The Comprehensive Guide to MLA Formatting and Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is widely used in the humanities, particularly in writing on language and literature. This format offers a consistent way to cite sources and format essays, ensuring clarity and uniformity. Adhering to MLA guidelines demonstrates scholarly integrity and aids readers in navigating and verifying sources.

Introduction

MLA format was established to help scholars and students write papers that are easy to read and professionally presented. This essay will cover various aspects of MLA formatting, including general paper layout, in-text citations, works cited page, and specific rules for different types of sources.

General Paper Layout

1. Formatting Basics:
   • Font and Spacing: Use a legible font like Times New Roman, size 12. The entire paper should be double-spaced, including quotations and the Works Cited page.
   • Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
   • Title: Do not use a separate title page unless specifically requested. The title should be centered and follow the heading, without underlining, bold, or italics.
   • Header: Include a header in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin. It should include your last name followed by a space and the page number.
2. Heading and Title:
   • In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. This should be double-spaced.
   • Center the title, using standard capitalization. Do not italicize, bold, or underline the title.
3. Paragraph Formatting:
   • Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. Use the Tab key for this purpose rather than pressing the Spacebar multiple times.
   • There should be no extra spaces between paragraphs.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in MLA format are designed to be unobtrusive, providing just enough information for the reader to find the full citation in the Works Cited page without interrupting the flow of the text.

1. Basic Format:
   • Use the author’s last name and page number in parentheses immediately following the quote or paraphrase. For example: (Smith 123).
   • Place the period after the closing parenthesis.
2. Citing Without an Author:
   • If the source has no author, use a shortened version of the title. For example: (“Impact of Global Warming” 45).
3. Multiple Authors:
   • For a source with two authors, list both last names (Johnson and Smith 45).
   • For three or more authors, list the first author followed by et al. (Williams et al. 89).
4. Quotations:
   • Short Quotations: For quotes that are fewer than four lines, incorporate them into the text using quotation marks. (Smith 123).
   • Long Quotations: For quotes longer than four lines, use a block quote format. Indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin and double-space it without quotation marks.

Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page lists all the sources referenced in the essay. This page should be titled “Works Cited” and be placed at the end of the paper.

1. General Formatting:
   • The Works Cited page should be double-spaced, with the same font and margins as the rest of the paper.
   • Each entry should use a hanging indent, where the first line is flush with the left margin and subsequent lines are indented one-half inch.
2. Basic Entry Format:
   • A typical entry for a book includes the author’s name, the title of the book in italics, the publisher, and the publication year.
3. Entries for Different Source Types:

• Books: Include the author’s name, title (italicized), publisher, and year of publication.
• Journal Articles: Include the author’s name, title of the article (in quotation marks), title of the journal (italicized), volume and issue numbers, year, and page numbers.
• Websites: Include the author’s name, title of the webpage (in quotation marks), title of the website (italicized), publisher (if applicable), publication date, and URL.

4. Multiple Works by the Same Author:

• List the works alphabetically by title. In the first entry, include the author’s full name. In subsequent entries, use three hyphens and a period in place of the author’s name.

5.Editors and Compilations:

• For works with editors, use “ed.” or “eds.” after their names.

Specific Rules for Various Types of Sources

• Books with Multiple Authors: When citing a book with two authors, list them in the order they appear on the title page. Separate their names with “and.”
• Chapter in an Edited Book: When citing a specific chapter, start with the author of the chapter, the title of the chapter (in quotation marks), the title of the book (italicized), the editor(s), the publisher, the year, and the page numbers.
• Journal Articles: For scholarly articles, include the author’s name, the title of the article (in quotation marks), the title of the journal (italicized), volume number, issue number, year, and page numbers.
• Online Sources: Include as much information as possible: author, title of the webpage (in quotation marks), title of the website (italicized), publisher or sponsoring organization, publication date, and URL.
• Other Media (Films, TV Shows, etc.): When citing films or TV shows, start with the title (italicized), the director, the performers, the production company, and the year of release.

Additional Formatting Guidelines

1. Figures and Tables:
   • Label tables and figures with numbers (Table 1, Figure 1, etc.). Include a caption for each, and refer to them in the text. Place the label and caption above the table or figure.
2. Footnotes and Endnotes:
   • While MLA primarily uses in-text citations, footnotes or endnotes can be used for additional information or commentary. Place endnotes on a separate page before the Works Cited page, titled “Notes.”
3. Abbreviations:
   • Use standard abbreviations for books of the Bible, titles of works in literature, and other common terms. Consult the MLA Handbook for specific abbreviations.
4. Titles and Quotations:
   • Titles of longer works (books, journals, films) should be italicized. Titles of shorter works (articles, chapters, poems) should be in quotation marks.
5. Numbers and Dates:
   • Spell out numbers that can be written in one or two words (e.g., one hundred, fifty-six). Use numerals for numbers that require more than two words (e.g., 250, 1,000). Write dates in the format of day, month, and year (e.g., 14 July 2021).

Conclusion

Adhering to MLA guidelines is crucial for presenting academic work professionally and consistently. These rules cover every aspect of the writing process, from formatting and in-text citations to the Works Cited page. Understanding and applying these rules ensures that scholars and students maintain clarity, credibility, and academic integrity in their writing.