To create a Works Cited page in MLA format, follow these key steps:
Formatting the Works Cited Page
- Title: Center the title "Works Cited" at the top of a new page. Do not italicize, bold, or underline it
- Page Setup: The Works Cited page should start on its own page after the main text of your paper, with the same one-inch margins and header (last name and page number) as the rest of your paper
- Spacing: Double-space the entire page, including between entries. Do not add extra space between entries
- Alignment: Align the citation entries to the left margin. Only the title is centered
- Indentation: Use a hanging indent for each citation, meaning the first line is flush left, and all subsequent lines of the same entry are indented by 0.5 inches
Organizing Entries
- Alphabetical Order: List all entries alphabetically by the author's last name. If no author is given, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignoring articles like "A," "An," or "The")
- Include Only Cited Sources: Only include sources you directly referenced or quoted in your paper, not sources you merely consulted
Example of a Works Cited Entry Format
- Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
- For multiple works by the same author, use three hyphens (---) in place of the author's name for the second and subsequent entries
Additional Tips
- Use Times New Roman font, size 12, as per MLA guidelines
- Most word processors have an option to create hanging indents automatically
By following these guidelines, your Works Cited page will be properly formatted according to MLA standards
