MLA
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Modern Language Association (style) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Writing & Everyday, Government & Politics, Education & Academia |
MLA has five meanings. The most common are Modern Language Association (style) (citation and bibliography) and Member of the Legislative Assembly (world government); it can also stand for Modern Language Association style, Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Liberal Arts.
Meanings of MLA at a glance
| # | MLA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modern Language Association (style) | Writing & Everyday › Citation and Bibliography |
| 2 | Member of the Legislative Assembly | Government & Politics › World Government |
| 3 | Modern Language Association style | Education & Academia › Academic |
| 4 | Master of Landscape Architecture | Education & Academia › Degree |
| 5 | Master of Liberal Arts | Education & Academia › Degree |
1. Modern Language Association (style)
Writing & Everyday · Citation and Bibliography Abbreviations · also used in organizations
Names the citation and formatting style published by the Modern Language Association of America, widely used in high schools and in literature, language and humanities courses. The current MLA Handbook is the 9th edition, released in 2021.
Example: Format your works-cited page in MLA style, with entries in alphabetical order and hanging indents.
MLA uses brief author-page parenthetical citations, such as (Morrison 45), linked to a works-cited list. The 8th edition (2016) introduced a template of "core elements" that applies to any type of source. The association, founded in 1883, also publishes the MLA International Bibliography.
2. Member of the Legislative Assembly
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Title of elected members of legislative assemblies in most Canadian provinces and the territories, in the Northern Ireland Assembly, in several Australian states and territories and in Indian state assemblies. In India, MLAs elect state chief ministers.
Example: Each MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly represents one of 18 constituencies.
In Canada the title is used in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Maritime provinces and the territories, while Newfoundland and Labrador uses MHA. India has more than 4,000 MLAs across its state legislatures. In academic writing, MLA means the Modern Language Association and its citation style.
3. Modern Language Association style
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
Citation style used in literature, languages and the humanities, especially in US high schools and colleges. In-text citations give author and page, such as (Morrison 23), and full sources appear on a "Works Cited" page; the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook appeared in 2021.
Example: My English teacher wants MLA format with a Works Cited page in hanging-indent style.
Since the eighth edition (2016), MLA uses a flexible template of "core elements" (author, title, container, publisher, date, location) rather than separate rules for every source type. The Modern Language Association, founded in 1883, also publishes the MLA International Bibliography. In Canada and Britain MLA can also mean Member of the Legislative Assembly.
4. Master of Landscape Architecture
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Professional graduate degree accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board that leads toward licensure as a landscape architect. Students with unrelated undergraduate degrees usually need about three years, while BLA holders can finish in two.
Example: The firm's design team includes several MLA graduates from Penn and Harvard's GSD.
Written M.L.A. After the degree, licensure in US states requires supervised experience and the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE). MLA can also mean Master of Liberal Arts, Modern Language Association style, or Member of the Legislative Assembly, so context matters.
5. Master of Liberal Arts
Education & Academia · Degree Abbreviations
Interdisciplinary humanities degree for adult learners, offered by schools such as Johns Hopkins, the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford. Students combine graduate courses in literature, history, philosophy and the arts, typically part time.
Example: She completed an MLA at Johns Hopkins with a thesis on Baltimore's industrial history.
Harvard Extension School awards the equivalent degree as the ALM (Artium Liberalium Magister). The degree is distinct from the professional Master of Landscape Architecture, which shares the same letters. Programs are usually open to applicants of any age and undergraduate background.
Related abbreviations
More citation and bibliography abbreviations
- l. – Line
- LCCN – Library of Congress Control Number
- ll. – Lines
- MHRA – Modern Humanities Research Association (style)
- MS – Manuscript
- n. – Note
- n.d. – No date
- n.p. – No place (of publication)
See all 58 citation and bibliography abbreviations →