How to Cite a Dataset in MLA

Datasets get the author, year, title, repository and DOI, which most repositories list under "Cite this dataset". This page follows MLA 9th edition, 9th edition (2021).

MLA format for a dataset

MLA 9th edition

Works Cited entry

Fisher, R. A. “Iris.” UCI Machine Learning Repository, 1988, https://doi.org/10.24432/C56C76.

In-text citation

(Fisher)

Style: MLA 9th edition

Or enter it yourself:

Check the details

4 required fields are empty: the citation will be incomplete until you fill them in.

Author or organisation (required)

Missing: most styles need this.

Date published (required)

Missing: most styles need this.

Missing: most styles need this.

Missing: most styles need this.

Cite a specific place (optional)

Preview: MLA 9th edition

Works Cited (0)

Your citations appear here, formatted in MLA 9th edition. They are saved in this browser only: nothing is sent to us, and no account is needed.

    Where to find the details

    • Repositories such as Zenodo, Dryad, Figshare and the UCI repository show a DOI on the dataset page.

    Required in most styles: author or organisation, date published, dataset title, repository or publisher.

    Cite a dataset in another style

    Other sources

    Questions

    What do I need to cite a dataset in MLA?

    At minimum: author or organisation, date published, dataset title, repository or publisher. Repositories such as Zenodo, Dryad, Figshare and the UCI repository show a DOI on the dataset page.

    What does a dataset look like in MLA?

    Works Cited entry: Fisher, R. A. “Iris.” UCI Machine Learning Repository, 1988, https://doi.org/10.24432/C56C76. In-text citation: (Fisher)

    Is this free?

    Yes. No account and no limit. Your bibliography is saved in this browser only, and you can export it to Word, BibTeX, RIS or CSL-JSON.

    Citations are formatted by citeproc-js by Frank Bennett (CPAL-1.0, or AGPL-1.0), the engine behind Zotero and Mendeley, running the official Citation Style Language styles (10,863 styles, commit 2e93558) and locales (commit a89adec), used under CC BY-SA 3.0. AGLC4 citations use the LexIntellect AGLC4 engine, checked against the Guide's worked examples. Always check a citation against the manual or your institution's guide before you submit.