How to Format an MLA Paper: Heading, Margins, and Page Numbers

You’ve written a great literary analysis, but your professor deducts points for formatting. What’s the difference between the “header” and the “heading”? Do you need a title page?

Getting the basic page setup right in MLA format is the easiest way to show your professor you are a serious student. It makes your paper clear, professional, and easy to read.

This guide is a “micro” resource focusing *only* on the page setup. For a “macro” overview of MLA, see our complete guide to MLA 9th edition, which covers everything.

What is MLA Format?

MLA Style is the formatting standard from the Modern Language Association. It is used in humanities (English, Philosophy, etc.). The rules are in the *MLA Handbook* (9th edition).

Unlike APA, MLA format is designed to be simple and does not use a separate title page for student papers.

MLA Heading vs. APA Title Page

This is a key difference:

• MLA (This Guide): Uses a four-line heading in the top-left of the first page.
• APA: Uses a full, separate title page.

Do not use an APA title page for an MLA paper.

How to Set Up Your MLA Paper (5 Steps)

Follow these five steps to format your document correctly. These rules are confirmed by resources like the Purdue OWL.

Before you type anything, set up your document:

• Margins: 1-inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right).
• Font: A readable, standard font. Times New Roman 12pt is the most common and safest choice.
• Spacing: Double-space the entire document. Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs or after the title.

The header appears on every page.

1. In your word processor, go to “Insert > Header.”
2. Align the header to the top-right.
3. Type your Last Name, followed by a single space.
4. Insert the automatic Page Number.

It should look like this in the top-right corner of each page: Smith 1

This is the four-line block that starts on the first line of page 1. It is not in the header. It must be double-spaced and aligned to the top-left.

1. Your Full Name
2. Your Instructor’s Name (e.g., Professor Jane Doe)
3. Your Course and Section (e.g., ENGL 101: College Composition)
4. The Date (in Day Month Year format: 14 November 2025)

After the four-line heading, press Enter once.

• Center your paper’s title.
• Use standard Title Case (capitalize all major words).
• Do NOT bold, italicize, underline, or put your title in quotation marks.

This is the final step in your paper’s setup. The Works Cited page starts on a new page after your essay. It must have:

• The centered (not bolded) title “Works Cited“.
• The same “Last Name 1” header as the rest of your paper.
• All entries in alphabetical order.
• A hanging indent (0.5 inches) for all entries.

Example of an MLA First Page Setup

When put all together, your first page should look exactly like this:

Common Formatting Pitfalls

Avoid these common errors: