Easy Guide To Help You Write MLA Format Paper

Working on research papers that need to be written in MLA format?

Wondering what MLA format is?

Want to know what the simple steps for writing in MLA format are?

If so, this is the post for you!

This blog will give you a quick and easy guide to help you write your next paper in MLA format. It’s not too difficult–just follow these steps, and it should be a piece of cake. This blog post is designed to help you learn about MLA format. When writing a paper in any class, it’s important to use the correct formatting for your citations.Get started now.

Writing a paper in MLA format can seem daunting at first, but it’s quite straightforward once you understand the guidelines. Here’s a detailed guide to help you through the process:

1. General Formatting Guidelines

Font and Spacing:

• Use a legible font like Times New Roman.
• The font size should be 12-point.
• Double-space your entire paper, including the Works Cited page.
• Set the margins to 1 inch on all sides.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. Use the Tab key to ensure uniformity.

Header and Page Numbers:

• Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number. Number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).
• The header should be 0.5 inches from the top of the page and flush with the right margin.

2. First Page

Heading:

• In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Use double spacing for this list.
• The date should be formatted as Day Month Year (e.g., 15 March 2023).

Title:

• Center the title of your paper. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Use standard capitalization rules for your title.
• Double-space between the title and the first line of the text.

3. In-Text Citations

• Use parenthetical citations to credit sources within your text. Include the author’s last name and the page number from which the information was taken (e.g., Smith 123).
• If the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence, only include the page number in parentheses (e.g., Smith argues that… (123)).

4. Quotations

Short Quotations:

• For quotations that are fewer than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, use quotation marks within the text and include the in-text citation immediately after the quote (e.g., “quote” (Smith 123)).

Long Quotations:

• For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, use a block quote. Start the quotation on a new line, indented one inch from the left margin, and maintain double-spacing. Do not use quotation marks. Place the in-text citation after the closing punctuation of the quote.

5. Works Cited Page

• Start the Works Cited page on a new page at the end of your paper.
• Title the page “Works Cited,” centered at the top, without quotation marks or italics.
• Double-space all entries and use a hanging indent for each entry (the first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented one half-inch).

Entries Format:

• Books: Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
• Articles: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages.
• Websites: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Web Page.” Title of Website, Publisher (if applicable), Date of Publication, URL.

Example of Works Cited Entries

Books:

Articles:

Websites:

6. Final Tips

• Proofread your paper for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.
• Ensure all your citations are accurate and that all sources listed in your Works Cited are referenced in your text.
• Consistency is key. Stick to the MLA guidelines throughout your paper for a professional and polished look.

By following these steps, you can create a well-formatted MLA paper that meets academic standards.