MLA style is the standard guide for writing academic papers in the humanities.
MLA style, the Modern Language Association's set of guidelines for academic papers, is typically used in the literary arts and other humanities. Its function is to maintain stylistic continuity in the presentation of research and the citation of sources. Some distinctive features of MLA include parenthetical citations, the use of double spacing throughout the paper, and the use of single spaces between sentences.
Beginning a Paper in MLA style
It is not necessary to include a title page unless specifically requested. Typically, you should center the title near the top of the first page. Above it, list the author's name, instructor's name, course title and date:
Marie Smith
Professor John Cuthbert
Literature 1104
16 May 2010
Title (centered)
Maintain double spacing throughout the heading, title and first line of writing. Place a header, including the author's last name and page number, in the upper right corner of each page.
Including Quotations
It is crucial to cite your sources when paraphrasing or when directly quoting another work. Include the author's last name and page number in parentheses after either kind of reference. If the author's last name is mentioned in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parentheses; only include the page number:
According to Garvey, "the protagonist's tragic flaw is her pride" (23).
"The protagonist's tragic flaw is her pride" (Garvey 23).
The tragic flaw of the novel's heroine is pride (Garvey 23).
Always endeavor to make the quotation flow well with the text surrounding it:
The object of the law is to "achieve freedom and happiness for all" (Jenner 158), but this is more easily said than done.
When a quotation is four or more lines long, begin it on a separate line and indent the entire quote one inch from the left margin. Remember to maintain double spacing throughout, and place parenthetical citations after punctuation.
Writing Footnotes and Endnotes
MLA format does not lend itself to the use of long footnotes or endnotes. While they can provide supplementary and background information that would otherwise interrupt the flow of the paper's argument, it is advisable to keep them concise. If you want to direct the reader to further information on a topic, include an author-page number reference in your note:
1. For a full account of the Osiris cult in ancient Egypt, see Blackburn 521-99.
Creating a Works Cited Page
On a separate page at the end of the paper, list all of the sources that you have cited in the text. Different types of references (books, articles, websites, etc) require slightly different formats. Include, if applicable, the author's name (last name, then first name), title, volume, editor or translator, publisher and date. Arrange the list in alphabetical order:
Charles, S. T. "The Use of Myths in Historical Fiction." Literary Quarterly 20:4 (2002): 35-47. Web. 12 March 2010.
Marguelis, Ellen. "The Story of Atlantis." Ed. Louise Freeman. New York, NY: First Publications, 1976. Print.
Remember to italicize the titles of books, journals and websites.
Tags: last name, author last, author last name, double spacing, double spacing throughout, page number