MLA Formatting Guidelines and Sample Paper

Note: If your instructor has his or her own requirements, follow them. These guidelines are the most commonly required.

MLA Sample Paper
 

1. Use Times New Roman or a similar font, 12 point in size with standard 2.54 cm ( 1 inch) margins.  Avoid decorative fonts.
    
2. Double-space throughout the essay, including for block quotations and the list of works cited.
    
3. When beginning a new paragraph, indent 1.27 cm (0.5 inch - about five spaces). Keep the text alignment to the left.
   1. Block quotations are also indented 1.27 cm (0.5 inch). 
       
4.  MLA style recommends a title block instead of a title page. On the first page of your paper, at the top left margin, list the following: your name on the first line, your instructor's name on the next line, the course name and number on the third line, and finally, the due date. Double-space and then put your title, centered. Double-space and begin the essay.
   1. Include a title page if your professor requests/requires one. The title page includes the same information as the title block, with the title centered on the page and the remaining information (your name, instructor's name, course code, due date) in upper left corner. 
       
5. Don't underline, italicize, or bold the title, and it is not necessary to put it in quotation marks or in block capitals.
    
6. The rules for capitalization of titles are as follows:
   
   1. Capitalize the first word, the last word, a word following a colon,    and  all principal words: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, subordinating conjunctions.
   2. Don't capitalize the following parts of speech when they fall in the middle of a title: articles, prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, "to" in an infinitive, such as to go, to sleep, to believe.
       
7. All pages, except the title page if you have one, should include a page number and your last name. Create a running head of your last name and the page number in the top right corner (e.g., Bealey 4). You don't need p or pp to proceed the page number or any punctuation following the number. 
    
8. Don't forget to proofread carefully as well as running a spell check and grammar check. There are many differences among Canadian, American, and British spellings of some words, so choose your  preference (Canadian) and make sure your spell check is set to it. Be consistent throughout your essay. Don't spell the word "centre", as "centre" in one place and as "center" in another.