) | Accessed 15 Apr. 2024. |
| City of publication | Historical sources published before 1900 | London, |
| Descriptive label | Ambiguous source type | Map. / Photograph. / Interview. |
| Annotation | Annotated bibliographies only | After final period, new paragraph |
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