Definition of an MLA Citation

In essence, MLA (Modern Language Association) is a style of crediting the sources quoted or paraphrased in a particular piece of literature. MLA serves as the standard formatting for the citation of scholarly writings.

What is MLA?

MLA is widely used and accepted in most academic settings and primarily used in the humanities, particularly in the disciplines of liberal arts, such as language and literature. Academic institutions that primarily educate in the fields of education, English literature, arts, social sciences, business and humanities deem that MLA is the most appropriate writing style for those fields. Additionally, MLA guidelines are widely accepted not only in the United States but in countries within North America and in Brazil, China, India, Japan, Taiwan and other countries worldwide.

What is a Citation?

A citation is a brief citing or notation of a scholarly source. It gives credit to the author of the material utilized. A citation is imperative for readers to research the finding of one's information. It also protects the writer reusing the material from plagiarism and possible copyright infringement.

Specifics on MLA

MLA is seemingly uncomplex and more precise than varied writing styles. MLA uses short parenthetical citations within the text that are linked to a more elaborate alphabetical list of references that appear at the end of the document. MLA citation style varies depending on the publishing format; however, generally, the citing follows the format: author's last name, first name, title, publication, edition or chapter and year.

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