Cite a dataset in MLA 9
Datasets are cited so the reader can locate the exact version you used, which is why MLA 9 (2021) requires the publisher, the version or release date, and a persistent identifier like a DOI. The dataset title is italicized, and the format is noted in brackets.
MLA 9 rules for a dataset
- Author is the dataset's creator or the publishing institution.
- Dataset title is italicized; specify the version or release date.
- Add [Data set] in square brackets after the title to indicate the format.
- Publisher is the repository hosting the data (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, ICPSR).
- Include the DOI as a persistent identifier; URLs alone are not enough.
- Note the dataset version in the title field; container is the repository.
Worked example
MLA 9 · datasetA real dataset formatted using the MLA 9 rules above.
Studies, NASA Goddard Institute for Space "Global temperature anomalies, 1880-2024 [Data set]." *Zenodo*, 2024, doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Build your own MLA 9 reference
Paste a URL, DOI, or ISBN below. The generator is preset to MLA 9.
We’ll detect the type and pull metadata via CrossRef (DOIs), Open Library (ISBNs), or Open Graph tags (URLs). Edit anything before copying.