MLA Citation Generator

Who Is The MLA Citation Generator For

First-Year Students

Early papers often mix books, class readings, and web sources. A generator helps keep the Works Cited list in shape, even when the source set changes mid-draft, and it can lower accidental plagiarism risk when a citation slips in an MLA format paper.

Literature and Humanities Courses

MLA shows up often in writing courses and literature modules in the liberal arts. In these papers, quotes appear a lot, so quotation marks and the author–page habit in text matter on almost every page.

Thesis and Dissertation Writers

Long projects bring late sources. A generator helps keep the list and text citations aligned as chapters shift and references grow across longer research papers.

Group Projects

Group drafts can drift fast: one person types titles one way, another uses a shortened version, and the Works Cited list splits into two patterns. A shared workspace helps one pattern stay in place, even with other contributors.

How MLA Citations Work in Practice

Page Numbers Stay Inside the Citation

When the author name appears in the sentence, MLA still keeps the page number in parentheses. This matches the standard for parenthetical citations and keeps the line clean.

Works Cited Uses Core Elements and Containers

MLA formats entries by arranging core elements in a specific sequence. The term “container” refers to the larger work that includes the source, like a journal, database, or collection, within MLA style.

Works Cited Layout Has a Hanging Indent

When you create MLA Works Cited entries, remember to double space them. The first line should align with the margin, while the following lines should move to the right. This layout helps keep everything neat and organized on the Works Cited page.

Access Dates Stay Optional in Many Cases

MLA guidelines don’t always ask for an access date for online sources. However, it’s often beneficial, particularly when a page lacks a publication date or the information on it might change.

MLA References: A Short Guide

Before you paste the Works Cited list, scan each source type once. The list below shows what to check for each source type.

• Academic papers. Author, “Title of source,” journal title, volume, issue, date, pages, DOI or URL, plus database name as container when relevant.
• Books. Author, MLA format title, edition (when present), publisher, year.
• Book chapters or essays in collections. Chapter author and title, book title as container, editor names, publisher, year, page range.
• Websites. Author or organisation, page title, site name as container when it helps, date on the page, URL, access date only when it helps the reader locate the page later.
• Online video or audio. Creator or account name, title, platform as container, date, URL.
• Sources with no author. Title at the start of the entry, then the usual core elements; in text, a short title can replace the author.

How to Fix Typical MLA Mistakes

Here’s a table showing common MLA mistakes often found at the end of documents. Next to each error, you’ll find a quick way to fix it. This helps prevent citation errors. Consider these tips to make your citations accurate.