Article Categories
MLA Format for Research Papers: Stick to the Rules
Formatting is one of the most widespread stumbling blocks even for the most brilliant researchers and essay writers. The format of your paper is your academic trademark; therefore it is worth spending extra time on it. MLA format for research papers is among the most frequently required in academic institutions. This article focuses on the ways to succeed in coping with MLA format for research papers.
MLA Format for Research Papers: General Format
- 1-inch margins on all sides.
- 12 pt. legible font (e.g. Times New Roman), double-spaced.
- Indent the first line of paragraphs half-inch using the Tab key.
- Number section headings with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section title.
MLA Format for Research Papers: In-text Citations
The author-page method of in-text citations is used in MLA format for research papers:
- State the author’s name either in the text itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase.
- The page number should always be in the end parentheses, not in the text.
- In case the author is unknown, state the shortened title of the work cited instead.
MLA Format for Research Papers: Works Cited Page
- List the entries by author’s last name; in case multiple works by one author are cited, use three hyphens in place of author’s name for all entries after the first.
- In titles capitalize each word except auxiliary.
- Use italics for titles of books and magazines, and quotation marks for titles of poems and articles.
- State the medium of publication for each entry (Print or Web).
These are just the basic requirements of MLA format for research papers. More detailed information is available from specialized handbooks and manuals on MLA format for research papers. Beware that the requirements of MLA format for research papers may vary in different institutions, as well as updates to MLA style are introduced frequently!