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Writing & Citing: MLA Paper Format

Ask Your Professor for Preferred Formatting

Your professor is the person grading your paper, and therefore the final say for all formatting questions. For clarification on citation style, and formatting preferences, please reach out to your professor. Librarians may assist you with matching formatting guidelines pulled from the official MLA and APA handbooks. 

Basic Paper Formatting for MLA

Page Setup:

  • 1-inch margins 
  • Easily readable font at size between 11-13. Use the same font throughout. (For example, Times New Roman at 12pt.)
  • Double space the entire paper, including works cited
  • Do not justify the lines to any margin
  • Number all pages consecutively in the top righthand corner (in header)
    • Type: your last name then page number (ex: Smith 2)
  • Note on paragraph spacing: make sure your alignment is set to 0 before and after

Title of Paper: 

  • 1 inch from top of paper (first line), flush with left margin, type:
    • Your name
    • Instructor's name
    • Course name and number
    • Date
  • Title of paper: 12 pt font, not bolded, underlined, italicized, or in quotations
    • If the title of your paper includes the title of a book or article, follow normal guidelines for italics
      • For example: Concepts of Justice in To Kill a Mockingbird

While Writing:

  • Indent the first line of each new paragraph
  • Leave one space after a period, unless your teacher prefers two

Works Cited:

  • Appears at the end of the paper, after endnotes
  • Center the heading, Works Cited, an inch from the top of the page. 
  • Double space throughout
  • Use hanging indents throughout

MLA Sample Paper with Formatting