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MLA Citation Generator
Paste a DOI or link and get a correct MLA reference plus the in-text citation in seconds. Free for students, with no sign-up needed to try it.
What an MLA reference looks like
MLA style comes from the Modern Language Association and dominates in literature and language courses. Unlike most systems it cites author and page number, not year, in the text, and collects full details in a Works Cited list built on the "container" model.
Reference list entry (made-up example article)
Berg, Lena. “Climate Adaptation in Coastal Cities.” Journal of Urban Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, 2023, pp. 101–18.
In-text citation
(Berg 105)
Key MLA rules
- In-text citations give author and page only: (Berg 105), with no comma and no year.
- The reference list is titled "Works Cited" and sorted alphabetically by surname.
- Titles of articles go in quotation marks; titles of journals, books and websites in italics.
- Use "vol." and "no." for volume and issue, and "pp." before page ranges.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write an in-text citation in MLA?
MLA cites in the sentence itself, like this: (Berg 105)
What does an MLA reference look like?
A journal article in MLA style is formatted like this (the article is a made-up example): Berg, Lena. “Climate Adaptation in Coastal Cities.” Journal of Urban Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, 2023, pp. 101–18.
What are the main formatting rules in MLA?
In-text citations give author and page only: (Berg 105), with no comma and no year. The reference list is titled "Works Cited" and sorted alphabetically by surname. Titles of articles go in quotation marks; titles of journals, books and websites in italics. Use "vol." and "no." for volume and issue, and "pp." before page ranges.
Which subjects use MLA style?
MLA is most common in literature, languages, cultural studies and the humanities. Always check your course guide, since departments sometimes use their own variant.
Which MLA edition does CitApp follow?
CitApp follows the 9th edition (2021).
Is the MLA citation generator free?
Yes. You can generate MLA citations free of charge: paste a DOI or URL above and copy the result. A free account saves unlimited sources to projects, and the full reference list is free for everyone.
Keep every source organized
Save sources to projects, drag them into chapters and export a finished reference list. Free to start, no credit card.