How do I cite an ISO standard in MLA?

To cite an ISO standard in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the MLA format for an ISO standard citation?

The MLA format for an ISO standard is: Title of Standard. Standard number, Standards Body, Year, URL.

What does the in-text citation look like for an ISO standard in MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Information and Documentation)

How to Cite an ISO Standard in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite ISO, IEC, and other published technical standards in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing an ISO standard in your Works Cited page:

Title of Standard. Standard number, Standards Body, Year, URL.

MLA Example for an ISO Standard

A complete MLA reference for an ISO standard, written by hand and checked against the official MLA guidance for this source:

Information and Documentation — Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources. ISO 690:2021, International Organization for Standardization, 2021, www.iso.org/standard/72642.html.

Matching in-text citation: (Information and Documentation)

MLA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Information and Documentation)

Narrative

ISO 690:2021, Information and Documentation — Guidelines for Bibliographic References and Citations to Information Resources, recommends...

Key MLA Formatting Rules

MLA 9 starts the entry with the title when the organization is both author and publisher, and names the organization only as publisher.
Put the designation exactly as printed, ISO 690:2021, after the title.
Set the title in italics and headline case, and omit https:// from the URL.
The in-text citation uses a shortened title, here the words before the dash, because there is no author element.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your ISO standard.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the standards body as author
the full designation with its year, such as ISO 690:2021
the exact title as printed, including its dash
the edition number and publication date
the URL or database you used
the clause or section you cite

Common metadata traps

A designation without its year, such as ISO 690, points to whichever edition is current, so always give the year of the edition you read.
The page at iso.org is a catalogue record and preview, not the full text; if you read the standard through a library database such as a national standards body’s platform, cite that copy.
National adoptions such as BS ISO 690:2021 are published by the national body, so cite the version actually in front of you rather than the ISO original.

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an ISO standard in MLA?: To cite an ISO standard in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for an ISO standard citation?: The MLA format for an ISO standard is: Title of Standard. Standard number, Standards Body, Year, URL.
What does the in-text citation look like for an ISO standard in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Information and Documentation)