MLA paper format is straightforward in desktop Word: set one-inch margins, double-space the paper, add a first-page heading and a running head, then put Works Cited on a new page. Follow your instructor’s specific requirements if they differ. The MLA Style Center’s paper-format guide is the primary reference.
Set up the page and text
- Choose Layout > Margins > Normal for one-inch margins.
- Choose a readable font with a clear distinction between regular and italic text. Twelve-point Times New Roman is one example, not an MLA requirement. Keep the same font throughout.
- Select your paper text or set the formatting before you start. On Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, choose 2.0. In Paragraph settings, set spacing Before and After to 0 pt so Word does not add extra gaps.
- In Paragraph settings, set Special > First line > 0.5 inch for body paragraphs. Do not apply that first-line indent to the heading, title, or Works Cited entries.
Add the running head and first-page heading
- Open the header and insert a page number at the upper right using Insert > Page Number. Type your surname followed by a space before the page-number field. Check that the surname and number appear on each page.
- On the first page, flush left, type your name, instructor’s name, course, and date on separate double-spaced lines.
- On the next line, center the paper title. Then start the text on the next double-spaced line, aligned left. Use the body paragraph’s half-inch first-line indent.
That heading and title normally appear on the first page of the paper. Do not create a separate title page unless your instructor asks for one. For more about repeating content at the top of pages, see our Word header guide.
Start Works Cited on a new page
At the end of the paper, insert a page break (Ctrl+Enter on Windows or Command+Return on Mac). Center Works Cited at the top, then list the sources cited in the paper. Keep the list double-spaced with no extra space between entries. Apply a 0.5-inch hanging indent to each entry through Paragraph > Special > Hanging. Alphabetize entries as MLA requires; citation details depend on each source type.
Final check
Inspect the running head, page numbering, title placement, paragraph indents, and Works Cited spacing in Print Layout. If Word’s default style adds extra paragraph space, remove it rather than adding manual blank lines. Check the assignment sheet before submitting.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com