| p>A writer's style is a distinctive signature that | | | | of detail one would expect from work of this |
| allows an individual to personalize not only the | | | | caliber. |
| content of his or her message, but also the | | | | Citation: |
| manner in which the content is received. Famed | | | | The Modern Language Association encourages |
| communications scholar Stuart Hall argues that the | | | | citation in two parts. First is the parenthetical |
| nature of communication is such that language is | | | | reference, which appears at the end of the |
| little more than a vehicle for delivering meaning. | | | | sentence in between the last word and the period. |
| The words we use to communicate with others | | | | Material quoted directly from a secondary source |
| represent only a very small part of the meaning | | | | must be identified in this manner, and the author's |
| that we intend to convey. That is to say, there | | | | last number and the corresponding page number |
| are a number of ways to tell a story, but the | | | | upon which the quotation can be found should |
| version told with the most enthusiasm and style is | | | | appear at the end of the sentence: |
| the one that becomes most memorable and | | | | "... suggesting that every quotation must be |
| therefore the most dominant. Communication is | | | | properly referenced" |
| more than information exchange, and the manner | | | | (Author's Last Name, Page Number). |
| in which we choose to interact with one another | | | | This parenthetical reference must also be |
| is almost as important as the meaning that is | | | | accompanied by a full citation that should appear |
| conveyed. | | | | on your Works Cited page, which must |
| So many different styles exist that when we | | | | accompany your work: |
| come to write an essay or document, for | | | | Author, Joe. How to Create a Proper Works Cited |
| example, we are almost using a whole new | | | | Page. London: Routledge Publishing, 2009. |
| language. Here are some grammatical differences | | | | As demonstrated here, the author's first name |
| between MLA and APA: | | | | appears after the last name, followed by the title |
| The Serial Comma: | | | | of the novel, the publication information and the |
| Whenever you write a list of terms, items or | | | | year the book was published. |
| phrases, grammatical guidelines dictate that you | | | | Similarly, the American Psychological Association |
| must separate each item with a comma. | | | | guidelines dictate a two-step citation process. As it |
| However, in the case of any list, there is | | | | is with the MLA style, APA requires that quoted |
| inevitably a conjunction separating the final two | | | | material be accompanied by the author's last |
| items, and this comma is often referred to as the | | | | name and the page number, but also the year the |
| "serial comma". The Modern Language Association | | | | information was published: |
| (MLA) and the American Psychological Association | | | | "... suggesting that every quotation must be |
| (APA) guidelines do require the use of a comma | | | | properly referenced" |
| before the conjunction and the final term, | | | | (Author's Last Name, Year, Page Number). |
| whereas the Associated Press (AP) guidelines | | | | Again, this parenthetical reference must be |
| generally omit the serial comma unless the list is | | | | accompanied by a citation that appears on the |
| excessive, in which case a serial comma should be | | | | References page at the back of your paper: |
| used to reduce ambiguity. | | | | Author, J. (2009) How to Create a Proper Works |
| Bullets: | | | | Cited Page. London: Routledge Publishing. |
| The American Psychological Association does not | | | | Unlike the MLA style, the APA citation format |
| use bullets, unless the information traditionally | | | | dictates that the year must follow the author's |
| found in a 'bullet' point appears in full sentence | | | | name, and the title must appear in italics as |
| format as part of a numbered list. Similarly, the | | | | opposed to being underlined. While both formatting |
| Modern Language Association also discourages | | | | styles have similarities, there are a number of |
| bullets that are not numbered with full and | | | | differences that can be easily overlooked. It's |
| complete sentences. MLA and APA styles are | | | | important to become familiar with one style so |
| typically associated with scholarly work, and | | | | that you naturally become more proficient with |
| abbreviated points do not usually provide the level | | | | practice. |