How to Reference in MLA Style: A Complete UK Guide

Learning how to reference in mla style is an essential skill for UK university students. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is widely used in the humanities — especially English, languages and cultural studies. It uses brief in-text citations and a “Works Cited” list. This complete UK guide explains how MLA in-text citations work, how to format the Works Cited page, the MLA core-elements system for any source, and how MLA differs from Harvard and APA.

How to reference in mla style: Step-by-Step Guide

What Is MLA Style?

MLA is an author-page referencing system common in the humanities. In-text citations give the author and a page number, and full details appear in a Works Cited list at the end.

For further guidance on how to reference in mla style, visit the Prospects guide to studying in the UK — a trusted resource for UK students and graduates.

In-Text Citations

Cite with the author's surname and page number, usually in brackets: (Smith 42). If the author is named in your sentence, just give the page: “Smith argues… (42)”. No comma between name and page.

The Core Elements System

Modern MLA builds every reference from nine core elements: author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location. This flexible system handles any source type.

Formatting the Works Cited Page

List entries alphabetically by author surname, double-spaced with a hanging indent. A typical book entry gives: Author. Title. Publisher, Year. Follow MLA punctuation precisely.

MLA vs Harvard and APA

MLA uses author-page; APA uses author-date; Harvard is author-date with variations. MLA suits the humanities, while APA and Harvard dominate the social sciences. See our Harvard and APA 7 guides.

Common Mistakes and Tips

✓  Adding a comma between author and page.
✓  Using a year instead of a page in-text.
✓  Inconsistent Works Cited formatting.
✓  Missing hanging indents. Tip: use the core-elements system and check your institution's MLA edition.

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Where MLA Style Is Used in UK Universities

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is the standard referencing format in the humanities, particularly in literature, language, linguistics, film studies, cultural studies, philosophy and related disciplines. While Harvard is the most widely used referencing style across UK universities as a whole, MLA is the dominant style in humanities departments at many institutions, including English, modern languages, comparative literature and media studies programmes.

Students studying BA or MA programmes in English Literature, Creative Writing, Film and Media Studies, History of Art or Linguistics at UK universities will most commonly encounter MLA. Some UK humanities departments use a modified MLA style, so it is always worth checking your departmental guidelines alongside the official MLA Handbook.

The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook (2021) introduced a significant simplification to the citation system, moving away from format-specific templates (book, journal article, website) towards a flexible, unified set of core elements that apply to all source types. Understanding this core elements approach is essential for using MLA correctly.

MLA In-Text Citations: A Detailed Guide

MLA in-text citations use an author-page system rather than the author-date system used in Harvard or APA. The citation appears in parentheses at the end of the quoted or paraphrased passage, directly before the closing punctuation mark.

The basic format is: (Author Surname Page Number) — for example, (Smith 47) or (Nussbaum 112–113). There is no comma between the author’s name and the page number.

No author — If no author is identified, use a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation: (“Climate Policy” 23).

Two authors — List both surnames: (Smith and Jones 88).

Three or more authors — Use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.”: (Smith et al. 101).

No page number — For web pages, e-books or other sources without page numbers, use the author’s name alone: (Johnson) or, if you are citing a specific section, use a section, chapter or paragraph number if available.

Multiple works by the same author — Include a shortened title to distinguish them: (Orwell, “Politics” 14) versus (Orwell, “Shooting” 3).

Signal phrases — When you introduce a quotation or paraphrase with the author’s name in the sentence itself (a signal phrase), the parenthetical citation needs only the page number: As Smith argues, “this is the key point” (47).

MLA Works Cited: Formatting the Nine Core Elements

The MLA ninth edition organises source information into nine core elements that appear in a consistent sequence. Not every element will apply to every source — you simply omit elements that are not relevant.

The nine core elements and their punctuation are:

1. Author. Last name, First name. (Period)
2. Title of source. In italics for standalone works; in quotation marks for works within larger works. (Period)
3. Title of container, (italics, comma) — the larger work that contains the source (e.g. the journal, the anthology, the website).
4. Other contributors, (comma) — e.g. edited by, translated by, illustrated by.
5. Version, (comma) — e.g. 9th ed., revised ed.
6. Number, (comma) — e.g. vol. 3, no. 2.
7. Publisher, (comma)
8. Publication date, (comma)
9. Location. (Period) — page numbers (pp. 23–45) for print; URL or DOI for online sources.

A complete Works Cited entry for a journal article would look like this:
Smith, Jane. “Narratives of Loss in Contemporary British Fiction.” Journal of Modern Literature, vol. 45, no. 2, 2022, pp. 112–130. https://doi.org/10.2979/jmodelite.45.2.07.

MLA Formatting Rules for the Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page appears at the end of your essay or dissertation. The following formatting rules apply consistently in MLA style:

Title — Centre the title “Works Cited” at the top of the page. Do not bold, italicise or place it in quotation marks.

Alphabetical order — Entries are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name, or by the title (ignoring A, An or The) if no author is identified.

Hanging indent — Each entry uses a hanging indent: the first line is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines in the same entry are indented by 0.5 inches.

Double spacing — The entire Works Cited page is double-spaced, with no additional space between entries.

Containers within containers — Some sources have two containers. For example, a journal article accessed through JSTOR would include the journal as the first container and JSTOR as the second. Each container is closed with a period before the next container’s information begins.

URLs and DOIs — For online sources, include a DOI where available. If only a URL is available, include it. You do not need to include “Accessed” dates unless the source is likely to change over time (such as a social media post or a website with frequently updated content).

MLA Citation Examples for Common Source Types

Book (single author):
Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Penguin, 1978.

Book chapter in an edited anthology:
Butler, Judith. “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution.” Performing Feminisms: Feminist Critical Theory and Theatre, edited by Sue-Ellen Case, Johns Hopkins UP, 1990, pp. 270–282.

Journal article (print):
Williams, Raymond. “Base and Superstructure in Marxist Cultural Theory.” New Left Review, vol. 82, 1973, pp. 3–16.

Journal article (online with DOI):
Hassan, Salah. “Frantz Fanon and the Problem of the Colonial.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 36, no. 3, 2005, pp. 55–74. https://doi.org/10.2979/RAL.2005.36.3.55.

Web page:
“Nobel Prize in Literature 2023.” NobelPrize.org, Nobel Prize Outreach AB, 2023, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MLA referencing?
An author-page referencing style common in the humanities, with a Works Cited list.

How do MLA in-text citations work?
They give the author surname and page number, e.g. (Smith 42).

What are the MLA core elements?
Nine elements — author, title, container, contributors, version, number, publisher, date and location — used to build any reference.

What is a Works Cited page?
The alphabetical list of full references at the end of an MLA document.

How is MLA different from APA?
MLA uses author-page citations; APA uses author-date.

Do I put a comma between author and page?
No — MLA in-text citations have no comma, e.g. (Smith 42).

When should I use MLA?
In humanities subjects such as English and languages, or when your tutor requires it.

Does MLA use footnotes?
Generally no — it uses in-text citations and a Works Cited list.

When should I use MLA referencing instead of Harvard?
MLA is standard in humanities disciplines such as English literature, comparative literature, film studies, linguistics and modern languages. Harvard is more common in social sciences and business. Check your module handbook or assignment brief — it will specify which style to use. When in doubt, ask your lecturer.

What edition of MLA should I use?
The current edition is the ninth (2021), which uses the unified core elements system. Some UK universities still teach the eighth edition, which introduced the same system. Check your departmental guidelines — if no edition is specified, use the ninth edition.

Do I need page numbers in MLA in-text citations?
Yes, for print sources with page numbers, the page number must appear in the in-text citation. For sources without page numbers (most websites and some e-books), you simply include the author’s name without a page number: (Johnson).

What is the difference between a Works Cited page and a bibliography in MLA?
A Works Cited page lists only the sources you have actually cited in the text. A bibliography lists all sources you consulted, including background reading, whether or not they appear in the text. Most MLA-format assignments require a Works Cited page rather than a full bibliography, unless your instructor specifies otherwise.

How do I cite a source with no author in MLA?
If no author is identified, begin the entry with the title of the source. Alphabetise it in the Works Cited list by the first word of the title (ignoring A, An and The). In the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: (“Climate Report” 14).

Related Study Guides

Harvard Referencing Guide  •  How to Reference in APA 7  •  Vancouver Referencing Guide  •  How to Avoid Plagiarism

UK students who master how to reference in mla style gain a significant advantage in their academic career. Whether you are in your first year or final year, understanding how to reference in mla style thoroughly will improve your overall academic performance and help you achieve better grades.