What Is MLA Style?

MLA is the abbreviation of Modern Language Association. It has been applicable for one and a half century. MLA is a citation style, which is commonly adapted in various educational institutions around the globe. This is a format to help students to quote scholars and wise men in their research work, who addressed a certain similar issue in the past. This style is widely applied in not only the academic institutions around the globe, but it is also a compulsion in magazines, articles, journals etc.

It is essential to add renowned arguments of various personalities to make your research more authentic and appreciable. There are proper methods, which dictate this citation style. There are books on this style. This format is global and it is ideal for each student to get hold of it in order to make a presentable assignment.

Many teachers teach this style in the academic institutions, but most of the people have to learn this style by themselves. Many institutions pay heed to this style and make sure that each research base on this format. Students do not have much awareness in terms of this widely popular writing style. It is essential to learn in order to excel in the field of academics.

There are proper standards of citation, which are widely accepted in the whole world. It is essential to stick to global conventions in order to gain good education. There are books, newspapers, magazines, tabloids and so many other writing materials, which you would like to quote in your research, but you cannot just copy and paste the material in your research right away, you need to assess it arrange it and put it in a proper format, and let the reader know your resources.

There is a completely different way to cite a book of one author and three authors. Moreover, there are some books, which are mostly the product of compilation and it usually has no author, what is the proper method of listing such a book in the work-cited list? Well, this style addresses such issues. An example is below:

 Last name, First name. “A book is simply a book,” New York: Palgrave, 2002. Print.

Now when it comes to giving a reference from a newspaper, then there is a different process, which addresses this issue. A person cannot apply every method of citation to every source. It is essential that a person studies this methodology and then builds a clear understanding about it. If there is a reference from a newspaper, then this is the way to list it:

Last name, First name. “Title of the article.” Newspaper Name 5 Mar. 2005, Eastern ed., sec. F: 4. Print.

Similarly, there are different ways to add footnotes or a work-cited list of magazines, journals, electrical sources etc. it does not matter what you are writing, an assignment or a research paper; it is important that you follow MLA so that you can perform with excellence in your academic career.