Posts related to formatting a paper
How do I cite a quotation that I use in the title of my paper?
If you include a quotation in the title of your paper, you should discuss the quotation in the body of your essay. Do not place… Read More
Should the font size for endnotes in a paper differ from the font size for the text of my essay?
No. In a research paper, dissertation, or other unpublished manuscript, you should select a standard font size (e.g., 12 points) and let the word processing… Read More
Is it OK to italicize a word for emphasis in my paper?
The MLA style discourages the use of italics in academic prose to emphasize or point, because they are unnecessary—most often, the unadorned words do the… Read More
Should a hyphen or an en dash be used for inclusive page ranges?
In the MLA Handbook and examples of student writing on The MLA Style Center, hyphens are used in page ranges since hyphens may be easier for students… Read More
If the date of a source is in the format October 04, 2017, when I convert it to MLA style, should I include the zero?
No, the date in MLA format would be 4 October 2017. Read More
How do I shorten a long title?
Extremely long titles and conventional titles usually condensed may be shortened in your prose and in your works-cited list. Extremely Long Titles Some works,… Read More
How do I incorporate lists into my essay in MLA style?
In humanities essays, lists are generally run into the text rather than set vertically. A colon is often used to introduce a run-in list: Chimamanda… Read More
If I am quoting the first few words of one line of poetry and the last few words of the next line of poetry, should I use two sets of ellipses with a slash between them?
Yes. Clarity is worth the trouble of more punctuation. Let’s say you quote the following two lines of poetry: He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,… Read More