A style is the name given to an actual set of structural formatting characteristics, which is then followed by its description in a style guide. There are different styles of MLA format and these can include the boldface style, the mixed style, the citation style, the alternate styles, the quotes, and the sitemap style. In terms of the citations, they must be uniform throughout the text. This means that the citation formatter must generate the same citation pattern, even though different citations might be produced in different fields (like MLA books vs. journals). The mixed style allows for different citation styles, so that the same information could be cited in two different ways.
The boldface style is used most often when generating citations for research papers because it creates a professional look for the author. It’s most distinguishable by use of larger fonts and numbers around words, which make the sentences and paragraphs much more readable. For this reason, the boldface style has been named the American style, and is best used in research papers and scholarly documents. The mixed style is similar to the boldface style but allows the author to choose between italicized and full-fledged boldface.
Citations and their supporting documents are very important to the understanding of the writer and his arguments. Many writers try to achieve word fluency, which is the ability to write a single sentence using all of the necessary punctuation and the style of the sentence itself. Word fluency is difficult to achieve for those whose first language is not English, and even for native English speakers, it is next to impossible. MLA style is very good at helping writers achieve word fluency in their writing, but the challenge is in using all of the proper punctuation marks, sentence order, and other formatting features to ensure that the final piece is well-written. Style guides are designed to help writers make sure that the end result is as close to perfect as possible.
There are two different types of MLA style: the intrusive style, which tries to bring structural or logical structure to the discourse community; and the anecdotal style, which relies on personal observation, narrative, or metaphor to convey its meaning. In the former style, many words are omitted; in the latter style, many words are enclosed within quote marks, many paragraphs are written with multiple paragraphs, and all quotation marks, all parenthesis, all braces, and all numbered words are utilized. However, there are some MLA style guides that allow the use of one or two extra types of formatting in order to make the piece more formal. Some examples of these types of styles are: all caps, all lowercase letters, all inverted commas, and parenthetical quotation marks.
When writing an essay, the writer can use any one of the above types of formatting for the purpose of improving the clarity of the piece. However, these styles should be used in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association (MLA). When in doubt about the rules for any particular style, it is advisable to consult with a tutor or a reference book on MLA editing styles before using it. Also, note that most people prefer using one of the more common styles, such as APA, Chicago, or Harvard style, but Modern Language Association (MLA) rules mandate the use of one of these styles, when necessary, in order to make certain the papers are compliant.
Because most academic writing has to do with literary studies, it is best to stick to the MLA style, especially when discussing literary works that have been written primarily in the first person. There are various other formatting styles that writers may want to consider using, depending on their preference. It is recommended that writers who wish to learn about the various MLA style guides consult a reference book on the style, so they will know what to look for and how to format their papers accordingly. But once writers understand the basic MLA formatting rules, they should be able to use the appropriate formatting according to the type of work they are writing.