LibGuides: MLA Citation Style 9th edition: Works Cited List

Works Cited list (at the end of your paper)

Core Elements for MLA Citations- include only those that apply:

The MLA format is based on a list of 9 core elements; given in a specific order (see chart below).
To write a citation, include all available core elements and omit those that are not.
Use the punctuation after each element as outlined in the chart.
Citations are double-spaced.
The first line begins at the left margin, and all subsequent lines use a hanging indent

Which Link? - Use the DOI and proceed it with https://doi.org/.. If there is no DOI, use the permanent link as it is noted on the resource. When there is no DOI or permanent link, use the URL and remove https://.

Core Elements

Each entry in the list of works cited is composed of facts common to most works—the MLA core elements. They are assembled in a specific order.

MLA core elements in standard order:

1) Author
2) Title of Source
3) Title of Container
4) Contributor
5) Version
6) Number
7) Publisher
8) Publication Date
9) Location

Containers

The concept of containers is crucial to MLA style. When the source being documented forms part of a larger whole, the larger whole can be thought of as a container that holds the source. For example, a short story may be contained in an anthology. The short story is the source, and the anthology is the container.

Sources vs Containers

Containers: Works that contain other works

Many sources are part of a larger work. This will not be applicable to all sources, but some sources -- such as an article -- are part of a larger work, like a journal or newspaper in which the article was published. This larger work is referred to as a container. Sometimes, this larger work may itself be contained within a work. In this case, the citation may continue into a second container. Here are two examples:

An article (source) found in a journal (container 1), which is found on a database (container 2).
An episode (source) of a TV series (container 1), which is found on a streaming website (container 2).