1. Title Page:
- Create a separate title page that includes the following:
- Title of your paper (centered and bold)
- Your name
- Instructor's name
- Course number
- Date (centered)
- Use double spacing throughout the title page.
2. Header:
- On every page except the title page, include a header that contains your last name and the page number, separated by a space.
- The header should be aligned with the right margin.
3. In-Text Citations:
- Use parenthetical citations within your text to attribute information or quotes to their respective sources.
- The citation includes the last name of the author and the page number(s) of the source.
- Example: (Smith 123).
4. Quotations:
- When quoting directly from a source, enclose the quoted material within double quotation marks.
- If the quote is longer than four lines, use a block quote.
5. Formatting Quotes:
- Quotes shorter than four lines should be incorporated into the text and enclosed within double quotation marks.
- Example: "This is a direct quote" (Smith 123).
- Quotes that are four lines or longer should be formatted as block quotes, indented from the left margin and without quotation marks.
- Example:
This is a longer quote. It continues for several lines.
Multiple paragraphs can also be included in a block quote, if necessary. (Smith 123)
6. Works Cited Page:
- Start the Works Cited page on a new page at the end of your paper.
- Center the title "Works Cited" at the top of the page.
- List all sources you cited in your paper, arranged alphabetically by the authors' last names.
- Use hanging indent for all lines after the first line of each citation.
- Example:
Smith, John. "The History of MLA Style." Journal of Academic Writing, vol. 10, no. 2, 2018, pp. 123-145.
7. Formatting the Works Cited Page:
- Double space between each citation.
- Use italics for book titles and journal names, but not article titles.
- Use quotation marks for article titles.
- Include all necessary information, such as the author's full name, article or book title, publication information (journal, publisher, year, etc.), and page numbers (if applicable).
8. Formatting Tables and Figures:
- If you include tables or figures, label them clearly and include a caption below each one.
9. Page Numbering:
- Start numbering your pages with the first page of the text (excluding the title page), and continue consecutively throughout the entire paper, including the Works Cited page.
Remember to consult the MLA Style Manual or online resources for additional guidelines and examples to ensure accurate adherence to MLA format.