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 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: Author-Page System Explained

MLA in-text citations use an author-page system. 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 — 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 or e-books, use the author’s name alone: (Johnson), or use a section 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 with the author’s name in the sentence itself, the parenthetical citation needs only the page number: As Smith argues, “this is the key point” (47).

The Nine Core Elements of MLA Citations

The MLA ninth edition organises source information into nine core elements that appear in a consistent sequence. You omit elements that are not relevant to a particular source.

The nine core elements are: (1) Author; (2) Title of source; (3) Title of container (the larger work containing the source, e.g. the journal or anthology); (4) Other contributors (e.g. editors, translators); (5) Version; (6) Number (volume and issue); (7) Publisher; (8) Publication date; (9) Location (page numbers for print, URL or DOI for online).

A complete Works Cited entry for a journal article looks 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 Works Cited Page Formatting Rules

The Works Cited page appears at the end of your essay or dissertation. Key formatting rules include:

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

Alphabetical order — Entries are listed alphabetically by author’s last name, or by title if no author is identified.

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

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

URLs and DOIs — For online sources, include a DOI where available. If only a URL is available, include it. Accessed dates are generally not required unless the source content changes frequently.

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, 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.

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

MLA vs Harvard vs APA: Which to Use?

UK students frequently ask which referencing style applies to their assignment. The general rule is: MLA for humanities (literature, languages, media, cultural studies); Harvard for social sciences, business and interdisciplinary programmes; APA for psychology, education and some social science disciplines; OSCOLA for law. Always check your module handbook first — the required style will be specified.

The key practical difference between MLA and Harvard is that MLA uses an author-page system in-text (e.g. Smith 47) while Harvard uses author-date (e.g. Smith, 2022). Both produce a full reference list at the end of the document, but the format of entries differs significantly. Never mix styles within a single piece of work.

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 — it will specify which style to use.

What edition of MLA should I use?
The current edition is the ninth (2021), which uses the unified core elements 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. For sources without page numbers (most websites and some e-books), include only the author’s name: (Johnson).

What is the difference between a Works Cited page and a bibliography in MLA?
A Works Cited page lists only sources cited in the text. A bibliography lists all sources consulted. Most MLA assignments require a Works Cited page unless your instructor specifies a full bibliography.

How do I cite a source with no author in MLA?
Begin the entry with the title. Alphabetise by the first word of the title (ignoring A, An and The). In the in-text citation, use a shortened 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.