MLA referencing UK Humanities students use is based on the Modern Language Association’s style guide, now in its 9th Edition. MLA referencing UK universities require for English Literature, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, and Modern Languages. This complete guide explains the MLA system, including in-text citations and the Works Cited list, with clear examples for every common source type.
What Is MLA Referencing?
MLA (Modern Language Association) referencing is a citation style widely used in Humanities subjects such as English Literature, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, and Modern Languages. The current edition is MLA 9th Edition (2021). It uses in-text parenthetical citations and a Works Cited list at the end of the document.
MLA In-Text Citations
In MLA style, in-text citations include the author’s surname and the page number (no comma between them), placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence before the full stop.
Paraphrase or quote: (Smith 45)
No author — use shortened title: (“Climate Change” 12)
Two authors: (Jones and Brown 78)
Three or more authors: (Williams et al. 102)
MLA Works Cited List Format
The Works Cited list appears at the end of your essay on a new page. Entries are listed alphabetically by the author’s surname. Use a hanging indent. The title is “Works Cited” (centred, not bold or italic).
How to Cite Common Sources in MLA 9th Edition
Book
Author Surname, First name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example: Smith, John. The Modern Novel. Penguin, 2022.
Journal Article
Author Surname, First name. “Title of Article.” Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Page range. DOI or URL.
Website
Author Surname, First name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Book Chapter in an Edited Collection
Author Surname, First name. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page range.
Key Differences Between MLA and Harvard/APA
MLA uses page numbers in citations (not years), lists the year at the end of the Works Cited entry (not near the author’s name), and titles the list “Works Cited” rather than “References”. Unlike APA, MLA does not italicise the volume number of journals.
Key Takeaways
- MLA uses author-page number in-text citations, not author-date.
- The end list is called “Works Cited”, not “References”.
- MLA 9th Edition is the current standard (2021 onwards).
- Commonly used in English Literature and Humanities at UK universities.
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MLA Referencing UK: Key Insights for UK Students
UK students who master MLA referencing UK gain a significant advantage. Understanding MLA referencing UK thoroughly improves academic performance and helps achieve better grades at UK universities.
When developing skills in MLA referencing UK, consistency is key. Practise regularly, seek tutor feedback, and use academic resources to strengthen your knowledge of MLA referencing UK.
For further guidance on MLA referencing UK, visit the Prospects UK higher education guidance — a trusted resource for UK students.