MLA CITATION FORMAT

What is MLA Style?

MLA is a standardized format for writing that has been established by the Modern Language Association. MLA is generally used in the fields related to language, literature, and other humanities disciplines.

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Citing:
​Why Do I Have to Do It?

When you use an idea in your paper that is not your own or not common knowledge (something you and everybody else already knows), you must give credit and document where the idea came from. You do this in the form of a citation.

By citing, you:

• Give credit to ideas that are not your own.
• Share your sources with teachers and students to let them know where you found your information.
• Create new knowledge. You build upon what others have done.
• Avoid plagiarism.

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Help With MLA

• Formatting a Research Paper
• Help with Punctuation
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
• Sample Papers in MLA Style
• Help with a Works Cited Page
• MLA Practice Templates

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Examples of Citing:
​UNC Libraries

Sample Works Cited Page
See how to format your works cited page correctly using MLA style.
Sample In-text Citations
See how to create in-text citations for quotes and paraphrased ideas.

Helpful MLA Links

PUDUE OWL

• MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue Owl)
• MLA Sample Paper (Purdue Owl)
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
• Owl Exercises (Practice MLA citations)​​

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MLA

• The MLA Style Center ​
• Works Cited: A Quick Reference Guide & Practice ​   

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MLA Citation Manual

To cite sources at LHS in MLA format use the latest version of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (8th edition), 2016.
Call #: 808.02 MLA
Publication Date: 2016

You can click here to visit the MLA Style Center to get pointers on preparing your research paper.