RHAM Library Learning Commons

MLA Formatting

Information compiled from Purdue Online Writing Lab

Introduction

MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is the most common style used across language arts, cultural studies, and other humanities disciplines.

General Rules

Your paper or essay should be typed double spaced on 8.5" by 11" paper with a 1" margin on all sides. You should use a legible font such as Times New Roman and the font size should be 12. Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times. Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis. If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

Formatting

Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested. In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text. Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters. Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text. For example: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking." Double space between the title and the first line of the text. Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number. Number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit the last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)

Section Headings on Essays

MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

Citations

MLA uses in-text citations in order to provide information for a paraphrased and quoted reference. These in-text citations will also correspond to your Works Cited page where the first word used in your in-text citation must be the first word that appears in your Works Cited entry.

Cited from Purdue Owl

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018.

Please see this link and choose from the MLA Formatting and Style Guide on the left sidebar to learn how to make in-text citations, works cited citations, and more.

Helpful Videos

In-Text Citations

List of Works Cited

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