The Modern Language Association (MLA) style exists to provide consistency amongst writers and researchers and ensure

conventions are followed in a particular manner. Writers who use MLA format correctly identify their source, thus giving their work more credibility. Additionally, those who use MLA properly protect themselves from plagiarizing.

Typed and printed on standard, white 8 x 11 paper Double space the text of your paper and use a 12 point font (including quotations, notes, and works cited) DO NOT increase spacing between paragraphs Choose an easily readable typeface (e.g. New Times Roman) Leave only 1 space after punctuation marks

Margins of the document should be set at 1 inch on all sides Use the Tab key to indent the first line of each paragraph Number all pages consecutively by using a header in the upper right-hand corner (generally suggested that the header contain the authors last name, followed by page number)

A paper using MLA format should not have a separate title page. Instead, in the upper lefthand corner of the first page, list your name, instructors name, course, and date, followed by a centered title (all double spaced). Do not italicize, underline, boldface or use caps lock on your title.

This process identifies to your readers exactly what information come from each source. The most common way to document this is to insert parenthesis after using anothers words, facts, or ideas. The parenthesis should include the original authors last name and page number.

It may be true that in the appreciation of medieval art the attitude of the observer is of primary importance . . . (Robertson 136).

You may also choose to cite your source within your text, such as the example below:

Example: It may be true, as Robertson maintains, that in the appreciation of medieval art the attitude of the observer is of primary importance . . . (136).

In many instances, an author or page number may not be available. In such an occasion, your in-text source information must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of your Works Cited page. The most important thing to remember is that the in-text citations must direct you to the appropriate source in your Works Cited page.

If you do not have the author or page number, use the following formats:

It is preferred to reference the source in the text, rather than in parenthesis; however, you are unable to acknowledge your source in the text, it is acceptable to just refer to the author in parenthesis.

The utilitarianism of the Victorians attempted to reduce decision-making about human actions to a felicific calculus (Everett).

If the work you are using has no author, use the title (or an abbreviated version of the works title) instead.

Example: The nine grades of mandarins were distinguished by the color of the button on the hats of office (Mandarin).

Occasionally, it will be necessary to add an authors first initial to delineate between authors who have the same last name. An authors full first name may also be necessary if sources share the same first initial.

Although some medical ethicists claim that cloning will lead to designer children (R. Miller 12), others note that the advantages for medical research outweigh this consideration (A. Miller 46).

When citing a multi-volume work (such as an encyclopedia), a page number is required but additional citation information is helpful. If using a multivolume work, try to include both the page number and volume in the parenthetical documentation. Separate the volume and page number with colon and a space.

Between 1945 and 1972, the political-party system in the United States underwent profound changes (Schlesinger, vol. 4: 112).

To cite multiple works in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon.

Example: (Fukuyama 42; McRae 101-33)

Citing a source with three or fewer authors requires you to list the last name of each author. If citing a source with more than three authors, provide the first authors last name followed by et al. #

To reference works by the same author, put a comma after the authors last name and add the title of the work being referenced and the relevant page reference (if available).

Example: Shakespeares King Lear has been called a comedy of the grotesque (Frye, Anatomy 237).

The definition of an indirect source is a source cited within another source. It is recommended that you try to find the original source; however, sometimes citing an indirect source may be necessary. In order to do so, use qtd. in to indicate the source you actually consulted.

Samuel Johnson admitted that Edmund Burke was an extraordinary man (qtd. in Boswell 2: 450).

It is common to quote sources word-for-word when completing a paper. When directly quoting the words of others, it is necessary to format differently, based on the length of the quote.

He was obeyed, writes Joseph Conrad of the company manager in Heart of Darkness, yet he inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect (87).

At the conclusion of Lord of the Flies, Ralph and the other boys realize the horror of their actions: The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (186)

Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons. New York: Atria Books, 2003. Print.

Mullard, Asher. "Microbiology: Tinker, Bacteria, Eukaryote, Spy." Nature 459.7244 (2009): 159-61. Print.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Seventh Ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America. 2009. Print.

Weber, Joseph, and Christopher Palmeri. Be Our Guest. Please. Business Week 25 May 2009: 11. Print.

Wines, Michael. To Protect Ancient City, China Plans to Raze It. New York Times 28 May 2009, natl. ed.: A1+. Print.

Wessels, Michael. Foraging, Talking, and Tricksters. Journal of Folklore Research 45.3 (2008): 299-327. Project MUSE. Web. 1 June 2009.

Purdue OWL. "Evaluating Print vs. Internet Sources." The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, 8 Jan. 2010. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.