Term Paper Editing With MLA

MLA style is a set of conventions created by the Modern Language Association for formatting papers and citing source material, which encourages consistency throughout the disciplines for which the style is used. This system is used extensively within liberal arts and humanities writing, from high-school term papers to articles in professional journals. Learn more about editing your term papers to ensure compliance with MLA style in this handy guide.

General format

The standard format for MLA-style papers requires double-spaced text, 1-inch margins, single spaces after periods and paragraphs that are indented a 1/2 inch (using the TAB key is an easy way to achieve this). Your paper should also include a header in the top, right-hand corner of each page (except for the first) that consists of your last name and the page number. Instead of attaching a separate title page to the front of your term paper, list your name, your instructor's name, the course title and the date at the top of your first page, flush with the left margin. The title comes next; center it - after a double space - below the list you have created. Following the title, the first paragraph of your text should appear. Make sure that quotations throughout your paper are framed with quotation marks, except for those that span more than four lines - these require a block indent, with no quotation marks.

In-text citations

MLA requires parenthetical citations whenever you quote or paraphrase ideas from sources other than yourself, which both credits the original author and allows your reader to quickly locate the source within your list of works cited. While editing, read through your paper carefully, and ensure that you have included citations for every quote or paraphrased idea. In general, a citation requires both the author's name and the page number from which the information was taken, separated with a single space, such as: (Hemingway 179). If you credit the author by name within the sentence, placing only the page number in parentheses is fine. For help citing works without named authors or works without page numbers, consult an office MLA handbook, which is available in every high school and university library.

Citing your sources

Every paper written in MLA needs a works cited page, which is a specialized type of bibliography. This list should begin on its own new page, with "Works Cited" centered at the top. Using an MLA handbook or guide, ensure that you have properly cited each source according to the source type and the authorship information you have available. Then, make sure that the entries are organized in alphabetical order by the author's last name or by the first letter of the entry for those without authors.

Proofread

Regardless of the style guide you are following, you should always proofread as part of your editing routine. Watch for spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization errors, as well as style guide violations, to ensure that your paper is polished and that it reflects your ideas clearly.

Following these guidelines for editing your term paper helps to ensure that your writing meets MLA standards. For more information or further help citing specific sources, consult an official MLA handbook or style guide.