MLA 9th Edition Citation Generator — Free MLA 9 Works Cited Maker

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The MLA 9th edition, published in 2021, is the current standard for the Modern Language Association style. It is used in English, literature, foreign languages, and the humanities. The 9th edition kept the flexible container system of MLA 8 and added more examples for new source types.

What is the MLA 9th edition?

MLA 9 is the current edition of the MLA Handbook. It is the citation format used in English, literature, language studies, and many humanities courses. MLA uses a container system: every source has a core set of elements (author, title, container, version, number, publisher, date, location), and the elements are arranged in a fixed order regardless of source type.

What changed in MLA 9?

MLA 9 made small but useful clarifications to MLA 8. The biggest practical changes:

  • More examples for citing apps, databases, and social media.
  • The use of https:// in URLs is now optional — you can include or omit it.
  • Clarified guidance for citing a source found in another source ("quoted in").
  • Updated examples for streaming video, podcasts, and online video games.

The nine core elements in practice

MLA 9 does not give you a separate template per source type. It gives you one ordered list of nine elements, and you fill in only the ones your source actually has, skipping the rest. Learn the order once and you can cite a source the handbook never anticipated.

  • Author. — Smith, John A.
  • Title of source. — “The Role of Machine Learning in Academic Writing.”
  • Title of container, — Journal of Educational Technology,
  • Other contributors, — translated by, edited by, directed by
  • Version, — 4th ed., director's cut
  • Number, — vol. 41, no. 3, season 2, episode 4
  • Publisher, — University of Chicago Press,
  • Publication date, — 2023,
  • Location. — pp. 215–32, or the DOI or URL

Containers inside containers

The element that causes the most trouble is the container — the larger whole your source sits inside. An article's container is its journal; an episode's container is its series. When a source sits inside two containers, such as an episode inside a series inside a streaming platform, MLA 9 has you repeat elements three through nine for the second container after the first is complete.

This is also why a PDF is never the thing you cite. A PDF is a file format, not a container; the article inside it still belongs to its journal.

Frequently asked questions

Is MLA 9 the current MLA format?

Yes. MLA 9th edition, published in 2021, is the current MLA Handbook. Most courses have moved to MLA 9.

Do I include https:// in MLA 9 URLs?

It's optional. MLA 9 lets you include or omit https:// in a URL. Be consistent within your paper.

What are the MLA 9 core elements?

Author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location. You fill in only the elements a source actually has, in that order.

Do I need an access date in MLA 9?

It is optional, and useful for online sources that carry no publication date or that may change. When you include one, put it at the end: Accessed 1 May 2023.

Is the MLA 9 generator free?

Yes. MLA 9 works cited entries and in-text citations are free, with no sign-up required.