Annotated bibliography template (MLA 9)

Quick answer

An MLA annotated bibliography lists each source as a Works Cited entry in alphabetical order with a hanging indent, followed by a short annotation indented 1 inch. Each annotation of about 2 to 5 sentences summarizes the source, assesses it and notes how you will use it.

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[Last Name] 1
[Your Full Name]
[Instructor Name]
[Course Name and Number]
[Day Month Year]
Annotated Bibliography
[Works Cited entry 1: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Year, pp. 45-60. DOI or URL.]
[Annotation 1. Start on a new line. Write 2 to 5 sentences: summarize the source, assess how reliable and relevant it is, and note how you will use it.]
[Works Cited entry 2: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Year, pp. 45-60. DOI or URL.]
[Annotation 2. Start on a new line. Write 2 to 5 sentences: summarize the source, assess how reliable and relevant it is, and note how you will use it.]
[Works Cited entry 3: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Year, pp. 45-60. DOI or URL.]
[Annotation 3. Start on a new line. Write 2 to 5 sentences: summarize the source, assess how reliable and relevant it is, and note how you will use it.]

Before you submit

Starting from a blank document? Set it up yourself

In Microsoft Word

  1. Open a new document with 1 inch margins, Times New Roman 12 pt, double spacing.
  2. Add the header: right aligned last name, a space, then Insert, Page Number, Current Position.
  3. Type the four line heading, then the centered title Annotated Bibliography.
  4. Paste the first Works Cited entry and set a Hanging indent of 0.5”.
  5. On the next line, type the annotation and set the left indent to 1” with Special set to None.
  6. Repeat for each source, in alphabetical order.

In Google Docs

  1. Open a new document with 1 inch margins, Times New Roman 12 pt, double spacing.
  2. Add the header with your last name and a page number, right aligned.
  3. Type the four line heading, then the centered title Annotated Bibliography.
  4. Paste the first entry and use Format, Align and indent, Indentation options, Special indent: Hanging, 0.5”.
  5. For the annotation, set the left indent to 1” (Special indent: None).
  6. Repeat for each source, in alphabetical order.

Filled-in example

Sample content for illustration. Do not cite.
Filled-in example

three invented sources with Works Cited entries and annotations. Sample content only.

Download the example
Rivera 1
Jordan Rivera
Professor Dana Whitfield
ENG 102: Writing and Rhetoric
14 October 2026
Annotated Bibliography
Lindqvist, Maria. Urban Canopies: Trees and the Modern City. Harbor Academic Press, 2019.
Lindqvist compares summer temperatures on tree-lined and treeless blocks in six cities and argues that street trees should be funded as infrastructure. The study design is clear and the data are well explained, though all six cities are in temperate climates. I will use her temperature findings as the main evidence for my first body paragraph.
Okoye, Chidi, and Anna Brandt. "Green Streets and Daily Walking." Journal of Urban Life, vol. 9, no. 2, 2021, pp. 105-18.
Okoye and Brandt survey residents of greener and less green streets and find that people on greener streets walk more often and spend longer outdoors. The authors note that the results show a link, not proof of cause. This article supports my claim about public space and balances Lindqvist's focus on heat.
Ruiz, Elena. "What a Street Tree Costs." City Planning Today, 3 Mar. 2022, www.example.org/street-tree-costs.
Ruiz breaks down the planting and upkeep costs of street trees for a mid-sized city. It is a trade magazine article rather than a peer-reviewed study, so I will use it only for cost figures and check them against the city budget.
Note: the sources above are invented for illustration. Do not cite them.

How to use this template

  1. Download the Word file or choose Copy to Google Docs to get your own editable copy.

  2. Write each source as an MLA 9 Works Cited entry and put the list in alphabetical order.

  3. Under each entry, start a new line for the annotation and indent it from the left margin so it is clearly separate from the entry.

  4. Write each annotation in the same order: what the source says, how reliable and relevant it is, how you will use it.

  5. Confirm with your instructor whether they want a descriptive, evaluative or combined annotation, and what length.

  6. Check the page header and the heading block, then read the list for consistent tense and tone.

Rules at a glance

Element

MLA 9 annotated bibliography

Heading block

Name, instructor, course, date (day month year) on the first page

Title

“Annotated Bibliography” centered, plain text, unless your instructor sets another title

Entry

MLA Works Cited format, double spaced, 0.5 inch hanging indent

Annotation

Directly after the entry on a new line. A common convention is to indent the annotation a further 0.5 inch (1 inch from the margin in total) so it stands apart from the entry.

Order

Alphabetical by first author’s last name

Length

Commonly 50 to 150 words. Follow your instructor.

Header

Last name and page number, top right, on every page

Note: the MLA Handbook gives guidance on Works Cited entries but does not set a strict layout for annotations, so check your instructor’s instructions. The layout above is the widely used convention.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the annotation as a copy of the abstract. Write your own summary and judgment.

  • Using APA features. MLA entries use “Works Cited” style elements, so do not add the year in brackets after the author or use sentence case.

  • Forgetting the hanging indent on the entry, or leaving the annotation at the same indent so it blends with the entry.

  • Skipping the evaluation. A good annotation says why the source is useful or limited.

  • Mixed formats across entries. Pick one convention for indentation and annotation length and apply it throughout.

  • Writing the date of the paper as month day, year. MLA uses day month year.

Frequently asked questions

What is an MLA annotated bibliography?

It is a list of sources in MLA Works Cited format, with a short paragraph under each that summarizes and evaluates the source. It shows the research you have done and how each source supports your argument.

How is an MLA annotated bibliography formatted?

Each entry is formatted as in the Works Cited list, with a 0.5 inch hanging indent, and the annotation follows on a new line. The MLA Handbook does not fix the layout of annotations, so follow the convention above or your instructor’s directions.

How long should an annotation be?

Typically two to five sentences, or roughly 50 to 150 words. Your instructor’s requirement overrides this.

What should an annotation include?

A summary of the source’s main point, an assessment of its reliability and relevance, and a sentence on how you will use it. Some assignments ask only for a summary.

Is the title “Annotated Bibliography” or “Works Cited”?

Use “Annotated Bibliography” unless your instructor says otherwise. “Works Cited” is the usual title for an unannotated source list in MLA.

What is the difference from the APA version?

The entries follow different citation rules (MLA Works Cited versus APA references), dates are written differently, and APA has a set annotation indent while MLA leaves it to convention. See the APA version for the other style.

Related templates

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MLA format template (MLA 9)

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Research paper outline template

Sentence or topic outline for a research paper.

Follows the MLA Handbook, 9th edition. MLA Style Center (style.mla.org). Last reviewed October 2026.

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Add your sources, choose MLA 9 and your Works Cited entries are formatted for you. Write each annotation under its source, then export to Word when you are done.

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