Use 1-inch margins on all sides
Double-space the entire document (including the Works Cited)
Use a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman 12)
Set the header in the top right: last name, followed by a space, then page number
Create a title page only if your instructor requires it; otherwise, place your name, instructor, course, and date on separate lines in the top left
Center the paper title (no bold/italics/underline), then start the text on the next line
Use the MLA “hanging indent” for the Works Cited entries (first line flush left; subsequent lines indented)
Alphabetize the Works Cited list by the first element of each entry (usually the author’s last name)
Use in-text citations in parentheses with the author’s last name and page number (e.g., (Smith 23))
For sources without page numbers, use the author name only or a shortened title (e.g., (Smith) or (“Title”))
For direct quotes, include the page number in the in-text citation
For multiple authors, include both last names (e.g., (Smith and Jones 23))
For three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by et al. (e.g., (Smith et al. 23))
For online sources with stable page numbers or sections, cite the page/section if available
Include a Works Cited page at the end of the paper with the heading “Works Cited” centered (no italics or quotes)
Format Works Cited entries with correct punctuation and capitalization (title case for article/page titles; italicize container titles like books or websites)
Use MLA container format:
Author. “Article Title.” Website/Book Title, Publisher/Sponsor, Publication Date, URL/DOI.
If the source is a book, use:
Author. Title. Publisher, Publication Date.
If the source is a journal article, use:
Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range. DOI/URL.
If the source is a website page, use:
Author (if available). “Page Title.” Website Title, Publisher/Sponsor, Publication Date, URL.
If the source is a video, use:
Creator/Director. “Title of Video.” Platform, Upload Date, URL.
If the source is a film, use:
Title. Directed by Director, Performers, Distributor, Year.
If citing an image/graphic, use:
Creator. “Title of Image/Graphic” (if available). Website/Collection Title, Museum/Publisher, Year, URL.