Before submitting your manuscript to Vikshaa :International Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, please ensure that your work adheres to the following MLA 9th Edition guidelines:
- Manuscript Formatting
- Font: Use a readable 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman).
- Spacing: Double-space the entire manuscript, including notes and works cited.
- Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inches.
- Header: Include a header with your last name and page number in the upper-right corner, 0.5 inches from the top.
- Title: Center the title of your manuscript on the first page (do not underline or use quotation marks).
- Text Alignment: Left-align your text and avoid full justification.
- Title and Author Information
- Title Page: Do not include a separate title page. Instead, place your name, institutional affiliation, title of the article, and contact information (email and phone number) in the upper-left corner of the first page.
- Abstract: Include an abstract of no more than 300 words and a list of keywords, placed on the page following the title.
- In-Text Citations
- Ensure all citations follow MLA 9th Edition format for in-text references (e.g., (Smith 123) for a single author or (Jones et al. 45) for multiple authors).
- For works with no page numbers, use paragraph numbers (e.g., (Doe, par. 4)) or omit the page number altogether if unavailable.
- Works Cited Page
- Include a Works Cited page at the end of your manuscript, listing all sources cited in your paper in alphabetical order by the author’s last name.
- Follow MLA 9th Edition format for each type of source (books, articles, websites, etc.).
- The Works Cited page should be double-spaced, with no extra space between entries.
- Use hanging indents (each entry should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin).
- Figures and Tables
- If including figures, tables, or images, ensure they are labeled properly with captions, e.g., “Figure 1: Title of Image.”
- Ensure that all images, graphs, or tables are cited correctly according to MLA format and permissions are obtained for any third-party material.
- Language and Style
- Write in clear, formal academic language. Avoid contractions (e.g., “don’t” should be written as “do not”).
- Check for grammatical and spelling errors.
- Ensure that your manuscript follows a coherent structure with clear argumentation and well-organized sections.
- Plagiarism Check
- Ensure that all sources are properly cited and attributed to avoid plagiarism.
- You are encouraged to use plagiarism detection software to ensure the originality of your work.
- Document Submission
- Submit your manuscript as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF.
Ensure that the file name includes your name and title of the manuscript (e.g., “Smith_Article_Title”).