How to Create a Proper MLA Works‑Cited Page

Why the Works‑Cited Page Matters

In MLA style, the Works Cited page is the final piece of any research paper. It gives readers the information they need to locate the sources you referenced, demonstrating academic honesty and helping you avoid plagiarism. Search engines also rank pages higher when they contain clear, well‑structured headings and keyword‑rich content, so using proper MLA formatting boosts both credibility and SEO performance.

Basic Formatting Rules

Before you start listing sources, set up your page correctly:

• Use 12‑point Times New Roman (or another legible serif font).
• Double‑space the entire page—no extra spaces between entries.
• Apply a 1‑inch margin on all sides.
• Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry a half‑inch (a hanging indent).
• Center the title “Works Cited” (no bold, italics, or underline).

Core Elements of an MLA Entry

Each citation follows a predictable order: author, title of source, container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location. Not every element applies to every source, but the sequence remains the same. Below are the most common formats.

Books

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Year.

Example: Smith, John. Understanding Modern Literature. Academic Press, 2022.

Journal Articles

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range.

Example: Doe, Jane. “Narrative Strategies in Post‑Colonial Fiction.” Literary Review, vol. 15, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45‑62.

Websites

Author’s Last Name, First Name (if available). “Title of Web Page.” Name of Website, Publisher (if different), Publication Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Example: Brown, Lisa. “How to Cite Sources in MLA.” Writing Help Online, 12 Mar. 2023, www.writinghelponline.org/mla-citation. Accessed 5 May 2024.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing punctuation: Forgetting periods or commas can break the citation flow.

2. Incorrect italics: Only the titles of larger works (books, journals, websites) should be italicized; article or chapter titles go in quotation marks.

3. Inconsistent spacing: Double‑spacing must be uniform across the entire page.

Quick Checklist

✔︎ Title centered as “Works Cited.”

✔︎ Entries alphabetized by author’s last name.

✔︎ Hanging indent applied to each entry.

✔︎ All necessary elements included and correctly punctuated.

By following these guidelines, you’ll produce a clean, accurate MLA Works‑Cited page that satisfies both academic standards and search‑engine best practices. Remember, a well‑crafted citation list not only supports your arguments but also showcases your attention to detail—an essential skill in any scholarly endeavor.