If your college instructor wants you to cite every fact or opinion you find in an outside source, how do you make room for your own opinion? Paraphrase, quote selectively, and avoid summary. –Dennis G. Jerz (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog)
Choose a form, fill it out, and push the button… you will get an individual entry for a “Works Cited” page, which you may then copy and paste into your word processor. My “BibBuilder” is more like a guide than a full-fledged utility, but you may nevertheless find it helpful.
Find everything you need to know about formatting a paper, name, number, quotations, works cited, and more in MLA format!
I really appreciate this page. It was clear and easy to follow, and it greatly assisted me in writing my research paper. Thank you!
This guide to formatting MLA style papers is incredibly detailed and helpful! It’s great to have step-by-step instructions for setting up everything from margins to citations correctly. Thanks for sharing—this will definitely make writing research papers in MLA format much easier!
The information was very helpful
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Thanks for sharing such an informative post with us.
fantastic information
Thanks for info!
hello i am nate sedmack i am here to kill all the furries for what they did to gavin born
I’m learning more writing a paper
it was very informational and helped me a lot
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Curious how you would Cite this webpage? haha…
awesome reminders
what about if when your using a quote and there is no name just anonomus
Honestly, I’d say find another way to make your point. An anonymous saying like “A stitch in time saves nine” won’t help you demonstrate your ability to write the kind of scholarly paper that MLA is designed for. Certainly investigate the quote to find out whether it maybe comes from Shakespeare or some other source that you can quote. I might identify the example I used as “English proverb,” but since I won’t be marking your paper, you really should check with your instructor.
This article..thing is the only reason I am passing my online college class. Especially the citation builder. Thank you!
I would Like You To Give Simple Instructions Not Complicated Ones , and Include also how much Papers Should be worked on.
Khalid, if there is any particular detail you are confused about, please let me know what question you have and perhaps I can help. There is no specific answer to how much a paper should be worked on. It depends on what grade you want to earn, how much time you have, whether your instructor is willing to meet with you before the due date, whether your instructor will give you the chance to revise your work, and many other factors.
hahahah xD me too same
How do I cite a photo that I found online?
Is it a historical photograph or a photograph published in a book that someone scanned and posted on line, is it a photograph of something like a sculpture? Is your paper focused on the work of the photographer, the makeup artist who prepared the model, the digital image enhancer who altered the image, the model? There is no single correct way to cite a photograph, because there are many different reasons to cite a photograph. Your instructor would be able to give you more specific advice. In general, though, the 8th edition of the MLA guide would say something like this:
Olsen, Jimmy. “Superman Rescues Boy Scouts from Lava Pit.” Photograph. The Daily Planet . July 22, 1956.
If you found the picture on a blog or a Flickr gallery, adjust the citation accordingly. If you found the image as the result of a Google search for something, you might very well end up finding a page that re-uses someone else’s picture without appropriately giving credit. There are many variables. Talk to your instructor, who will be the one grading your work, and will therefore be the right person to advise you on what to do.
is the text or what you wrote supposed to be centered in the page or to the left margin
Left margin.
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cool it was helpful
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I think you should include online resource citation instructions
Click on “Citing” at the top of the page. One of the options on the other end of that link is how to cite a web page.
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which writing style (MLA, APA) have more importance for students of social sciences, media sciences and business?
It depends on the instructor or editor who’s calling the shots. http://subjectguides.library.american.edu/c.php?g=175008&p=1154150
Very informative. It helped introduce my tired old mind to the MLA format. So, I can better help coach and prepare my wife for her English course. Thank you very much.
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I’m using a book title and author as my paper heading. How is that formatted?
I would tell my own students that a book title and the name of an author is not a good paper title, and I would ask them to write a title that catches the reader’s attention, identifies the topic, and identifies what position the paper is going to take on the topic. But if you are not my student, then I’m not the person who will be evaluating your paper. MLA style puts the book title in italics. Other than that, I really don’t have any advice for you.
Thank you very much for this useful information. As a freshman in highschool, my biology teacher asked for me to write an essay in mLA format about evolution. I had no clue what mLA format was,so I searched it up and it brought me here. In middle school I never wrote an essay in this format before,but I feel very confident to type my first mLA essay and I’m excited to do so! (Right after I finish my draft >.<) thank you very much! (⌒▽⌒)✌
This wasn’t helpful at all
Shavez, what were you looking for? This page is about formatting a paper you have already written. The first section includes links to pages about how to write essays.
u a real nigga dennis
really dude my collies and I would prefer that you didn’t use any profane language due to younger children that may be reading this
thank u i got an A 97 percent
this was very helpful i got an A 95 percent
hi my name is Jessie i have to writ a 2 pages Essay about MLA can someone help me
Dennis, what lends itself to science in the APA system? And what lends itself to the Humanities with the MLA? TIA.
As compared to MLA papers, APA papers tend to be shorter, and divided up into sections. Authors who use APA style tend to publish more frequently, because their knowledge goes out of date more quickly; so the date is prominent in APA citations, and page numbers are rare.
By contrast, people who use MLA style tend to write longer essays that aren’t divided up into standard sections like “procedure” and “conclusions.” Humanities scholarship generally doesn’t go out of date quickly. Instead of conducting experiments, humanists read and write a lot of longer essays and books, re-interpreting and quoting passages from them. MLA style makes the page numbers prominent, so that other scholars can easily find and re-read those same passages for themselves, and further the work of scholarship as it is conducted in the humanities.
Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by ” MLA style tend to write longer essays that aren’t divided up into standard sections like “procedure” and “conclusions.”? Are we not suppose to use conclusions in MLA format? In my English class, we use MLA with conclusions, but what do you mean by “procedure” and “conclusions”? I understand each instructor is different but is it right to use conclusions in an MLA paper…or am I getting confused?
Typically papers written in MLA style DO have a conclusion, but it would not be set off in a separate section under the subheading “Conclusion.” MLA papers tend NOT to follow a standard, particular structure. Papers written in the sciences DO have a fairly rigid set of sections, with separate subheadings. But it’s best for you to talk to your teacher about the specifics of any asisgnment.
Ok, thanks. I just wanted to ask and clarify it. Also, doesn’t the word “humanist” means something else entirely? The Humanist term today implies ‘human’ and is often used for atheists, for example… or am I wrong?
I used the term “humanist” to mean “a person who studies the culture of humans,” without intending the more specific meaning you mention. At my school, the humanities division includes theologians.
seems easy enough
We get asked often about what “format” the college application essay should be in. Although not generally… http://t.co/v1TTNxtE4e
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When using MLA format, do you list the book title, the title of the article or both?
For guidance on citing individual sources, see the link in item 4, above. This page is about formatting the paper once you’ve already written it.
I wrote a paper and it looks just like your example. I followed everything to the “t” and my professor says that my header is indented and my paragraphs are double indented and the page numbers are in wrong format. What can I do?
Winston, I suggest you talk to your professor. I have been teaching from thiis handout for years, and when a student makes a formatting error on a rough draft, I just ask them to fix it for the revision. But your instructor is the one who designed the assignment and who evaluates your submissions, so he or she is the person to approach with questions.
I agree. .let me ask you this. Are your headers indented?
The screenshot was taken from a page that I created following the instructions for using MS-Word with a MacBook Pro. I followed the instructions that are on the page. But surely your instructor gave you guidelines, in a handout or an assigned textbook, which is why I encourage you to have this conversation with your instructor. Whether your instructor does or does not agree with the information on this page really doesn’t matter, since your instructor created the assignment and evaluates it according to his or her own criteria. I suggest you let your your teacher know you are confused about what you did wrong, and ask for an opportunity to make minor formatting changes to a paper that, we hope, met all the major criteria.
How do you add footnotes to an MLA style paper?
Most word processors will have an Insert -> Footnote or Insert -> Note (footnote or endnote) option. Most short college papers don’t need footnotes. (They aren’t for documenting sources — use an in-text citation and a Works Cited list instead.) I suggest you talk to your instructor about whether you really do need to use a footnote.
RT @DennisJerz: MLA Format Papers: Step-by-step Instructions for Writing Research Essays #mlastyle http://t.co/B6pGb3Pkeh
Thank you so much!! I love the Bib builder!!
I’m glad to hear you found it helpful!
Dear Dr. Jerz,
I am writing to request permission to link your webpage, “MLA Format Papers: Step-by-step Instructions for Writing Research Essays” to our website.
Marie Walcroft Librarian Lansdale School of Business
I am glad you found this page helpful. Yes, you are welcome to include a link and a brief extract.
Can you put what information is supposed to be in each paragraph???
Emma, I’m afraid I don’t understand the question. I feel like you’ve asked me what emotions are supposed to be in each verse of a song, or what colors are supposed to be in a painting. The many different kinds of songs or paintings are all created for different reasons; likewise, paragraphs are assigned, written, and read for a whole range of different reasons, so there’s no answer that covers all possible cases.
that was beautiful
I really find this useful (especially fudging the line spacing to 2.1). Good job!
Im in middle school and I have to do this. I have never heard of MLA Format and this helped ALOT. Thanks so much! Hopefully I get a good grade on this paper!
“@pretti_slimm: @Thyler_Jonzy http://t.co/QIf00vlgws try this site looks helpful”I just found a sample paper on Google
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Is the Table of Contents double spaced – MLA?
i think you should add an explanation about page header. that was what i was looking for
See item 2 from the table of contents: http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic1/mla-style-papers/#page-header
when you say page numbers (Wordworth-Fuller 20), are you referring to the page number within the MLA document or the page number the text appears on within the authors works?
In this case, your paper would be referring to something you found on page 20 of the text by Wordsworth-Fuller.
With your delicate information about to write MLA format essay in right way will lead me to successful college year.
Thank you for useful information about how to write MLA format essay. Before my college year I didn’t know there were many different forms of essay. When my professor asked me to write MLA format I had no idea how to write it, but with your delicate information I think I will survive my college year. Thank you again.
I’m glad to know you found this page helpful. Most instructors will be happy to help if you stop by during their office hours, and if your prof is too busy for that most universities will have a writing center where you can get help at any stage of any assignment involving writing.
Thank you for valuable information. Before my college year in America I didn’t know what MLA Format was, but with this delicate information I will survive my college year.
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That means the quote is from page 20 of the book or article written by Wordsworth-Fuller.
Very good information, I really needed this incite on research paper formats. It has such thorough details and that make it so much easier to understand.
How do you in text cite a website? I didnt really see much about that.
I think you should add an explanation about page numbers. That was what I was looking for, but I couldn’t find the significant area.
Section 2 explains how to put page numbers in the header, and section 4 discusses page numbers in citations.
read it… it’s there.
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MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).
Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.
Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.
Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.
Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.
An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:
Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).
Your Instructor's Name
Course Number or Name
Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title. Example: The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange
Indent the next line and begin typing your text.
Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.
Formatting first page mla goggle.dox, formatting first page mla ms word using pc, mla format setup in word 2013.
The links below provide step by step instructions on setting up your paper using MLA Style guidelines.
There are three sample papers available in the MLA Style Center. Check them out to see the correct formatting.
Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / How to Cite an Essay in MLA
The guidelines for citing an essay in MLA format are similar to those for citing a chapter in a book. Include the author of the essay, the title of the essay, the name of the collection if the essay belongs to one, the editor of the collection or other contributors, the publication information, and the page number(s).
Mla essay citation structure.
Last, First M. “Essay Title.” Collection Title, edited by First M. Last, Publisher, year published, page numbers. Website Title , URL (if applicable).
Gupta, Sanjay. “Balancing and Checking.” Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Bob Towsky, Brook Stone Publishers, 1996, pp. 36-48. Essay Database, www . databaseforessays.org/modern/modern-democracy.
(Last Name Page #)
Click here to cite an essay via an EasyBib citation form.
MLA Formatting
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To cite your sources in an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author’s name(s), chapter title, book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for in-text citations and a works-cited-list entry for essay sources and some examples are given below:
In-text citation template and example:
For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author on the first occurrence. For subsequent citations, use only the surname(s). In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author(s).
Citation in prose:
First mention: Annette Wheeler Cafarelli
Subsequent occurrences: Wheeler Cafarelli
Parenthetical:
….(Wheeler Cafarelli).
Works-cited-list entry template and example:
The title of the chapter is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.
Surname, First Name. “Title of the Chapter.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.
Cafarelli, Annette Wheeler. “Rousseau and British Romanticism: Women and British Romanticism.” Cultural Interactions in the Romantic Age: Critical Essays in Comparative Literature , edited by Gregory Maertz. State U of New York P, 1998, pp. 125–56.
To cite an essay in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the author(s), the essay title, the book title, editor(s), publication year, publisher, and page numbers. The templates for citations in prose, parenthetical citations, and works-cited-list entries for an essay by multiple authors, and some examples, are given below:
For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author (e.g., Mary Strine).
For sources with two authors, use both full author names in prose (e.g., Mary Strine and Beth Radick).
For sources with three or more authors, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Mary Strine and others). In subsequent citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues” (e.g., Strine and others).
In parenthetical citations, use only the author’s surname. For sources with two authors, use two surnames (e.g., Strine and Radick). For sources with three or more author names, use the first author’s surname followed by “et al.”
First mention: Mary Strine…
Subsequent mention: Strine…
First mention: Mary Strine and Beth Radick…
Subsequent mention: Strine and Radick…
First mention: Mary Strine and colleagues …. or Mary Strine and others
Subsequent occurrences: Strine and colleagues …. or Strine and others
…. (Strine).
….(Strine and Radick).
….(Strine et al.).
The title of the essay is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case. The book or collection title is given in italics and uses title case.
Surname, First Name, et al. “Title of the Essay.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor(s) Name, Publisher, Publication Year, page range.
Strine, Mary M., et al. “Research in Interpretation and Performance Studies: Trends, Issues, Priorities.” Speech Communication: Essays to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Speech Communication Association , edited by Gerald M. Phillips and Julia T. Wood, Southern Illinois UP, 1990, pp. 181–204.
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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Writing an Essay in MLA Format
Knowing how to write a Modern Language Association—or MLA—essay is an essential part of making it through school these days. Be warned, however, that daunting little tasks await around every corner—whether it’s knowing where to set your margins, how to edit a header, the right way to format a heading, and beyond!
While we can’t write your paper for you, this guide can certainly help you understand the proper MLA format for your essay. Keep reading to learn about writing an MLA-format paper with some tips for making sure it’s done right the first time.
Elevate your writing and collaborate with others - anywhere, anytime
What is an MLA-format essay? It’s not uncommon for associations and organizations to follow a standard format and writing style. The Associated Press (AP) and University of Chicago styles are most common in professional settings. News outlets typically prefer the AP style, while businesses and creative agencies will choose the Chicago style. Academia, on the other hand, traditionally follows APA and MLA styles. APA (not the same as AP style) comes from the American Psychological Association and is used in scholarly articles. An MLA-format essay fits the established style for citing references and formatting essays established by the Modern Language Association.
Required elements of an MLA-format paper. MLA is the preferred style when writing an essay in high school and most college settings. As with other writing styles, there are specific characteristics and items an MLA-format paper needs to include to fit the bill of the style. Every MLA-format essay must include the following:
In addition to the listed elements above, every MLA essay must include a Works Cited. MLA format doesn’t require a title page, but it also doesn’t deem them unnecessary, so it’s up to your professor whether you’ll need one or not. One way to take the edge off the process of writing this type of essay is to use a free template or a handy built-in tool that helps you build bibliographies and more.
Tips for meeting MLA formatting guidelines. It’s said that the devil is in the details, and it’s never truer than when it comes to MLA-format essays. The following tips are areas to pay attention to when writing your essay:
When it comes down to it, practice makes perfect. The more essays you write, the better you’ll become at writing and meeting the expectations of MLA style. Before you know it, MLA format will be second nature, and everything will fall into place.
Still having a hard time visualizing what an MLA essay looks like? Check out a sample paper so you can see first-hand how they’re formatted!
It’s the Office you know, plus the tools to help you work better together, so you can get more done—anytime, anywhere.
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Unless you are told otherwise by your instructor, format your paper according to the following MLA Style rules:
Setting Up Software for MLA, Word 2003 through Word 365
Knowing proper MLA formatting for your paper is one thing; knowing how to get your version of software to comply is another. Check this link for tips, since the settings vary depending upon the Word version you are using. (from academictips.org)
Using a Google Template:
from academictips.org
What is MLA format? It is one of the most commonly used academic style guides. This format was developed by the Modern Language Association, which is exactly what the abbreviation MLA stands for. This format is mostly used by students in the humanities – literature, liberal arts, language, and other disciplines.
When writing an MLA format essay or other paper, students are required to follow specific style requirements. In this article, we are going to give you an exhaustive insight into the core MLA style guidelines based on the format's 8th edition, published in 2016. The dissertation services team EssayPro has spent a lot of time dealing with various formatting styles such as MLA Format, APA style, Chicago style format and Harvard style. Let's go deeper into our MLA handbook with our papers service .
An MLA format follows the listed rules:
Times New Roman | |
12pt | |
1 inch | |
Double | |
½ inch | |
Title Case |
In the next section, you will get to know how to create an MLA format heading, which appears at the top of your writing assignment. Before using the instruction, ask if your professor prefers a certain way to format an MLA heading.
In this article, we have taken you through the core concepts, rules, and guidelines of the MLA format (8th edition). To help you get a deeper understanding of how your paper should look, here is a clear MLA format example:
Read our blog about Chicago style essay and the ASA paper example ; these articles will greatly help you understand more about essay writing formats. Count on the support of our business essay writing service .
Title Page | MLA essays don't need title pages |
---|---|
Header | Placed at the top of the first page 1. Student's full name 2. Instructor's name 3. Name of the class, course, or section number 4. The project's deadline |
Headings and Subheadings | ✖ Do NOT put a period after your heading |
It is worth noting that MLA essay format does not imply the use of a title page. Generally, students are not prohibited from adding a title page to paper in MLA style, yet there is no official guide on how to format this according to MLA rules.
A header in MLA format can be either placed on the title page (if you decide to include one), or you can add it at the top of first page of your work.
All four formating rules have to be placed in this exact order with double line spacing and one-inch margins from all sides of the page.
The last of the header (assignment's due date) in MLA paper should be followed by the assignment's name, unless you are creating a title page – in this case, you will start your project on the next page. The work's title should be centered and does not need to be put in bold, italicized, underlined, or placed in quotation marks.
The only case when you would need to use an italicized font in the MLA title is if you include the name of another source within yours.
Title Example: The Concept of American Dream in the Novel The Great Gatsby
Regardless of the type of assignment, using headings and subheadings in the text is vital to ensure the logical organization and structure of the content. Therefore, writing a paper in MLA format, you will likely have to include some chapter titles, section headings, and other subheadings.
The font and size of all elements remain the same. The only thing you are changing is the font style. Bold font is a wise choice for chapter titles as it shows a greater level of importance, while italics are less prominent and, thus, good for section headings. Meanwhile, subheadings, which are the least important of all heading types, are left in the standard font style.
We only need your requirements to create an original paper with proper formatting.
Running Head and Title Page | Running head placed at top right corner of every page. Consists of the author's last name and page number. No "p." before page numbers. |
---|---|
Margins | Positioned one inch from the right margin and half an inch from the top margin. 1 inch margins. Running head is the only item in the one-inch margin. |
Paragraph Indentation and Spacing | First word of the new paragraph indented half an inch. Double spacing between paragraphs. Standard space between left margin and text start is half an inch. Use the "tab" button to set indentation. |
Font | Use Times New Roman font in 12pt size. Other standard fonts allowed but Times New Roman recommended. |
A running head is a short heading located at the top of every page in the right corner. This heading consists of the author's last name and the page number—following it after a space.
Example: Blackwood 4
The standard MLA margins are one inch. Every page of your work should have one-inch margins from upper right hand corner to all sides. The only item that should be seen in the one-inch margin is the running head.
The first word of every new paragraph should have a one half-inch indent from the left margin. All paragraphs need to have double spacing. The standard space between the left margin and the start of your text is one-half inch. To set it, you can use the “tab” button.
Throughout the whole paper, use standard double MLA spacing.
The MLA format guide suggests using the Times New Roman font in 12pt size. Although Times New Roman is a recommended font, students are allowed to use other standard fonts.
Writing a paper in MLA format, you can use any of these ways to add quotes in your text:
Example: Winston Churchill shared his opinion on the importance of reading in one of his famous quotes, “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.”
In this example, the name of the quote’s author is placed at the beginning of the sentence, so there is no need to mention it again.
Example: A clear statement of the importance of reading is highlighted in the words of a famous politician, “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for” (Churchill).
When the author’s name is not added to the sentence, put it in parentheses after the sentence.
The third type of quote is called block quotes, and it applies to all phrases of 4 lines or longer. If you need to add a large quote in the body of your paper, follow these rules:
Generally, the MLA format prefers rare use of abbreviations. In the official guide, the Modern Language Association advises scholars to spell out abbreviations into full words. This rule applies to papers written in this format to avoid any confusion.
Although it is recommended to use abbreviations only rarely, there are some cases when you may find them appropriate in your text. In such cases, you will need to follow certain rules:
Now, let's look at different abbreviation cases separately:
MLA format requires using full month names in the body of a paper. Thus, if you need to mention a specific month in your own research paper or other paper, you have to type them fully. However, if you are making references, you are allowed to use abbreviations for months that are longer than four letters. For example, June will stay the same, while longer names like January can be abbreviated to Jan.
Category | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Months | MLA requires full month names in paper bodies. Specific months must be typed fully. References can use abbreviations for months longer than four letters. | "Juhe" unchanged, "January" becomes "Jan." |
Publishers | Some words can be abbreviated on the Works Cited page (see example), others must be written in full. | Company – Co. University – U Limited – Ltd. Incorporated – Inc. Press – P |
Titles | On your Works Cited page, you can use standard abbreviations for commonly-cited biblical and classical sources to save space. | Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing – Ado Henry VI, Part 3 – 3H6 Julius Caesar – JC Romeo and Juliet – Rom. |
Other | Additional approved abbreviations permitted, but only for the Works Cited page. | Chapter – ch. |
Also, students are allowed to use other abbreviations in their Works Cited page. Some of the acceptable abbreviations are:
Once again, these specific abbreviations can only be used on your Works Cited page. Otherwise, in the paper's body, you are expected to type them out in full.
Depending on the type and content of your work, you may need to use numbers frequently. In this case, follow the guidelines given below:
Type | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
Numerals | In MLA style, use numerals before measurements. | 8 kilograms 130 ounces |
Arabic Numerals | Spell out short numbers like "three" or "twenty-five," and use digits for longer ones. Also, use digits for decimals, fractions, or when a number comes before a label or measurement. | Two Fourteen Fifty five 631 14.7 3 ½ 3 a.m. 9 years |
Roman Numerals | Roman numerals in MLA are used either in an outline or to indicate suffixes. | Ramses III |
Numbers in the MLA Outline | MLA doesn't have official outline guidelines. Usually, it's suggested to use Roman numerals, capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers for the outline. |
In terms of the use of numbers in MLA style, there are two more tips to follow:
It is always a good idea to add photos, images, tables, and other visual elements to a paper as long as they contribute to the overall quality of the work and add value. Thus, if a specific image or table does not bring any actual value, it is better to avoid adding it.
General rules:
Example: Princess Diana’s famous midnight blue velvet dress was sold for $347,000 (fig. 1). (Image) Fig. 1. Princess Diana’s Famous Dress; attribution information.
Unlike images, tables in your paper do not need to be marked with the “fig.” label. Instead, you need to include the label “Table”, followed by an Arabic numeral. Similarly to images, tables in your work are assigned numbers based on the specific order of their appearance in the text. Also, every table needs to have a title. Together, the label “Table”, numeral, and title have to be located above the data set on separate lines, and all flush left.
Tables' titles have to have all of their first letters capitalized:
If you need to add a list to your paper, that’s fine. However, there are a number of rules you will need to follow:
Example: Ernest Hemingway has written numerous art pieces: The Torrents of Spring, The Sun Also Rises, To Have and Have Not, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Across the River and into the Trees, and The Old Man and the Sea.
Example of a list as a part of a sentence:Some of the most popular works of Ernest Hemingway are The Torrents of Spring, The Sun Also Rises, To Have and Have Not, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Across the River and into the Trees, and The Old Man and the Sea.
First, hit Enter on the keyboard, then align the text to the left. To indent the sentences, drag the ruler on top of the document. Next, drag the rectangle to half an inch or 1.27 cm.
When writing academic research papers however, students conduct research and collect information from a variety of sources (e.g. books, websites, scientific journals, etc.). Putting information from different sources, along with your own ideas, is vital to create a compelling and informative paper. However, if the sources used in the project are not cited correctly, it can influence the final grade of the paper, as well as indicate the paper as being plagiarised. That's why you need to cite correctly and include works cited page.
To make a reference to an original source of information included in a paper, students need to create in-text citations, as described in the previous section of our article. However, providing a brief reference to original sources in your text is not enough. To provide readers with sufficient details on the origin of the information used in the text, you need to list all sources on a separate page. Below you can find a detailed guide on how to create an MLA works cited page.
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Check out our MLA FORMAT CITATION GUIDE
Depending on the type of the original source, the format of your entries can vary. Here are examples of how different entry types should be shaped:
Last, First Name of the Author. Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year Published. Print
Example: James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Publish, 2007. Print
Newspaper
Last, First Name of the Author. “Title of the Article.” Newspaper Title [City] Date Month Year of Publication: Page(s). Print.
Example: Quint, Peter. “Turning Screws.” Pittsburgh Press [Pittsburgh] 7 Mar. 1990: 12-14. Print.
Last, First Name of the Author. “Title of the Article.” Journal
Title Series Volume.Issue (Year Published): Page(s). Database Name. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Example: Quint, Peter. “Turning Screws.” Journal of Engineering. 28.1 (2012): 41-54. Print.
Article from the Web (with author)
Last, First Middle Initial. “Article Title.” Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Example: Quint, Peter. “Turning Screws.” New York Times. New York times. 17.02.2017. Web. 18.03.2017
Article from the Web (without author)
“Website Article.” Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
Example: “Turning Screws.” New York Times. New York Times. 17.02.2017. Web. 18.03.2017
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How to format a paper in mla style, how to cite in mla format, what is the easiest way to create mla citations, what are nine core elements of mla citations.
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Also, use digits whenever a number is placed before how to type an mla format essay label or measurement. Whatever font you content writing tutorial for beginners, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. For an image to be significant and easily identifiable, place it as close as possible to the text in the project where it is discussed. It is customary to indent your first paragraph use the tab button. Containers are what hold the source. For fractions, decimals, or longer numbers, type them out using digits. In all areas, MLA format spacing should be double spaced. Thank you very much for this useful information. I just wanted to ask and clarify it. Essay Writing. Resist the temptation to make your title look fancy by underlining it, adding colour or bold font, or putting it in italics.
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Properly formatting a research paper in APA or MLA style is essential for several reasons. First, it ensures that your work adheres to the academic standards required by your institution, making your paper look professional and credible. For instance, an APA style paper outlines essential components and formatting guidelines, such as the title page, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references, which are crucial for a professional and academically compliant presentation. Consistency in formatting helps readers easily navigate through your paper, understand the structure, and locate references.
Additionally, proper formatting demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for scholarly practices, which is crucial in academic writing. Whether using APA’s emphasis on author-date citation or MLA’s focus on page numbers for literary analysis, following the correct format enhances the clarity and authority of your research. Finally, it helps avoid plagiarism by ensuring that all sources are correctly cited, giving proper credit to the original authors and contributing to the integrity of your work. Additionally, it is crucial to format references correctly to ensure that all sources are properly cited and easily accessible to readers.
The APA style is a special format used in academic, business, and research writing for documentation of sources and publishing purposes. A research paper in APA format that you create must be presented in the latest 7th edition unless specified otherwise. Created by the American Psychological Association, hence the abbreviation, the latest manual is what we are going to reference in our APA guidelines to avoid confusion. It means that if your college professor asks for APA 7th edition, you are in the right place!
Published in October 2019, the latest edition of the writing style manual follows most rules that have been published before with a focus on simplification and readiness for publishing purposes. Speaking of research paper writing, the majority of students that use APA style format are majoring in subjects like Psychology, Sociology, Journalism, Education, Anthropology, Law, and Healthcare. Since it's relatively simple compared to Chicago, Harvard, or Turabian, it’s not hard to learn the basic rules as long as you remember the following:
There are in-text citations that you must use to provide a reference to a source mentioned in your text. The information that is required includes the author's name and the date of publication. You should also provide the page number or a section in the newspaper if such data is available.
There is a page called " References " that is placed at the end of your paper after your final conclusion part. This is exactly where you provide information (references) that list all of your sources that have been implemented in your research paper.
This question often comes up. The answer is quite simple: when you need to summarize some data, paraphrase information you discover, or quote something from another source. These citations may include it all from books in print, scientific journals, online books, articles in a newspaper, reports, surveys, statistical data, and so on. When you use a reference, the APA 7th style format requires mentioning the name of the author and the year of publication that will look this way for a single author:
(Jones, 2005)
It means that you are dealing with an author with the last name Jones and something that has been published in 2005. Alternatively, your in-text citation can look this way:
Another important notion has been explained by the concept of mutual co-existence. According to Jones (2005), who believed that authoritarian leaders can exist in peace and mutual respect, we can conclude that...
We are certain that you have seen at least one references page before as you were looking through the final part of a research article online. The References page must list all of your sources alphabetically and may include up to 20 entries for a middle-sized research assignment. A typical APA example coming from a research journal looks this way:
Berry, B., Stipe, J. M., Wahlberg, R., and Zeldman, A. S. (2021). Social Interactions in Georgia State: A an overview of American South. Journal of Social Psychology , 34, 123-136.
As you can see, we have listed the authors alphabetically and mentioned the year of publication that is followed by the name of the scientific article. The name of the journal is given in italics to specify the importance of the source. It is followed by the journal’s volume and the number of pages that have been referenced.
Note: Remember that far not all sources and references that you may encounter are suitable for a research paper. EduBirdie experts recommend talking to your course instructor first and checking things twice regarding additional requirements and formatting. Our guide will provide you with the basic instructions on how to set things up to help your research paper meet the formatting standards.
Before you learn how to write a research paper in APA format by turning to various sections of our guide, it must be mentioned that using a Word processor or Google Docs as your writing source, it is essential to create a special page layout and the relevant headers that will be mentioned in our APA guide. While you can find online templates in APA format, these are not always accurate, which is why you must check things twice by focusing on fonts, headers, margins, indents, and other important aspects!
1. Page Layout Rules
We'll start with the page layout that must be there all the time as this part of the APA 7th edition remains the same for all papers that you may encounter as a college student. Here is what you must do as you learn how to format a research paper:
Creating a document in MS Word or any other word processor of your choice, set your page margins to 1 inch on all sides of the page.
Your text must be double-spaced, including APA headings.
The APA 7th edition uses indents of the first line in every paragraph by 0.5 inches. Just press your TAB key once.
The recommended fonts for APA style format include Times New Roman (12 pt.), Arial (11 pt.), or Georgia (11 pt.). In certain cases, other fonts may be used, yet do so only after consulting your academic advisor.
Page numbers are included on every page of your document in the top right corner unless specified otherwise.
2 . Page Headers in APA 7th Edition
According to the manual, you must set your page header correctly. Every APA format research paper must provide headings that are written in upper case. Setting up your header, you must:
Click on the "Insert" tab in the MS Word toolbar.
Choose Header & Footer tab, click on Header and Blank.
The first (title) page of your APA research paper must include the left margin positioning where you type: MY RESEARCH PAPER TITLE. Of course, it's only an example and must be replaced by your actual title.
Tab once or twice to the right margin now.
Close your Header & Footer tab.
3. Page Numbering
Speaking of page numbering, use the default feature in MS Word or any other software to do so automatically. The page numbers must be placed in the top right corner and be present on all pages, including your references page. The title page in APA 7th edition should start from page number 1.
4. APA Title Page
Your title page in APA must start with the title of your paper, the name of the student or authors of the research project, and the institutional affiliation. All the lines must be centered and start in the middle of the title page. In addition to that, you must include your course number, instructor's name, and the due date of your research paper. It will look this way:
The General Electrics Sample Title Page:
Following the Engineering Principles of Electrical Circuit
Department of Engineering, Georgia State University
ENGN 222: Electrical Engineering
Dr. Michael John Stipe
October 11, 2008
5. Table of Contents
A table of contents is only necessary if you are writing a thesis paper or working on a dissertation. This section must be placed between your abstract part and the introduction. Use the same font and size as the rest of your content. The text starts at the top of your page with the word "Contents". Every entry must be centered and in bold font.
The outline in APA format follows the same rules and can be delivered as a separate document in most cases. The page margins remain the same with the page numbering starting from page one. The structure of a page (usually one page only) should include an introduction that mentions the main background points and your thesis, the main body with the elements that support your research thesis statement, and a short conclusion that makes your final take on things or your position clear.
Note : There are no headers or anything specific for an outline. You may copy the main paper's header by adding the word "OUTLINE".
7. Abstract
Your abstract must appear on a separate page after your research paper's title page. It means that it should be numbered as page 2. Write "Abstract" in bold title case and center it at the top of your page. The abstract itself comes as the next paragraph with the 0.5 inches indent. The length of your abstract should be no longer than 250 words. You may write it down in a single paragraph or use a different kind of structure.
As you write, focus on the requirements that you want to achieve scientifically, consider your target audience as you explain your methodology and the problem that you are planning to explore. Describe your results and provide a brief conclusion to your work exactly as it would be done in a book’s review.
8. Body Parts
It does not matter if you are working on an essay or a complex research paper, APA style format does not mention any specific rules that must be used. Therefore, you should refer to your paper type. The majority of research papers should include an introduction with the list of research objectives (see research paper introduction example ), three to five body paragraphs that explain and support your arguments, and the conclusion part where you sum things up.
The body parts should start with the most important argument that speaks of your thesis and provides analytical information.
The second paragraph of the body in the APA research paper should implement statistical data, which is also considered as a reference. This is where you can use citations and refer to certain publications. Such an approach will help you to avoid plagiarism risks.
The last paragraph should provide alternative opinions and provide counter-arguments where additional citations, graphics, and multimedia sources can be added.
9. Conclusion
The APA manual mentions that your conclusion part should not use any citation elements in the final section and avoid introducing any new ideas. Keep this fact in mind and make sure that you leave suggestions and an overall review of your research paper.
Note: If you have any additional information that you refer to in your previous paragraphs, certain recommendations can be added as a research paper appendix section after your references page, yet always ask your academic advisor to ensure that it is applicable.
10. References Page
Start your References page by placing the word "References" at the top of the document’s layout. It must be centered and placed one inch down. Do not use capitalization, bold fonts, or italics.
All of your citations (references) must be double spaced and should have no additional lines in between.
If your reference goes past the first line, create a hanging indent by using tabulation.
Your references in APA 7th edition style are placed in alphabetical order.
If your reference does not start with the author, these are placed at the start of your paper, according to ABC.
Basic citation rules in apa.
Let us imagine a situation when you need to cite a book in print for your research paper in APA style format. It will require the following information:
Author or authors of the book. The surname is always followed by the person’s initials.
The Year of publication of the book comes next in round brackets.
The book title is always placed in italics. Only the first letter of the first word in titles should be capitalized.
Edition (if available) also comes in round brackets. If the book represents the first edition, this part is not necessary.
DOI. It is necessary to include it (if available) for both online and print versions.
The second line of your citation in a References page must be indented per about 5 spaces.
For example:
Fisher, J.V. (2006). Teenage Violence: How do video games affect the modern youth? . Penguin Books.
For a journal article citation, provide the following information:
Author or authors of the article. The surname is always followed by the person’s initials.
The year of publication of the journal comes next in round brackets.
Journal title must be in italics.
Provide volume of journal (in italics).
Add an issue number of a journal in round brackets (no italics are necessary here).
Page range of article (if available).
Provide DOI or URL
Braxton, T. (2005). Asian Cuisine: A study of health benefits. Modern Health Care, 11(4), 34-36. https://doi.org/
The rule of abbreviations in a research paper states that there should be at least three times when a certain abbreviation is used. If your abbreviation is only met once, it’s necessary to provide a complete spelling of your phrase each time you implement it for your assignment. When using APA style for research purposes, the use of abbreviation within headings is not necessary. Remember to provide a full term the first time you use an abbreviation by adding the abbreviated form in parentheses. APA 7th edition manual states that these must be used only when they help to provide a better kind of communication with your target audience.
Turning to the latest APA style format manual, we can learn that one must use numerals to express numbers going from ten and above as numbers (12, 34, 721, and so on). When you have to use numbers up to ten, these are written in words such as "three positions", "two authors", "seven Chinese brothers", etc.
The rules also state that one must use commas between certain groups of three digits as you work with the figures. For example:
As over 2,000 people have participated in a meeting...
Speaking of punctuation rules, the use of commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation cases must be put inside your quote marks. As for the rest of the punctuation marks, they go beyond your quotation.
Note: When you are planning to use a direct quote that is more than forty words, the block quotations are used with the indent.
Looking through the modern research paper APA format example, you will notice that there are frequent multimedia examples with the use of graphics. The use of graphics is permissible. Further research could explore the impact of multimedia on the readability of research papers.
If you are planning to use artwork from a museum in an online form, it looks this way:
Artist Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Location. URL
If there is a stock image:
Author. (Year). Title of image [format]. Website. URL
An image with no author or date would be resolved to this:
[Subject and type of work]. (n.d.). Your image’s URL.
Composing APA style research paper correctly, you must understand that such type of writing is not the same thing as the term paper or a simple essay that you do for college. It's not the same as a reflection paper either. You must provide research findings. It means that you should provide your writer's voice but do so in a limited way by focusing on methodology and an explanation of what you discover. Depending on your requirements and the grading rubric, you may have to provide 2-3 citations per page of your research as a way to support your arguments and reference at least one important publication that is dealing with your subject.
As you compose your research paper in the APA style format, make sure that you follow these simple academic writing tips:
Research tone must be present. It means that your research paper should not use the first person unless asked to. The general APA writing style manual recommends using "This study has been conducted by" phrases instead.
It’s recommended to avoid any personal information where you describe your experience. Don’t make the paper sound like a personal statement piece of writing. Your research assignment must synthesize various publications by comparing, contrasting, and finding similarities as you write.
APA 7th style manual asks to use the past tense, which means that you should say that your research paper has shown instead of using " shows ". There may be certain exceptions if you are turning to a certain timeline.
The use of contractions must be limited. It means that you should say " It does not result in " instead of " it doesn't result in ".
Your writing should stay honest and clear without specific bias. Your purpose is to research things without racial, sexual, religious, or gender discrimination.
The use of sources must be implemented correctly without turning your paper into a collection of sources.
Following these simple rules, you will be able to stay within the basic guidelines and follow the rules of APA-style writing. As always, there may be exceptions to every rule, which is why you must talk to your instructor in case of any doubts. Your college or university will always have a final say.
Writing a paper in APA format, one must remember the rules of bias-free language that are also mentioned in the APA 7th manual for research writing. The purpose is to use gender-neutral pronouns and strive for the avoidance of prejudicial beliefs or specific demeaning aspects that may appear as a negative attitude in your research writing. Therefore, when dealing with a sensitive subject, proofread your text twice and talk to your academic advisor before submitting your work. It will help us all create sincere and bias-free research works that follow the rules of mutual respect, multiculturalism, and democracy.
MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is currently in its 9th edition , which has been published in 2021. In simple terms, MLA style formatting is a special system of referencing and structuring research papers. The main purpose is to cite sources correctly and keep your research writing always accurate. By learning how to write a research paper in MLA format, you will be able to submit your college homework according to specified rules and will avoid confusion. You will also learn how to format and structure the list of bibliography references for a research or essay paper by using the Works Cited page. It is another essential aspect of MLA style format. It is also essential to format references correctly to ensure that all sources are properly cited and easily accessible to readers.
MLA style format aims to help your college professor and the target audience to navigate through your paper by turning to various in-text citations with an opportunity to see where information has been taken. Since MLA has specific standards, your academic advisor will check whether you have followed the rules and used the same format, font sizes, headers, and other aspects that make research writing universal.
What is MLA format then? The MLA style is mostly used by college students majoring in English, Literature, social sciences, arts, and humanities. One can assume that MLA style format is one of the most accessible writing standards, which is why it is often required during an introductory course where students learn how to structure their papers and keep information properly referenced.
When you are looking for reliable sources online, it will be easy to recognize the use of MLA format because of the famous MLA header that is always included on the first page where you must mention your full name, instructor’s name, your course, and the date. It is also necessary to use page formatting with your last name on each page, which also helps to determine that an MLA format has been used. We shall discuss this aspect further on as you proceed with our guide.
If you are already familiar with at least one other academic writing format, you will already know the basics and it will be easier for you to process the information in MLA style. The majority of formats of research paper writing stand for the general rules on how to structure your page layout and a list of rules regarding correct citation. The most important is to start with the MLA header, which will look this way:
Adam Greeley
Professor Smith
Humanities 7311
14 May 2022
This header is always placed at the top left corner of the first page (no title page is required in most cases!) with the page number and your name aligned to the top right of the page. It will look this way:
The other rules on how to write a MLA research paper include:
The recommended fonts include Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana in 12 pt size.
All the margins of the page in MS Word or a similar processor should be set at 1 inch.
The main content is double-spaced unless specified otherwise.
The MLA header is included only on the first page of your research paper.
The title of your work must be centered.
Every new research paper paragraph should have a hanging indent.
The MLA style uses the author-page citation pattern where you should list the author’s last name with the page number.
The Bibliography page has the “Works Cited” title at the top and center of the first page with your citations.
The sources are listed alphabetically.
Do not place a period after the title or headers.
Do not underline words unless it’s necessary.
Additionally, it is crucial to format references correctly to ensure that all sources are properly cited and easily accessible to readers.
It is recommended to use the rules of inclusive language, according to the latest manual edition of the MLA style. It means that you must avoid certain terms that focus on ethnic peculiarities, religion, gender, disability, age, or social challenges unless it is absolutely necessary. You can also use words like “human-made” to specify gender-neutral aspects.
One of the most important parts of writing a research paper successfully is following the correct structure that is specified by the chosen writing style. Here are the MLA research paper format parts that you should consider:
Furthermore, it is essential to format references correctly to ensure that all sources are properly cited and easily accessible to readers.
It should have your university's name on top of the page, then the title of your research paper at the center of the page, and at the bottom of the page: your name, course name, professor's name, and the paper's due date (all centered).
The main heading should include your name, instructor's name, relevant class information, and the paper's delivery date.
The other MLA page headings:
First Level Heading.
Your text
Second Level Heading.
Third Level Heading
Fourth Level Heading
Fifth Level Heading
Title of the page (centered)
1. Introduction
Talk about the importance of your subject.
An interesting topic sentence.
2. Thesis Statement
3. Body Paragraphs
Methodology.
Research Justification.
Research Findings.
4. Research Discussion
5. Conclusion
Thesis explanation.
Talk about the importance of your research and use a strong thesis statement. Research paper MLA style guidebook recommends allocating about 10% of your final word count to this part.
This is where you must use in-text citations to support your arguments. Always introduce the subject that you want to explore, make a claim, and use citing only then to make it suitable.
The classic in-text citation will look this way:
According to Darren Smith, “certain peculiarities have been noticed in Shakespeare’s perception of time and death” (9).
The majority of references to youth and the fragility help to understand how age has been limited by social circumstances (Smith 11).
Works Cited Page.
If you already know how to format your Bibliography, it is essential to look for complete information and provide as much as you can. If you are citing from a poetry book or an analysis paper that has been published:
Last Name, First Name of the author. “Title of your research paper.” Title of Collection , edited by Editor’s Name(s), Publisher, Year, page range of the data you have used.
Research paper MLA style Works Cited page example:
Stanley, Lace. “Shakespeare’s Psychology.” The Collected Classic English Poems, edited by John Langsley, Penguin Books, 2006, p.26. Only the first letter of the first word of both the chapter title and the book title should be capitalized.
Citing something from Jstor scientific database:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title.” Title of Scientific Journal , vol. Volume, no. Issue, Month Year of publication, pp. Pages, https://doi.org/DOI , or any relevant identifier.
Enciso, Patricia, et al. “Children’s Literature: Standing in the Shadow of Adults.” Reading Research Quarterly , vol. 45, no. 2, 2010, pp. 252–63. JSTOR , http://www.jstor.org/stable/20697185 . Accessed 20 Jun. 2022.
Regardless of whether you are using MLA format or would like to learn how to use different styles, your research paper should have an introduction, a review of the literature that you have used, the methodology that has been chosen, the results of your research, and a discussion of the findings, or you can simply pay someone to write my paper. You may also be limited by an introduction with a thesis statement, body parts with the arguments, and the conclusion part where you talk about the findings. It will always depend on your subject and research paper type.
Contrary to the popular belief, research paper writing in MLA format is not too difficult if you know the basic rules. If you plan to learn how to write a research paper in APA format, you will feel even more confident because you will be able to differentiate the styles. As a way to help you with your research writing, we have collected these simple MLA formatting for research paper tips:
Always start with the sources and check for Bibliography pages that may be included.
Use only verified sources and look for databases like Google Scholar, Jstor, PubMed, etc.
Always introduce your subject and talk about its importance.
Do not overuse citations in your research paper.
Numerous college students often ask about the purpose of correct research formatting, be it MLA, APA, Chicago, or any other format. Formatting a research paper in MLA and APA formats can be time-consuming and intricate, leading many students to seek professionals who write essays for money to ensure their papers meet all formatting guidelines and academic standards. In addition to structuring things according to academic standards, the most important aspect of staying accurate as you research is to provide correct structure and citations if you use any external sources. It will help you to prepare your writing for publishing purposes and let you avoid plagiarism issues. It is the main purpose of correct research paper formatting. Moreover, it is essential to format references correctly to ensure that all sources are properly cited and easily accessible to readers. This guide contains the main rules that provide a checklist that will help you stay safe and follow all the essential rules.
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Steven Robinson is an academic writing expert with a degree in English literature. His expertise, patient approach, and support empower students to express ideas clearly. On EduBirdie's blog, he provides valuable writing guides on essays, research papers, and other intriguing topics. Enjoys chess in free time.
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Artificial intelligence tools can boost the writing process for students and researchers alike, but what happens when you use AI to find sources for your essay? If you're like most people, you need to learn how to cite the AI program that helped you. Fortunately, you're not alone. Many students and academics need help with how to credit artificial intelligence appropriately.
This guide will allow you to transition from the anxiety of not knowing how to cite AI in your paper to confidently understanding how to do it in no time. Keep reading if you're ready to find sources for essay and learn how to cite them in MLA format. Jotbot's source finder can help you find sources for your essay quickly and easily. It also generates accurate citations in multiple formats, including MLA and APA, so you can properly credit artificial intelligence and any other source that may have influenced your work.
Understanding the rise of ai in writing and research, why citing ai tools is important, when to cite ai tools, how to cite ai in apa format, ethical considerations and best practices for using ai in academics, what are the main challenges faced when using ai for academic writing, how jotbot can help you cite ai tools, write smarter with jotbot's source finder — start writing for free today.
Artificial Intelligence , or AI, is quickly changing the academic writing and research world. AI tools can help researchers and writers produce better work in less time, and they’re becoming more accessible and sophisticated by the day. In the early 2000s, grammar and spelling checkers made up the most available AI tools for writers. However, as natural language processing (NLP) technology advanced, more sophisticated AI writing assistants emerged in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Today, AI writing tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with the ability to generate entire paragraphs or articles based on a given prompt. The rise of large language models like GPT-3 has further accelerated the development of AI writing tools, making them more powerful and versatile.
A common misconception about academic writing is that it involves producing an original piece. While originality certainly has its place, academic writing is more about contributing to a larger scholarly conversation. This means that writers need to pay close attention to the work of others and properly cite any sources used. The same goes for AI-generated content. Even if the material produced by an AI tool is unique, it may still contain information gleaned from external sources. Citing these sources is crucial for maintaining academic integrity.
• Citing ChatGPT • How To Find Academic Sources • Using AI For Research • How To Find Good Sources • Essay Sources • AI In Academic Writing • Most Reliable Sources For Research • AI For Research Paper Writing • How To Get ChatGPT To Cite Sources
The increasing use of AI tools in academic writing and research raises several ethical concerns that must be addressed.
AI tools like ChatGPT can generate essays, solve problems, and produce content that is difficult to distinguish from human-written work. This makes it easier for students to engage in academic dishonesty by passing off AI-generated content as their own, which undermines the learning process and erodes academic integrity.
AI systems are trained on large datasets that may contain biases and inaccuracies. The inner workings of AI models are often opaque, making it challenging to identify and mitigate biases in the generated content. This can perpetuate biased or misleading information in academic work.
Excessive use of AI tools in academic writing and research may lead to declining critical thinking and writing skills among students and researchers. There is a risk of over-relying on AI-generated content and losing the ability to engage in independent, original research and writing.
AI in education often involves collecting and analyzing large amounts of student data. Ensuring the privacy and security of this data is crucial, as any breaches or misuse could have severe consequences for students.
AI tools may not be equally accessible to all students, potentially exacerbating educational inequalities. The cost of AI tools and the digital divide may limit access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Failure to address these ethical concerns can lead to several negative consequences:
If left unchecked, using AI-generated content in academic work can undermine the credibility of educational institutions and the value of degrees and qualifications.
The unethical use of AI in academic work can contribute to the spread of biased and misleading information, which can have far-reaching consequences in various fields.
Institutions that fail to protect student data and ensure ethical AI practices may face legal consequences and reputational damage.
If AI tools are not accessible to all students, using these technologies in education may exacerbate existing inequalities and limit opportunities for disadvantaged students.
To mitigate these ethical concerns and ensure the responsible use of AI in academic work, the following best practices should be implemented:
Institutions should establish clear policies and guidelines for using AI tools in academic work, including requirements for disclosure and attribution.
Students and faculty should receive training on the ethical use of AI tools, including identifying AI-generated content and correctly citing and attributing such content. Implement
Institutions should invest in tools and systems to detect AI-generated content and monitor academic dishonesty.
Institutions should promote an academic integrity culture emphasizing the importance of original work, critical thinking, and ethical research practices.
AI tools used in educational work should be designed with transparency and fairness, and measures should be in place to identify and mitigate biases.
As AI tools become increasingly integrated into academic writing and research, it is crucial to acknowledge their contributions. Failing to give credit to AI tools undermines transparency, erodes trust in research findings, and violates ethical principles of academic integrity. Here's a step-by-step guide on properly crediting AI tools, their importance, potential problems, and solutions.
List all AI tools utilized in the research process, including writing assistance, data analysis, literature review, and experimental design.
Describe the specific contributions of each AI tool, such as generating text, analyzing data, or optimizing experimental parameters.
Include relevant details about the AI tools, such as the version, developer, and any customization or fine-tuning performed.
Provide citations for any published papers or documentation related to the AI tools.
Discuss any limitations or potential biases introduced by the AI tools and how they were mitigated.
List the AI tools in the acknowledgments section of the paper, along with a brief description of their contributions.
Crediting AI tools promotes transparency in the research process, allowing readers to understand the role of technology in the study.
Acknowledging AI contributions upholds the principles of academic integrity by providing a complete and accurate account of the research methods.
Proper attribution enables other researchers to replicate the study using the same AI tools, ensuring consistency and comparability of results.
Many institutions and journals have policies requiring the disclosure of AI use in research. Crediting AI tools demonstrates compliance with these guidelines.
Acknowledging AI contributions holds researchers accountable for the responsible use of technology in their work.
Some researchers may need to be made aware of the need to credit AI tools. Providing clear guidelines and training can help address this issue.
Researchers may need help to determine AI tools' specific contributions. Collaborating with AI experts and documenting the research process can help clarify these contributions.
Researchers may worry that crediting AI tools overshadows or diminishes the importance of human contributions. Striking a balance in the acknowledgments and emphasizing the complementary roles of humans and AI can mitigate this concern.
Some researchers may be reluctant to adopt new practices of crediting AI tools. Fostering a culture of transparency and ethical AI use, as well as providing incentives for compliance, can help overcome this resistance.
Expert opinion on using AI tools in academic writing and research , drawing from the provided search results, The increasing use of AI tools in academic writing and study presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, AI can enhance efficiency, improve writing quality, and facilitate collaboration. AI tools can assist in idea generation, content structuring, literature synthesis, data management, editing, and ethical compliance.
They can save researchers time by quickly locating relevant information in research articles, identifying key sections, and generating summaries. However, the use of AI tools also raises significant ethical concerns. Scholars have been caught incorporating verbatim text from AI language models like ChatGPT into peer-reviewed articles, which erodes academic integrity. There are risks of plagiarism, perpetuating biases, and over-relying on AI to the detriment of critical thinking skills.
Develop clear policies and guidelines for using AI tools in academic work, including requirements for disclosure and attribution. Provide training and education to students and faculty on AI's ethical use, including identifying AI-generated content and properly citing sources. Implement detection and monitoring systems to identify AI-generated text and prevent academic dishonesty.
Critically evaluate the output of AI tools rather than blindly accept them as accurate, supplement AI-generated summaries by reading sources. Use AI tools to assist in writing by paraphrasing and summarizing information, but avoid simply copying and pasting AI-generated text. View AI as a tool to enhance human capabilities, not replace them entirely. Originality, creativity, and critical thinking are crucial for scientific progress.
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Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers worldwide to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot's AI writing assistant . Write more intelligently, not harder, with Jotbot's AI writing assistant. Start finding sources for free with Jotbot's source finder today. Sign in with Google and get started in seconds.
• How To Use Chat GPT For Research • AI That Cites Sources • AI For Literature Review • Academic Research Software • Websites Like Google Scholar • Best AI Tool For Research • Best Research Tools For Students • How To Cite AI • Reference Finder • Best AI For Research • Best Academic Search Engines
As artificial intelligence continues to gain traction, it is becoming more prevalent in academic writing. The emergence of AI-generated content is already raising questions about academic integrity, forcing researchers to consider how to address this new technology in their work. One of the most pressing concerns is whether AI tools should be cited as a source. So, do you cite AI? The answer is it depends. Here’s a closer look at when and how to cite AI-generated content in academic writing.
AI-generated content has become increasingly prevalent in academic writing and research, necessitating clear guidelines for when and how to cite such content. Understanding the situations where AI-generated content must be noted is crucial for maintaining academic integrity. Here’s a detailed explanation of these situations and a step-by-step guide on how to cite AI-generated content.
Direct text generation.
It must be cited when you use text generated directly by an AI tool, such as paragraphs, sentences, or phrases. This includes any verbatim text that you incorporate into your work.
If you summarize or paraphrase content produced by an AI tool, you must still provide a citation. This acknowledges that the underlying ideas or information originated from the AI.
These should also be credited when AI tools generate unique ideas or concepts that influence your research or writing. This is particularly relevant if the AI tool provides insights that shape your arguments or conclusions.
If AI tools assist in analyzing data or generating findings, the output should be cited. This includes any statistical analysis, visualizations, or interpretations the AI produces.
When using AI-generated images or graphics, it is essential to cite the tool that created them and provide details about the prompt used to generate the content.
If you engage with AI tools in a way that generates responses or content (e.g., chatbots), any significant output from these interactions should be cited.
Determine the type of content.
Identify whether the content is text, summary, idea, data, or visual material generated by AI.
Decide which citation style you use (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), as guidelines for citing AI-generated content may vary.
Follow the specific format for the chosen citation style. Here are examples of different styles:
APA Style:
Format: Author. (Year). Title of tool (Version) [Description]. URL Example: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
MLA Style: Format: "Description of prompt." Name of AI tool, version, Company, Date, URL. Example: "Explain the process of photosynthesis." ChatGPT, OpenAI, Mar. 14, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Chicago Style: Format: Text generated by [AI tool], Date, Company, URL. Example: Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, Mar. 14, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Include In-Text Citations: Whenever you reference AI-generated content in your writing, include an in-text citation corresponding to your full citation.
Document the Context: In your writing, provide context about how you used the AI tool, such as specifying the prompt or the nature of the interaction.
Review and Verify: Check your citations against the latest guidelines from your institution or relevant style guides to ensure accuracy.
Maintain academic integrity.
Citing AI-generated content upholds the ethical standards of academic work by acknowledging the contributions of the technology.
Proper citations enhance the credibility of your work by demonstrating thoroughness in research and respect for intellectual property.
Citing sources allows readers to verify the information and understand the context in which the AI was used.
Lack of familiarity.
Researchers may need to become more familiar with the nuances of citing AI-generated content, leading to potential errors.
Citation guidelines for AI still need to be developed, creating confusion about best practices.
There may be a tendency to over-rely on AI-generated content, leading to insufficient critical engagement with the material.
Institutions should provide resources and training on how to cite AI-generated content effectively.
Academic institutions and publishers should establish clear, updated guidelines for citing AI-generated content to reduce confusion.
Researchers should be encouraged to critically evaluate and synthesize AI-generated content rather than simply incorporating it into their work.
There is a clear distinction between AI-generated content that requires citation and AI assistance that does not.
Essential Idea Generation: If you use AI tools to brainstorm ideas or generate outlines without directly incorporating specific text or ideas, a citation may not be necessary. However, it is good practice to acknowledge the use of AI assistance in the writing process.
Editing and Proofreading: If AI tools are used solely for grammar checks, spelling corrections, or style suggestions without generating new content, you typically do not need to cite these contributions.
Common Knowledge: Information that is widely known and accepted (e.g., facts like "water boils at 100 degrees Celsius") does not require citation, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or found through traditional research.
Here are a few case studies illustrating situations where AI-generated content should be cited in academic writing:
A researcher is working on a paper exploring the potential of renewable energy sources. They use an AI tool to brainstorm ideas and generate an outline for the paper. AI Involvement: The AI tool provides a list of potential renewable energy sources to consider and a suggested outline for the paper.
The researcher reviews and refines the ideas and outlines. Is a direct citation needed? No direct citation is required for the AI-generated ideas and outline, as they were used as a starting point for the researcher's work. However, it is good practice to acknowledge the use of the AI tool in the paper's methods section or acknowledgments.
A student is writing a paper on the history of the Internet. They use an AI tool to summarize the key events and milestones. AI Involvement: The AI tool generates a paragraph-length summary of the history of the Internet based on the student's prompt. The student incorporates portions of the summary into their paper.
Citation Needed?: Yes, the student should cite the AI-generated text using the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) and include the prompt used to generate the text in the citation.
A researcher is analyzing a large dataset on global temperature trends. They use an AI tool to identify patterns, generate visualizations, and interpret the findings. AI Involvement: The AI tool processes the dataset, creates various data visualizations, and provides insights into the temperature trends. The researcher incorporates the AI-generated visualizations and findings into their paper.
Citation Needed?: Yes, the researcher should cite the AI tool used for data analysis and include details about the specific tasks performed by the AI (e.g., data processing, visualization generation, interpretation). Citations and figure captions should be included in the methods section.
A graduate student is proofreading their thesis. They use an AI-powered writing assistant to check for grammar, spelling, and style errors. AI Involvement: The AI tool identifies and suggests corrections for various grammatical and stylistic issues in the thesis. The student reviews and implements the proposed changes.
Citation Needed?: No citation is needed for AI-powered editing assistance, as the AI tool does not generate new content but provides suggestions for improvement. However, the student should acknowledge the use of the AI tool in their methods section or acknowledgments.
These case studies illustrate that while AI can be a valuable tool in various stages of the writing process, it is essential to understand when and how to cite AI-generated content to maintain academic integrity.
AI can be involved in various stages of the writing process, from ideation to final editing. Here's a detailed explanation of how AI can be used at each stage:
AI tools can assist in brainstorming ideas and generating paper outlines. They can provide prompts, suggest topics, and help structure the argument. For example, an AI tool might help explore the potential of renewable energy sources or provide a suggested outline for a paper on the history of the Internet.
AI can help researchers gather and synthesize information from various sources. AI-powered search engines and research assistants can quickly locate relevant literature, identify key findings, and generate summaries. However, verifying the accuracy of the AI-generated information and citing the sources is crucial.
AI tools can help generate text for various sections of a paper, such as introductions, literature reviews, and conclusions. They can also assist in rephrasing and paraphrasing content. However, any AI-generated text should be carefully reviewed, edited, and cited appropriately.
AI can process large datasets, identify patterns, and generate visualizations. Researchers can use AI tools to create graphs, charts, and other visual representations of their findings. These AI-generated visualizations should be cited in the paper, along with details about the specific tasks performed by the AI.
AI-powered writing assistants can help identify and correct grammar, spelling, and style errors. They can also suggest improvements to sentence structure and clarity. While these tools can be helpful, they should be used judiciously and acknowledged in the paper.
The Modern Language Association (MLA) has provided rules for citing AI-generated content in academic writing. While AI tools can assist in various stages of the writing process, acknowledging their contributions is crucial to maintaining transparency and academic integrity.
Cite AI-generated content whenever you directly quote, paraphrase, or incorporate it into your work, regardless of whether it is text, images, or data.
Treat AI tools as the "author" of the generated content, using the tool's name and the company that created it. Include the version of the AI tool and the date you accessed it in your citation. Provide the URL of the AI tool in your citation. Alphabetize AI citations in your works cited list by the first word in the citation, typically the name of the AI tool.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to format AI-generated content in MLA style:
Begin the citation with the prompt or description of the AI-generated content in quotation marks.
Follow the prompt with the name of the AI tool in italics.
Include the version of the AI tool (if available) and the company that created it. 4. Provide the date you accessed the AI tool.
5 End the citation with the URL of the AI tool.
Explain the process of photosynthesis." ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI, 30 Jun. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Generate a haiku about nature." Jotbot, Anthropic, 15 May 2023, www.anthropic.com/jotbot.
Use parenthetical citations to reference AI-generated content within your text, following the same format as you would for a human author.
(ChatGPT, GPT-4) If the AI-generated content is short, you can incorporate it directly into your paragraph. Consider including it in an appendix or as a supplementary file for longer content. Maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your paper, following the guidelines set forth by the MLA Handbook. If you need help citing a specific type of AI-generated content, include a note in your text explaining how you used the tool and the purpose of the content.
Be transparent.
Indicate when AI tools have contributed to your work.
Record how you used the AI tool, including prompts and responses.
Always check your institution’s guidelines regarding AI tools and citation practices.
Ensure all citations, including those for AI-generated content, follow the same formatting rules throughout your paper.
If the AI-generated content has limitations or biases, mention this in your work to maintain transparency.
Uncertainty about citation requirements.
Problem: Students may need help to cite AI-generated content properly.
Solution: Consult citation guides, institutional resources, or instructors to clarify citation practices.
Problem: Citation styles for AI-generated content still need to be developed, leading to confusion.
Solution: Stay updated on the latest citation guidelines from reputable sources and adapt as necessary.
Problem: There may be a tendency to rely too heavily on AI-generated content, diminishing original thought. Solution: Use AI as a supplementary tool rather than a primary content source. Engage critically with the material generated.
Problem: Misusing AI-generated content without proper citation can lead to accusations of plagiarism.
Solution: Always attribute AI-generated content appropriately and ensure it is integrated into your work ethically.
Problem: Technical difficulties accessing or using AI tools may hinder the citation process.
Solution: Familiarize yourself with the AI tool’s functionalities and seek help from technical support if needed.
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The American Psychological Association has begun to establish guidelines for citing AI-generated content. The AI tool's developer or organization is considered the author. This approach emphasizes transparency and proper attribution in academic work.
Cite AI-generated content whenever you directly quote, paraphrase, or incorporate it into your work. Treat the AI tool's developer as the author of the generated content. Include the version of the AI tool and the date of access. Provide the URL of the AI tool. In-text citations should include the name of the AI tool, its developer, and the year of publication.
Step-by-step guide.
Identify the Prompt: Write down the exact prompt or query you provided to the AI tool.
Gather Citation Information: Author: The developer or organization of the AI tool (e.g., OpenAI). Date: The year the AI-generated content was created. Name of Tool: The name of the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT). Version: Note the version of the AI tool if applicable. URL: Include the URL for the AI tool.
Format the Citation: Format: Author. (Year). Name of tool (Version) [Description]. URL Example: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model].
Include In-Text Citations: Use parenthetical citations within your text to reference the AI-generated content.
Example: (OpenAI, 2023) Create a References Page: List all AI-generated content citations at the end of your paper according to APA guidelines.
Seamless inclusion.
When referencing AI-generated content in your text, include it naturally within your discussion. For example, "According to the AI-generated summary, 'photosynthesis is the process by which green plants convert sunlight into energy' (OpenAI, 2023)."
Maintain clarity by ensuring that AI citations are formatted consistently with other citations in your paper. Contextual Explanation: Provide context for how the AI tool was used if necessary. For example," Using ChatGPT, I generated a summary of photosynthesis to understand the topic better."
Always check your institution’s guidelines regarding using AI tools and citation practices.
If the AI-generated content has limitations or biases, mention this in your work to maintain transparency.
Problem: Students may need help citing AI-generated content properly.
Problem: There may be a tendency to rely too heavily on AI-generated content, diminishing original thought.
Solution: Use AI as a supplementary tool rather than a primary content source. Engage critically with the material generated.
Problem: Misusing AI-generated content without proper citation can lead to accusations of plagiarism. Solution: Always attribute AI-generated content appropriately and ensure it is ethically integrated into your work.
Problem: Technical difficulties accessing or using AI tools may hinder the citation process. Solution: Familiarize yourself with the AI tool’s functionalities and seek help from technical support if needed.
According to a guide from the University of Oregon, “When citing AI-generated content using APA style, you should treat that content as the output of an algorithm, with the author of the content being the company or organization that created the model.” This perspective emphasizes the importance of proper attribution and the evolving nature of citation practices as AI technology develops.
Transparency establishes trust between researchers, institutions, and the public. When AI tools are used in research, stakeholders must understand how these tools operate, what data they use, and how they arrive at their conclusions. Clear communication about the AI's functions helps mitigate bias, reliability, and ethical use concerns.
Transparent AI practices allow for research accountability. When researchers disclose the AI tools they use and how they integrate them into their work, it becomes easier to identify who is responsible for the research's outcomes. This accountability is crucial, especially in high-stakes healthcare fields where AI can influence patient outcomes.
Transparency in AI usage aligns with ethical research practices. By openly discussing AI tools' limitations and potential biases, researchers can ensure that their work adheres to moral standards. This transparency helps to prevent the misuse of AI-generated content and promotes a culture of integrity within academic institutions.
Transparent practices encourage collaboration among researchers, AI developers, and other stakeholders. When everyone understands how AI tools work and their potential impacts, it fosters a collaborative environment where knowledge can be shared and best practices can be developed.
Transparency helps demystify AI technology for the general public. Institutions can enhance public understanding and acceptance of AI in academia by providing clear explanations of how AI tools function and their role in research.
Document ai usage .
Keep detailed records of how AI tools were used in your research process , including prompts, generated content, and the specific tasks performed by the AI. This documentation will be helpful for transparency and accountability.
To properly cite AI-generated content in your work, follow established citation guidelines (such as APA or MLA). This includes providing the name of the AI tool, the organization behind it, the version, and the date of access.
When discussing AI-generated content in your writing, provide context about how the AI was utilized. Explain the AI tool's purpose and how it contributed to your research or writing.
Be upfront about your AI tools' limitations and potential biases. Discuss how these limitations may affect your research findings or conclusions.
Conduct workshops or informational sessions to educate colleagues and students about the ethical use of AI in research. This can foster a culture of transparency and accountability within the academic community.
Regularly reflect on the impact of AI tools on your research and writing processes. Consider how they influence your conclusions and whether your reliance on AI is appropriate.
Work with AI developers or specialists to understand the tools better and their implications for your work. This collaboration can enhance the quality of your research and ensure ethical practices.
According to a report by the European Commission, “Transparency is one of the key requirements for trustworthy AI, as it fosters trust and accountability in AI systems.” This highlights the importance of transparency in building trust and ensuring that AI is used responsibly in various fields, including academia. By prioritizing transparency, researchers can harness the benefits of AI while upholding the highest ethical standards.
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AI tools can facilitate academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and the unauthorized use of AI-generated content. The ease with which students can generate papers or sections of documents using AI raises concerns about the authenticity of their work.
AI-generated content may lack depth, accuracy, and context. While AI tools can produce grammatically correct text, they may need to fully grasp the nuances of complex academic topics, leading to superficial or misleading conclusions.
Students and researchers may become overly dependent on AI tools, undermining their critical thinking and writing skills. This reliance can stifle creativity and original thought, essential components of academic research.
AI tools are trained on existing datasets, which may contain biases. Consequently, the outputs generated by these tools can reflect and perpetuate those biases, leading to skewed or unbalanced perspectives in academic writing.
Many AI tools operate as black boxes, where the internal workings are not visible to users. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for researchers to understand how conclusions are drawn, complicating the evaluation of the reliability of the generated content.
AI tools may only sometimes understand the specific requirements of different academic disciplines. This can lead to inappropriate or irrelevant content generation, requiring significant editing and revision by the user.
Educate users .
Provide training on the ethical use of AI tools and the importance of academic integrity. Institutions should hold workshops to inform students about the risks associated with AI-generated content.
Develop institutional policies regarding the acceptable use of AI in academic writing . These guidelines should clarify ethical use and how to properly cite AI-generated content.
Promote the development of critical thinking and writing skills by encouraging students to engage deeply with their topics rather than relying solely on AI-generated content.
Encourage students to use AI tools as supplementary aids rather than primary content sources. This approach helps maintain originality and personal engagement with the material.
Implement a review process for AI-generated content, ensuring students critically assess and edit the material before submission.
Educate users about the potential biases in AI-generated content. Encourage diverse sources and perspectives to counteract any bias present in AI outputs.
The use of AI-generated content in academic publications carries several risks that can affect the credibility and integrity of research. Here are the main risks:
AI tools can produce text that closely resembles existing works, leading to unintentional plagiarism. This can result in severe academic penalties and damage to reputations.
AI-generated content may misrepresent research findings or context, leading to misinformation. This misrepresentation can have profound implications, especially in fields like medicine or social sciences, where accuracy is critical.
Relying on AI-generated content can undermine the credibility of authors. If it becomes known that AI generates a significant portion of a paper, it may raise questions about the author's expertise and originality.
The use of AI tools may lead to a decline in the quality of research output. AI-generated content may need more depth, critical analysis, and contextual understanding than human authors provide.
Using AI-generated content without proper attribution can lead to legal repercussions, including copyright infringement claims. Additionally, ethical concerns arise when the use of AI is not disclosed.
Implement strict citation practices .
Establish clear guidelines for citing AI-generated content. Ensure that all AI contributions are correctly attributed to avoid plagiarism.
Encourage thorough peer reviews of academic papers that utilize AI-generated content. This process can help identify potential issues with accuracy and originality.
Require authors to disclose their use of AI tools in their research methodology sections. This transparency fosters accountability and allows readers to evaluate the work critically.
Provide resources and training on the ethical implications of using AI in research. This education should emphasize the importance of maintaining integrity in academic work.
Foster an environment that values original thought and research. Encourage students and researchers to engage with their topics deeply and critically.
Institutions should monitor the use of AI tools in academic writing and research, ensuring compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.
JotBot AI is an advanced writing assistant that offers a range of features to simplify the process of citing AI-generated content in academic writing. By integrating source finding and citation generation directly into the writing workflow, JotBot helps users maintain transparency and academic integrity while enhancing efficiency.
JotBot's AI Source Management feature allows users to easily incorporate sources into their writing, including AI-generated content. Users can upload PDFs, links, or plain text. JotBot will automatically read and understand the content, incorporating it into the document while generating accurate citations in the desired format (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
This streamlined approach saves researchers and students significantly more time than manually finding sources and formatting citations. By handling the technical aspects of citation, JotBot enables users to focus on the substance of their writing while ensuring proper attribution of AI contributions.
Upload your sources .
Provide JotBot with the AI-generated content you wish to cite, whether PDFs, links, or plain text. JotBot will analyze the content and incorporate it into your document.
You must choose the citation style you must use (APA, MLA, Chicago), and JotBot will format the citations accordingly.
As JotBot incorporates AI-generated content into your writing, it will automatically create citations in the specified style and include them in a bibliography at the end of your document.
Check the generated citations for accuracy and make any necessary adjustments. JotBot's AI-powered editing tools allow you to refine the content and citations with simple commands. Here are examples of how JotBot generates citations for AI-generated content in MLA and APA formats:
"Explain the process of photosynthesis." ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI, 30 Jun. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model].
By automating the process of finding sources and generating citations, JotBot significantly reduces the time and effort required for academic writing tasks.
JotBot's AI-powered tools ensure accurate citations, reducing the risk of errors or inconsistencies in referencing AI-generated content.
Proper citation of AI contributions using JotBot demonstrates a commitment to transparency and academic integrity, which is crucial for maintaining credibility in research.
JotBot's integrated approach to writing , research, and citation generation creates a seamless workflow, allowing users to focus on the substance of their work without getting bogged down in technical details.
"JotBot has been an advance for my academic writing . Its ability to quickly find and cite sources, including AI-generated content, has saved me countless hours and helped me produce higher-quality work."
Jane Doe, Graduate Student "As a researcher, I appreciate JotBot's commitment to transparency and accuracy in citing AI contributions. It gives me confidence that my work is properly attributed and meets the highest standards of academic integrity." - John Smith, Professor of Computer Science.
Jotbot is your personal document assistant and source finder . It does AI note-taking, AI video summarizing, and AI citation/source finder. It also writes AI outlines for essays and even writes entire essays with Jotbot’s AI essay writer . Join 500,000+ writers, students, teams, and researchers worldwide to write more, write better, and write faster with Jotbot's AI writing assistant.
Write more brilliantly, not harder, with Jotbot's AI writing assistant. Start finding sources that are accessible with Jotbot's source finder today. Sign in with Google and get started in seconds.
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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .
To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.
Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.
For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:
When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).
For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)
For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)
When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.
In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:
The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)
When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:
In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,
Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .
From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)
If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:
If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:
Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.
When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:
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MLA General Format - Purdue OWL
MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template
MLA Format: Everything You Need to Know
MLA Formatting and Style Guide - Purdue OWL
Using MLA Format - MLA Style Center
The nine core elements of MLA citations. 1. Author. Begin each source entry with the name of the author (s) or creator (s). The name of the first author is always inverted (Last name, First name). When a source has two authors, the second author's name is shown in the normal order (First name Last name).
A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide + Free Template. Formatting your paper in MLA style can feel like a pretty daunting task. In this post, we'll show you exactly how to set up your paper for MLA (9th edition), as quickly and easily as possible. We'll also share our popular free MLA template, to help you fast-track your writing.
How to Format Your Essay in MLA Style. Now, let's go through step-by-step instructions to help you correctly format your essay. 1. Margins and Page Layout. Go to the Page Layout settings in your word processor and set one-inch margins on all sides of the paper. Set the text to be left-aligned.
Formatting a Research Paper - MLA Style Center
When formatting your essay, there are a few things to keep in mind: Use the correct font as listed under the "Home" tab of this guide. Double-space your text, use 12 pt font, and use a legible font style, such as Times New Roman, Ariel, Calibri, etc., ensuring that the regular and italic font styles are distinct.
Writing a Paper in MLA Format. When writing a paper in MLA format, you'll need to cover your bases when it comes to citing your sources. Not only do your sources need to be correct to account for wherever you're pulling information from, but they also need to follow MLA paper formatting basics.. So far, we've covered how to cite sources in your Works Cited list and in-text citations.
Welcome to the OWL Overview of MLA Style. This page introduces you to the Modern Language Association (MLA) Style for writing and formatting research papers. To get the most out of this page, you should begin with the introductory material below, which covers what is MLA Style, why it is used, and who should apply this style to their work. Then you are invited to browse through the OWL's ...
Like all the other text in an MLA style paper, the title block is double-spaced.; The title is in the same font as the rest of the paper — it is not boldface, or enlarged.; There is no extra space above or below the title.; A truly informative title will include the general topic, and your precise opinion on that topic. (So, if you pan to compare Hamlet and Macbeth, your title should state ...
Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title. The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange. Indent the next line and begin typing your text. Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of ...
How to Cite an Essay in MLA
Writing an Essay in MLA Format | Microsoft 365
Google Docs Template for Formatting the Paper. Using a Google Template: On the Google Docs menu, click on File => New => From Template. In the newly opened window, you will see many professional templates. Scroll all the way down. Under the Education category, click on the template that says " Report MLA ". The template will be copied to ...
MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics - Purdue OWL
1 inch. Line Spacing. Double. New Paragraph Indents. ½ inch. Headings. Title Case. In the next section, you will get to know how to create an MLA format heading, which appears at the top of your writing assignment. Before using the instruction, ask if your professor prefers a certain way to format an MLA heading.
Formatting an essay according to a certain style affects the way your assignment looks physically and to how you format your citations. How to Format your paper in MLA . The guidelines below are the general MLA formatting guidelines; however, make sure to prioritize following any specific formatting instructions that your instructor has ...
How to type an mla format essay. Also, use digits whenever a number is placed before how to type an mla format essay label or measurement. Whatever font you content writing tutorial for beginners, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. For an image to be significant and easily identifiable, place it as close as ...
MLA Sample Paper - Purdue OWL
Regardless of whether you are using MLA format or would like to learn how to use different styles, your research paper should have an introduction, a review of the literature that you have used, the methodology that has been chosen, the results of your research, and a discussion of the findings, or you can simply pay someone to write my paper.
MLA Formatting Lists - Purdue OWL
Integrating AI Citations Into Your MLA-Formatted Paper. Use parenthetical citations to reference AI-generated content within your text, following the same format as you would for a human author. Example (ChatGPT, GPT-4) If the AI-generated content is short, you can incorporate it directly into your paragraph. Consider including it in an ...
MLA Formatting Quotations - Purdue OWL