MLA format, or the Modern Language Association format, is a writing style commonly used in the liberal arts and humanities fields. It is primarily used for research papers and other academic documents, and it provides guidelines for formatting and citing sources in a consistent and organized manner.
The overall structure of an MLA-formatted paper typically includes a title page, an abstract, the main body of the paper, and a works cited page. The title page should include the title of the paper, the author's name, and any relevant course or instructor information. The abstract is a brief summary of the paper, usually around 150-250 words, that provides an overview of the main points and findings of the research.
The main body of the paper is divided into sections and subsections, and each section should be clearly labeled and numbered. In-text citations are used to acknowledge the sources of information used in the paper, and these citations should be formatted according to MLA guidelines.
The works cited page, also known as the bibliography, is a list of all the sources cited in the paper. It should be formatted alphabetically by the last name of the author, and each entry should include the title of the work, the name of the author, the publisher, and the publication date.
One of the key components of MLA format is the use of parenthetical citations, also known as in-text citations. These citations are used to acknowledge the sources of information used in the paper and to provide the necessary information for the reader to locate the source in the works cited page. In-text citations should be placed in parentheses after the information being cited, and they should include the author's last name and the page number(s) of the source.
MLA format also has specific guidelines for the formatting of the overall document. The paper should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides. The font should be a standard, easily readable font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and it should be set to a size of 12 point. The title of the paper should be centered on the page and should be in a larger font size than the rest of the text.
In conclusion, MLA format is a widely used writing style in the liberal arts and humanities fields, and it provides a set of guidelines for formatting and citing sources in a consistent and organized manner. It is important for academic writers to follow these guidelines in order to present their work in a professional and credible manner.