Define MLA Writing Format
The Modern Language Association's writing format is a series of regulations and guidelines for writers. The association has published its MLA Style Manual since 1985, and has issued two and updated editions that reflect recent changes in publishing and copyright laws. The manual is recognized as the standard for academic writing that scholars in English-speaking countries use.
History
The first edition of the MLA Style Manual was authored by Walter S. Achtert and Joseph Gibaldi, and titled "MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing." The manual was intended to supplement and augment "The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers," which was widely used in undergraduate academic programs.
Uses
MLA style emphasizes consistency in written style and documentation format. By using the same format for citations, for example, readers can quickly access the sources cited by authors. The MLA format also enables writers to cite sources fairly and accurately to avoid false charges of plagiarism.
In addition, scholarly journals and magazines often require contributors to use MLA documentation style. This not only creates a uniform appearance across all published works, but also makes it easier to reference specific sources and to compare them.
The MLA writing style is intended primarily for use in the humanities. It lacks accommodations for scientific and technical publications, and is therefore generally used by writers whose subjects include the arts, social sciences, literature, media studies and criticism.
Content Notes
The MLA Style Manual contains provisions for many aspects of writing, but the lion's share of its content is devoted to documentation and content notes. Content notes, such as footnotes and endnotes, allow writers to include information that is not central to the body of their work but still bears inclusion. By regulating content notes, the MLA format makes it easy for readers to follow the in-text references to the designated place at the bottom of a page or the end of a document. In addition, the manual provides guidelines for when to use content notes, suggests the use of parenthetical phrases when minor information should be added, and discourages the inclusion of extraneous information.
Documentation Style
MLA style has become the ubiquitous standard for citing sources in the academic community, on the Internet and in everyday writing as well. Although the MLA allows for variations, generally a citation is made by noting an author's name in the body of the document. The "Works Cited" page that follows the body lists the authors (in alphabetical order of their last names), along with their published works. The standard MLA documentation style for a book author includes the year of publication, as well as the name of the publisher and its city.
Updates and Modifications
The MLA Style Manual was updated in 1998 and 2008. Changes were minor, and much of what comprises MLA style is the same today as it was when introduced in 1985. Changes in the updates included guidelines for documenting electronic and multimedia sources, such as websites and other digital publishing venues. The 2008 edition of the MLA Style Manual also included revised information about copyright practices.
