MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. 

Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material produced by other writers. 

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Paper Format

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the MLA Style Manual. Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA Style:

General Guidelines

• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

• Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.

• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).

• Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.

• Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times.

• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)

• Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.

• If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).