Mla is a style of documentation based on a general methodology that may be applied to many different types of writing since texts have become increasingly mobile and the same document may often be found in several different sources following a set of rigid rules no longer suffices. Easybib guide to mla 8 format the modern language association mla is an organization responsible for developing mla format often called mla style mla format was developed as a means for researchers students and scholars in the literature and language fields to use a uniform way to format their papers and assignments. The concept of containers is crucial to mla style when the source being documented forms part of a larger whole the larger whole can be thought of as a container that holds the source for example a short story may be contained in an anthology. His textbooks include writing with a purpose 14th edition 2004 the river reader 12th edition formerly the riverside reader 2016 and efictions 2002 trimmers a guide to mla documentation 9th edition is a perennial bestseller he has also published a guide to apa documentation. Mla 8 citation guide this is a complete guide to mla 8 modern language association 8 th edition in text and reference list citations this easy to use comprehensive guide makes citing any source easy