MLA Handbook

by The Modern Language Association of America

The Modern Language Association, the authority on research and writing, takes a fresh look at documenting sources in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook, the official guide to MLA format. Works are published today in a dizzying variety of a novel, for example, may be read in print, online, or as an e-book--or perhaps listened to as an audiobook. Writers of research papers routinely need to know how to cite works on Web sites, videos on platforms like YouTube, interviews and other works created by multiple authors, journal articles contained in databases, online images, posts on social media sites, song lyrics, and more. Instead of providing separate instructions for each format, the MLA’s unique, innovative approach recommends one set of guidelines that writers can apply to any type of source.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, College, Writing, Education, Textbooks

1 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2022

Reviews

[Jeremy]

Here are some differences from the 8th edition. See here too.

[megan ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

my professor is happy, so i am, too!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An improvement over the 8th edition, this is much more of a teaching tool and I appreciate that they gave themselves space for numerous diagrams and examples.

[Tfalcone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yawn city, but needed.

[Richard Tice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more useful than the previous edition of the handbook. That edition was unclear on how some types of documentation should be formatted, and it contained few examples, leaving much of the documentation at guesswork. This edition provides many more examples, and I found it much more useful, though I still had to figure out by myself how to cite some podcasts. I don't care for the current style of spelling out (or even abbreviating) many words and connecting so many aspects of an entry by commas. Compare this older style poetry reference in a Works Cited list to the new one:

Tice, Richard. “a world of dew . . .” Hermitage 2.1 & 2 (2005): 56.
Tice, Richard. “a world of dew . . .” Hermitage, vol. 2, nos. 1 & 2, 2005, p. 56.

Most entries in the new style take up more space, especially anthologies with an editor, and I don't feel they make the entries any clearer.

The style section, especially the parts that deal with punctuation use, is still much shorter and less thorough than that in the Chicago Manual of Style.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, this is not a pleasure read, but as an academic read, it’s as well written as can be. The intro specified each update from the last edition which was helpful, and the following sections were well laid out with intros, samples and caveats, and annotated images to clarify. Added sections included style guides, plagiarism clarification, most common entries, and an appendix which gives sample entries for multiple types of sources. I appreciated the purposeful inclusion of newer electronically accessed sources, plus all the geek and nerd-dom sample entries. Hat tip.

[Michael Goodine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I frequently work with first-year students and always recommend picking up a copy of this handbook. It is so much easier than relying on random websites when trying to figure out how to format a paper and how to deal with sources. There is a bunch of stuff here, but most importantly:

1. A long section on mechanics. This covers things like how to use commas and hyphens properly and how to mention the titles of works.

2. A very long section on how to create a works cited page.

3. A detailed guide to citing things in-text that covers many different types of works.

4. An appendix containing examples of the various types of things that might show up in a works cited list nowadays.

A must-have for anyone who expects to write essays while at college.

[Huck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect it to be quite so thick, but I'm glad they expanded some of the sections pertaining to notation and a few other things.

If you're writing novels, I think the 7th or 8th edition is all you need. However, if you're writing non-fiction, this 9th edition is far superior. The appendix is really, really useful in this edition.

Also, buyer beware...I bought a used copy that is cluttered with the original owners notes and scribbles. Book was sold to me with the description as "like new"...I'm thinking about returning it because I honestly could just use the 8th edition I already have on Kindle.

[Sreelakshmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the detailed examples

[Den S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit tired of the updates. Teaching this style is tough when they change the rules.

[Nathan Nicolau · Rating 5 out of 5]

MLA 9th is the easiest it has ever been. Well done.

[Helena]

las eigentleg den 8. utgåva. Det faktumet at dei nytta btvs når dei skulle vise korleis sitere fjernsyn og film?

[Biblioteka Wydziału Neofilologii UW]

N.15847 czyt.

[Zehra Akyel]

I am the embodiment of how academic pressure and procrastination can turn you into an academic weapon. Literally finished in 2 hours. Here comes my first book of 2025.

[R Chakrapani · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUITE USEFUL

Quite useful book and an industry standard… a must read on the shelf for those interested in books and writing professionally

[Allison Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have no other handbooks and want to write - literature, fiction, poetry, professional writing, etc - THIS is the handbook you need. This is the current version.