MLA Format Machine

The MLA format machine is an electronic device that helps students format their sources according to the standards and guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA). The format machine works when a student types in the information the site requires for the source. After the student goes on the Internet, types in the information, and clicks enter, the format machine "spits out" the proper citation of any source.

One benefit of the MLA format machine is that it helps students train themselves to properly format sources in MLA style. Students can save time and money by staying in their rooms and running their sources through an Internet page, instead of going to visit a writing center or a writing tutor. The machine saves students a lot of money that can go to other educational expenses instead of hiring a writing tutor who (with the exception of friends, relatives, and university staff) will charge students a significant sum. Next, the machine for MLA format makes referencing citations more convenient and easy. Students no longer have to look in the MLA citation handbook, examine how a citation should be written, and then duplicate it. Now, students only need to type in source information, click a button, and have the Internet page provide the exact citation.

Students no longer have to say, "I am struggling with referencing sources" if a computer now performs the hard work. In addition, the MLA format machine also makes referencing Internet sources easy. It is often a complex thing to cite a website or web page, particularly if there is no creation date to the page or there is other missing information for a proper bibliographic entry. Now, students can allow the Internet machine to dictate how to cite the source. This will save the student time and energy deciding how to classify the web source, and what to do about the missing information. The student can appeal to the format machine as an authoritative source on citations should he or she find themselves in a bind because of a bibliographic entry.

The MLA format machine is designed to correct reference issues of all sorts, including electronic references. However, the format machine has done more than correct reference issues; it has also made research time more productive for students, increased research independence (from professors and other classmates), and increased the accuracy of source information. Doing research will never be the same again.