How to Cite a Report in MLA 9th Edition

This guide explains how to format a report citation in MLA 9th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a report in MLA 9th Edition:

Template

Author(s) or Organization. Title of Report. Publisher, Year. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(National Institute of Mental Health)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your Works Cited:

Works Cited entry

National Institute of Mental Health. Technology and the Future of Mental Health Treatment. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the individual author or organizational name. Spell out the full name of the organization.
2
Write the report title
Italicize the full title of the report. Use title case.
3
Add the publisher and year
Write the publisher (the organization that issued the report, if different from the author), followed by the year.
4
Include the URL
Provide the URL without "https://". End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the report title.
Omitting the publisher when it differs from the author.
Forgetting to include the URL for online reports.
Using an abbreviation for the organization name instead of spelling it out.
Including the report number in the wrong position.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I include a report number in MLA?

MLA does not have a dedicated slot for report numbers. You may include it after the title as supplemental information if it aids retrieval.

What if the organization is both the author and the publisher?

In MLA, begin with the organization as the author and still list the publisher. MLA does not require omitting duplicate names the way APA does.

How do I handle government reports with many levels of authorship?

Start with the most specific authoring body. If the report is by a specific agency within a department, use the agency as the author and the department as the publisher.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your report:

Author(s) or Organization
Year of publication
Title of report
Report number (if applicable)
Publisher or issuing organization
URL or DOI

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Use the individual author or organizational name. Spell out the full name of the organization.

Write the report title

Italicize the full title of the report. Use title case.

Add the publisher and year

Write the publisher (the organization that issued the report, if different from the author), followed by the year.

Include the URL

Provide the URL without "https://". End with a period.