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MLA Format

MLA format is used for formatting manuscripts and citing research sources to build credibility and avoid plagiarism. It requires a header on the first page with author and title information, a running head on all pages with the author's last name and page number, and a Works Cited page at the end with references in alphabetical order. Headings can help structure longer papers and should be left-aligned without periods. Figures include labels and captions below images. Common questions about MLA format include recommended fonts, creating citations, and whether a title page is needed.

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Rosa María Ana Montes de Oca Goncalves
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83 views12 pages

MLA Format

MLA format is used for formatting manuscripts and citing research sources to build credibility and avoid plagiarism. It requires a header on the first page with author and title information, a running head on all pages with the author's last name and page number, and a Works Cited page at the end with references in alphabetical order. Headings can help structure longer papers and should be left-aligned without periods. Figures include labels and captions below images. Common questions about MLA format include recommended fonts, creating citations, and whether a title page is needed.

Uploaded by

Rosa María Ana Montes de Oca Goncalves
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MLA FORMAT

MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting


manuscripts and citing research in writing.

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.
Header and title

The header in MLA format is left-aligned on the first page of your paper. It must include:

Your full name


Your instructor’s or supervisor’s name
The course name or number
The due date of the assignment

After the MLA header, press ENTER once and type your paper title. Center the title and
don’t forget to apply title-case capitalization.
Header
and
title
Running head
At the top of every page, including the first page, you need to include your last name
and the page number. This is called the “running head.” Follow these steps to set up the
MLA running head in your Word or Google Docs document:

1. Double-click at the top of a page


2. Type your last name
3. Insert automatic page numbering
4. Align the content to the right
Running
head
Works Cited page
The Works Cited list is included on a separate page at the end of your paper. You list all
the sources you referenced in your paper in alphabetical order. Don’t include sources
that weren’t cited in the paper, except potentially in an annotated bibliography
assignment.

Place the title “Works Cited” in the center at the top of the page. After the title, press
ENTER once and insert your MLA references.

If a reference entry is longer than one line, each line after the first should be indented
½ inch (called a hanging indent). All entries are double spaced, just like the rest of the
text.
Works
Cited
page
Headings and
subheadings
Headings and subheadings are not mandatory, but they can help you organize and
structure your paper, especially in longer assignments. MLA has only a few formatting
requirements for headings. They should

Be written in title case


Be left-aligned
Not end in a period

Keep the font and size the same as the body text and apply title case capitalization. In
general, boldface indicates greater prominence, while italics are appropriate for
subordinate headings.
Headings
and sub
headings
MLA format for figures

Figures (any image included in your paper that isn’t a table) are also labeled and
numbered, but here, this is integrated into the caption below the image. The caption in
this case is also centered.

The label “Figure” is abbreviated to “Fig.” and followed by the figure number and a
period. The rest of the caption gives either full source information, or (as in the
example here) just basic descriptive information about the image (author, title,
publication year).
MLA
format
for
figures
About MLA format

What font and size is used What is the easiest way to Do I need a title page for
in MLA format? create MLA citations? my MLA paper?
MLA recommends using 12- The fastest and most accurate Usually, no title page is needed
point Times New Roman, since way to create MLA citations is in an MLA paper. A header is
it’s easy to read and installed by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation generally included at the top of
on every computer. Other Generator. the first page instead. The
standard fonts such as Arial or exceptions are when your
Georgia are also acceptable. If instructor requires one, or your
in doubt, check with your paper is a group project.
supervisor which font you
should be using.

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