MLA Format

MLA Format Made Easy: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

What is the standard font size for MLA format?

According to the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines, the standard font size for MLA format is 12 points. This applies to the entire document, including the text, headings, and footnotes. The recommended font style is Times New Roman, although other serif fonts such as Georgia or Garamond can also be used. It is important to follow the MLA guidelines carefully to ensure that your document is formatted correctly and meets all the requirements for academic writing.

How should titles be formatted in MLA style?

In MLA style, the titles of longer works such as books, journals, and websites should be italicized. The titles of shorter works such as articles, chapters, and individual web pages should be enclosed in quotation marks. It is important to capitalize the first letter of all important words in the title, including the first and last words, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Prepositions, conjunctions, and articles (a, an, the) should be lowercase unless they are the first or last word in the title. Additionally, subtitles should be separated from the main title with a colon and capitalized in title case. If a title is in a non-English language, it should be translated into English and enclosed in square brackets.

How should in-text citations be formatted in MLA?

In-text citations in MLA should be formatted with the author’s last name and the page number of the source material in parentheses at the end of the sentence or quotation. For example: (Smith 27). If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, then only the page number needs to be included in the parentheses. If there are multiple authors, list all of their last names in the citation, separated by commas. If the source material does not have page numbers, use the abbreviation “n. pag.” instead. It is important to properly format in-text citations in order to give credit to the original source and avoid plagiarism.

What is the general structure of an MLA works cited page?

The general structure of an MLA works cited page includes a list of sources cited in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. Each entry includes the author’s name, the title of the work, the publication date, and the publication information such as the publisher and the city of publication. If there are multiple authors, all of their names are listed. The title of the source is italicized, and the rest of the information is in regular font. Each entry is double-spaced, and there is a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each subsequent line of the entry. It is important to follow the MLA guidelines accurately to ensure that the works cited page is formatted correctly.

What is the correct way to cite a book in MLA format?

The correct way to cite a book in MLA format is to include the following information in the Works Cited page:

1. Author’s last name, first name
2. Title of book
3. Publisher
4. Year of publication
5. Medium of publication (e.g. print, ebook, audiobook)

The general format for the citation is as follows:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

For example, a citation for the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee would look like this:

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. HarperCollins, 1960. Print.

In cases where there are multiple authors, the first listed author’s name should be inverted (last name, first name) and followed by a comma. The other authors’ names should be listed in regular order (first name last name) and separated by commas.

For example, a citation for the book “The Norton Anthology of English Literature” would look like this:

Greenblatt, Stephen, et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. Print.

How should block quotes be formatted in MLA?

Block quotes should be formatted in MLA by indenting the entire quote one inch from the left margin. The quotation marks are not used for block quotes, but a double-spaced line should be left above and below the quote. The citation should include the author’s name and page number(s) in parentheses after the quote, unless the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence introducing the quote. The citation should also be included in the Works Cited page at the end of the paper.

Is there a specific margin size required for MLA format?

Yes, there is a specific margin size required for MLA format. The margin size should be one inch on all sides of the document. This includes the top, bottom, left, and right margins. This is a standard requirement for MLA format and should be followed when writing a paper in this style. It is important to follow all formatting guidelines in order to ensure that your paper is properly formatted and meets the expectations of your instructor or professor.

How should page numbers be formatted in MLA?

Page numbers in MLA should be formatted as follows:

1. The page number should be placed in the header section of the document, aligned to the right margin.
2. The page number should be preceded by the author’s last name (or shortened title, if no author is provided) and a space.
3. If the document contains multiple pages, include the page number on each page.

For example, if the author’s last name is Smith and the document has 10 pages, the page number on the first page should be “Smith 1”, the page number on the second page should be “Smith 2”, and so on.

It is important to follow these formatting guidelines to ensure that your MLA document is consistent, professional, and easy to read.

How should websites and online sources be cited in MLA?

Websites and online sources can be cited in MLA (Modern Language Association) format by including the following elements in the citation:

1. Author – if available, list the author’s name (last name, first name).
2. Title of the Web page or article – enclose the title in quotation marks.
3. Title of the Website – italicize the title of the website.
4. Publisher or Sponsor of the Website – list the name of the publisher or sponsor of the website.
5. Date of Publication or Update – list the date the page was published or last updated.
6. URL – include the full URL of the webpage.

Here is an example of how to cite a webpage in MLA format:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Webpage or Article.” Title of the Website, Publisher or Sponsor of the Website, Date of Publication or Update, URL.

For instance:

Smith, John. “The History of Chocolate.” The Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 22 June 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-history-of-chocolate-21860917/.

It is important to note that if there is no author listed, begin the citation with the title of the webpage or article. Additionally, if the webpage does not have a publication date, use the date on which you accessed the webpage.

What is the general formatting for citing journal articles in MLA?

The general formatting for citing journal articles in MLA (Modern Language Association) style includes the author’s name, article title, journal name, publication date, volume number, issue number, and page numbers. The citation should start with the author’s last name followed by a comma and their first name. The article title should be in quotation marks and followed by a period. The journal name should be italicized and followed by a comma. The publication date should be in the format of day-month-year, followed by a comma. The volume and issue numbers should be separated by a period and followed by a comma. The page numbers should be listed at the end after the abbreviation “p.” or “pp.” For example, a citation for a journal article authored by John Smith and published in the Journal of Science on May 5th, 2021, with volume 10, issue 3, and pages 50-65 would look like this:

Smith, John. “Article Title.” Journal of Science, 5 May 2021, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 50-65.