MLA Style

MLA is a style developed and updated by the Modern Language Association. It is used primarily in the arts and humanities. Using MLA guides your formatting and citation choices when completing an assignment.

Formatting

MLA formatting applies to your paper itself (for example, line spacing), as well as to your citations.

• format your paper
• format quotations

Citations

MLA uses both in-text citations and a works cited page at the end of your paper. In-text citations are used when you quote, paraphrase, or include ideas that are not your own in the body of your paper. They refer the reader to the source you retrieved the quote or idea from. In MLA, the type of in-text citation used is parenthetical citations.

• in-text citations
• works cited

If you chose a style other than MLA to complete your assignments, you may find these resources helpful!

APA Style

• APA Style introduction from the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
• Learn how to format your paper with APA using this style guide from the American Psychological Association.
• Learn how to create your references and reference list with additional information from the APA.

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)*

• Access the Chicago Manual of Style's online guide to Turabian.
• Chicago Manual of Style introduction from the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
• Learn about formatting your paper using CMOS and read more about CMOS's two methods of documenting sources.

*The Chicago Manual of Style is intended for published papers. The simpler, student version is called Turabian.