The MLA (Modern Language Association) style manual is a widely used guide for formatting research papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities. The 7th edition of the manual, published in 2009, provides guidelines for formatting papers, in-text citations, and works cited lists in MLA style.
One of the main features of the MLA style is the use of parenthetical citations, which allow readers to easily locate the sources referred to in the text. In these citations, the author's last name and the page number(s) of the source are included in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase. For example: "According to Smith, 'the MLA style manual is an essential tool for academic writers' (43).
The MLA style manual also provides guidelines for formatting the layout of research papers, including margins, font size and type, and line spacing. It also includes guidelines for formatting headings and subheadings, as well as tables and figures.
In addition to formatting guidelines, the MLA style manual includes rules for citing a wide variety of sources, including books, articles, websites, and other online sources. It provides examples for citing different types of sources, such as print and electronic books, journals, and websites.
The MLA style manual is an important resource for academic writers, as it helps ensure that their papers are correctly formatted and that their sources are properly cited. The 7th edition of the manual is available in print and as a PDF, and it can be accessed online through various libraries and other resources.
Overall, the MLA style manual is a useful tool for writers who want to ensure that their research papers are professional and properly formatted. It is an essential resource for anyone writing in the liberal arts and humanities, and it is widely used in colleges and universities around the world.