Here are some of the most relevant changes in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For a complete list of changes, please see MLA's What's New in the Eighth Edition.
Core Citation Elements
The current MLA Handbook has moved away from specific, fixed rules for different formats (print book, CD, web page, online article, etc.), toward a more flexible system that takes into account the various ways works are published and used. The handbook emphasizes key elements that work across multiple formats. While not every element is used for every source, the elements should appear in this order:
- Author.
- Title of source.
- Title of container,
- Other contributors,
- Version,
- Number,
- Publisher,
- Publication date,
- Location.
Books
- Page numbers are now preceded by p. or pp. in the works cited list (but NOT in in-text citations).
- The city of publication is no longer part of a book's citation, except in particular instances (such as when the book was published before 1900).
- The medium of publication (print, web) is no longer required.
Journal Articles
- Scholarly journal issues are now identified with vol. and no. For example: vol. 42, no. 3
- The medium of publication (print, web) is no longer required.
Online Sources
- The URL for an online source is now included in the citation, without using angle brackets and without including http:// or https://.
- If your source has a DOI (digital object identifier), it should be included in your citation.
- Including the date you accessed the source is not required for all sources but is recommended for online sources with pages or formats that change or might change. When in doubt, it's good to include an access date.
Abbreviations
- Common terms in the works-cited list such as editor, performer, illustrator, translator, and review of are no longer abbreviated in citations.
