MLA Format

There are strict guidelines set up by the Modern Language Association to make your paper look officially “academic”. Follow these and you’ll be ready to write college-level papers.

(At least they’ll look college-ready).

basics quoting works cited

The Basics

Top Corner

Name
Course
Instructor
Date (Day - Month - Year)

Indents

The rule for indenting paragraphs is 1/2 from the left margin. Tabs are set by default at this so just “TAB” once and begin typing.

Fonts

12 pt. font.
No exceptions.
12 pt. means 12 pt.
It isn’t 13, because that’s too big.

Spacing

Everything is double spaced: the header, thetitle, the body. Everything.

Never hit the return or enter key more than once, select your entire document to be “double-spaced”, and you’re golden.