MLA formatting is a style of writing that is used to format manuscripts and academic papers. The Modern Language Association created the format, which is commonly used in the humanities for works written in English. For referencing works and creating a bibliography, or works cited page, MLA formatting has specific rules. It also determines how the text appears on the page. The rules for formatting change over time.
In the United States, MLA formatting calls for letter-sized paper, which is 8 1/2 by 11 inches (21 by 28 cm). The ink should be black, and the paper should be white. The paper should usually be single-sided.
The author’s name should appear on the first line of the first page of a paper, according to MLA formatting. The professor’s name should be typed on the line below the author’s name. The course name should appear beneath the professor’s name, followed by the due date for the paper on the line beneath the course name. There is no need for a separate title page.
The title of the paper should be typed out and center aligned after the name information. The title should be typed in regular font; bold or italics are not required. On the line below the title, the paper’s text begins. Text should be double-spaced in MLA format. It should be in a 12-point font with a clear, easy-to-read font.
Each paragraph’s first line should be indented five spaces. All four sides of the paper should have 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins. MLA only requires one space after a period or other punctuation, whereas two spaces were previously required.
The header is another aspect of MLA formatting. The author’s last name and the paper’s page number appear in the header. It is typed in the upper right corner of each page at the top. The header is usually placed 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) from the top of the page.
MLA formatting requires you to cite the sources you used to write your paper. An author must cite works that are mentioned in the paper’s text and provide a list of works at the end. The works cited page is the last page of the paper. An author should cite the works she is quoting by putting the author’s name and page number in parentheses after the quoted or referenced material in the text.