MLA 9th Edition · Screenshot
How to Cite A Screenshot in MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th Edition treats a screenshot 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 screenshots. Screenshot citations must name the software or site you captured—and the version, when the UI is version-specific.
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 screenshot
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
(Figma)
Template: (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X)
Figure caption
Fig. 1. Figma, Auto layout panel in Figma, 2026, Figma, www.figma.com.
Special rules for screenshots
- Name the application or site shown and the version or build if your instructor requires it.
- Describe what the screenshot depicts in the title or bracketed description.
- Include the date you captured the screen when the interface changes frequently.
Source of truth: The software, app, or website captured, including product name and version when known.
Common mistakes
- Citing the screenshot as a generic “image” with no software context.
- Leaving out version numbers for desktop apps when the UI is version-specific.
- Using a cropped UI without explaining which product screen it shows.
FAQ
How do you cite a screenshot in MLA 9th?
Build one MLA 9th reference from creator → date → title → “Screenshot” → 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 screenshot in MLA 9th?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator) or (Creator, fig. X). If the screenshot 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 screenshot in my paper (MLA 9th)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced screenshot 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 screenshot?
Start on the object or article page that displays the screenshot, 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 screenshots in MLA 9th?
Students often citing the screenshot as a generic “image” with no software context. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a screenshot different from citing a generic online photo in MLA 9th?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For screenshots, you also have to capture name the application or site shown and the version or build if your instructor requires it. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.