MLA citations tend to scare most students due to their detailed formatting guidelines. Mastering them unlocks a world of academic credibility and polished writing.
This blog gives you a breakdown of the essential dos and don'ts of MLA. Avoid that dreaded red pen from your professor by considering these techniques.
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Which are the Dos?
Give credit to other author's work. This might seem obvious, but always cite any source you use for information, ideas, or a cool phrase. MLA style helps your reader track down the source for further reading. This demonstrates you have done thorough research.
Recognize parenthetical power: In-text citations in MLA should always be in parentheses. They act as signposts, pointing your reader to the full citation in your Works Cited list.
The basic format should be (Author's Last Name Page Number). As an illustration, are you aware that penguins can hold their breath for around 20 minutes? (Evans 42). Easy-peasy?
List all the reference details in the Works Cited list. All the sources should appear here in alphabetical order. Each entry has a specific format depending on the source you have used.
So, it's best to be familiar with various formats like a book, website, YouTube social media, etc. However, you don't have to cram the whole MLA Handbook. Just breathe in; we have an MLA generator tool that gives you a breakthrough.
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Punctuation marks are very important. A misplaced comma or missing period can throw the whole MLA citation. Pay attention to punctuation in both your in-text citations and works cited entries.
A colon separates the author and title in the works cited list, while a period comes after the page number in your in-text citation. Additionally, use question marks wisely.
Also, reserve quotation marks for directly quoted text from your source. If you're paraphrasing or summarizing an idea, cite it, but don't use quotation marks.
Bonus Tip: Perhaps you are interested in a different referencing method. Why not use our Harvard tool for social sciences, health, and natural sciences subjects?
The Don'ts:
Guess work. MLA has specific formatting rules; faking citations usually leads to lost points. Invest in citation knowledge and get the required skills. Our tool can guide you as a beginner until you polish the art. Simply register on the site and grab the skills.
Forget the page numbers. For printed sources, page numbers are crucial for guiding your reader to the specific location of the information you used. Omit them only if the source doesn't have page numbers (like a website without page breaks).
Confuse works cited with bibliography. These terms might sound akin, but they are meant for different purposes. The Works Cited list only includes sources you directly reference in your writing. A bibliography might contain additional sources you consulted but didn't directly cite.
Panic! If you get stuck on a citation, don't despair. Ask your professor for clarification or consult a reliable MLA guide. Also, you can seek help from our experts on citing in your research paper, essays, thesis, term paper, etc.
In Conclusion
MLA citations create a well-documented and polished piece of writing. By adhering to these guidelines, you will become proficient in MLA formatting. You will also impress your audience with your academic prowess!
Useful Resources
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Best writing tools that you can use for your essay
Generate your MLA citations in just one click