Understanding MLA Citation Style

MLA Citation Style is widely used in academic writing and research papers. It stands for Modern Language Association and is known for its emphasis on citing sources accurately. One of the key features of MLA style is the requirement for in-text citations to include the author's last name and page number, with no punctuation within the parentheses.

Key Features of MLA Citation Style

One of the most important aspects of MLA citation style is the use of in-text citations to acknowledge the sources of information used in a research paper. In MLA style, in-text citations contain the author's last name and the page number where the information is found. For example, (Smith 25).

Formatting Guidelines

When using MLA citation style, it is important to follow the formatting guidelines for both in-text citations and the Works Cited page. In addition to in-text citations, MLA style also requires a Works Cited page at the end of the paper, listing all sources cited in the text.

Examples of MLA Citation

Here are some examples of how MLA in-text citations should be formatted:

• (Johnson 45)
• (Brown and Jones 72)
• (Smith et al. 103)

Conclusion

MLA citation style is a popular and widely used citation style in academic writing. By following the guidelines for in-text citations and the Works Cited page, researchers can accurately cite their sources and avoid plagiarism. Remember, in MLA style, in-text citations should include the author's last name and page number, with no punctuation within the parentheses.