Final answer:
Prioritize your teacher's formatting instructions over official MLA guidelines for assignments, and clarify any uncertainties. Familiarize yourself with official formats and use resources for guidance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When faced with discrepancies between your teacher's instructions and official MLA guidelines, it's essential to prioritize your teacher's specific requirements. In educational settings, instructors may adapt or modify official formatting styles like MLA or APA to suit the particular needs of their course or to emphasize certain academic skills.
Following your instructor's guidelines is crucial; they are the ones evaluating your work, and their adaptation of the formatting rules may be intentional to align with their grading criteria or to accommodate the aims of the assignment.
However, you should be familiar with the overarching principles of the selected style, whether it's MLA format or APA, as outlined in the respective official documentation guide, which can be supplemented by resources such as the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
If you're unsure about any instruction, it's always a good idea to clarify with your instructor. Moreover, adhering to your instructor's guidelines demonstrates your ability to follow directions and adapt to specific requirements, an essential skill in academic and professional settings.