The Enlightenment: MLA Citation Format

• Interactive Practice Template

  Use this official interactive template from MLA to create works-cited-list entries in MLA style.

• How to cite AI (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) in MLA Style

In MLA style, Works Cited entries are formatted using a template of "core elements" -- elements that most sources have which correspond to WHO? WHAT? WHEN? and WHERE? 

• WHO is the author or creator of the source?
• WHAT is the name or title of the source?
• WHEN was the source published or uploaded?
• WHERE can the reader go to find the source? This might be a specific issue of a journal, certain page numbers, or a link.

These core elements have standard names are always placed in the same order in MLA style.

MLA refers to this as the Core Elements Template. They have an online interactive template to help you. 

See the overview below or explore each Core Element and see where to find it on actual sources on other tabs in this guide.

Layout of potential core elements.

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle. Supplemental Elements. Title of 1st Container, Contributor, Version or edition, Number, Publisher Name, Publication Date, Pages. Title of 2nd Container, Contributor, Version or edition, Number, Publisher Name, Publication Date, Pages. Supplemental Elements.

NOTE: You do NOT need to use all of these elements for every source. Use the ones that are relevant to your source.

MyBib.com - Bibliography and citation generator that makes citations that can be included in research assignments.

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Please be aware that automatically generated citations may not be accurate. It is your responsibility to double-check the results. Take the time to make the necessary corrections using the University Libraries MLA 9 Guide or the MLA Handbook.