MLA Formatting and Style Guide

MLA can be deciphered as The Modern Language Association. MLA format was developed as a means for researchers, students, and scholars in the literature and language fields to use a common way to format their papers and assignments.

Our academic service prepared a short tutorial to guide you through the process of setting up your MLA Format paper. It is very easy, and these are the basic things that need to be done.

1. All text should be formatted in Times New Roman font and use 12pt.
2. One-inch page margins for all sides (top, bottom, right, and left).
3. A header with your last name and page number should be 1/2 inch from the top-right of each page.

Last Name 1
***Do not place p. before the page number.
***Many instructors do not want a page number on the first page. Ask your instructor for their specific preferences.


4. The entire research paper is double-spaced. (You also need to add the option to remove space after paragraph).
5. 5. Your name, name of professor, the course title, and due date of the paper should be indicated on the first page.

***Here is an example of an MLA header for an MLA format essay, paper, or assignment:






6. Your research paper title is centered.
7. Body paragraphs have a 1/2 inch first-line indent.
8. A Works Cited page begins on a separate page at the end of the paper.

These are the basic things that you need to know in order to provide the perfect MLA format.

On the title page, you can enter your information, the professor's name, name of the subject, and the submission date. This information should be in the top left corner at the beginning of the page, and at the 5th line, it should be your title in the center (just the regular format - don’t use Bold style).

Then from the sixth line, you can start writing your paper, using the left alignment and pressing TAB so your essay can be formatted with 1 and a half inches.

All references should be placed in alphabetical order by the first item in the MLA format citation.

How to cite: Author's Last name, First name. "Title of Source." Title of Container, other contributors, version, numbers, publisher, publication date, location.

Work Cited

Now you have a general understanding of MLA Format works. For more in-depth knowledge, you can google or use your school, college, or university writing center.

For more examples, you can visit our Free Samples page.