MLA Format: Details You Need to Know

Viking 1

Victor Viking

Mrs. Mimi Rainen

English 11

11 October 2010

MLA Format: Details You Need to Know

Please note that these paragraphs may be too short to suffice as model paragraphs; the purpose of this document is to illustrate the format. To avoid incorrect spacing, single space to enter your text; then highlight all and double space. Remember to tab over for standard paragraph indentions. To avoid leaving extra spaces between paragraphs, click on “Home,” “References,” and “MLA style” in the box in the middle of the tool bar under “Manage Sources.”

First, set the margins. On the older computers, in the upper left corner, click on “File,” followed by “Page Setup.” If you are comfortable inserting a header, which I do not recommend, you may do so, but be sure that your spacing is accurate. For a page number header, you will need to hit enter once after your name and page number. An easy method is to set the margins for one-half inch at the top and one inch for left, right, and bottom. When you have entered all your rough draft in single space, highlight your essay, including the title, and set spacing at 2. Then hit enter before your last name and page number, which should be about one inch. You will have no extra spacing between paragraphs!

Your header should look like the one above. Substitute your name and the correct date. For teacher, type “Mrs. Mimi Rainen” but without the quotation marks. In the upper right corner, substitute your last name for “Viking,” followed by the page number. Your last name and the correct page number will appear on all pages.

An essay in essay in MLA format should be in a scholarly font, such as Times New Roman, 12 point. If you select Courier New, 11 point will suffice. Do not use Arial. Remember

Viking 2

that the font in your heading should match the font in the rest of your paper. Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks. Be sure to center and capitalize your title properly: English convention calls for capitalizing all words in a title with the exception of articles, prepositions, and conjunctions which have fewer than five letters. Your title requires no other special features and must be in the same font as the rest of your copy.

If you are writing about literature, please remember to include the author’s name and the title of the work in italics. After giving both the first and last names of an author in the introduction, always refer to an author by his or her last name. Do not employ contractions, which often lead to careless errors.

After you have entered your entire text in single space, select all and then double space. Now go back and enter your last name and the page numbers in the upper right corner, flush with the margin. Since your margin is set at one-half inch at the top, after you have selected all and double spaced, then hit enter one time before your last name and page number to give you one-inch margins all around.

An MLA-formatted paper is not stapled. Always return the assignment sheet with your completed essay. Fold the assignment around multiple pages to keep them together.

Viking 1

Victor Viking

Mrs. Mimi Rainen

English 11

11 October 2010

MLA Format: Details You Need to Know

Please note that these paragraphs may be too short to suffice as model paragraphs; the purpose of this document is to illustrate the format. To avoid incorrect spacing, single space to enter your text; then highlight all and double space. Remember to tab over for standard paragraph indentions. To avoid leaving extra spaces between paragraphs, click on “Home,” “References,” and “MLA style” in the box in the middle of the tool bar under “Manage Sources.”

First, set the margins. On the older computers, in the upper left corner, click on “File,” followed by “Page Setup.” If you are comfortable inserting a header, which I do not recommend, you may do so, but be sure that your spacing is accurate. For a page number header, you will need to hit enter once after your name and page number. An easy method is to set the margins for one-half inch at the top and one inch for left, right, and bottom. When you have entered all your rough draft in single space, highlight your essay, including the title, and set spacing at 2. Then hit enter before your last name and page number, which should be about one inch. You will have no extra spacing between paragraphs!

Your header should look like the one above. Substitute your name and the correct date. For teacher, type “Mrs. Mimi Rainen” but without the quotation marks. In the upper right corner, substitute your last name for “Viking,” followed by the page number. Your last name and the correct page number will appear on all pages.

An essay in essay in MLA format should be in a scholarly font, such as Times New Roman, 12 point. If you select Courier New, 11 point will suffice. Do not use Arial. Remember

that the font in your heading should match the font in the rest of your paper. Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks. Be sure to center and capitalize your title properly: English convention calls for capitalizing all words in a title with the exception of articles, prepositions, and conjunctions which have fewer than five letters. Your title requires no other special features and must be in the same font as the rest of your copy.

If you are writing about literature, please remember to include the author’s name and the title of the work in italics. After giving both the first and last names of an author in the introduction, always refer to an author by his or her last name. Do not employ contractions, which often lead to careless errors.

After you have entered your entire text in single space, select all and then double space. Now go back and enter your last name and the page numbers in the upper right corner, flush with the margin. Since your margin is set at one-half inch at the top, after you have selected all and double spaced, then hit enter one time before your last name and page number to give you one-inch margins all around.

An MLA-formatted paper is not stapled. Always return the assignment sheet with your completed essay. Fold the assignment around multiple pages to keep them together.