You're sitting there staring at a blank document, assignment due tomorrow, and that nagging question hits: what does MLA format look like anyway? Been there. Last semester I nearly lost points because my hanging indent was off by half an inch. Total nightmare. Let's cut through the confusion together.
Having graded hundreds of papers, I can confirm most students struggle with the same things: margins that aren't right, citations that look wonky, those weird spacing issues nobody talks about. This stuff matters more than you'd think - I once saw a brilliant paper get marked down a full grade because of formatting errors. Let's make sure that doesn't happen to you.
The Core Stuff You Absolutely Need to Get Right
Before we dive into specifics, let's get one thing straight: MLA isn't about making your life difficult. It's about clarity. When every paper follows the same rules, readers can focus on your ideas instead of your layout. Makes sense, right?
Your Document's Foundation
Get this wrong and nothing else will look right:
| Element | Requirement | How to Set It |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch all around | Page Layout > Margins > Normal |
| Font | 12-point Times New Roman | Ctrl+Shift+F > Times New Roman |
| Spacing | Double-spaced everywhere | Paragraph > Line Spacing: Double |
| Paragraph Indent | 0.5 inch first line | Paragraph > Special: First line |
| Header | Last name + page number | Insert > Header > Align Right |
Funny story - my nephew thought "double-spaced" meant pressing enter twice between lines. Nope! Actual double spacing is done through line spacing settings. Rookie mistake, but super common.
That First Page Setup
The top-left corner is prime real estate:
Professor Johnson
English 101
15 October 2023
Notice what's not here? No cover page unless specifically requested. And that title isn't bolded, italicized, or underlined. Just centered in plain text. Seriously, I've seen students lose points for adding "Essay on..." before their title. Don't be that person.
Citations: Where Everyone Gets Twitchy
Admit it. This is why you searched "what does MLA format look like" in the first place. Let's demystify it.
In-Text Citations (The Little Ones)
You know those nuggets in parentheses? Simpler than they seem:
- Basic book citation: (Author's Last Name Page Number) → (Smith 42)
- Two authors: (Smith and Jones 28)
- No page number? (like websites): (Smith)
- Multiple works same author: (Smith, "Coffee Cups" 15) and (Smith, "Teapots" 22)
Major pet peeve? When students slap citations at the end of paragraphs. Nope! They belong immediately after the quoted/paraphrased material, even mid-sentence. Like this example discussing literary motifs:
The Works Cited Page (The Big One)
This page gives everyone anxiety. I get it - I messed mine up sophomore year. But here's the cheat sheet:
Non-negotiables:
- Starts on separate page
- Title "Works Cited" centered (no bold/underline)
- Alphabetical order by author's last name
- Hanging indent for every entry (Ctrl+T in Word)
- Double-spaced with no extra gaps
Actual examples make this clearer:
| Source Type | MLA Format Example |
|---|---|
| Print Book | Smith, John. Caffeine and Creativity. Academic Press, 2020. |
| Journal Article | Chen, Mei. "Brewing Metaphors." Literary Analysis Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45-67. |
| Website | Johnson, Marcus. "Modernist Coffee Culture." Caffeine Studies Online, 5 June 2022, www.caffeinestudiesonline.org/mod-coffee. |
| YouTube Video | Carter, Lisa. "Literary Beverages Explained." YouTube, 18 Mar. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123. |
See the pattern? Author → Title → Container → Publication details. That "container" concept trips people up - it just means where the source lives (like a journal hosting an article).
Personal rant: Online citation generators? 60% are wrong. Always double-check against official MLA guidelines. Trust me, Professor Williams will notice if your database article lacks volume numbers.
Weird Little Rules Nobody Talks About
These details scream "I know my stuff":
- URLs: Remove https:// (just www.example.com). Break before punctuation if needed.
- Dates: Day Month Year format (15 Oct. 2023). Months longer than 4 letters get abbreviated.
- Capitalization Titles: Capitalize principal words - not articles/prepositions unless first word.
- Page numbers: Use numerals without "p." or "pp." (Smith 45-47, not Smith pp.45-47).
Major Trip-Ups I See Constantly
After reviewing hundreds of papers, these errors come up like clockwork:
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Extra spacing between paragraphs | Creates visual gaps; MLA requires consistent double spacing | Remove blank lines; set paragraph spacing to 0pt before/after |
| Bold titles on Works Cited | MLA uses italics for full works, plain text for articles | Italicize books/journals; leave article/chapter titles plain |
| Creative fonts | Violates readability standards | Use 12pt Times New Roman or occasionally Arial |
| Missing URLs for online sources | Essential for retrievability | Include full stable URL without hyperlink |
Pro tip: Create custom paragraph styles in Word. Set one for body text (first line indent 0.5", double spaced) and another for block quotes (indent 1" left, no quotation marks). Lifesaver!
Dead Simple MLA Template
Steal this structure:
[Professor's Name]
[Course]
[Date: 15 Oct. 2023]
[Your opening paragraph...]
When using sources, integrate quotes smoothly: "Short quotes under four lines look like this with quotation marks" (Author 24).
[Continue your analysis...]
--- Page Break ---
Burning Questions About What MLA Format Looks Like
Do page numbers go in the header or footer?
Header! Top right corner, last name then number. Not in the footer. And definitely not manually typed on each page.
Should I underline my own title?
Please don't. Centered plain text only. Underlining is for typewriters - we're in the digital age.
Can I use bullet points in MLA?
Rarely. MLA prefers full paragraphs. If absolutely needed, format consistently but avoid in formal essays.
How do I cite TikTok or Instagram?
MLA's got you covered:
Is Calibri font acceptable?
Technically allowed if your professor permits it, but Times New Roman is the gold standard. When in doubt, stick with tradition.
My Take on This Formatting Business
Honestly? Parts of MLA feel outdated. Requiring URLs but not DOIs? Website citations without publication dates? Come on. But until the MLA Handbook updates, we play by their rules.
The biggest value I see? Consistency. When I graded papers last summer, uniform formatting meant I could focus on content. No hunting for page numbers or guessing sources. That efficiency matters.
Still hate doing hanging indents though. Always feels fiddly. But mastering what MLA format looks like gives you credibility. And when you're battling deadlines at 2 AM, having these rules down cold? Priceless.
Wondering what MLA format looks like in practice? Save this guide. Better yet, bookmark the official MLA Handbook Plus site. Because nothing beats knowing you nailed it.
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