Skip to Main Content

How to Format Your Research Paper

Get help formatting your research papers

Writing Your Paper: MLA

Always consult your assignment guidelines for course-specific formatting.

 

Things to know before you begin:

  • Font: An easily readable typeface (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc...) that is maintained throughout the paper.
  • Font Size: 11-13 point 
  • Margins:  1 inch
  • Paragraphs: All paragraphs should be indented.
  • Spacing: All of the text in your paper should be double-spaced.

Typical MLA style papers have two sections:

  1. Main Body
  2. Works Cited

See the tabs below for a breakdown of how each portion should be formatted.

MLA Style Papers

Below you will find templates for MLA Style papers. Click the link to make a copy of the file. 

  • Google Docs: To make a copy of this template you must first sign in to your Google account. After you’re signed in, click file and then click “make a copy.”
  • Microsoft Word: To make a copy of this template, simply download the file. 

Below you will find an example of an accurately formatted MLA Style paper. 

 

Sample of an accurately formatted MLA style main body page

Always consult your assignment guidelines for course-specific formatting.

 

  • Your paper should have your name, your instructor's name, the class name, and the due date in the top left corner of the page. It should be double spaced and use the same font type and size as the rest of your paper.
  • The title of your paper should be centered on the first line after your heading. It should be in Title Case and use the same font type and size as the rest of your paper.
  • Place your last name and page numbers in the header in the same font type and size as the rest of your paper. Be sure to use the header function, do not type this into the body of your paper.

Sample of an accurately formatted MLA style Works Cited page

  • Center the words "Works Cited" on the first line of a new page. If you only have a single reference, use "Work Cited" instead.
  • Your citations should be alphabetical.
  • All entries should be double-spaced with no extra lines between them.
  • Be sure to use a hanging indent for any citations that require more than one line. 

Need help formatting your MLA style citations using the 8th edition of the Modern Language Association Handbook? Click the image or link below to go to the citation guide.

cover image of the citation research guide

Need help learning what hanging indents are and how to create them using Google Docs or Microsoft Word? 

Title slide of "creating hanging indents with Google Docs" video Title slide of "creating hanging indents with MS Word" video

To cite this LibGuide use the following templates:

APA: Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page. Title of LibGuide. URL

MLA: Northern Essex Community College Library. "Title of Page." Title of LibGuide, Date updated, URL.