When referring to a person’s age, do I use numerals or words?

To decide whether to use numerals or words to refer to a person’s age, follow the advice in sections 2.127 and 2.128 of the MLA… Read More

How do I style numbers referring to charts of record sales?

Follow the MLA’s general rule for styling numbers (MLA Handbook, sec. 1.4.1). In discussions where few numbers appear, spell out those that can be written… Read More

Do I need to use quotation marks around numerical data that I quote from sources?

No. For an example, see our post on citing raw data. Read More

How do I style compound modifiers that express number ranges?

The MLA follows The Chicago Manual of Style’s rules for hyphening number ranges in modifiers  (“Hyphenation Guide”). When the compound is an adjective, the compound… Read More

If I am discussing a story collection that uses line numbers, should the page numbers or the line numbers be cited?

In general, the page numbers should be cited. Line numbers, if provided, are most helpful to readers for citations of “commonly studied poems and verse… Read More

How are notes numbered and placed in the MLA’s books?

In edited collections of essays, the MLA places notes at the end of each essay and restarts note numbering at 1. We follow the same… Read More

How should I format math equations in my paper?

For guidance on formatting mathematical expressions, we defer to our colleagues at The Chicago Manual of Style (“Mathematics”). For guidance on citing mathematical theories, see our… Read More

How does the MLA style 9/11, when it refers to the attacks on the United States on that date?

In our publications, we allow either September 11 or 9/11. Whichever form is chosen must be used consistently throughout a work. Read More

Should there be a space between a time and a.m. and p.m. in both prose and works-cited-list entries?

Yes. In MLA style, there should always be a space between the time and a.m. and p.m.: Responding to the MLA Style Center post “Apostrophes,”… Read More

How do I style percentages?

The general guideline is to use the percentage symbol with numerals and to use the word percent with spelled-out numbers. In statistical copy that calls… Read More