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how to do mla format in google docs

To do MLA format in Google Docs, you can either use Google’s built‑in MLA template or set it up manually with a few key settings.

Quick Scoop

MLA format is a standard way to format academic papers, usually requiring Times New Roman 12 pt, double spacing, 1‑inch margins, and a specific header and heading. Below is a simple, student‑friendly walkthrough, plus a note on using the MLA template so you don’t have to redo the setup every time.

Method 1: Use the MLA Template (Fastest)

Many teachers are fine with you using the built‑in MLA template; it already has most settings done for you.

  1. Open the template
    • Go to Google Docs home (docs.google.com) and sign in.
 * Click “Template gallery” at the top if it’s hidden.

 * Scroll to the **Education** section and choose the **MLA report** / **Report (MLA)** template.
  1. Replace the sample text
    • Change the name, instructor, course, and date in the top‑left heading.
 * Replace the title with your own, centered on the line below the heading.

 * Delete the placeholder body text and type or paste your own essay.
  1. Fix the header if needed
    • Double‑click in the top area of the page to open the header.
 * If your last name and page number aren’t already there, right‑align, type your last name, then insert page numbers (Insert → Page numbers → first option, top‑right).

 * Make sure the header text is Times New Roman 12 pt as well.
  1. Double‑check MLA basics
    • Confirm 1‑inch margins (File → Page setup).
 * Ensure the whole document is double‑spaced, with no extra spaces between paragraphs.

 * First line of each paragraph should be indented once with the Tab key.

This method is ideal when you’re in a rush or doing multiple MLA papers because you just overwrite the placeholders each time.

Method 2: Set Up MLA Manually (From Scratch)

If your teacher wants you to know how MLA works, or you don’t like templates, you can build it manually in a blank document.

1. Start a new document and set the font

  • Open Google Docs and choose Blank.
  • Click the font menu and choose Times New Roman.
  • Set the font size to 12.

2. Set margins and spacing

  • Margins: Go to File → Page setup and make sure Top, Bottom, Left, Right are all 1 inch.
  • Line spacing:
    • Select Format → Line & paragraph spacing → Double (or click the line spacing icon in the toolbar and choose Double).
* Make sure there is no extra spacing before or after paragraphs if that option appears.

3. Create the running header (last name + page number)

  • Double‑click at the top of the page to open the header area, or use Insert → Headers & footers → Header.
  • Click Right align on the toolbar.
  • Type your last name, hit the space bar once.
  • Go to Insert → Page numbers → choose the option with numbers at the top‑right of every page.
  • Check that the header font is Times New Roman 12 pt. If not, highlight it and change it.

This gives you the classic MLA running head that appears on every page.

4. Add the MLA heading on page 1

Your MLA heading goes in the main document, not in the header, and is left‑aligned.

On the first page, with text left‑aligned and still in Times New Roman 12 pt, type these lines (each on its own line, pressing Enter after each):

  1. Your full name (e.g., Jordan Rivera).
  1. Your instructor’s name (e.g., Ms. Taylor).
  1. Course name/number (e.g., English 101).
  1. Due date in day–month–year format (e.g., 17 February 2026).

These four lines together form the standard MLA heading at the top left of the first page.

5. Add and format your title

  • After the date line, press Enter once.
  • Click Center align on the toolbar.
  • Type your paper’s title in plain text (no bold, underline, or quotation marks). Use standard title capitalization.
  • Press Enter again after the title, then switch back to Left align to start your first paragraph.

6. Start the body paragraphs

  • On the line after the title, press Tab once to indent the first line (about 0.5").
  • Type your paragraph in double spacing; each new paragraph should start with another Tab indent.

At this point, your page should show: heading in the top‑left, centered title below, double‑spaced paragraphs with first‑line indent, and your last name + page number in the top‑right of each page.

Works Cited Page Basics in Google Docs

Even though your question is mainly about formatting, most MLA papers also need a Works Cited page at the end.

  • Start on a new page: Insert → Break → Page break.
  • Center the heading Works Cited at the top (plain text).
  • Switch back to left alignment and list your sources in alphabetical order by author’s last name.
  • Keep double spacing, but use a hanging indent for each entry:
    • Select your citations, then Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → Special indent: Hanging (0.5").

This layout works well for teachers who expect strictly MLA‑formatted references.

Quick Reference Table (Key MLA Settings in Docs)

Below is a compact view of the main settings you’ll apply.

[2][1][9] [9][4] [9][4] [2][5][1][7] [7][6][9] [6][7] [7][9][4] [5][4]
Element What to Do in Google Docs
Font & size Times New Roman, 12 pt for entire document including header.
Margins File → Page setup → All margins 1 inch.
Line spacing Format → Line & paragraph spacing → Double; no extra spacing before/after.
Header (running head) Header area, right‑align, type last name, Insert → Page numbers → top‑right option; Times New Roman 12 pt.
MLA heading (page 1) Left‑aligned in body: Name, Instructor, Course, Due date (each on separate line).
Title Centered line below heading, plain text, title case, no bold/underline/quotes.
Paragraphs Double‑spaced, first line indented with Tab (~0.5").
Works Cited New page, centered “Works Cited”, entries alphabetized, hanging indent 0.5", double‑spaced.

Mini “Story” Example

Imagine you open a blank Doc at 11:30 p.m. the night before your essay is due. You switch the font to Times New Roman 12, double‑space everything, and set 1‑inch margins so the text looks like a real college paper instead of a random document. You double‑click the top of the page, right‑align your last name, add page numbers, and suddenly every page has that neat little “Ramirez 2” in the corner that your teacher keeps talking about.

Then you type your name, teacher, class, and due date in the top left, center a title like “The Power of Reading,” hit Tab to start your first paragraph, and watch the document transform into something that looks like every example MLA essay you’ve seen in class. When you’re done, you throw in a Works Cited page with hanging indents, and now the only thing left your teacher can judge is your writing—not your formatting.

TL;DR:
Use the Google Docs MLA report template (Template gallery → Education) and swap in your info, or manually set Times New Roman 12 pt, double spacing, 1‑inch margins, last‑name‑plus‑page‑number header, left‑aligned MLA heading, centered title, and indented paragraphs, plus a Works Cited page with hanging indents.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.