The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is indeed a widely used documentation style for research papers, especially in the humanities and liberal arts fields. It's known for its clear and concise formatting guidelines for citing sources and organizing the paper itself.
Here's why it's considered popular:
* Simplicity: MLA is relatively straightforward to learn and apply, making it accessible to students and researchers.
* Consistency: The standardized format ensures consistency in how sources are cited and papers are presented.
* Wide Acceptance: It's recognized and accepted by a large number of academic institutions and publishers.
* Focus on Humanities: MLA style is specifically designed for disciplines like literature, history, language, and cultural studies.
While other documentation styles exist (like APA for social sciences and Chicago for history), MLA remains a prominent and frequently used method for research papers in the humanities.