Here’s an example entry for our book example above: With this information, the reader can then learn more about the source in the Works Cited page. When Ralph Ellison’s narrator says he’s an “invisible man,” he is commenting on his social invisibility as a Black man in society (3).It is a concise style predominantly used in the liberal arts and humanities, first and foremost in research focused on languages, literature, and culture. “I am an invisible man” is a profound statement of how society refuses to see Black people (Ellison 3). The MLA format was developed by the Modern Language Association as a consistent way of documenting sources used in academic writing.If the author is mentioned in context, leave out their last name from the parenthetical reference. The basic MLA style format for an in-text citation of a book places, in parentheses, the last name of the author followed, without a comma, by the page number for the quoted or cited material, finished with a period outside the closed parenthesis. If your project isn’t an actual research paper, but a slideshow, video, or another type of project, follow the same guidelines as above. What are some basic guidelines in MLA style?Īn in-text citation is used when you are directly quote a text or citing a resource as evidence for a claim or example. Formatting the MLA works cited page The reference page is the final page of a research paper and starts on its very own page. MLA style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. Scholars in such fields as psychology, education, and social sciences favor this style guide. MLA style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and using the English language in writing.
Other disciplines use other style guidelines, such as APA style, from the American Psychological Association (APA). This cross-referencing system allows readers to locate the publication information of source material. MLA style provides writers with a system for cross-referencing their sources from their parenthetical references (in-text citations) to their “Works Cited” page (bibliography). It’s especially used in the humanities, such as, according to Purdue University’s writing lab: MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. MLA style is widely used by schools, academic departments, and instructors. MLA General Format MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. The MLA Style Manual is especially for graduate students, and went into its third edition in spring 2016.