MLA Format: A Guide
Modern Language Association is shortened simply as MLA style and is mostly used when MLA academic papers or assignments and citing references in Humanities and Liberal Studies are to be written. The association stipulates rules for organizing papers and utilizing the in writing when doing MLA writing. This style, also, offers students with a framework for citing their materials via in-text citations in their MLA format papers which encompass reference pages herein called the Works Cited pages that appear as the last part of any MLA article.
The MLA has had eight editions since it was first published in 1977 by the Association. The latest edition which is dubbed as MLA 8 was reviewed in 2016. Most instructors will prefer using this latest edition when writing MLA thesis.
It is essential that students who appropriately make use of MLA show their integrity by signifying responsibility to their reference materials that they have used. Most significantly, the writing of this MLA format essay can effectively safeguard students and writers from allegations of unoriginality and plagiarism, which both imply the intentional or inadvertent utilization of reference sources by previous writers or scholars.
Basic tips on writing an outstanding MLA essays
Your MLA style papers or MLA style research papers should be computer-typed and later printed or submitted out on an 8.5 x 11-inch white paper as per the standards of the style.
Always double-space (2.0) the sentences of your paper, and preferably use a legible Times New Roman font 12pt or whichever your instructor needs. Whatsoever font your paper takes, MLA style writing recommends that only italics and regular styles contrast such that they are easily identifiable one from each other. It also recommends that a writer leaves just after punctuation marks unless otherwise stated by your professor.
The margins of the paper must be 1 inch on all edges. Don’t forget to indent the initial line of every paragraph at least one-half-inch starting from the left side. The association states that a writer uses the Tab key and avoids using the space button to indent it.
MLA term papers or MLA research paper just like thesis and research papers should have a header that has page numbers sequentially in the topmost upper right-side end, which is a one-half inch away from the edge and level with the right side edge. It is always advisable to follow your professor’s, teacher’s or instructor’s requirements.
Therefore, in the topmost left-hand edge of the first page, write your name, the name of instructor or professor, the title of the course, and beneath that write the date. Once more, don’t forget to use a double-spaced text just like on the other areas of the MLA research papers.
Tips on how to write an MLA paper
The title should be double spaced again and centred. Avoid underlining, italicizing or even placing your title in quotation marks. It is, therefore, advised to write the heading of the paper in standard capitalization, and do not capitalize every letter. When writing custom MLA research papers or custom MLA term papers, our experienced writers take keen in spacing as you will see later on.
When referencing to other people’s works in your title, you are allowed to use quotation marks and italics, just the same way you would do it in your text. See our sample custom MLA papers for more details on this.
Ensure a double space (2.0) from the title and the initial line of the text and create a header in the topmost right-hand corner that has your last name (surname) trailed by a space with a page number unlike in APA. The header should be similar throughout the MLA style thesis or any other MLA paper for that purpose.
Similarly, give the number to every page serially with Arabic numbers i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. These numbers should be a one-half inch from the uppermost edge and flush with the right side. Remember always to follow the instructions given by your instructor unless you are writing your MLA essay or MLA style paper that needs no grading.
MLA formatting is the most widely accepted style for academic papers, especially in the humanities. It is a standardized format that ensures that all papers have a consistent look and feel. It was established by the Modern Language Association (MLA) as part of their mission to make scholarly communication easier to understand and access. MLA formatting has become an essential part of scholarly writing, and provides guidelines for papers on topics such as English literature, composition, foreign languages and cultures.
Recap
When formatting an academic paper using MLA style, it is important to remember a few key components. One of the first steps is including a page header at the top right corner of each page that contains the author’s last name, followed by the page number. This page header should be placed one-half inch from the top of the page and aligned to the right side of the paper.
In addition to including a page header, MLA formatting requires other components such as in-text citations, titles, and headings. In-text citations are short references to the sources you used while writing your paper. These citations appear within the body of your text and are usually enclosed in parentheses. It is important to include the author’s name, the title of work, and page numbers when available.
Titles should be centered at the top of each page; this includes any titles that appear on the first page of a MLA formatted paper. The title should be in standard title case, meaning that all major words are capitalized.
Headings also need to adhere to MLA formatting guidelines. Headings should be placed at the beginning of each section and include either one or two levels. If you have one level of heading, it will be centered in the paper. If you have two levels, the first will be left-aligned and the second will be indented.
If you are quoting a source within your text, MLA formatting requires that you include an in-text citation as well. This citation should appear directly after the quote, or if it’s included in the middle of a sentence, it should be placed inside parentheses. The in-text citation should include the author’s last name and the page number on which the quote can be found.
At the end of your paper, you will need to include a Works Cited page with full citations for all of your sources. Each entry in your Works Cited page should include the following information:
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The author’s last name, first name
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The title of the source
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The publisher and/or date of publication
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Any other relevant information such as a volume or edition number.
Examples of Bibliography in MLA format
For example, here is an MLA formatted citation for a book:
Gelb, Arthur. How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. Dell Publishing, 1998.
Sometimes, you may need to create a more detailed citation for sources such as articles and websites. In these cases, MLA formatting requires additional information such as the page number, author’s name, title of website or article, and publication information. For example:
Gelb, Arthur. “The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci.” Dell Publishing, 1998, pp. 25-30.
In addition to citing sources in the body of your paper, you must also include a works cited page at the end of your document. This should include all of the sources that you used while writing your paper and should be organized in alphabetical order by the last name of the author. When citing a website, you must include the URL and date of access. Here is an example:
Gelb, Arthur. “The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci.” Dell Publishing, 1998, pp. 25-30.
http://www.examplewebsitedotcom/article.html, Accessed 12 March 2018.
It is important to pay attention to detail and make sure that you are including all of the necessary information in your citations. Following MLA formatting guidelines will ensure that your paper is properly cited and formatted. Knowing how to correctly cite sources can save you time and stress when writing a paper!
If you need help with MLA formatting, there are many resources available that can provide guidance and examples. Your instructor may also be able to assist you in understanding the rules of MLA formatting. Additionally, if you have access to a format guide such as the MLA Handbook or The Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide, they can also be useful resources.
The basic structure of an MLA citation includes the following:
– Author’s last name and first name (if available)
– Title of the source (book, article, webpage, etc.)
– Container (publication or website where you found the source)
– Date published/updated
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