MLA Manual of Style

What is it? 

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003.

Where can I find a copy?

• Cooper Library Reference Desk

Updates and details about citing web pages available online.

Who should use it?

• Students whose professors require MLA style.

• Scholars writing on literature or languages. 

• Scholars in the humanities.

How to cite works in the body of your paper using the MLA style:

MLA style uses in-text parenthetical citations – that is, you document each quote, paraphrase, etc., in the text of your paper, using parentheses. 

No footnotes are used in this style. 

Each parenthetical citation refers to a complete citation found in the list of works cited at the end of the paper.

Unless otherwise indicated, on-line sources follow the same pattern as print versions.

For examples, see the Duke University Libraries' MLA In-Text Parenthetical Citations.

How to cite works in the Works Cited at the end of your paper using MLA style:

MLA style includes a complete list of all works cited at the end of the paper. 

Each parenthetical citation in the text should refer to a work in the list of works cited.  Each kind of work is cited in its own way; for details, see the Duke University Libraries' Assembling a List of Works Cited.

Have more questions? 

For information on electronic sources, try the MLA page on documenting Web sources or Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources. 

For citing government documents, see the University of Nevada Library's MLA Style Guide.

If you have further questions, consult the Librarians at the Cooper or Architecture Library Reference Desks.