MLA is a style of documentation that may be applied to many different types of writing
Since texts have become increasingly digital, and the same document may often be found in several different sources, following a set of rigid rules no longer suffices
The current MLA system is based on a few guiding principles, rather than an extensive list of specific rules
This gives writers a flexible method that is near-universally applicable
Core elements for MLA citations
Author
Title of source
Title of container
Other contributors
Version
Number
Publisher
Publication date
Location
Author
Begin the entry with the author's last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name, as presented in the work
Title of source
Depending upon the type of source, it should be listed in italics or quotation marks
Title of container
The larger wholes in which the source is located
Other contributors
Editors, illustrators, translators, etc. whose contributions are relevant or necessary to identify the source
Version
If a source is listed as an edition or version of a work, include it in the citation
Number
If a source is part of a numbered sequence, such as a multi-volume book or journal, those numbers must be listed
Publisher
The publisher produces or distributes the source to the public
Publication date
The date the source was published
Location
The location of the source, such as a URL or page numbers
