how to write in mla format

June 28, 2026

MLA format is a standardized way to format academic papers and cite sources, mainly used in English and humanities classes.

What MLA format looks like

In a typical MLA paper, you will see:

12-point, readable font (often Times New Roman).

Double spacing throughout the entire document.

1 inch margins on all sides of the page.

First line of each paragraph indented 0.5 inches using the Tab key.

A simple heading on the first page and a header with your last name and page number on every page.

In-text citations in parentheses and a Works Cited page at the end.

Step‑by‑step: how to set up your paper

Think of MLA like a checklist you follow every time you start a new essay.

Set up the document
- Choose a readable font, such as Times New Roman, 12-point size.

 * Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.

 * Turn on double spacing for the whole document, including heading and Works Cited.

 * Make sure there is no extra space added before or after paragraphs (paragraph spacing should be zero, just double spaced).

Create the header (top right)
- Insert a header that shows your last name and the page number in the upper right corner.

 * Place it 0.5 inches from the top, aligned with the right margin.

 * It appears on every page of your paper.

Write the heading (top left, first page only)
On the first page, before the title, type four lines, all left-aligned:

 * Your full name.
 * Your instructor’s name.
 * Course name or number.
 * Due date (often written as Day Month Year, for example: 15 February 2026).

Add the title
- After the four-line heading, press Enter once.

 * Center the title (no bold, underline, or quotation marks, unless your title includes another work’s title).

 * Use title case capitalization (capitalize main words).

Start the text
- After the title, press Enter once, go back to left alignment, and indent the first line of your first paragraph 0.5 inches.

 * Keep everything double spaced and in the same font and size.

In‑text citations in MLA

MLA uses brief in-text citations pointing to full details in the Works Cited page.

Usually, you include the author’s last name and page number: (Smith 45).

If you mention the author in the sentence, just include the page number in parentheses: Smith argues that reading improves empathy (45).

There is no comma between the author name and page number in MLA style.

Punctuation generally goes after the closing parenthesis.

Example:

Many students find MLA easier than they expect (Johnson 12).

Works Cited page basics

At the end of your paper, MLA requires a Works Cited page listing all sources you cited.

Start on a new page with the title Works Cited, centered at the top.

Use the same font, size, and double spacing as the rest of the paper.

List entries in alphabetical order by authors’ last names.

Use a hanging indent: the first line of each entry is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

Follow MLA’s “core elements” for each source type (author, title, container, publisher, date, etc.).

Mini example: first page layout (described)

Imagine the first page of your paper:

Top right: “Garcia 1” as the header.

Top left, first lines:
- Ana Garcia
- Prof. Miller
- English 101
- 15 February 2026

Centered below that: The Impact of Social Media on Study Habits (in title case, not bold).

Below the title, your first paragraph begins with a 0.5 inch indent.

This mental picture helps you see the overall structure before you even start typing.

HTML table: core MLA paper settings

Below is an HTML table summarizing key MLA formatting rules for your paper:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Element</th>
      <th>MLA Requirement</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Font</td>
      <td>Readable font, often 12 pt Times New Roman[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Use the same font throughout the paper.[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Spacing</td>
      <td>Double spacing throughout the entire document[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>No extra space before or after paragraphs.[web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Margins</td>
      <td>1 inch on all sides[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Check page setup or layout settings in your word processor.[web:1][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Paragraph indent</td>
      <td>First line indented 0.5 inches[web:1][web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>Use the Tab key instead of spaces.[web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Header</td>
      <td>Last name and page number, upper right[web:3][web:4][web:9]</td>
      <td>0.5 inches from top, aligned with right margin.[web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Heading (first page)</td>
      <td>Student name, instructor, course, date, left-aligned[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Appears only on first page, above the title.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Title</td>
      <td>Centered, title case, plain text (no bold, underline, or quotes)[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>Double space above and below the title.[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>In-text citations</td>
      <td>Author and page number in parentheses, e.g., (Smith 23)[web:4][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>No comma between author and page; punctuation after citation.[web:4][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Works Cited page</td>
      <td>Title “Works Cited”, sources alphabetized, double spaced[web:4][web:7]</td>
      <td>Use hanging indent; follow MLA core elements.[web:4][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Forum-style quick explanation

Think of MLA format as dressing your paper in a standard “school uniform”: same margins, same font, same spacing, plus clear labels (citations) so anyone can trace where your ideas came from.

If you tell me what tool you’re writing in (Google Docs, Word, etc.), I can walk you through the exact menu clicks to set up MLA step by step. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.