MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing

Book excerpt: The MLA Style Manual has been the standard guide for graduate students, teachers, and scholars in the humanities and for professional writers in many fields. The second edition contains several added sections and updated guidelines on citing electronic works -- including materials found on the World Wide Web. There is an expanded chapter on the publication process, from manuscript to published work, and advice for those seeking to publish their articles or books. A chapter by the attorney Arthur F. Abelman reviews legal issues, such as copyright law, the concept of fair use, the provisions of a typical publishing contract, defamation, and the emergence of privacy law. Other chapters discuss stylistic conventions and the preparation of manuscripts, theses, and dissertations and offer an authoritative and comprehensive presentation of MLA documentation style.