MLA Style Guide: Formatting Your Paper
- Get Started Here
- When, Why, & How to Cite
- Formatting Your Paper
- Citations & Bibliography
- OWL Purdue - MLA Sample Paper
How do I Format My Paper?
Let's say your professor wants you to format in MLA style, and you have no idea how to do it. Where do you start? And why do you need to use a format anyway?
There are a few reasons why professors ask you to use a specific format. One reason is to provide consistency between papers while grading. Can you imagine what it would be like to grade 150 papers, and every single one is formatted differently? It would take them quite a bit of time to grade your paper! On top of that, they may be looking for specific things like citations, page numbers, certain paragraphs or names, etc., and using a consistent format helps them find what they looking for quickly and easily, resulting in a faster grade for you!
Another reason to learn a format is to prepare you for upper-division classes in your major. It's worth noting that every discipline has its formatting style preference, and learning a citation style like MLA, APA, or Chicago will give you an understanding of how basic style rules work.
Let's get started on the basic rules:
Your paper should be written using a standard (8.5x11 inch) sheet of paper with a common font such as Times New Roman. Some professors may request a different font, but Times New Roman is the most commonly accepted.
The entire document should be double-spaced, including the header and bibliography. You can easily double-space a paper by highlighting the entire document, then pressing the Ctrl button on your keyboard and pressing the 2 (Ctrl + 2).
Margins on the page's sides, top, and bottom are 1 inch. The only exception is with the page number and your name on the right-hand side of the header, which is 1/2 inch from the top of the page.
Pages should be numbered, along with your last name, in the top-right header of the paper.
- Your Name, Professor's Name, Class Name, and Date should be double-spaced on the first page of your paper in the upper left-hand corner, with a 1-inch margin from the top and left sides.
- The title of your paper should be centered, with no boldface, underlining, or italics, unless you include a title within your title.
- Indentations should be 1/2 inch in from the 1-inch font.
Now that you've read this far and have an idea of what you need to do, there is a big shortcut you can use. Word has a few templates for various paper formats, including MLA, APA, and others. To locate these templates, select 'new' under file and type MLA in the search box . Then select the template you wish to use. Download the Word document to your computer, open the template, and begin typing.
MLA Style Resources
- MLA Formatting and Style Guide From OWL Purdue University Writing Lab One of the most popular websites regarding citations, bibliographies and plagiarism. Use the search bar on the site to find answers to any obscure question about MLA.
- MLA Style Center Direct from the Modern Language Association (MLA), this site offers help on how to do everything MLA. Offers tutorials, tips, and templates.
Other Useful Places
- Plagiarism by Vivian Harris Last Updated Jul 16, 2024 444 views this year
- English 1A and 1B by Susan Seifried Last Updated Sep 24, 2024 202 views this year
- Norco MLA 9th Style guide
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- Last Updated: Sep 24, 2024 5:45 PM
- URL: https://norcocollege.libguides.com/MLAguide
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What's the proper way to include my name in the format of a college application essay? Should I place it on the top left or somewhere else? Thanks in advance!
When formatting your college application essay, it's important to adhere to the guidelines provided by the college or use the standard MLA format if there are no specific instructions. Generally, you would want to include your name in the header of your essay, along with other important information. Here's a simple example:
1. In the top-left corner of the first page, include your full name, your high school, your guidance counselor, and the submission date (each on a separate line).
2. After the date, leave one line blank and then insert the title of your essay, centered on the page, and make sure to use standard capitalization rules.
3. Double-space your text, and begin the essay one line below the title.
In some cases, colleges may ask you to include your name and a specific identifier such as your Common App ID or social security number in the header on each page. In that case, create a right-justified header containing your last name, identifier, and the page number. Make sure to double-check the submission guidelines of the specific college you're applying to for any specific formatting requirements. Always follow their instructions to ensure your essay is properly formatted and presented.
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