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MLA Guide

This guide contains information to help you cite your sources in MLA format.

MLA Formatting for Word 2013/2016

Use the following directions or download these PDF instructions to format your Microsoft Word document in MLA format (Using Online Word?). Also, check out our directions for Formatting Your Works Cited Page.  Also, check out our MLA 9th ed. sample paper. You can also review Chapter 1 Introduction to Formatting Your Research Project in the online MLA Handbook.

  1. On the "Home" tab, select an easy-to-read, standard font size & style (Example: Times New Roman or Aptos, 11 or 12pt).Image of Microsoft Word's home" tab with "Times New Roman" selected
  2. On the "Home" tab, click the arrow that expands "Paragraph Settings." Under Spacing, choose Double and make sure "Before" and "After" are set to 0pt. Image of Microsoft Word's "Home" tab and an arrow that expands "Paragraph Settings"
  3. On the "Page Layout" tab, click "Margins", Select "Normal" (1" on all sides).Image of Microsoft Word's "page layout" tab with "margins" selected and "Normal" (1" on all sides).
  4. Click on the "Insert" tab, then click on "Page Number". Choose "Top of Page" and then "Plain Number 3".
    Image of Microsoft Word's "Insert" tab
  5. Type your last name and hit the space bar once. Highlight the text, click the "Home" tab, and select the same easy-to-read, standard font size & style (Example: Times New Roman or Aptos, 11 or 12pt) that you chose for the paper in Step 1. Then double click below dotted line to begin typing your paper.Image of Microsoft Word's "Home" tab with "Times New Roman" and size 12 selected
  6. Type the following, each on a separate line: Your name, instructor’s name, the course number (i.e.Eng. 101), and the date (Day Month Year: 3 Aug. 2009).Image of sample paper MLA header
  7.  Hit "Enter" key to move down to a new line. To center your title, click the "Center" icon in the Paragraph section and type the title of your paper.Image of Microsoft Word's home tab with the "center" button selected
  8. To begin your paper, hit "Enter" key to move down to a new line. Click the "Left" icon in the Paragraph section. Hit "Tab" key to indent and start typing. *Remember to hit the "Tab" key each time you begin a new paragraph.Image of Microsoft Word's "Left" icon selected in the Paragraph section

MLA Formatting for Word - Online Version

  1. On the "Home" tab, select an easy-to-read, standard font size & style (Example: Times New Roman or Aptos, 11 or 12pt).Microsoft Word Online homepage with Home and font Times New Roman, size 12 outlined in red boxes.
  2. On the "Home" tab, click the 3 dots at the end of the toolbar.Microsoft Word Online Version homepage with three dots outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to them.
  3. Once you click the 3 dots, click "Line Spacing" then "2" to set up the double-spacing. Also click "Remove Space After Paragraph" to make sure you aren't adding additional spaces after every paragraph.Microsoft Word online version with Line Spacing outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; Line Spacing 2 outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; and Remove Space After Paragraph outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.
  4. Move to the "Layout" tab in Word. Click "Margins" to confirm that your margins for your Word document are set to "Normal 1." " This is the default setting for margins in Microsoft Word.Microsoft Word online version with "Layout" tab outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it. The "Margins" option is also outlines with a red box and has a red arrow pointing to it.
  5. To set up your header with your last name and page numbers, click the "Insert" tab. Then click "Page Numbers."Microsoft Word online version with the "Insert" tab outlined in a red box and a red arrow pointing to it. The "Page Numbers" option is also outlined with a red box and has a red arrow pointing to it.
  6. Choose the page number option that has the page numbers on the far right side of the document.Microsoft Word online version with the page number option that puts the page numbers on the far right side of the document outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.
  7. You will see the symbol <#> which is where your page numbers will go. You do not need to update the page numbers, because Word will do that automatically. To add your last name to your header, click inside the box and the cursor should appear to type in your last name. You should also adjust the font to the same easy-to-read, standard font size & style (Example: Times New Roman or Aptos, 11 or 12pt) that you chose for the paper in Step 1. Click "close preview" to close the header and return to your paper.Microsoft Word online version with the page numbers inserted in a red outlined box with a red arrow pointing to it.Microsoft Word online version with student last name and page numbers in header with a red box outline.
  8. Note that once you finish your header and start typing in your Word document, your header will disappear from your screen. You can see your header by clicking on the "Header" tab in your Word document.
  9. Click out of your header and begin typing the following, each on a separate line: Your name, instructor's name, the course number (i.e. ENG 101), and the date (Day Month Year: 1 Sept. 2021).Microsoft Word online version with a proper MLA heading; the header tab is outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.
  10. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to move down to a new line. Type in the title of your paper. To center your title, click the alignment icon and change your alignment to "Align Center."

Microsoft Word online version with alignment icon outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it; Align Center is also outlined in a red box with a red arrow pointing to it.

  1. To begin your paper, hit "Enter" on your keyboard to move down to a new line. Click the alignment icon again and choose "Align Left." Hit "Tab" on your keyboard to indent and start typing. Remember to hit the "Tab" key each time you begin a new paragraph.Microsoft Word online version; alignment icon outlined in red with a red arrow pointing to it and "Align Left" outlined with a red box around it.

 

Formatting a Works Cited in Word 2013/2016

Using the Online Version of Word?

Use the following directions to format your Works Cited document in MLA format. Also, check out our MLA 9th ed. sample paper. You can also review section 1.6: Placement of the List of Works Cited in the online MLA Handbook.

  1. After completing your paper, click the "Insert" tab and choose "Blank Page" to add a new page to your document. Your header with your last name and page number should appear in the top right corner when you insert the new pageTask bar of Microsoft Word with the Insert tab outlined in red and the Blank Page icon outlined in a red box.
  2. Click the "Home" tab, then click the "Justify Center" icon. This will center your title. 

Home tab in Microsoft Word with a red box outlining it; center justified icon also outlined in a red box.

  1. Type in your title, Works Cited. Your title should be in size 12 Times New Roman font.

Sample Works Cited with the words Works Cited in the center of the page in size 12, Times New Roman font.

  1. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Then, hit the "Justify Left" icon to move the cursor back to the left.

Task bar for Microsoft Word under the "Home" tab with the Justify Left icon outlined in red.

  1. Type in your full MLA Citations for your sources. Remember, your Works Cited page should still be double-spaced!

Full MLA citation typed out on a Works Cited page.

  1. All Works Cited entries that are longer than a single line must include a Hanging Indent for second (and so forth) line(s). 
  2. Choose the line you wish to indent. Move your cursor to the line you wish to indent. 
  3. Hit CTRL T (or CMD T on a Mac) on your keyboard. 

MLA citation on a Works Cited page with a full hanging indent.

  1. Repeat (if necessary) for your third line.

Formatting a Works Cited in Word Online

  1. After completing your paper, add a new page to your document for your Works Cited. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard until you begin a new page.
  2. Click the "Home" tab, then click the "Justify Center" icon. This will center your title.

Word Online taskbar with "Home" tab outlined in red and the "Center Alignment" tab outlined in red.

  1. Type in your title, Works Cited. Your title should be in size 12 Times New Roman font.

Title Works Cited in center of page in size 12, Times New Roman font.

  1. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to start a new line. Then, go to the "Home" tab and hit "Justify Left" to move the cursor back to the left.

Word Online taskbar with "Home" tab outlined in red and the "Justify Left" icon outlined in red.

  1. Type in your full MLA Citations for your sources. Remember, your Works Cited should still be double-spaced!

Full MLA citation on a Works Cited page

  1. All Works Cited entries that are longer than a single line must include a Hanging Indent for second (and so forth) line(s). Move your cursor to the end of the first line.
  2. Using your mouse, move the cursor to the beginning of the second line of your citation.
  3. Hit "Tab" on your keyboard. This should indent only the second line of your citation.

Full MLA Citation with a hanging indent.

  1. Repeat (if necessary) for your third line.