How to Do Research: A Step-By-Step Guide: 5c. MLA Formatting

Margins

• Use 1 inch margins for the entire document.
• Indent the first line of paragraphs 1/2 inch from the left margin.
• Indent set-off quotations 1 inch from the left margin.

Text Formatting

• Pick a readable 12 pt font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
• Double-space the text of your paper.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.

Heading and Title

• Do not use a title page unless required by your instructor.
• Place your name, the instructor's name, the course number and the date on separate lines at the top of the first page, flush with the left margin.
• Center and double-spaced the title between the course heading and the first line of text.
• Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks.

Page Numbers

• Place page numbers in a header in the upper right-hand corner, 1/2 inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
• Type your last name before the page number.
• Do not use the abbreviation p. or pg before the page number or any other mark or symbol.

Notes

• If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page.
• Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

See the sample MLA Style paper from the Purdue OWL.

NOTE: EasyBib, RefMe, and Zotero will help you format your entire paper in MLA style.

In-text citations in the body of your paper point the reader to specific sources listed on your Works Cited page. They usually include:

• Author’s last name
• Title (if no author is given)
• Relevant page numbers (if given)

Examples

Author's name in text
Author has expressed this concern (118-21).

Author's name in parenthetical reference
This concern has been expressed (Author 118-21).

The Works Cited list provides bibliographic information for the sources you used, thereby allowing your reader to identify and locate those materials. To format the page:

• Begin the list on a new page at the end of your paper.
• Use 1 inch margins.
• Continue the page numbers of the text (i.e., the Works Cited will be labeled page 11, if the paper ends on page 10) .
  • Place in the upper right-hand corner 1/2 inch from the top flush with the right margin.
• Center the Works Cited title.
• List sources alphabetically by author's last name--if anonymous, arrange by 1st significant word of title (after A, An, or The).
• Double space within and between entries.
• Indent entries longer than one line by 1/2 inch (Tab key or 5 spaces).

See the MLA Sample Works Cited page at the Purdue OWL.