MLA format is one of the most common writing style guides. It’s the basis of academic writing and composes the presentation of scholarly work. Governed by the Modern Language Association, this style standardizes the structure of academic manuscripts by ensuring clarity and consistency from beginning to end.
In this quick guide, I’ll walk you through the essentials of MLA formatting and citation practices, covering everything from the title page to the Works Cited page, and really dig into the nuances of in-text citations, paraphrasing, direct quotes, and digital sources.
It sounds like a lot, but I promise to break it all down as quickly and concisely as possible. Ready to understand the MLA style handbook and polish your academic writing? Let’s unpack all the details!
Exploring MLA Format: What You Need to Know
Before we dig into the what, let’s quickly touch on the why and how.
Purpose of MLA Format in Academic Writing
The MLA format serves to promote consistency and fairness in scholarly communication. By following a standardized set of rules, MLA ensures that all academic works are presented in a uniform manner, allowing ideas to be evaluated based on their merit rather than influenced by formatting preferences.
A Brief History of MLA Style Guidelines
The MLA style originated in the 1950s and has morphed with the changing landscape of information dissemination, reflecting shifts in technology and research methodologies. In other words, it began as a way for scholars to concisely cite sources used in their work, but the handbook has grown over the years as methods of publishing have grown.
What Are the Core Elements of MLA Formatting?
Now, it’s time to really burrow into the key aspects of using the MLA style handbook. I’ll list each of the most common rules and guidelines and include some tips on how to use them.
General Formatting Rules
MLA formatting calls for 12 pt Times New Roman, double spacing, and 1-inch margins, creating clean, readable text. Although MLA is mostly used in academic fields, these basic rules are sometimes used in fiction writing and web content like blogs and such.
Header and Title Page
Unlike some other formatting styles, MLA generally doesn’t require a title page. Instead, a header on the first page includes your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date, followed by the title and the text.
In-Text Citations
In MLA style, in-text citations involve using the author’s last name and the page number from which the information was taken without a comma separating them.
Example: If the writer discussed a specific point in a book, they might write, “The importance of their medical journey is multifaceted and complex (Osmond 123).”
Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is where the writer lists all cited sources in alphabetical order by the authors’ last names. This page should be titled “Works Cited” and placed on a new page.
Examples:
- Single-author book: Osmond, Candace. The Art of Writing. Word Press, 2020.
- Book with two authors: Osmond, Candace and Ryan Smith. The Art of Collaboration: A Comprehensive Guide. Random House, 2020.
- Book with three or more authors: Osmond, Candace, et al. Teamwork and Success: Strategies for Effective Collaboration. Penguin Books, 2018.
- Journal article: Osmond, Candace. “How to Write Words.” Journal of Writing Words, vol. 10, no. 2, 2021, pp. 123–145.
- Online article: Osmond, Candace. “Digital Writing.” Writing Words Online, 22 June 2021, www.websitegoeshere. Accessed 10 Oct 2021.
- Website: Writing Alliance. “Online Writing Tips.” Writing Resources, Writing Alliance, 15 May 2021, www.websitegoeshere. Accessed 20 Nov 2021.
- Social media post: Osmond, Candace. “What Are Idioms?” Twitter, 5 July 2021, www.twitter.com/candaceosmond/status/123456789.
- Personal interview: Osmond, Candace. Personal interview. 12 Aug 2021.
- Email: Osmond, Candace. “Re: Writing Tips for Idioms.” Received by Lady Doe, 15 Sept 2021.
Quotations
Short, direct quotes from other sources should be enclosed in double quotation marks, followed by the citation.
Example: To some, “reading fiction is a form of escapism and can be a profound form of therapy” (Osmond 72), and some therapists encourage it.
But longer quotes should be formatted as block quotes. If the quote consists of more than four lines, you should indent the entire quote 1/2 inch from the left margin, followed by the citation.
Example: Osmond demonstrates true friendship in her works of fiction, as seen in characters like Avery Quinn and Julie Ryan:
I loved hanging out with Julie while she worked at the bookstore. I thumbed through a musty edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I closed the leather-bound cover and waggled it at her. “I’m getting this.”
Julie took the book and smiled as she added some notes to the papers on a clipboard. When she caught me eying her inventory list, she said, “Birthday present.”
(Iron & Wine, 9)
Paraphrases and Summaries
Some consider these to be one and the same, but paraphrasing is when the writer takes the source content and rewrites it in their own words. A summary is simply a condensed version of the original content, just listing or stating the main points.
Paraphrasing makes it easy to work things into the written content. Summarizing is best used when space and allotted word count are limited and you have to condense a lot of key information.
I’d like to note that, even when paraphrasing, it’s crucial to credit the original author with an in-text citation.
Example: Osmond’s analysis reveals that the story symbolizes more than a mere physical attraction, suggesting a profound personal transformation within them both (Osmond 123).
Formatting Titles of Sources
In MLA, titles of larger works are italicized, while smaller works within them are enclosed in quotation marks.
In the text, you might refer to a book and a chapter within it like this: In Candace Osmond’s Love and Other Things, the chapter “What the Heart Wants” provides deep insights into emotional symbolism.
On the Works Cited page, it might look like this: Osmond, Candace. “What the Heart Wants.” Love and Other Things. Guardian. 2017.
Italics
With MLA style, you should only use italics for titles of large works or works that stand alone, such as books and films. Italics are never meant to be used within the actual prose because any words that require some sort of emphasis should be evident in the writing itself.
But if the sentence in question can’t be written in a way that clearly emphasizes the word you want to italicize, you can use italics. Just know that it should be a last resort.
Abbreviations
When using an abbreviation for the first time, provide the full name followed by the abbreviation in brackets. Abbreviations composed primarily of capital letters should not have full stops or spaces between letters (e.g., PhD, US, FBI). For names with full surnames, insert a full stop and a space between each initial (e.g., J. K. Rowling).
However, for names entirely made up of initials, such as JFK, no full stops or spaces are necessary. Additionally, do not include a space after a full stop in abbreviations made up of lowercase letters representing words (e.g., a.m., i.e.). Finally, when abbreviating the names of months longer than four letters, use the following format: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.
MLA style incorporates a standardized set of abbreviations for academic and bibliographic references.
Example: Common abbreviations include “ed.” for editor, “trans.” for translated by, and “vol.” for volume.
Numbers
The MLA style guide actually has two different approaches to numbers, and both are perfectly acceptable.
If you’re writing just a few numbers here and there, MLA advises that you write them out: one, seven, forty-nine, etc.
If writing the plural of numbers, write them as nouns, such as thirties, seventies, etc.
Other, less common numbers like fractions, percentages, abbreviations, time, money, dates, addresses, or decimals should be kept in their number form.
Examples: 1 1-4 cups of flour, 95%, 10 lbs., 8:00 a.m., $2.50, December 2nd, 10th Ave., 1,897, 2.5, etc.
Lastly, MLA advises a combination of letters and numbers if writing about extremely large numbers, such as those in the millions or trillions. For example: 6 million or 10 trillion.
Tables and Figures
Tables and figures should be treated differently in MLA, so I’ll start by laying out exactly how to format a table.
Formatting Tables in MLA Style
Place the table in close proximity to the corresponding text and align it flush to the left. Include a label directly above the table with two parts: the word ‘table’ followed by its number. Below that, on a new line, provide a quick caption or description of the table in the proper title case.
You also don’t need to include any punctuation after the label. Next, be sure to reference the table within the written text (see table 1) so that the reader knows exactly where to look. With that being said, you should also place the table as close to the in-text reference as possible.
Afterward, below the table, if you have source information or extra notes, you can include them there. The source should be shown with an indicator like “Source,” then a colon, and the bibliographic details for the source but in note form.
Labels, captions, and notes should be double-spaced. If additional notes are required, they should be indicated with superscript lowercase letters in the caption or within the table, with corresponding notes provided below the source information, indented. If you include the source info here, you don’t have to show it on the Works Cited page.
Here’s a more visual example of how to handle tables in MLA style.
In-text:
In 2022, the number of freelance writers working online increased by over 60% compared to the previous year (see table 2).
The actual table:
(Table 2)
Percentage of Freelance Writers Working Online from Years 2020 to 2024.
(The actual table will appear here, but since this is a made-up scenario, you’ll have to imagine it!)
Finally, if you have source information or extra notes you’d like to include with the table, you’d do so here, directly beneath it on a new line.
Using Figures in MLA Style
Figures, aka any visual illustrations other than tables (images, charts, maps, diagrams, etc.), should be referred to in the text by an Arabic numeral (e.g., “see fig. 1”). MLA doesn’t specify a strict alignment for figures, so you can place them within the document, with the 1-inch margin guidelines, as best you can.
Each figure should have a label (‘Fig.’ or ‘Figure’ with its numeral right after) and a caption/title that includes relevant source information if not already included on the Works Cited page. Put this label and caption directly below the figure, starting with the same line as the label and number. Also, the words Figure(s) and Fig. are capitalized on the label, followed by a period.
Here’s a quick mock-up of how you should format a figure in MLA:
In-text:
Some readers don’t consider audiobooks to be a legitimate form of reading, but bestselling authors weigh in on the topic on a new podcast by Candace Osmond (see fig. 3).
The actual figure:
(This is a mock-up, but it could be something like an embedded file that can be read electronically, included within the text)
Then, below the figure, you’d include a caption like so:
Fig. 3. Audiobooks vs. Readers debate from Candace Osmond et al.; “Show 11”; Keep the Books in Audiobooks; MadeUpSite.com, 2 Dec. 2024, www.MadeUpSite.com/2024/the-audiobooks-debate.
Appendices
Appendices contain supplementary material and are cited in the text as needed.
Example: If referring to supplementary material, you could write, “For a full list of questions used in the report, see Appendix A.”
The appendix should be located at the end of the document and start on a new page. So, if your written piece is four and a half pages long, for example, the appendix should start on page six and always before the Works Cited page.
Also, all appendices should be listed in the same order they appear within the written text. For each new appendix, start a new page and label them as Appendix A, Appendix B, and so on.
Footnotes and Endnotes
First of all, let’s get it straight. Footnotes go to the bottom of a page, while endnotes are found at the end of the document before the Works Cited page.
Footnotes and endnotes are marked by superscript numbers. Typically, these numbers come after a sentence’s period.
If a note is necessary within a sentence to prevent confusion, place the number directly after a punctuation mark—except in the case of a dash, where the number comes before it.
In MLA, you don’t usually need to use footnotes and endnotes, but you can if you feel the need. Here are four quick tips for using them with MLA style.
- They’re great if you need to cite a ton of sources at one time.
- Use them if you wish to give readers further explanation about how you cited things.
- Use them if you need to elaborate on some ideas or tidbits from the work (like commentary).
- Use them to add examples that support the work but don’t necessarily fit anywhere else.
Example: The study identified three key factors influencing consumer behavior:1 price sensitivity, brand loyalty, and product quality. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective marketing strategies.2
Submission Standards
Submission standards entail ensuring that the document complies with any specific requirements set by the instructor or publisher. These standards often include specifications for font style and size, spacing, margins, and so on.
For submissions requiring MLA format, adhere to the guidelines of 12 pt Times New Roman font, double spacing, and 1-inch margins.
What Are the MLA Citation Guidelines?
Good question! I’ll try to keep this as simple as possible because MLA has some detailed citation rules. Here are the most common ones you’ll likely deal with:
Books, Articles, and Online Sources
When citing books, include the author’s name, the book title in italics, the publisher, and the publication year.
When citing a book with two authors in MLA format, include both authors’ names in the same order they appear on the book’s title page. Use the word “and” between the authors’ names within the text, and invert the first author’s name (Last Name, First Name), but not the second author’s (First Name, Last Name).
When you’ve got three or more authors, you simplify it by using the first author’s last name followed by et al.
Examples:
- In-text citation with two authors: (Osmond and Doe 45).
- Works Cited page with two authors: Osmond, John, and Jane Doe. Consumer Behavior: Understanding Price Sensitivity, Brand Loyalty, and Product Quality. Marketing Press, 2023.
- In-text citation with three or more authors: (Osmond et al. 45).
- Works Cited page with three or more authors: Osmond, Candace, et al. Consumer Behavior: Understanding Price Sensitivity, Brand Loyalty, and Product Quality. Marketing Press, 2023.
For articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers, ensure the author’s name, article title in quotation marks, periodical title in italics, volume and issue numbers for journals, publication date, and page numbers are included. For online articles, include the URL or DOI at the end.
For online sources like websites, blogs, and social media posts, the writer needs to include the author’s name (if available), the title of the page or article in quotation marks, the name of the website in italics, the publisher (if not mentioned earlier), the publication date, and the URL.
Citing Non-Traditional Sources
Non-traditional sources, such as interviews, emails, and social media posts, typically require a different citation approach. For personal interviews, include the person’s name, the type of interview, and the date.
When citing emails, list the sender’s name, the email’s subject line in quotation marks, the descriptor “Received by,” followed by the recipient’s name, and the date of the email.
Examples are provided in the Works Cited section above.
Common MLA Formatting Mistakes to Avoid
When working on MLA formatting, it’s crucial to steer clear of common errors that can impact the credibility and professionalism of your work. Here are some key mistakes to watch out for:
- Incorrect header setup
- Misquoting sources
- Improper Works Cited page formatting
- The wrong font style and size used
- Incorrect margin sizes
- Inaccurate in-text citations
How Do You Format Different Source Types in MLA Format?
The MLA guidelines have broadened to incorporate a ton of different source types, from traditional books to the ever-expanding realm of digital content.
Making sure there’s accuracy in citations, especially when using online citation generators, is so important. Here’s how to deal with each area.
Public and Government Documents
List the author (government entity or official’s name), the document title in italics, the publishing government or organization, the publication date, and the URL if accessed online.
Academic and Scientific Works
For academic papers and theses, include the author’s name, the title in quotation marks, the institution, the year of completion, and the URL if accessed online. With conference proceedings, add the conference name, location, and date.
Multimedia Sources
When citing films, TV shows, music recordings, and podcasts, list the title in italics, the director or creator’s name, the main performers (for films and TV shows), the production company or publisher, the release year, and the format.
Lectures, Presentations, and Public Addresses
List the speaker’s name, the presentation title in quotation marks (if known), the event or course name, the venue, the date, and the descriptor “Lecture” or “Address.”
Images, Charts, and Graphs
For visual materials, include the creator’s name, the title or a description in quotation marks, the year created, the medium, and the source location (book, website, etc.).
Ancillary Material
When citing prefaces, introductions, forewords, and afterwords, include the author’s name, the title of the material in quotation marks, the book title in italics, the book’s author or editor, and the page range.
Religious Texts
Be sure to list the title of the text in italics (e.g., The Bible), the version (if applicable), the editor’s name (if any), the publisher, and the publication year. It’s important to note that chapter and verse numbers are used in-text, not in the Works Cited list.
Classical Works
Include the author’s name, the work’s title in italics, the editor or translator’s name (if relevant), the publication year, and the format. If there are specific editions or translations, also include this information.
Secondary Sources
This one can be tricky. When citing a source mentioned within another source, it’s essential to include the original author’s name in the text and the source you accessed in your Works Cited list. Use “qtd. in” followed by the details of the source you used.
Annotated Bibliographies
When citing annotated bibliographies, follow the standard MLA citation format for each source, followed by the annotation beneath each citation.
Electronic Books and Journals
Cite e-books and electronic journals pretty much like their print counterparts, but include the type of digital file (PDF, ePub, etc.), if known, and the URL or DOI.
Why Stick to MLA Guidelines?
Mastering MLA format is essential for academic success. By adhering to its guidelines, you ensure your work is presented with clarity and professionalism, allowing your ideas to shine on their own merit.
Remember, the MLA Handbook is your best friend for navigating the complexities of citation and formatting. So, keep it handy and refer to it often to stay updated on the latest standards. With a solid understanding of MLA format, you can confidently tackle any writing task, armed with the knowledge to produce polished and credible work.
If you want to learn more about MLA or the other style guides like APA and CMOS, check out our other breakdowns found on our site!