How to Cite in MLA 9th Edition: Step-by-Step Guide for Students (2025)

Master MLA Citation 9th Edition (2025 update) with this complete student guide. Learn in-text MLA citation, works cited pages, and MLA citation format.

Academic writing- be it an essay, coursework, assignment, dissertation, or even a presentation requires accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Citing sources in a proper manner is one of the ways through which students can show these qualities. MLA citation is among some of the most popular styles used throughout the world especially in humanities and literature.

MLA Citation 9^th edition is the existing standard and in 2025, it remains to be the preferred option among the UK and international students. This guide will give all the details about the MLA citation format, including how to use the in-text MLA citation, how to create a proper MLA citation page, and where to find the most useful free MLA citation generator tools.

Citing correctly is not simply an academic prerequisite – it is an essential skill that influences your grades, credibility and professionalism. By adopting the citation format, students demonstrate that they are capable of respecting intellectual property, plagiarism can be avoided and academic literature is used in a responsible manner.

In-text citation is useful in undergraduate students writing their essays so that no borrowed idea is left without a proper creditation. In the master level, dissertations need detailed reference lists, which in many cases contain dozens of sources, which is why it is imperative to master the citation page. In the case of PhD students, it is important to maintain uniformity in citing references in hundreds of papers to the success of a thesis.

👉 Want to improve your APA Referencing as well? Check our (APA Referencing)

Citation is the term used to describe the guidelines of academic writing that are set by the Modern Language Association (MLA). Compared to other referencing formats, e.g., APA or Harvard, MLA gives great attention to in-text citing of the author-page form and the formal listing of the sources at the end of the main text on a special page called the Works Cited.

Practically, citation format is created to facilitate more open research. You offer a brief reference in the text when you quote, paraphrase, or summarise the ideas of another person (in most cases with the name of the author and the page number), and give full details of the publication in the Works Cited list.

External reference: The official Handbook 9th Edition offers detailed guidelines.

(https://www.mla.org/Publications/Bookstore/Nonseries/MLA-Handbook-Ninth-Edition)

The 9^th edition , published in 2021, is up-to-date in 2025. It added examples of digital sources, refined guidelines on citing multiple authors and added more flexibility into the process of documenting sources.

In the past, it was strict particularly where online sources were concerned. Students are now able to rely on the e-books, YouTube videos, podcasts, and even social media posts. This is particularly useful in contemporary research projects, in which information is no longer limited to books and journals.

To use the example, when giving a reference to a lecture on YouTube, it is possible to include the name of the video, its creator, the platform, and the date at which it was uploaded (the referencing style permits it). Likewise online journal articles may now be referenced using DOIs or URLs, whereas previously this was optional.

The in-text citation system is the most unique aspect of the style. A typical in -text reference consists of the final surname of the author and the page where the information was borrowed.

For example:

• Direct quotation: “Modern literature often reflects political struggles” (Morris 112).
• Paraphrasing: Morris argues that modern literature mirrors politics (112).

This system makes sure that the reader will be able to find the source easily at your Works Cited page. When it has more than one author you would list the two names (Brown and Miller 56). In case the source does not indicate the author, it uses the title of the source.

The citation page or the Works Cited page comes after your academic paper. All the sources you used in-text should be included here with all the details.

An example is a citation of a book would appear as follows:

• Morris, John. Modern Literature in Context. Oxford University Press, 2023.

For a website, it might look like this:

• Purdue OWL. Formatting and Style Guide. Purdue University, 2025.

This page should be alphabetised by the last name of the author, it should be in a two-spaced and hanging indent format. This part may or may break the credibility of your paper since mistakes in the Works Cited list are usually punished under marking schemes.

Although it is necessary to study the format of citing the sources in , students can fail to meet deadlines due to time-consuming rules of formatting. Free citation generators can help at that. A citation maker or citation machine can help you do it automatically, since you just need to type in the details about the source and get an automatically formatted citation in a second.

Approved referencing websites:

• EasyBib Citation Generator.
  • Scribbr Citation Generator.Purdue OWL Guide
  • Citation Machine

These tools save time and at the same time are accurate. As an illustration, italics, capitalization, or page numbers are frequently forgotten by many students when utilizing page numbers to reference by hand. Such errors are removed with a citation generator free tool.

Despite the fact that these two terms are commonly used interchangeably, there exist differences between an citation maker and an citation machine. They are both automated in their citation, although their user experience is different.

The Citation Maker tools are less complex and in many cases only. They are ideal in the case of students that require simple, fast outcomes.

Instead, Citation Machine sites tend to accept numerous citation formats (APA, Chicago, Harvard). This makes them more adaptable and often rife with advertisements or even paid content.

Both are also used very much in 2025 yet students are likely to use multiple tools to verify accuracy.

To understand better, here are examples of common source types:

Book Citation:
Morris, John. The Future of Literature. Cambridge UP, 2023.

Journal Article:
Green, Lisa. “Identity in 21st Century Narratives.” Cultural Studies Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, 2024, pp. 45–62.

Website:
Scribbr. Citation Generator. 2025.

YouTube Video:
CrashCourse. “Shakespeare’s Plays Explained.” YouTube, uploaded by Crash Course, 2024.

These and more are expanded in our Dissertation Writing Guide.

The errors may happen even in the case when free citation generator is utilised by students. The most frequent mistakes are forgetting the use of page numbers in in- standing quotes, the misuse of italic, and the lack of alphabetizing your Works Cited list. The other common error is the confusion of styles – e.g., using and APA components, and this may be confusing to the graders.

Consistency is key. So, whether you are writing a short essay or a 50,000-word dissertation, it is necessary to follow the citation format throughout your writing.

Learning MLA citation 9^th Edition does not simply mean passing assignments. It builds scholarly rigor, trains your critical thinking skills on how to examine sources and reflects professionalism. You might be writing a bachelor degree essay or a PhD dissertation, but knowing how to cite academically is a learnable skill that will carry you through in your education as well as in your future.

A free citation generator is an effective method of staying accurate, however, when it comes to busy students. This, together with good knowledge of the citation formatting, is sure to make you match all the demands in academics.

The MLA Citation 9th Edition (In Progress) is the ultimate resource that can be used by students throughout the world. It eases the process of referencing, offers transparent guidelines to both printed and electronic sources and meets the demands of contemporary research. Learning how to use an in-text citation, constructing an ideal citation page, and using such help as the free citation generator, students will be able to save time and obtain better academic results.

Don’t forget to explore more writing resources here:

• Essay Writing Guide
• APA Referencing Guide
• Dissertation Writing Guide

And for trusted external support:

• Purdue Guide (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/index.html)
• EasyBib Citation Generator (https://www.easybib.com/mla/source)
• Scribbr Citation Generator (https://www.scribbr.com/citation/generator/mla/)
• Citation Machine (https://www.citationmachine.net/mla)

By mastering MLA, you not only avoid plagiarism but also enhance your credibility as a scholar.