Modern Language Association (MLA) Style

Style Guide

Every manuscript written in MLA style includes a Works Cited section at the end that details the research utilized for the in-text citations. The Works Cited list does not include any works that were not cited in the manuscript itself. The Works Cited page includes the full details of the citations, in a specific format (MLA style), indicating to the readers where they can go for further information. The in-text citations provide a shorter indication of which of the references in the Works Cited list were used to help enhance the claims made in the manuscript, or to provide ownership of a direct quotation from another author.[Page 1032] MLA style is formatted with the goal to provide a clear and concise amount of information. The following sections detail the specific requirements for Works Cited list citations, in-text citations, and general manuscript format.

Works Cited List Format

The Works Cited list always starts on a new page of the document, after the text of the article and the Notes section. The words “Works Cited” (without quotations marks) act as the title of the new page—these words are centered but are not in bold or italics typeface. All entries are alphabetical.

Within a manuscript, an author may use a variety of sources including books, journal articles, websites, chat forums, and PowerPoint material. Each one has a unique formatting requirement to help distinguish the type of source. The punctuation and emphasis is intentional, so authors should pay attention to periods, commas, italics, and capitalization as shown in the most recent version of the MLA style guide.

In-Text Citations Format

In-text citations should be used (a) when utilizing a direct quotation from a source; (b) when using information that the author did not know prior to conducting research; (c) when paraphrasing or summarizing someone else’s research, even if it is not a direct quotation; and (d) when presenting factual information that is not commonly known.

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