MLA Works Cited Page: Format & Examples (2026)

Your MLA Works Cited page is the last thing your professor sees—and often the first place they check for errors. A messy Works Cited page screams "I rushed this," while a clean one shows you know what you're doing.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly how to format your MLA Works Cited page, with real examples for every source type you'll encounter in college.

Table of Contents

• What Is an MLA Works Cited Page?
• MLA Works Cited Formatting Rules
• How to Create a Works Cited Entry
• MLA Works Cited Examples by Source Type
• Common Works Cited Mistakes to Avoid
• FAQ

What Is an MLA Works Cited Page?

The Works Cited page is a list of all the sources you referenced in your paper. It appears at the end of your document and gives readers the information they need to find your sources themselves.

Think of it as the receipt for your research. Every in-text citation in your paper (like "Smith 42") needs a matching entry on your Works Cited page.

Key difference from a bibliography: A Works Cited page only includes sources you actually cited. A bibliography might include sources you read but didn't cite. In MLA format, you create a Works Cited page—not a bibliography.

MLA Works Cited Formatting Rules

Before diving into individual entries, here's how to format the entire page:

Page Setup

• Title: Center "Works Cited" at the top (no bold, no quotation marks)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt (same as your paper)
• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout—no extra spaces between entries
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Page number: Continue numbering from your paper (top right corner)
• Alignment: Left-aligned with hanging indent

Hanging Indent Format

Every entry uses a hanging indent:

• First line starts at the left margin
• All following lines are indented 0.5 inches

This makes it easy to scan author names alphabetically.

Alphabetical Order

Arrange entries alphabetically by the first word of each citation (usually the author's last name). If there's no author, use the title—but ignore articles like "A," "An," or "The" when alphabetizing.

How to Create a Works Cited Entry

MLA 9th edition uses a universal template called the "core elements." Every source follows the same basic structure:

The 9 Core Elements

1. Author. (Last name, First name.)
2. Title of Source. (Italicized or in "quotation marks")
3. Title of Container, (Italicized—the larger work holding your source)
4. Contributors, (editors, translators, etc.)
5. Version, (edition, director's cut, etc.)
6. Number, (vol. and no. for journals)
7. Publisher,
8. Publication Date,
9. Location. (page numbers, URL, DOI)

Not every source has all nine elements. Include what's available and relevant.

The Container System

The "container" concept is crucial. A container is anything that holds your source:

• An article (source) appears in a journal (container)
• A journal might be accessed through a database (second container)
• A TV episode (source) appears in a series (container) on Netflix (second container)

When your source has multiple containers, list them in order from smallest to largest.

MLA Works Cited Examples by Source Type

Here are the most common sources you'll cite, with properly formatted examples:

Books

Basic book (one author):

Smith, John. The Art of Academic Writing. Oxford UP, 2024.

Book with two authors:

Johnson, Sarah, and Michael Chen. Research Methods for Students. Cambridge UP, 2023.

Book with three or more authors:

Williams, James, et al. Modern Citation Practices. Penguin, 2025.

(Use "et al." after the first author when there are three or more)

Edited book:

Garcia, Maria, editor. Collected Essays on Education. Harvard UP, 2024.

Chapter in an edited book:

Thompson, David. "Writing in the Digital Age." New Perspectives on Composition, edited by Lisa Park, Routledge, 2023, pp. 45-72.

Journal Articles

Print journal article:

Brown, Emily. "The Evolution of Student Writing." Journal of Higher Education, vol. 42, no. 3, 2024, pp. 112-128.

Online journal article with DOI:

Lee, Kevin. "AI and Academic Integrity." Educational Technology Review, vol. 18, no. 2, 2025, pp. 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1234/etr.2025.0042.

Journal article from a database:

Martinez, Sofia. "Citation Literacy in Undergraduate Education." College Composition Quarterly, vol. 55, no. 4, 2024, pp. 301-320. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/12345678.

Websites

Web page with author:

Wilson, Rachel. "How to Write Better Essays." Academic Success Hub, 15 Jan. 2026, www.academicsuccesshub.com/essay-tips.

Web page without author:

"MLA Formatting Guidelines." Purdue OWL, 2025, owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style.html.

Blog post:

Taylor, James. "Why Citations Matter More Than Ever." The Writing Life, 8 Feb. 2026, www.writinglifeblog.com/citations-matter.

News Sources

Newspaper article (print):

Anderson, Mark. "Universities Embrace AI Writing Tools." The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2025, p. A1.

Online newspaper article:

Davis, Jennifer. "The Future of Academic Writing." The Guardian, 20 Feb. 2026, www.theguardian.com/education/academic-writing-future.

Videos and Multimedia

YouTube video:

"How to Format MLA Citations." YouTube, uploaded by StudyTips, 5 Jan. 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123.

Film:

The Research Process. Directed by Sarah Miller, Educational Films Inc., 2024.

TED Talk:

Roberts, David. "The Power of Proper Citations." TED, Mar. 2025, www.ted.com/talks/david_roberts_citations.

Social Media

Tweet:

@AcademicWriter. "Citation tip: Always double-check your DOIs before submitting!" Twitter, 10 Feb. 2026, twitter.com/academicwriter/status/123456789.

Instagram post:

@studygrammer. Photo of organized study notes. Instagram, 15 Jan. 2026, www.instagram.com/p/abc123.

Other Common Sources

PDF or report:

Department of Education. Student Writing Assessment Report. Government Printing Office, 2025.

Interview you conducted:

Johnson, Robert. Personal interview. 28 Feb. 2026.

Lecture or presentation:

Professor Kim, Sarah. "Introduction to Research Writing." English 101, Stanford University, 3 Sept. 2025.

Common Works Cited Mistakes to Avoid

Even small errors can cost you points. Watch out for these:

1. Forgetting the Hanging Indent

Every entry after the first line should be indented. Use your word processor's hanging indent feature—don't manually add spaces.

In Word: Highlight entries → Paragraph settings → Special → Hanging

In Google Docs: Highlight entries → Format → Align & Indent → Indentation Options → Hanging

2. Wrong Alphabetization

• Alphabetize by the first significant word (ignore "A," "An," "The")
• "De la Cruz" alphabetizes under "D," not "C"
• "van Gogh" alphabetizes under "v" (unless the person prefers "Van")

3. Missing or Incorrect Punctuation

Each element ends with specific punctuation:

• Periods after author, title of source, and final element
• Commas between elements within a container
• No period after URLs

4. Inconsistent Formatting

If you italicize book titles, italicize all book titles. If you use "pp." for page ranges, use it consistently. Pick a style and stick with it.

5. Including Sources You Didn't Cite

Your Works Cited page should only include sources with in-text citations in your paper. If you read it but didn't cite it, leave it off.

6. Missing Access Dates for Unstable Sources

For websites that might change (like wikis or frequently updated pages), include an access date:

"Research Tips." WikiHow, www.wikihow.com/Research. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

FAQ

How many sources should be on my Works Cited page?

It depends on your assignment. A 5-page paper typically needs 5-10 sources. A 15-page research paper might need 15-25. Check your assignment guidelines or ask your professor.

Do I include page numbers for online sources?

Only if the online source has stable page numbers (like a PDF with numbered pages). For regular websites without pagination, omit page numbers entirely.

What if my source doesn't have an author?

Start the entry with the title instead. Alphabetize by the first major word of the title.

Should I use a URL or DOI?

If a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is available, always use it—DOIs are permanent and won't break. Only use URLs when no DOI exists.

Do I need a Works Cited page if I only have one source?

Yes. Even with one citation, you still need a properly formatted Works Cited page.

Create Perfect Citations Every Time

Getting your MLA Works Cited page right takes practice—and attention to detail. The rules are specific, but once you learn the core elements pattern, every source follows the same logic.

The key is consistency: same formatting, same punctuation, same attention to detail throughout your entire page.

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