The Modern Language Association (MLA) establishes values and criteria for publishing scholarly writings and research in the liberal arts and humanities. The MLA style refers to the standard guidelines for formatting research papers and citing sources published by the Modern Language Association. These guidelines determine the proper way to organize and present your research in a manuscript.
MLA style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing research papers and assignments in the humanities including but not limited to languages, literature, cultural studies, ethnic studies, theatre, film, and other arts. Proper use of MLA format cites the sources that supported your research, allowing readers to reference the primary sources themselves if they desire more information.
MLA style is most commonly used in liberal art subjects such as languages and literature as well as in other humanities and arts subjects. Additionally, education, social sciences, and professional programs such as communication, design, nursing, and others may also use MLA style for research papers.
MLA 7th edition format refers to specific standards introduced in the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers published in 2009. Some key elements of MLA format addressed in this reference are:
Font: Times New Roman, 12 point size
Double spaced paragraphs and citations
One inch page margins all around (top, bottom, left and right)
Page header with last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner of each page
Headings and subheadings as needed
Title centered, not bolded or underlined
Student’s name, instructor’s name, course name/number, and date centered below the title
MS Word has default settings for MLA format essays that can easily be selected and customized to meet the above requirements such as font type, size and line spacing. Proper in-text citations and Works Cited page are manual processes that require diligent formatting.
MLA style uses parenthetical in-text citations within the body of the research paper to briefly identify the source of information. These parenthetical citations correspond to full citations on the Works Cited page at the end of the paper which provide complete source publication details.
For example, if quoting directly or paraphrasing a source, the author’s last name and page number from the source text would appear in parentheses within the paper, followed by a page number if it is a direct quote. On the Works Cited page, the full bibliographic citation for that source would be alphabetically listed. An example in-text citation would be:
(Smith 25).
Or for a direct quote:
(Smith 37).
The format for full bibliography citations on the Works Cited page varies depending on whether the source is a book, article, website or other type of media. Samples of Works Cited formats for common sources are:
Book:
Last name, First name. Title. City of publication: Publisher, Year Published. Medium.
Article in Journal:
Last name, First name. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, Publication Date, pages.
Website:
Last name, First name. “Title of Page.” Title of Site. Sponsoring organization/publisher, date updated/reviewed. Date accessed
Proper MLA format requires an accurate and consistent reference page that alphabetically lists all sources by the author’s last name. If no author is identified, the source is listed by its title. In addition to books and articles, the reference page may also include sources like government documents, interviews, lectures, and multimedia content.
Considered the industry standard for citing references in scholarly work, MLA style provides a uniform system for acknowledging outside influences and preventing plagiarism. Following the established MLA format guidelines demonstrates academic integrity and allows readers to efficiently follow up on the research presented. The key is to remain consistent in citation structure and use proper, readable styles for quotes throughout.
Proper use of MLA style build credibility and trust with your readers by acknowledging the ideas and wording borrowed from other authors. It also allows interested parties to follow up and discover more information about the topics and issues discussed. Mastering MLA format takes practice but demonstrates your understanding of academic standards for research and helps create a polished, professional paper presentation.