The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is one of the most widely used approaches for citing sources and formatting papers in academic writing. For any research paper you write, especially in the humanities, you will likely need to apply MLA format guidelines. These guidelines cover topics such as page layout, spacing, fonts, margins, headings, title pages, parenthetical citations, works cited pages, and more. Following MLA rules ensures academic integrity by giving proper credit to sources and allowing readers to locate references easily.
Some key MLA format guidelines to keep in mind for your research paper include:
Page Layout and Settings: All pages in an MLA paper should be formatted with 1-inch margins on all sides. The entire document should be double-spaced, including titles and block quotes. Use a standard readable font like Times New Roman or Arial in 12-point size. Each page should include a header with your last name and the page number in the top right corner. Paragraphs should also be indented half an inch.
Title Page: The title should be centered in the upper half of the first page. Below the title, include your name, the name of your instructor or professor, the course name and number, and the date. No extra information like titles or labels should be included.
Headings and Sections: MLA recommends using a clear, descriptive heading system to separate different sections or levels of information. For a typical research paper, use one-level headings for the main sections (e.g. INTRODUCTION, BODY PARAGRAPH 1, CONCLUSION). Any sub-headings within sections should be formatted consistently and indented further.
In-Text and Parenthetical Citations: Whenever using a quote or paraphrasing a source, an in-text citation should seamlessly blend into your writing. For MLA, the author’s last name and a page number should appear in parentheses after the cited information. For example: (Smith 25). If the author is unknown, just use the title or abbreviated title instead. Make sure to include a full Works Cited page at the end.
Works Cited Page: This is a separate page after the conclusion that lists all sources cited in the paper in alphabetical order by author’s last name. Each entry uses a hanging indentation and APA provides formatting templates and requirements for books, websites, articles, and other common source types. All elements like author, title, publisher, page numbers, URLs, and dates need to be consistently styled.
Quotations and Block Quotes: Short quotes that are four lines or fewer should be incorporated into sentences with quotation marks around the relevant text. While longer block quotes that are over four lines should be in a freestanding block, single spaced, with a blank line before and after and without quotation marks. Both types require in-text citations.
Title of Paper: The title should be centered at the top of the page without formatting bells or whistles like bold, italics, underlining, or quotation marks. The title should be brief but accurate in describing the focus of your research.
Spacing and indentation: All text in the document should be consistently double spaced with one-inch margins on all sides. Paragraphs should be indented a half-inch from the left margin using the tab key. Long quotes should be singled spaced but retain the one-inch margins and indentation from the left.
Following these key MLA format guidelines is essential to presenting polished academic work and giving proper attribution to sources by citing them consistently in-text and on the Works Cited page. Although some word limits and style preferences may vary by specific course or discipline, sticking closely to MLA style shows diligence and respect for the research process. Mastering the standardized citation and formatting rules demonstrates a strong command of information literacy practices befitting of college-level research writing. Applying these guidelines correctly ensures your ideas and analysis shine through without confusing readers or risking accidental plagiarism through sloppy citation practices.