MLA 9th Edition · Map
How to Cite A Map in MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th Edition treats a map as a containerized work: artist or creator, italicized title, date, and the website or museum that hosts it. Humanities courses usually want an Accessed date for online maps. Map citations credit the cartographic agency or platform; interactive basemaps also need a reliable access date.
Image Citation Generator
MLA Style
9th Edition (Section 5.34)💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
MLA 9th formula for a map
Creator Last Name, First Name. Title of Work in Title Case. Year. Website or Museum, URL. Accessed Day Mon. Year.
Italics: Italicize artwork and photograph titles in title case; website names are also italicized as containers. Year position: After the title, as its own element (not in parentheses).
Worked example
In-text citation
(U.S. Geological Survey)
Template: (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X)
Figure caption
Fig. 1. U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone National Park topographic map, 2021, USGS National Map, apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer.
Special rules for maps
- Include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product.
- For interactive web maps, cite the map title and the platform that hosts the view.
- If you screenshot a basemap, credit both the basemap provider and any overlay data.
Source of truth: The cartographer or agency (USGS, Ordnance Survey, Google, etc.) that issued the map sheet or digital layer.
Common mistakes
- Citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date.
- Omitting the agency responsible for survey data.
- Treating a decorative illustrated map as a photograph without noting it is a map.
FAQ
How do you cite a map in MLA 9th?
Build one MLA 9th reference from creator → date → title → “Map” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a map in MLA 9th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X). If the map is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s MLA 9th handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a map in my paper (MLA 9th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced map also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a map?
Start on the object or article page that displays the map, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing maps in MLA 9th?
Students often citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a map different from citing a generic online photo in MLA 9th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For maps, you also have to capture include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.