Writing Academic Essays: Tips and Support: MLA Help, Grammar and Writing

MLA uses the author-page method of citation. The last name of the author and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken are placed in parenthesis and inserted in the appropriate place.

When referencing or summarizing an entire source, mention the author name and title in the body of your text. When quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing a particular passage or idea of the original source, include the author name and page number in the parenthetical citation. However, if you mention the author's name in your text, include page number(s) only.

If a direct quote is fewer than four lines, infuse it into your own text and use quotation marks. 

However, if a direct quote exceeds four lines, make the quotation a free-standing indented block quote and DO NOT use quotation marks. 

If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

Basic guidelines for formatting a paper accorind to the MLA style.

General Guidelines

• Always follow your instructor's guidelines - they may vary somewhat from the general guidelines
• Your paper should be printed on white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
• Double-space the text of your paper
• Use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). 
• Font size should be 12 pt., unless your professor says otherwise.
• Margins of the document should be 1 inch on all sides, which is the default in most word processing programs.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.
• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. Use the Tab key not the Space Bar.
• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.