Modern Languages Association MLA

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Modern Languages Association (MLA)

• MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide

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MLA General Format

• MLA style specifies guidelines for formatting.
• It is most commonly used to write papers and cite
  sources within the liberal arts and humanities.
• MLA style also provides writers with a system for
  referencing their sources through parenthetical
  citation in their essays and Works Cited pages.
• The use of MLA style can protect writers from
  accusations of plagiarism.

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Paper FormatGeneral Guidelines

• Use a computer and print on standard, white 8.5 x
  11 inch paper.
• Double-space the text of your paper (Format gt
  Paragraph gt Line Spacing gt Double), and use a
  legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). The font
  size should be 12 pt.
• Leave only one space after periods or other
  punctuation marks
• Set 1 inch margins on all sides of the document.
  (This is usually pre-set) (Format gt Document gt
  Margin)
• Indent the first line of paragraphs by using the
  Tab key. (This is one half-inch from the left
  margin)
• All pages should be numbered (unless your
  instructor specifies otherwise) (Insert gt Page
  Number gt Top of page gt Right alignment)
• Use italics throughout your essay for the titles
  of longer works and, only when absolutely
  necessary, providing emphasis.

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Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

• Do not make a title page!
• In the upper left-hand corner of the first page,
  list your name, your instructors name, the
  course code, and the date (date, month, year).
  Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
• Double space again and centre the title. Do not
  underline, italicize, or place your title in
  quotation marks.
• Double space between the title and the first line
  of the text.
• Create a header (View gt Header/Footer) in the
  upper right-hand corner that includes your last
  name, followed by a space with a page number
  number all pages consecutively with Arabic
  numerals (1, 2, 3, etc).

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In-Text Citations The Basics

• MLA uses parenthetical citations (citations in
  parentheses). Parenthetical citations direct
  readers to the full bibliographic citations
  listed in the Works Cited, located at the end of
  the document.
• The way you format parenthetical citations
  depends on the medium (e.g. Print, Web, DVD, etc)
• When you directly quote the works of others in
  your paper, you will format quotations
  differently depending on their length.
• Following are some basic guidelines for
  incorporating quotations into your paper. Please
  note that all pages in MLA should be double
  spaced.

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Short Quotations

• To indicate short quotations (fewer than four
  typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in
  your text,
• Enclose the quotations within double quotation
  marks.
• Provide the author and specific page number -
  e.g. (Lee 9)
• In the case of verse (poetry) provide line
  numbers - e.g. (Plath 4-6)
• In the case of Shakespeare provide Act, Scene,
  Line numbers - e.g. (Shakespeare 1.2.12-14)
• Include a complete reference on the Works Cited
  page.

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Short Quotations

• Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and
  semicolons should appear after the parenthetical
  citation.
• E.g. According to some, dreams express profound
  aspects of personality, though others disagree
  (Foulkes 184).
• Question marks and exclamation points should
  appear within the quotation marks if they are
  part of the quoted passage.
• E.g. Foulkes asks, do dreams express our
  personalities? (Foulkes 184).
• If question marks or exclamation points are not
  part of the quoted text, they come after the
  quotation marks.
• E.g. Is it possible that dreams may express
  profound aspects of personality (184)?

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Long Quotations

• For quotations that are four or more lines of
  verse or prose
• Place quotations in a free-standing block of text
  and omit any quotation marks.
• Start the quotation on a new line, with the
  entire quote indented one inch from the left
  margin maintain double-spacing.
• Only indent the first line of the quotation by a
  half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs.
• Your parenthetical citation should come after the
  closing punctuation mark.

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Adding or Omitting Words in Quotations

• If you add a word or words in a quotation, you
  should put brackets around the words to indicate
  that they are not part of the original text.
• If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you
  should indicate the deleted word or words by
  using ellipsis marks, which are three periods ()
  preceded and followed by a space.
• E.g. In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold
  Brunvand notes that some individuals make a
  point of learning every recent rumor or taleand
  in a short time a lively exchange of details
  occurs (Brunvand 78).
• Please note that brackets are not needed around
  ellipses unless adding brackets would clarify
  your use of ellipses.

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Works Cited Page Basic Format

• According to MLA style, you must have a Works
  Cited page at the end of your paper.
• All entries in the Works Cited page must
  correspond to the works cited in your main text.

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Works Cited NOT a Bibliography!!!

• Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at
  the end of your paper. It should have the same
  one-inch margins and last name, page number
  header as the rest of your paper.
• Label the page Works Cited (do not italicize the
  words Works Cited, put them in quotes or add the
  word Page to the end) and centre the words
  Works Cited at the top of the page.
• Double space all citations, but do not skip
  spaces between entries.
• Indent the second and subsequent lines of
  citations five spaces so that you create a
  hanging indent.
• List page numbers of sources efficiently, when
  needed. If you refer to a journal article that
  appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page
  numbers on your Works Cited page as 225-50.

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Capitalization and Punctuation

• Capitalize the first letter of each word in the
  titles of plays, books, etc. but do not
  capitalize the first letter of conjunctions or
  prepositions unless one is the first word of the
  title or subtitle.
• E.g. Gone with the Wind, The Art of War, There is
  Nothing Left to Lose
• Use italics (instead of underlining) for titles
  of larger works (books, magazines) and quotation
  marks for titles of shorter works (poems,
  articles)

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Listing Author Names

• Entries are listed by author name (or, for entire
  edited collections, editor names). Author names
  are written last name first middle names or
  middle initials follow the first name.
• E.g. Burke, Kenneth C.
• Do not list titles (Dr., Sir, Saint, etc.) or
  degrees (PhD, MA DDS, etc.) with names.

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Citation Format - Books and Plays

• Authors Name. Title of Literature. City of
  Publication Publisher, Year of Publication.
  Type of Publication.
• E.g.
• Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet.
  Toronto Harcourt Canada, 2001. Print.

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More than one work by an author

• If you have cited more than one work by a
  particular author, order the entries
  alphabetically by title, and use three hyphens in
  place of the authors name for every entry after
  the first.
• E.g.
• Burke, Kenneth C. A Grammar of Motives.
• ---. A Rhetoric of Motives. ..

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Works Cited Page Web

• Web Source Format
• Editor, author, or compiler name (if available).
  Article Name. Name of Site. Version number.
  Name of institution/organization affiliated with
  the site (sponsor or publisher). Date of last
  update. Medium of publication. Date of access.
• For Example
• Bernstein, Mark. 10 Tips on Writing the Living
  Web. A List Apart For People Who Make
  Websites. A List Apart Mag., 16 Aug. 2002. Web.
  4 May 2009.
• Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical
  Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003. Web. 10 May
  2006.
• How to Make Vegetarian Chilli. eHow.com. eHow,
  n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2009.

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Other general guidelines

• Do not use contractions in your writing.
• i.e. Cant cannot, dont do not, etc.
• Do not use numerals, write the word.
• i.e. 9 nine, 100 one hundred, etc.
• Do not use abbreviations or short forms.
• i.e. Tues. Tuesday, cause because
• Use third person, not first person.
• i.e. Dont use our, my, I believe, etc. Do use
  they, them, people, etc.
• Use present tense not past tense.
• i.e. Romeo killed Tybalt Romeo kills Tybalt

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For Further Information

• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/