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MLA Citations (9th ed.)

This guide will help you format your paper and cite resources according to MLA citation style.

Version Basics

If the source carries a notation indicating that it is a version of a work released in more than one form, identify the version in your entry. 

Books are commonly issued in versions called editions.

A revised version of a book may be labeled revised edition or be numbered (second edition, third edition, etc.).

Versions of books are sometimes given other descriptions as well. (p. 154)

Formatting of Versions

When citing versions in the works cited list, write ordinal numbers with arabic numerals (2nd, 34th) and abbreviate revised (rev.) and edition (ed.).

Descriptive terms for versions, such as expanded ed. and 2nd ed., are written all lowercase, except that an initial letter directly following a period is capitalized.

By contrast, names like Authorized King James Version and Norton Critical Edition are proper nouns and are therefore capitalized like titles. Words in them are not abbreviated. (pp. 157-158)