17: MLA Conventions

Smart Arguments: Critical Thinking and Writing for College · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    • 17.1: General Formatting
      This page provides an overview of the MLA (Modern Language Association) style guide, emphasizing its role in writing and citing scholarly works, particularly in the humanities. It outlines key formatting rules such as double-spacing, font, margin specifications, and structured title pages. The chapter also discusses in-text citations and the "works cited" page to enhance clarity and professionalism in academic papers, ensuring consistency and aiding reader comprehension.
    • 17.2: Titles and Authors
      This page serves as a guide for formatting titles in student essays, detailing when to italicize or quote based on title length and type. It highlights the need for consistent author references and proper text introduction in introductory paragraphs. Additionally, it includes an exercise to correct ten formatting errors in a sample essay, covering issues such as font size, title style, author citation, and spacing.
    • 17.3: In-Text Citations
      This page provides guidelines for in-text citations in academic writing, detailing how to correctly reference sources using the author's last name and page number. It covers various situations such as corporate authors, multiple authors, unknown authors, and sources lacking page numbers. Key aspects include punctuation placement and the omission of terms like "pg." or "pp." These rules aim to ensure proper attribution of sources in written work.
    • 17.4: Works Cited Guidelines and Example
      This page provides guidelines for creating a "Works Cited" page, detailing the organization and formatting of sources used in an essay. It emphasizes alphabetizing by the author's last name and includes rules for handling works without authors. The page also covers citing multiple works by the same author and variations based on source type, accompanied by examples and additional resources for citation formatting.
    • 17.5: Creating a Works Cited List
      This page outlines the modern approach to MLA documentation, which focuses on flexibility through core principles rather than fixed rules. It details the nine essential elements for a Works Cited entry: Author, Title of Source, Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, and Location.

    This page titled 17: MLA Conventions was last modified on Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:41:48 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Skyline English Department.