In MLA, a works cited page uses double spacing, a centered title “Works Cited,” hanging indents, and alphabetized entries based on core elements.
When teachers ask for MLA style, they are asking for a standard way to present sources. The works cited page is the list that shows exactly where your information came from and how a reader can find it. Getting this page right protects you from plagiarism claims and gives your paper a polished, academic look.
Many students type “what is the mla format for works cited?” into a search bar during the last hour before a deadline. That rush often leads to inconsistent spacing, missing details, and odd punctuation. Reading the rules calmly shows that MLA works cited format follows a clear pattern that you can reuse each time.
What Is The MLA Format For Works Cited?
In MLA style, the works cited page appears at the end of your paper on its own page. The page shares the same one inch margins, font, and header as the rest of the document. The title line simply reads Works Cited, centered at the top, with no bold, italics, or quotation marks.
Each entry on that page gives full details for a source you cited in the body of your paper. Each in text citation should match one entry on the list, and each entry should have at least one in text citation. MLA now uses a flexible template of core elements instead of long, separate rules for many source types, which means you can build entries for books, web pages, videos, and more by following the same order.
The Modern Language Association describes nine common pieces of information that can appear in a works cited entry. Not all sources use all nine, but you always start from the same list and pick the elements that fit. That list creates consistency for you and for anyone reading your work.
Mla Format For Works Cited Layout Basics
Page Setup Rules
Use standard US letter paper, 8.5 by 11 inches, with one inch margins on all sides. Keep the same readable font and size that you use in the rest of the paper, such as 12 point Times New Roman. The header with your last name and page number continues onto the works cited page so the pages stay in order if they are printed.
Title And Spacing
Type the words Works Cited at the top of the page, align that line in the center, and leave the text in plain formatting. Do not increase the font size. Double space the title and all text that follows it. The list of entries has no extra blank lines between items; double spacing alone keeps the page readable.
Hanging Indents And Alignment
Each works cited entry uses a hanging indent. The first line of the entry starts at the left margin, and the second and later lines shift in by half an inch. This shape helps readers scan the left edge of the page and spot author names quickly.
Nine Core Elements At A Glance
MLA 9 lays out nine core elements that can appear in an entry. The order never changes, and each element has set punctuation that follows it. The table below shows the template you draw from when you format a works cited list.
| Core Element | What It Tells The Reader | End Punctuation |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Who created the work or is mainly responsible for it | Period |
| Title Of Source | Name of the specific article, page, chapter, song, or whole work | Period |
| Title Of Container | Larger work that holds the source, such as a book, journal, or website | Comma |
| Other Contributors | Editors, translators, directors, or others listed with a role phrase | Comma |
| Version | Edition, season, or other named version of the work | Comma |
| Number | Volume, issue, episode, or part number | Comma |
| Publisher | Organization or company that produced or released the work | Comma |
| Publication Date | Date the work was released or posted | Comma |
| Location | Page range, URL, DOI, disc number, or other locator | Period |
The Modern Language Association explains this template in its Works Cited quick guide, which also shows how the elements change with different types of sources. Many college libraries and writing centers share the same model so that students and instructors speak the same citation language.
Building A Works Cited Entry Step By Step
Start With The Author
Most entries begin with the author element. Invert the first author’s name so the last name comes first, followed by a comma and the first name. If there are two authors, connect the names with the word and. If there are three or more, list only the first author followed by the phrase et al.
When a work does not name a personal author, you can use a group author, such as a government agency, or start with the title of the source instead. The goal is to match what appears in your in text citation so a reader can move smoothly between the paper and the works cited list.
Add Titles And Containers
After the author, list the title of the source. If the source stands alone, such as a whole book or an entire website, italicize the title. If it is part of a larger work, such as a journal article, a song on an album, or an article on a website, place the title in quotation marks.
The next element is the title of the container. This is the larger work that holds the source, such as a journal, edited book, streaming platform, or news site. Italicize the container title. If the source sits in more than one container, such as an article in a database that reprints a journal, you can repeat the container group later in the entry.
Finish With Publisher, Date, And Location
Once you have the titles in place, move through the rest of the core elements. Add named contributors like editors or translators, then versions, numbers, and the publisher. Follow with the publication date using the day month year order when you have a full date or just the year when that is all that is given.
Location comes last. On a print source, this could be a page range. On a website, it is usually a URL. On a streaming video, it might be a time stamp for a scene. Separate each piece with the correct punctuation so that the entry reads as one flowing sentence instead of a pile of data.
You can see how these features come together on Purdue University’s MLA works cited page overview, which shows a full sample page that follows MLA 9 layout rules.
Common Source Types And Sample Entries
Once you understand the MLA format for a works cited page, you can apply the same pattern to each source you meet. The entry always follows the core element order, but the exact pieces shift with the type of source. The table below shows sample templates and entries for sources that appear often in student writing.
| Source Type | Template | Sample Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Print Book | Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. | Smith, Jordan. Reading Poetry Today. River Press, 2022. |
| Chapter In Edited Book | Author. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book, edited by Editor, Publisher, Year, pp. page range. | Lopez, Maria. “Language And Identity.” Modern Essays On Literature, edited by Carla Green, Bright House, 2021, pp. 45-62. |
| Journal Article (Print) | Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range. | Nguyen, Lee. “Teaching Citation Skills.” College Writing Review, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, pp. 101-120. |
| Journal Article (Database) | Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range. Database Name, DOI or URL. | Patel, Rina. “Digital Research Habits.” Journal Of Academic Studies, vol. 9, no. 3, 2019, pp. 77-93. Academic Search Complete, doi:10.1000/xyz123. |
| Web Page | Author or Group. “Title of Page.” Title of Website, Publisher, Publication date, URL. | Modern Language Association. “Using MLA Format.” MLA Style Center, 14 Dec. 2021, https://style.mla.org/using-mla-format/. |
| Online Video | Author or Creator. “Title of Video.” Platform, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL. | Harris, Dana. “MLA Works Cited Basics.” YouTube, uploaded by Campus Writing Lab, 3 Mar. 2023, https://youtu.be/example. |
| Newspaper Article (Online) | Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper, Day Month Year, URL. | Brown, Alex. “Study Habits In First Year.” The City Herald, 12 Sept. 2024, https://www.cityherald.com/study-habits. |
These models are starting points, not fixed scripts. You still need to match the entry to the details of your source. For instance, some web pages list no personal author, and some news sites use section names in place of publisher names. The core elements help you make decisions while staying faithful to MLA expectations.
Handling Missing Information
Real sources often leave blanks. A video clip may have no clear publication date. A page on a site may list only a group name instead of a person. When that happens, skip the missing element and move to the next one instead of guessing. You can also add an access date for online sources when a page is likely to change.
In some cases you may want to repeat a container. A poem might appear in an edited book that is stored in an online database. In that case, you describe the poem and the book as the first container, then add a second container group with the database title and the DOI or stable URL.
In Text Citations And The Works Cited Page
The works cited page and the short in text citations inside your paragraphs work together. Each in text note uses the first element from the entry, usually the author, and a location marker such as a page number. The full entry on the works cited page then supplies the rest of the details.
Because the two parts connect so closely, try to build your works cited entries while you draft, not only at the end. Copying and pasting partial references from random sites tends to produce mismatched styles. A consistent MLA format for works cited entries shows that you read your sources with care and kept track of them across the whole project.
Works Cited Format Checklist
At this point you have a full picture of the MLA works cited format. Use the checklist below while you work so that you do not miss small layout details during a late night edit.
Page And Layout Checks
- Works cited page starts on a new page with the same margins and font as the rest of the paper.
- Title line reads Works Cited, centered, with no extra styling.
- All entries are double spaced with no extra blank lines between items.
- Each entry uses a hanging indent with second and later lines pushed in by half an inch.
Entry Content Checks
- Each in text citation in the paper has a matching entry on the works cited page.
- Each works cited entry is based on the nine core elements in the correct order.
- Author names are inverted correctly and match the in text citations.
- Titles of containers are in italics, and titles of shorter works appear in quotation marks.
- Publication dates use day month year order when full dates are given.
Final Review Habits
- Scan the left margin to see if entries line up alphabetically by author or by title when there is no author.
- Check that punctuation at the end of each core element matches MLA rules from the template.
- Test a few URLs or DOIs in your browser to confirm that links still work.
- Ask a classmate or tutor to read the page once, since a fresh set of eyes often catches missing commas or reversed dates.
Once you can answer what is the mla format for works cited? with confidence, the page becomes a routine part of academic writing instead of a last minute headache. A clear layout and accurate entries show respect for your sources and give readers a simple path to follow your research.