MLA Format Style Guide

Paper Layout

General Formatting Rules

• Font: Use a readable, academic font such as Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt.
• Spacing: Double-space all text, including quotations and the Works Cited list.
• Margins: Set 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides of the page.
• Alignment: Left-align text; do not justify.
• Indentation: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
• Page Numbers: Add your last name and page number in the top-right header of each page.

Title and Heading Placement

MLA format does not require a separate title page unless specified by your instructor. Instead, place the following details in the upper-left corner of the first page, double-spaced:

• Your full name
• Instructor’s name
• Course name and number
• Date (written as: 23 May 2025)

Center the essay title one line below the date, using title case (capitalize major words). Do not bold, italicize, or underline the title.

Header Example

Nguyen 1 — This format appears in the top-right corner of every page, with your last name followed by the page number.

Structure & Headings

Paper Structure in MLA Format

MLA-style papers follow a simple, consistent structure. A typical essay includes:

1. Header with your last name and page number
2. Student information block (top left of first page)
3. Title (centered, one line below date)
4. Main body of text
5. Works Cited page (new page)

MLA Heading Guidelines

Unlike APA or Chicago styles, MLA format does not use a structured system of heading levels. Headings in MLA are optional and primarily used to help organize long papers or sections.

• Use title case: Capitalize all major words.
• Use consistent font and style: No bold, underline, or italic for headings unless referring to a title.
• Placement: Left-align headings, and separate them from surrounding paragraphs with line breaks.

Example Heading Structure (Optional)

If headings are used, MLA style allows flexibility. Here’s one way to organise them:

• Level 1: Centered, Title Case
• Level 2: Left-aligned, Title Case
• Level 3: Indented, title case, ending with a period. Text follows on the same line.

Use headings only when they improve clarity or divide longer papers logically.

Citation Rules

In-Text Citations

MLA uses parenthetical citations that include the author's last name and the page number — with no comma in between. This applies to both direct quotes and paraphrased material.

• Basic format: (Smith 123)
• Narrative style: Smith argues that “...” (123).
• Multiple authors: (Lee and Patel 88) or (Johnson et al. 45)
• No author: Use a shortened title — e.g., ( Global Trends 17)

Citing Different Source Types

• Books: (Morrison 58)
• Articles: (Nguyen 233)
• Webpages: (BBC News)
• Multiple sources in one citation: (Clark 45; Jones 108)

Works Cited Page

The Works Cited list should appear on a new page, with the title centered at the top. List entries alphabetically by author surname. Use a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) and double-space all lines.

• Author(s)
• Title of the source (italicized or in quotation marks)
• Container (journal, book, website)
• Publisher
• Publication date
• Location (e.g., page range, DOI, or URL)

Example:
Smith, John. Understanding Visual Media . Oxford University Press, 2020.