How to Cite a Report in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite a report or white paper 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 a report in your Works Cited page:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Report. Report No. xxx, Publisher, Year.
MLA Example for a Report
A complete MLA reference for a report, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Doyle, Fiona, and Karim Ahmed. The State of Academic Integrity. Research report RR-2024-08, Centre for Learning Research, 2024, https://www.example.org/reports/integrity.
Matching in-text citation: (Doyle and Ahmed)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Author 12)
Narrative
Author found that...
Key MLA Formatting Rules
- Italicize the report title.
- Include the report number, publisher, and year.
- Include URL or DOI if accessed online.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your report.
- 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 are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: mla.csl
Metadata to collect
- author or issuing organization
- report title
- report number or series
- publisher
- year
- DOI or URL
Common metadata traps
- Do not repeat the publisher when it is the same as the author.
- Include the report number so readers can tell it from similar titles in the same series.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a report in MLA?
- To cite a report 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 a report citation?
- The MLA format for a report is: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Report. Report No. xxx, Publisher, Year.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a report in MLA?
- In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author 12)
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