What is MLA Format?
MLA format is the page layout of a paper in MLA style, from the Modern Language Association's MLA Handbook (9th edition, 2021). It is used in English, languages, film and the humanities. This entry covers how the paper looks; for citations, see MLA style.
MLA Paper Format
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides (see margins).
- Font: a readable font such as Times New Roman, usually 12 point (see font requirements).
- Spacing: double-spaced throughout, including quotations and Works Cited. 2, not 1.5.
- Paragraphs: first line indented 0.5 inches.
- Header: your surname and the page number, top right, 0.5 inches from the top, on every page.
- No title page unless your instructor asks for one.
MLA Heading on the First Page
At the top left, double-spaced, each on its own line: your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date (written day month year, such as 21 October 2026). Then the title, centred, in title case, with no bold, italics or underlining.
In-Text Citations and Works Cited
Cite in the text with the author and page, such as (Smith 45) (more in in-text citation), and list sources alphabetically on a Works Cited page at the end, which starts on a new page.
Does Word Have MLA Format?
Word has no single setting that applies all of MLA format. Set the font, double spacing, indent and header once (Insert > Page Number, plus your surname), then save the file as a template. Word's own citation tool offers an MLA option, but check that its entries match the 9th edition.
Best Practices
- Use the MLA Handbook or the MLA Style Center for the current rules.
- Make sure every source cited in the text appears in Works Cited, and the reverse.
- Check any separate instructions from your instructor, which override the defaults.
Full guide: MLA Format Example (9th Ed.): Sample Paper, Page by Page
Use case: Thesis writing assistant