本書為「現代語言學會」(Modern Language Association)指定的論文寫作手冊，指導研究報告及學術論文的寫作法和標準格式。自從問世以來，廣受重視，全球銷售量已超過三百萬冊，為大專學生、研究生、專業學者及出版業者不可或缺的案頭書。
本書特色
　　詳述研究與寫作的基本原則，從構思、搜集資料、整理書目、擬定大綱、撰寫草稿，到修辭和避免抄襲，面面俱佳到。
　　搜羅各種資料型態，建立註解及書目製作的格式，不論是參考書籍期刊，還是引用電子郵件，都能找到適當的格式範例。
　　列舉各專門領域之主要參考工具或資料庫來源，協助您迅速找到研究所需資料。
　　第七版新增部分　　更新引用書目資料和日益普遍的電子檔案資料體例。　　更清楚地區別印刷品資料、資料庫、網路資料和多媒體資料的引用。　　如印刷品體例為出版資料後加註”Print”：　　Franke, Damon. Modernist Heresies: British Literary History, 1833-1924. Columbus: Ohio State UP, 2008. Print.
　　本書另有網路互動版可供選購，書內提供上網密碼，可查詢更多的實例資料。
　　This fourth edition of a publication based on the "MLA Style Sheet," begun more than 40 years ago, includes a great deal of information about using and citing electronic sources. Designed as a "comprehensive picture of how research papers are created," the handbook was last published in 1988. It will be used by researchers from high school and up. It is aimed at students; The MLA Style Manual (1985) is aimed at scholars. The handbook takes readers through the research paper process step by step, and includes information on narrowing the topic, outlining, note taking, etc. Before dealing with such mechanics of writing as spelling, punctuation, and format, the manual covers the use of catalogs (online and paper), indexes, and databases in the library and offers a list of some standard print and electronic reference works. The sections on documentation in text and citations seem to include every type of source and possible variable. The work concludes with abbreviations for terms used in research, reference sources by subject, and some examples of other styles of documentation. Examples within each section are printed in a font different from the explanatory text, a feature that allows the user to easily find the appropriate format. Chapters are divided by subtopics with numeric denotation; an index makes topics easy to find.
　　Public and academic libraries should update their style manuals with this edition because of the inclusion of electronic sources, portable and online. High schools that use the MLA style should also include it in their library collections. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.