The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is a widely used style for academic writing, particularly in the fields of literature, languages, and the humanities. The seventh edition of the MLA Handbook, published in 2009, provides guidelines for formatting and citing sources in research papers and other written works.
One of the main features of the MLA7 format is the use of parenthetical citations within the text of a paper to acknowledge the sources of quoted or paraphrased material. These citations include the author's last name and the page number(s) of the source, and they are placed within parentheses at the end of the relevant sentence or clause. For example:
According to Smith (45), "the use of parenthetical citations is a key feature of the MLA7 format."
If the author's name is already mentioned in the sentence, only the page number needs to be included in the citation:
Smith argues that "the use of parenthetical citations is a key feature of the MLA7 format" (45).
If a source has multiple authors, the citation should include the last names of all the authors, separated by commas:
According to Smith, Jones, and Williams (45), "the use of parenthetical citations is a key feature of the MLA7 format."
If a source has no known author, the title of the work should be used in place of the author's name:
According to "The Use of Parenthetical Citations" (45), "the use of parenthetical citations is a key feature of the MLA7 format."
In addition to parenthetical citations, the MLA7 format requires the inclusion of a works cited page at the end of the paper. This page lists all the sources cited in the paper, along with complete bibliographic information for each source. The entries on the works cited page should be listed alphabetically by author's last name, or by title if there is no known author. Each entry should be formatted according to the specific guidelines provided in the MLA Handbook.
The MLA7 format also provides guidelines for the overall layout and appearance of a research paper, including the margins, font size and type, and line spacing. These guidelines are designed to ensure that papers are consistent and easy to read, and they help to create a professional and scholarly appearance.
Overall, the MLA7 format is a widely accepted and respected citation style that is used by many academic institutions and publishers. By following the guidelines provided in the MLA Handbook, students and researchers can ensure that their written work is properly formatted and properly cites sources, which is essential for academic integrity and professionalism.