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MVNU Writing Guide: MLA Style Overview

General MLA Formatting

All MLA papers must have the following format:

  • Font = Times New Roman, 12 pt. size
  • 1-inch margins on all sides of the paper  (this is the automatic setting)
  • Double-spaced lines
  • The first line of all new paragraphs must be indented 0.5 inches  (press the Tab Key to indent)
  • Every page is numbered and includes your last name in the top right corner (use a Header) 
  • The first page of your paper includes: your name, your professor's name, the course name + number, and the paper's due date. (Example in next box)

Important Links

MLA Important Links:

Click Here for the MLA Citation guide 

(Full guide for citing a source in MLA style)

Click Here for the Sample MLA paper 

(Sample MLA paper with notes + explanations)

Have questions that this guide doesn't answer? Visit Purdue Owl or schedule a Writing Lab appointment!

MLA Formatting Example

*Note about capitalization in titles: Words that shouldn't be capitalized include articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, so, or, for, nor, but, yet), and short prepositions (on, to, in, up, etc.). Note that some words like "on" can be used as an adverb-- "I Could Go On Singing" and would be capitalized in that case.