MLA Format Guide
Follow these MLA (9th edition) paper formatting rules to ensure your document meets the required standards. This guide covers font, margins, spacing, title page, headers, and works cited formatting.
Paper Formatting
Below are the core formatting requirements for papers written in MLA (9th edition) style.
- Font
- 12 pt Times New Roman (or another legible font)
- Font Size
- 12 pt
- Margins
- 1 inch on all sides
- Spacing
- Double-spaced throughout, including the Works Cited page
- Title Page
- No separate title page required — header block on the first page with name, instructor, course, and date
- Headers / Page Numbers
- Last name and page number in the upper-right corner of every page
Works Cited Formatting
Your works cited must follow these rules to be correctly formatted in MLA style:
- Title the page "Works Cited" (centered) at the top — do not bold, italicize, or underline
- Start on a new page after the body of the paper
- Use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) for each entry
- Double-space all entries
- Alphabetize by the first element in each entry (usually the author's last name)
- Italicize titles of books, journals, and websites
- Use quotation marks around titles of articles, chapters, and short works
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Cite in MLA Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- What font and size should I use for MLA format?
- MLA (9th edition) requires 12 pt Times New Roman (or another legible font). The standard font size is 12 pt.
- What are the margin requirements for MLA?
- MLA papers require 1 inch on all sides. This applies to the top, bottom, left, and right margins of every page.
- Does MLA require a title page?
- No separate title page required — header block on the first page with name, instructor, course, and date