MLA 9
MLA 9 Citation Guide for Canadian English and Humanities Courses
MLA 9 uses an author-page in-text format: (Atwood 47). Works Cited entries follow the container model with hanging indent. Papers use one-inch margins, double spacing, and a top-right header with the student's last name and page number on every page.
MLA 9 is the default for Canadian English, literature, philosophy, and most humanities programs. The container model decides almost every formatting choice - learn it once.
In-text
(Atwood 47) ... Atwood describes ...
Works Cited
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. McClelland and Stewart, 1985.
Quick rules
- 1.No separate title page unless required - place title, instructor, course, and date in the upper-left of page 1.
- 2.Top-right header on every page: last name and page number.
- 3.Works Cited uses hanging indent and the nine-element container model.
- 4.URLs included without https://; DOIs preferred when available.
- 5.Et al. is used for three or more authors.
FAQ
Does MLA 9 require a title page?
Only when the assignment asks for one. Otherwise the heading appears on page 1.
How are URLs formatted in MLA 9?
Drop the https:// prefix; include the access date only for unstable web sources.