MLA Guidelines

By Thomas Smith

Rules of punctuation, reference citation, structure and format for these commonly used guidelines. Different guidelines will be used depending on the subject area or the professor or teacher. Having a laminated 6–page quick reference handy can speed the writing and editing process allowing the writer to focus on the quality of the paper rather than the structure.

Suggested uses:
• Students – Handy reference while writing papers, collect the set of guides you need for your classes to easily switch between styles
• Professors/Teachers – Keep handy while writing for academic journals in your subject area

• Language: English
• Publisher: BarCharts, Inc.
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781423237327

Book preview

Introduction

This is a guide to Modern Language Association (MLA) rules used in academic writing

Important: The rules covered in this guide are accurate according to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 7th edition

What Is MLA Style?

The editorial style developed by the Modern Language Association (MLA) for use in the humanities

Editorial style refers to the rules or guidelines used to document research in a uniform manner; it includes:

Punctuation and abbreviations

Citations in text

Works cited list

Electronic references

Based on the consensus of teachers, librarians, and scholars in language, literature, and other fields in the humanities

Has been in use by students and scholars since 1951 (originally published as The MLA Style Sheet)

Not only addresses punctuation and the technical aspects of writing and documenting sources, but also covers working with them in the writing process, including:

Avoiding plagiarism

Evaluating the authority of sources

Determining the reliability of web-related sources

Research & Writing

The research paper is a form of exploration and communication

Exploration: Research requires us to expand our knowledge and look beyond what we already know through primary research (firsthand investigation) and secondary research (the examination of other researchers’ work)

Communication: A research paper should present ideas in a clear, concise manner; it is a combination of researching your topic thoroughly and using the mechanics of writing and language to present your ideas effectively

When selecting research topics, be sure to be specific, consult other sources before finalizing the topic, and revise the topic if necessary

Use outlines (working to final outlines) and drafts (first to final drafts) in order to create the best possible research paper

Avoid using broad generalizations to refer to qualities such as age, class, economic status, ethnicity, gender, race, sex, or orientation

Avoid gender pronouns such as he, him, or his to refer to groups of people

Use nondiscriminatory language such as firefighter instead of fireman to describe positions or jobs

Finding & Using Sources

Use a combination of sources, but an academic library with professional reference librarians and electronic databases will likely be your most reliable resource

To initiate research, utilize reference works

Reference works categorize and contribute data that aids in the location of sources

NOTE: Reference works are meant to initiate research and aid in finding sources; some reference works may not