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The Mayfield Handbook of Technical & Scientific Writing
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Section 10.5.1

General Structure

The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 4th ed. (1995), recommends a system of in-text citations that clearly point to entries included in a reference list, called Works Cited at the end of the document. The APA and MLA styles differ significantly in several areas, particularly in the information given in the in-text parenthetical citation, the guidelines for placement of such citations, and numerous specific formatting and stylistic conventions for both the citations and the reference lists.

For example, MLA style emphasizes the exact location of information. Consequently, the specific page numbers of a reference are always listed in the citation unless the reference is clearly to the entire source as a whole. On the other hand, MLA in-text citations do not include the year of publication.

Citation in Text


The connection between brain damage and autism is no longer disputed (Bailey 8).

Entry in List of Works Cited


Bailey, Arthur. "The Biology of Autism."

     Psychological Medicine 23 (1993): 7-11.


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