MLA Guide

MLA Referencing Style

At Stamford we use the MLA (short for the Modern Language Association) referencing style.

MLA requires in-text citations, NOT footnotes. (Note that footnotes may be used in MLA if you are providing extra or explanatory information, not citations.)

For more information about MLA, visit their website.

• MLA9 Quick Guide

  • Includes an overview and some practice templates

What Changed with the 9th Edition?

• Not much! MLA 9th edition is an expansion of the 8th edition with new sections on grammar, writing advice, mindful of inclusive language, expansion endnotes & footnotes, and new guidelines for annotated bibliographies.

• URLs

  • Continue: if a DOI is available it is preferred over a URL or permalink.

  • DOIs should now include the http:// and https://

  • For general websites, copy and paste from your browser, some will include the www. and some will not. Either is acceptable.

  • Full URLs are recommended but optional especially for long URLs that are three or more lines long.

  • You can shorten URLs to the general site if it is excessively long.

  • Don’t use shortening services such as bit.ly.

  • Remember, when getting a URL from a library database where you have to log in and is behind a closed paywall; use the permalink or stable URL provided by the database. Do not copy and paste the browser URL.