MLA Format Isn't as Scary as It Looks

Let's be real: when a professor says your paper needs to be in MLA format, it can feel like they're speaking a secret language. Double-spaced what? Hanging indent where? But once you see a few clear examples, it all starts to click. I remember my first MLA paper—I spent more time fussing with the margins than actually writing! The goal here is to save you that headache.

The Core Layout: Your First Page

Your MLA paper starts with a standard setup. Use 1-inch margins on all sides, a readable 12-point font (like Times New Roman), and double-space everything. In the top left corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Center your title on the next line—no bold, italics, or underlining needed. Simple and clean. Every page gets your last name and page number in the top right header.

Nailing the In-Text Citations

This is where most students get tripped up. An MLA in-text citation is just a brief signal pointing to the full source on your Works Cited page. The classic formula is author's last name and page number in parentheses, like (Smith 42). If you use the author's name in your sentence, just pop the page number at the end, as Smith argues this point (42). Getting these right is crucial, and if you're ever in doubt, a bit of get help here can be a lifesaver for catching citation errors.

Building Your Works Cited Page

This is your source list, on its own page at the end. Title it "Works Cited," centered. Every entry uses a hanging indent (where the first line is flush left and subsequent lines are indented). Here's a common example for a book:

Gaiman, Neil. Norse Mythology. W. W. Norton & Company, 2017.

Notice the periods after the author, title, and publication info. The format changes for articles, websites, and videos, but the core principles of order and punctuation stay the same. Compiling this page can be tedious, so don't hesitate to get help here if you're feeling overwhelmed by your sources.

You've Got This!

Think of MLA format as the tidy frame for your brilliant ideas. It shows your attention to detail and respect for other scholars' work. Once you practice with a few get help here resources or templates, it becomes second nature. What part of MLA formatting trips you up the most? Drop your biggest question in the comments below—let's figure it out together!