The latest update to the MLA style occurred in 2021, and careful consideration needs to be paid to these guidelines.Īlthough there are other styles of research and writing, MLA is the primary style guide for humanities, language, and literature in the United States.
The MLA style comes from their published MLA Handbook, which provides rules and guidelines on research and writing. MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, which is a scholarly association dedicated to the study and advancement of languages. By following the guidelines of the MLA style and including an accurate citation, you can avoid accusations of plagiarism. That’s where MLA style comes in.Īn MLA in-text citation gives appropriate credit to the original source. In order to stay ethical, you’ll also need include an in-text citation. Think about it: Is it easier to quote a source or paraphrase?Īcademic integrity is extremely important, and a paraphrase allows you to use someone’s ideas efficiently in your work…but that is only part of the work.
A paraphrase translates the main ideas of a passage into a new passage that uses your own words and perspective.A paraphrase is a piece of information written in a new way after reading and analyzing a source.What is a paraphrase? Why is it beneficial? One effective way to do this is by following the MLA style of citing sources.īut first, let’s define paraphrasing. In addition to writing a good paraphrase, you must also include a citation with the paraphrase. It allows you to seamlessly integrate another person’s ideas into your work, and it is the preferred way to integrate most research information into a paper.