MLA FORMAT – THE BASICS

Very basically, the Modern Language Association (MLA) has prescribed a standard way of laying out text on the page. This format provides scholars in the Humanities with a simple, neat, and effective way of presenting information and of communicating ideas. It may, in the beginning, seem irritating to learn the format, but the reality is that you cannot pass high school or college classes without it!!

HERE ARE THE BASICS FOR SETTING UP A DOCUMENT IN MLA STYLE:

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

• First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

• First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

• Second, change the font to Times New Roman.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

• First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

• Second, change the font to Times New Roman.

• Third, change the font size to 12-point.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

• First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

• Second, change the font to Times New Roman.

• Third, change the font size to 12-point.

• Fourth, change the spacing to double.

Here are the basics for setting up a document in MLA Style:

• First, set up the margins to 1” all the way around.

• Second, change the font to Times New Roman.

• Third, change the font size to 12-point.

• Fourth, change the spacing to double.

• Fifth, insert a page number in the header and type your last name in front of it.

Sample First Page in MLA Style:

Brown 1

Sarah Brown

Professor Spalding

ENG 110A

29 September 2007

Memoir: A Night to Remember

The moon was full, as I recall, casting long, blue

shadows against the wall. As we wound our way through

the streets, small, bright orange pumpkins clasped in our

hands, I had the eerie sense that we were being followed . . .

1” 1”

1” ½”

Please note that the header, which is left justified, is set up in a very specific order:

(1) Your name(2) Your professor’s name(3) Your class name and section(4) The date

Note: You may not vary or approximate this order. It is what it is.

Johnny Knoxville

Ms. Hammond

8B RLA

29 September 2013

Note, please, that the date is set up in a very specific way:

(a) the day

(b) the month

(c) the year

You may not vary this structure. It is not optional. It may not be abbreviated or rearranged according to your preferences.

September 29, 2007

29 Sep 2007

Sep 29, 2007

29/9/07

9/29/07

With no punctuation.

These are non-standard formats and are unacceptable in an MLA paper.

29 September 2013

A Note On The Title:

All MLA-style essays require a title. Note that the title is centered. It should not be in block capitals, italicized, bolded, in quotation marks, or underlined. All major words should begin with a capital letter.

Every essay requires a title.

Be aware, too, that there is no other spacing in MLA Format besides double spacing.

I repeat, there is no other spacing in MLA Format besides DOUBLE SPACING.

And for those of you who may be a little hard of hearing, I will reiterate for a third time:

THERE IS NO OTHER SPACING IN MLA FORMAT BESIDES DOUBLE SPACING.

None

No single spacing.

No triple spacing.

No quadruple spacing.

DOUBLE SPACING ONLY

If you can master the basics of setting up your page in MLA style, you will be well on the way toward understanding the MLA system.

Knoxville 1

Johnny Knoxville

Ms. Hammond

8B RLA

29 September 2013

Memoir: A Night to Remember

The moon was full, as I recall, casting long, blue

shadows against the wall. As we wound our way through

the streets, small, bright orange pumpkins clasped in our

hands, I had the eerie sense that we were being followed.

What made me believe this, besides a cold, prickling sen-

sation in my spine, and a distinct sense of unease, I may . . .

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