The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation guidelines are a set of rules used to format citations and bibliographies in research papers, particularly in the humanities. The guidelines are designed to provide a consistent and clear way to credit sources and avoid plagiarism.
Overview of MLA Citation Guidelines
The MLA citation guidelines are based on the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook, which was published in 2016. The guidelines provide instructions on how to cite a wide range of sources, including books, articles, websites, and more. The MLA style is commonly used in English, literature, and other humanities disciplines.
Key Components of MLA Citations
MLA citations typically include the following components: author’s name, title of the source, title of the container, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable). The format of the citation will vary depending on the type of source being cited.
| Source Type | Citation Format |
|---|---|
| Book | Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication. |
| Article | Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Container, Volume, Issue, Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers. |
| Website | Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Day Month Year of Publication, URL. |
Formatting Guidelines for MLA Citations
MLA citations should be formatted in a specific way to ensure consistency and clarity. The guidelines include rules for font, spacing, and indentation. The font should be legible and consistently used throughout the paper, with a recommended size of 12-point. The spacing should be double-spaced, with no extra spaces between paragraphs.
Indentation and Line Spacing
The first line of each paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, and the lines should be double-spaced. The Works Cited page should be formatted with a hanging indent, where the first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and the subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.
The MLA citation guidelines also provide instructions on how to format the Works Cited page, which is a list of all the sources cited in the paper. The Works Cited page should be titled "Works Cited" and should be centered at the top of the page. The citations should be listed in alphabetical order by author's last name, and should include the full citation information.
What is the purpose of MLA citation guidelines?
+The purpose of MLA citation guidelines is to provide a consistent and clear way to credit sources and avoid plagiarism in research papers.
What are the key components of MLA citations?
+The key components of MLA citations include the author’s name, title of the source, title of the container, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable).
How should MLA citations be formatted?
+MLA citations should be formatted in a specific way, with the author’s name and page numbers (if applicable) included in the in-text citation, and the full citation provided in the Works Cited page. The font should be legible and consistently used throughout the paper, with a recommended size of 12-point. The spacing should be double-spaced, with no extra spaces between paragraphs.
