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Questions and Answers
What does 'MLA' stand for?
What does 'MLA' stand for?
Modern Language Association
What is the proper format for an MLA heading?
What is the proper format for an MLA heading?
Name, Course name, Teacher's name, Due date (Day-Month-Year)
Should your heading be single-spaced or double-spaced?
Should your heading be single-spaced or double-spaced?
Double spaced
What belongs in the upper right-hand corner of your paper?
What belongs in the upper right-hand corner of your paper?
What font(s) are allowed in MLA format?
What font(s) are allowed in MLA format?
What size must your font be?
What size must your font be?
How wide must your margins be?
How wide must your margins be?
What size paper must you use if you are printing your paper?
What size paper must you use if you are printing your paper?
Where does the title of your paper belong?
Where does the title of your paper belong?
How should the title of your paper be formatted?
How should the title of your paper be formatted?
When you directly quote from, summarize, or paraphrase an outside source, what must you do to avoid plagiarism?
When you directly quote from, summarize, or paraphrase an outside source, what must you do to avoid plagiarism?
What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that does not name the author in a signal phrase?
What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that does not name the author in a signal phrase?
What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that already names the author in a signal phrase?
What is the format for an in-text (parenthetical) citation that already names the author in a signal phrase?
What is a signal phrase?
What is a signal phrase?
If there is no author given in a work that you are quoting in your paper, how do you cite this work in the in-text (parenthetical) citation?
If there is no author given in a work that you are quoting in your paper, how do you cite this work in the in-text (parenthetical) citation?
What spacing should you use for your paper?
What spacing should you use for your paper?
In MLA format, should you have additional space between each paragraph of your essay?
In MLA format, should you have additional space between each paragraph of your essay?
How should titles of short works, such as poems, articles, and short stories be formatted?
How should titles of short works, such as poems, articles, and short stories be formatted?
How should titles of long works, such as novels and plays, be formatted?
How should titles of long works, such as novels and plays, be formatted?
If your teacher's directions for formatting vary slightly from the official MLA guidelines, which should you follow?
If your teacher's directions for formatting vary slightly from the official MLA guidelines, which should you follow?
When you use quoted or paraphrased information, where do you place the end punctuation for a sentence?
When you use quoted or paraphrased information, where do you place the end punctuation for a sentence?
What is the bibliography or list of sources called in MLA?
What is the bibliography or list of sources called in MLA?
Is the Works Cited page numbered?
Is the Works Cited page numbered?
Does the Works Cited page count as a page of content or body?
Does the Works Cited page count as a page of content or body?
How are entries (sources) arranged in a Works Cited page?
How are entries (sources) arranged in a Works Cited page?
Are entries numbered in the Works Cited page?
Are entries numbered in the Works Cited page?
What is a hanging indent?
What is a hanging indent?
What is the correct way to indicate that no date is available?
What is the correct way to indicate that no date is available?
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Study Notes
MLA Format Basics
- "MLA" stands for Modern Language Association.
- Standard paper size in MLA is 8.5 x 11 inches.
- Use legible fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, sized at 12 points.
Page Layout and Formatting
- The header in the upper right corner should include the last name followed by a space and the page number.
- Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
- The document should be double spaced throughout without additional paragraph spacing.
Heading and Title
- MLA heading includes your name, course name, teacher's name, and due date in that sequence, double spaced.
- Place the title of your paper centered below the heading, using Title Case without underlining, italicizing, or quotation marks.
Citations
- In-text citations are necessary to avoid plagiarism: include the author's last name and page number if not cited in a signal phrase (e.g., (Vreeland 8)).
- If the author is named in a signal phrase, only the page number is required (e.g., (8)).
- For works without an author, cite using a shortened title in quotation marks (e.g., ("Magdalena" 8)).
- The end punctuation should come after the in-text citation.
Works Cited Page
- The bibliography is called a "Works Cited" page, arranged alphabetically by author's last name or title if no author is available.
- The Works Cited page is numbered but does not count as a page of content.
- Entries on the Works Cited page should not be numbered and must use a hanging indent format.
Additional Formatting Considerations
- Titles of short works (e.g., poems, articles) should be in quotation marks, while longer works (e.g., novels, plays) should be italicized.
- If teacher's instructions on formatting differ from MLA guidelines, always follow the teacher's guidance.
- Indicate the absence of a date with "n.d." in citations.
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