MLA format is a style guide for writing and formatting research papers and essays. Here are some guidelines for formatting an essay in MLA format:
- Use 8.5 x 11 inch white paper.
- Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the paper.
- Use a legible font such as Times New Roman, size 12.
- Double-space the entire paper, including the Works Cited page.
- Indent the first line of each paragraph by 1/2 inch.
- Include a header in the upper right-hand corner of each page with your last name and the page number.
- Title your essay with a centered title, without bold or underlining.
- Include a Works Cited page at the end of your essay, listing all sources used in alphabetical order by the authors last name.
When dividing an essay into sections, number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name. For more detailed guidelines, refer to the MLA Handbook or online resources such as the Purdue OWL, Menlo School Library, Scribbr, and EasyBib.
