To use MLA format in an essay, consider the following:


Below this, any explanatory notes appear, marked on the relevant part of the table with a superscript letter. The first line of each note is indented; your word processor should apply this formatting automatically.


The following sample headings are meant to be used only as a reference. You may employ whatever system of formatting that works best for you so long as it remains consistent throughout the document.

The first thing to know is that styles change over time. MLA style is on its ninth edition. Thus, it is imperative to double check all guideline information with up to date style guides. Here is a website that contains all the information you need to format your paper correctly and ensure you're up to date:

To cite sources in MLA format, follow the guidelines:

All rough drafts and final drafts of essays must adhere to the MLA standards and guidelines outlined below. These standards and guidelines can be found in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

MLA does not have a prescribed system of headings for books (for more information on headings, please see page 146 in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd edition). If you are only using one level of headings, meaning that all of the sections are distinct and parallel and have no additional sections that fit within them, MLA recommends that these sections resemble one another grammatically. For instance, if your headings are typically short phrases, make all of the headings short phrases (and not, for example, full sentences). Otherwise, the formatting is up to you. It should, however, be consistent throughout the document.

FORMATTING YOUR DOCUMENT
For instructions on using Microsoft Word to format a document to meet MLA standards and guidelines, please see below:

STEP 1: SET DOCUMENT MARGINS
The first step in formatting your document to meet MLA standards is to set the document margins to 1" on all sides. To do this, click on "File" and then "Page Setup" (as illustrated below):


Guidelines for Formatting a Paper in MLA

In general, the MLA style formatting guidelines are flexible. That’s why so many teachers and students like to use this writing style for their middle school, high school, and college research papers. However, while MLA is flexible, it still has a few formatting rules students need to adhere to. The fundamental break down for formatting an MLA paper includes:

MLA Paper Format: Simple Guidelines to Follow

The following overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using MLA 9th edition, including how to format the Works Cited page and in-text citations.

How do I format my essay using MLA style

Rather than a cover page, your paper typically has a on the first page of your work. Your MLA heading and title include your name, instructor, course, and date aligned to the left. The title is centered before you start the body of your paper. Additionally, each page of your paper has a running header with your name and the page number, including the works cited.

MLA Essay Format (9th Edition)

STEP 4: DOUBLE-SPACING
The next step in the process is to set the line spacing of the document to double-spacing by clicking on "Format" and then "Paragraph" (as illustrated below):

MLA Formatting Guidelines and Sample Paper

Welcome to an overview of “What is MLA Format?” in relation to paper formatting. You’ll find in-depth guidelines, examples, and visual samples to help you easily format your paper. This guide does not serve as a reference for MLA citation format.

How to format your essays using MLA 9th edition

isn’t hard, but you must follow a few rules. MLA clarifies when to use Arabic and Roman numerals and when to spell out numbers or just use the Arabic form. For example, if you can spell a number out in a few words, go for it. However, if you need a whole sentence, it’s better to stick with Arabic numerals like 1,345,267. Your fingers might start to hurt writing out that one.