Microsoft Word includes a citation utility that promises to format citations in several styles, such as MLA, APA, and Chicago. This utility should not be used, as it is never correctly programmed and produces erroneously formatted citations.
Please note that the WGTC Library librarians do not support the Word citing utility and are therefore unable to help students who choose to use it. The librarians suggest learning how to cite from scratch.
The MLA citation style is a set of rules created by the Modern Language Association. Generally, this style is used by the liberal arts and the humanities.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by 
Citations in the 8th edition of the MLA style are all made up of 9 elements, called core elements. These are elements common to most citations. By using the core elements, any item can be cited, regardless of format. Please play close attention to the punctuation after each element.
When an element is unavailable, it is simply skipped.
A crucial concept for the new MLA style is the concept of containers. A container is the larger work that includes the source. A chapter is contained in a book; an article is contained in a periodical; an episode of a sitcom is contained in the series, etc. There are other changes in the 8th edition; to learn about them, click here.
To learn more about what is new, check out the MLA Style Center, and for more information on formatting, see the MLA's Works Cited quick guide. To see sample papers in MLA style, go here.
