MLA Paper Formatting Rules

Introduction to MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is widely used for academic writing in the humanities. This style provides guidelines for formatting papers, citing sources, and creating a bibliography. Following MLA formatting rules ensures consistency in scholarly writing and gives credit to original authors.

MLA format is commonly required for essays, research papers, and other written assignments in literature, language studies, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines. Mastering these conventions helps writers create professional, clear documents that meet academic standards.

General Formatting Rules

Page Layout

MLA papers should be printed on 8.511-inch paper with 1-inch margins on all sides. Use a clear, legible font like Times New Roman, size 12 point. The entire document should be double-spaced, with no extra spacing between paragraphs.

Page Numbers

Include page numbers in the top right corner of each page, 0.5 inches from the top and flush with the right margin. The number should be preceded by your last name, followed by one space, then the page number. For example: "Smith 2".

Paragraphs

Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (or one tab space). Do not add extra space between paragraphs. Maintain double-spacing throughout the document, including block quotations and works cited entries.

Italics vs. Quotation Marks

Use italics for titles of longer works such as books, journals, films, and entire websites. Use quotation marks for titles of shorter works such as journal articles, essays, chapters, and web pages.

First Page Formatting

MLA papers do not require a separate title page unless specifically requested by your instructor. Instead, the following information should appear on the first page, flush with the left margin, about 1 inch from the top:

Title

After the information above, center your title. The title should be in title case (capitalizing major words) and not italized, underlined, or in quotation marks. If the title includes the title of another work, that work should be formatted according to appropriate MLA rules (italics or quotation marks). Double-space between the title and the first line of text.

In-Text Citations

MLA uses parenthetical citations to acknowledge sources within your text. These brief citations point readers to specific entries in your Works Cited list.

Basic Format

The basic parenthetical citation includes the author's last name and the page number where the information was found, with no comma between them.

Author in Signal Phrase

If you mention the author's name in your sentence, include only the page number in parentheses.

No Author

For works without an author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks (for articles) or italics (for books or complete works).

Multiple Authors

For two authors, use both last names joined by "and." For three or more authors, use the first author's last name followed by "et al."

Indirect Sources

When citing a source that was cited in another source, use "qtd. in" to indicate that you're quoting indirectly.

Block Quotes

For quotations longer than four lines of prose or three lines of poetry, set the quote off as a block quotation. Begin on a new line, indent 0.5 inches from the left margin, and omit quotation marks. Double-space the entire quote and place the period before the parenthetical citation.

Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page appears at the end of your paper on a separate page. It lists all sources referenced in your paper, providing bibliographic information that allows readers to locate those sources.

General Formatting

• Begin on a new page, continuing page numbering from the text.
• Label the page "Works Cited" (centered, no italics, bold, or quotation marks).
• Double-space the entire list.
• Use hanging indentation for each entry (first line flush with left margin, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches).
• Alphabetize entries by the author's last name. For works without authors, alphabetize by title (ignoring initial articles like "A," "An," or "The").

Common Source Types

Books

Journal Articles

Websites

Tables and Figures

Tables

Tables should be labeled "Table 1," "Table 2," etc., and given a caption. Place the label and caption on separate lines above the table, flush left. Capitalize the caption as you would a title. Include any source information below the table.

Illustrations, Figures, and Charts

Label these as "Figure 1," "Figure 2," etc. Provide a caption or title below the figure, flush left. Include source information if the figure is not your original work.

Abbreviations

MLA style generally spells out the names of months in the text and Works Cited list. However, for dates in Works Cited entries, use three-letter abbreviations with periods for months of more than four letters: Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

Common abbreviations you might use include:

• ch. for chapter
• ed. for edition
• ed. for editor (but eds. for multiple editors)
• trans. for translator
• n.p. for no publisher or no place
• n.d. for no date
• vol. for volume
• no. for number

Always write out the full name of organizations, corporations, and associations the first time you mention them, unless the abbreviation is more commonly recognized than the full name (such as FBI or NASA).

Conclusion

Following MLA formatting rules helps create polished, professional academic papers. While these guidelines cover the most common elements of MLA style, always consult the complete MLA Handbook or your instructor for specific requirements or special cases. Consistency in formatting, citation, and writing is the key to producing high-quality academic work in MLA style.

Remember that citation conventions may evolve, with updated editions of the MLA Handbook introducing changes. The 9th edition, for example, provides more flexible approaches to documenting sources in the digital age. Always verify which edition your instructor expects you to follow.