How to Format a MLA Works Cited
The works cited is one of the most important parts of any academic paper formatted in MLA (9th edition). It provides readers with the full details of every source you cited, allowing them to locate and verify your references. Getting the formatting right is essential for academic credibility. This guide covers the exact rules, shows real examples, and highlights the most common mistakes students make.
Formatting Rules
Follow these rules when creating your MLA works cited:
1.Title the page "Works Cited" (centered) at the top — do not bold, italicize, or underline
2.Start on a new page after the body of the paper
3.Use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) for each entry
4.Double-space all entries
5.Alphabetize by the first element in each entry (usually the author's last name)
6.Italicize titles of books, journals, and websites
7.Use quotation marks around titles of articles, chapters, and short works
Example Works Cited
Here is how a MLA works cited looks with entries for different source types:
Book
Smith, Jane D. The Art of Research. Academic Press, 2024.
Journal Article
Lee, Alex B., and Chris Park. "Modern Citation Practices." Journal of Academic Writing, vol. 15, no. 2, 2024, pp. 45–67.
Website
"Global Health Statistics." World Health Organization, 15 Mar. 2024, www.who.int/statistics.
YouTube Video
"Introduction to Citations." YouTube, uploaded by Khan Academy, 10 Jan. 2024, youtube.com/watch?v=example.
Podcast
Garcia, Maria. "Research Methods Today." Academic Hour, Spotify, 5 Feb. 2024.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the five most frequent formatting errors students make when creating a MLA works cited:
- Missing or incorrect hanging indent: Every entry should have the first line flush left and all subsequent lines indented by 0.5 inches. Use your word processor's paragraph settings rather than pressing the Tab key.
- Incorrect alphabetization or ordering: Entries must be arranged according to MLA rules. Ignore articles like "A," "An," and "The" when alphabetizing. For numbered styles, list entries in the order they first appear in the text.
- Inconsistent spacing: Double-check your line spacing throughout the entire works cited. Mixing single and double spacing is a common error that is easy to miss.
- Wrong use of italics: Italicize titles of standalone works such as books and journals, but do not italicize article or chapter titles. Check MLA guidelines for exactly which elements should be italicized.
- Missing or broken DOIs and URLs: Always include a DOI when one is available, formatted as a clickable link. Test every URL before submitting your paper to make sure it leads to the correct source.
Generate Your Works Cited Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted MLA citation in seconds, ready for your works cited.
Cite in MLA Now →Related MLA Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a MLA Works Cited?
- A MLA Works Cited is the section at the end of your paper that lists all the sources you cited in your text, formatted according to MLA 9th Edition (9th edition) guidelines. It allows readers to locate and verify each source you referenced.
- How do I format a MLA works cited?
- Start on a new page, title it "Works Cited," and list all sources you cited in your paper. Follow the specific MLA rules for hanging indents, spacing, alphabetization or numbering order, and italics.
- What is the difference between a works cited and a bibliography?
- A works cited includes only the sources you directly cited in your paper, while a bibliography may also include sources you consulted but did not cite. In MLA (9th edition), the end-of-paper list is called the "Works Cited."