mla format title

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Formatting and Style Guide

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

In-Text Citations

Resources on using in-text citations in MLA style

Works Cited Page

Resources on writing an MLA style works cited page, including citation formats

Other MLA Resources

Search Modern Language Association

Annual Report
MLA News Digest Archive
Mission and Strategic Priorities
Advertising
Join the MLA Mailing List
The MLA Staff
Delegate Assembly
Executive Council
Related Organizations
Donate to the MLA
Leading Contributors to the MLA
MLA Webinars Site
ADE-ALD Summer Seminar and MAPS Leadership Institute
Presidential Theme for the 2025 Convention
2025 Convention Program Forms
A Letter from MLA Executive Director Paula M. Krebs Urging Support of Convention Attendance
MLA Exhibit Hall
Access Guidelines for MLA Convention Session Organizers and Presenters
Calls for Papers
Policies for Forums and Allied Organizations
Procedures for Organizing Convention Meetings
Exhibiting at the 2025 MLA Convention
Sponsorship and Marketing
Convention History
Appropriate Conduct at the MLA Annual Convention
Membership Benefits
Join the MLA
MLA Academic Program Services
MLA Newsletter
MLA Strategic Partnership Network
Member Resources
Member Search
Renew Your Membership

MLA Handbook Plus

Buy the MLA Handbook
MLA Style Support

Publications

Backlist Titles
Forthcoming Titles
Library Subscriptions
What We Publish
What We Value
How to Propose a Volume
Contribute to a Book in Development
Request Your Complimentary MLA Handbook
About the MLA International Bibliography
Free Online Course
Frequently Asked Questions
Submitting Work to the MLA International Bibliography
Tutorial Videos
Using the MLA International Bibliography
A Video from Paula Krebs about Humanities Successes
Executive Council Actions
MLA Pathways
Resources on Academic Freedom, Free Speech, and the Right to Protest
Resources on Collective Action
Career Resources
Conferences, Fellowships, and Announcements
MLA Grants and Awards
MLA Professional Development Webinars
MLA Sit and Write Sessions
MLA Webinars on the Public Humanities
Reimagining Humanities Coursework for Career Readiness: A Workshop
MLA Language Map
Reports and Professional Guidelines

Request Your Free Member Copy

Buy the MLA Handbook

The MLA Style Center

What is mla style.

Building confidence in the information and ideas we share with one another is perhaps more important today than ever before, and for nearly a century it has been the driving principle behind MLA style, a set of standards for writing and documentation used by writers to find and evaluate information, alert their audience to the trustworthiness of their findings through citation, and shape the expression of their ideas in conversation with others.

Resources for MLA Style

Our new, subscription-based digital platform, MLA Handbook Plus is

Trusted: The only authorized subscription-based digital resource featuring the latest edition of the MLA Handbook is available for unlimited simultaneous users.
Evolving: Get the same content as the print edition, plus seamless annual updates and forthcoming additional resources such as videos and companion titles.
Dynamic: Features an easy-to-search interface, cross-linking of related material, and a split view that lets students see illustrations while reading corresponding content.
Flexible: Whether on campus, at home, or in a coffee shop, students can access the platform from anywhere—perfect for remote or hybrid learning environments.
Affordable: Tiered pricing model based on full-time undergraduate enrollments in US higher education institutions (with custom pricing options for secondary schools, consortia, international schools, campus systems, and other organizations).
Accessible: Meets current accessibility standards—ensuring that learning MLA style is available to all.

Contact [email protected] for more info.

MLA Handbook , 9th Edition

The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook , published in spring 2021, builds on the MLA's unique approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements—facts common to most sources, like author, title, and publication date—that allows writers to cite any type of work, from books, e-books, and journal articles in databases to song lyrics, online images, social media posts, dissertations, and more. With this focus on source evaluation as the cornerstone of citation, MLA style promotes the skills of information and digital literacy so crucial today. The new edition offers

New chapters on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, numbers, italics, abbreviations, and principles of inclusive language
Guidelines on setting up research papers in MLA format with updated advice on headings, lists, and title pages for group projects
Revised, comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for creating a list of works cited in MLA format that are easier to learn and use than ever before
A new appendix with hundreds of example works-cited-list entries by publication format, including websites, YouTube videos, interviews, and more
Detailed examples of how to find publication information for a variety of sources
Newly revised explanations of in-text citations, including comprehensive advice on how to cite multiple authors of a single work
Detailed guidance on using notes in MLA style
Instructions on quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and avoiding plagiarism
Annotated bibliography examples
Numbered sections throughout for quick navigation
Advanced tips for professional writers and scholars

The MLA Style Center offers free online resources on MLA style, including an interactive MLA format template, answers to common questions on Ask the MLA, advice from the MLA editors, and more. Get updates by signing up for The Source newsletter, and follow us on Twitter @MLAstyle .

Using MLA Format

Document Sources

Works cited quick guide.

Learn how to use the MLA format template.

Digital Citation Tool

Build citations with our interactive template.

In-Text Citations

Get help with in-text citations.

Endnotes and Footnotes

Read our guide about using notes in MLA style.

Set Up Your Paper

Setting up a research paper.

Get our guidelines for setting up academic research papers.

Formatting Captions

Learn how to format captions.

Sample Papers

Read sample papers written in MLA style.

Annotated Bibliographies

Learn how to set up an annotated bibliography.

Get Writing and Teaching Tips

Ask the mla.

Browse answers and ask MLA editors questions.

Writing Tips

Improve your writing with these suggestions.

Teaching Resources and Advice

Get teaching advice, lesson plans, and activities.

Test your knowledge with these fun quizzes.

Recent questions from Ask the MLA

How do i cite a work that has incorrect citation information on its cover sheet.

Some works, especially works contained in databases, may list citation information for the work on a cover sheet or in a footer. If that citation… Read More

How do I cite Twitter now that its name has changed to X?

In 2023 the social media platform Twitter changed its name to X . What does this change mean for citations? When you cite a post published… Read More

How do I cite several e-mails sent on the same day to the same correspondent?

If you are citing several e-mails sent on the same day to the same correspondent, use the subject line of the e-mail to differentiate between… Read More

What should I do if an author’s last name is not provided in a source?

If an author’s last name is not provided in the source you are consulting, you may opt to follow the guidance provided in section 5.122… Read More

How do I cite one person’s testimony in a congressional hearing?

Your source for congressional testimony may be a transcript, audio recording, or video recording of all or part of a hearing. Style each source using… Read More

How do I cite a video game?

To cite a video game, follow the template of core elements, as you would for any other source. Below we provide in-depth explanations for each… Read More