QuestionsAnswered.net
What's Your Question?
How to Cite Something in MLA Format
MLA formatting refers to the writing style guide produced by the Modern Language Association. If you’re taking a class in the liberal arts, you usually have to follow this format when writing papers. In addition to looking at MLA examples, it helps to know the basics of the style guide.
Parenthetical Citations
MLA requires parenthetical citations within the document. This means you must include source information inside parentheses placed after a quotation or paraphrase from a source. Each parenthetical citation must have the page number where you found the information you used. It may also have the author’s or creator’s name. Do not use a comma to separate the name and the date.
In-text Citations
The format for in-text citations depends on the format of the source material. For print material like books and journals, you need the author’s name and publication date. If the source has two authors, use and to join them and the term “et al.” if it has more than two authors. You can also reference the authors in the document and include only the page number in parentheses.
Citations for Nonprint Material
If you use nonprint materials as sources, you have to cite them. However, you don’t have to include page numbers with the in-text citations. You do have to include information like the name of the work, the creator’s name and the year of publication on the Works Cited page.
When you complete the Work Cited page, each source requires additional information. For images, you need to include contributors, the reproduction number and URL where you located the image online. Movies must list the director’s name and distributor. A TV series needs the episode title and number, series title, season number and network. Pieces of music should include the title of the track and album and the record label.
Works Cited List
When you use MLA format, you must have a Works Cited page that lists all of the sources you used for the paper. This page goes at the end of the document on a separate page. You list all of the sources in alphabetical order according to the author’s last name. Make sure the page is double-spaced and that you follow the specific guidelines for formatting each entry.
Citation Generators
If you don’t have access to printed MLA style guides or don’t understand how to format your sources, you can turn to a citation generator. There are several citation generators available online for free or as part of a subscription service. You can also find them in word processing programs.
To use a citation generator, you enter information about each source. The program automatically formats the sources for the works cited page. You can also select the places in the document to add in-text citations.
MORE FROM QUESTIONSANSWERED.NET
MLA Style Guide
- What is MLA Style?
- Formatting Your Paper
- In-text Citations
General Instructions
Creating a hanging indent - videos and instructions, works cited example.
- Sample Citations
- Annotated Bibliographies
For research help and more: Ask a GWC Librarian!
During library open hours :
Call: (714) 895-8741 x55184
Text: 714-882-5425
Visit: Reference Desk/LRC 2nd Floor
The Works Cited page should have a page number , continuing on from the paper.
Center the words Works Cited one inch from the top of the page.
Continue double-spacing – no extra spaces between citations.
Citations should be listed alphabetically by the first word of the citation. Alphabetical arrangement of author names is generally done letter by letter . For example:
Descartes, René
De Sica, Vittorio
If there are multiple works by one author , use ---. in place of the author’s name. Put them in alphabetical order by title (see The Cat in the Hat , in the Works Cited Example on this page).
Use a ' hanging indent .' If the citation is longer than one line of the page, indent the remaining lines(s) approximately one-half inch from the left margin.
In Microsoft Word :
- Select and right-click on the block of text,
- From the pop-up menu, click on Paragraph
- Under the heading Special , select Hanging .
In Google Docs: Highlight text –> go to: Format –> Align and Indent –> Indentation Options –> Special Hanging
*See further instructions on this page.
- Short Video and YouTube Playlist
- Google Docs - Animated Instructions
- Microsoft Word (PC) - Animated Instructions
Do not use the space bar or tabs to line up citations in your document! Use a 'Hanging Indent'.
A hanging indent is required for your citations (Works Cited or References pages) when you use MLA or APA style citations.
For more explanations of these methods, please see the videos in the playlist below or click on the tabs above for step-by-step instructions.
- GWC Library Youtube Channel Playlist: Formatting Works Cited A playlist of additional videos that help you format hanging indents in either Word or Google Docs.
Google Docs.
In Google Docs you will need to use the 'ruler' to set up your page for a hanging indent. Here is what that looks like:
Steps to creating a hanging indent in Google Docs:
- Make sure to 'Show Ruler'.
- Select all citations.
- Click and drag the triangle to the half inch (0.50) mark.
- Click and drag the rectangle back to the left margin (0.00).
Microsoft Word.
In Microsoft Word you may also use the 'ruler' OR (easier) use the paragraph tab to format the indentation and line spacing:
Steps to creating a hanging indent in Microsoft Word:
- Click open 'Paragraph Settings' Menu.
- Choose 'Hanging.'
- Line Spacing is 'Double.'
Note: Do NOT highlight your citations.
Highlighting is used to show the alphabetical ordering of your Works Cited page and the naming of in-text citations. See the example on the In-text Citations page for how these sources would be used within an essay.
- << Previous: In-text Citations
- Next: Sample Citations >>
- Last Updated: Feb 15, 2023 2:32 PM
- URL: https://goldenwestcollege.libguides.com/MLA
- Citation Generator
- Style Guides
- Chicago/Turabian Format
Hanging Indents in Google Docs or Word (Made Easy)
You use hanging indents in a bibliography, reference list, and works cited. A hanging indent is where the second and subsequent lines of a citation are indented five spaces. Learn how to create a hanging indent in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. See examples of how a hanging indent is used in MLA and APA style.
What Is a Hanging Indent?
Also called a second line indent or reverse indent, a hanging indent is the formatting used for the second line and subsequent lines of a citation in MLA, APA, and Chicago. In terms of what hanging indents look like, it’s five spaces or 1/2 inch from the left margin. Therefore, the first line of your citation lines up with the left margin, and every other line is indented.
You can create hanging indents by doing a manual return and hitting the space bar five times for each citation. Since that can get really tedious, applications like Word or Google Docs have created a special indentation feature. You can access this feature on your computer, tablet, and even your phone. To make sure that everything is super clear for how to indent the second line, images guide you through the process in Word and Google Docs.
How to Create a Hanging Indent in Microsoft Word
The easiest way to create an inverse indent for an MLA works cited list in Microsoft Word on a PC or Mac is to open a document and type out or paste your citations from a citation generator . Then, to indent a citation, you can format each entry by following these steps.
- Place your cursor at the beginning of your entry and highlight it.
- See the “Indents and Spacing” tab.
- Select “Hanging” in the “Special” field under “Indentation.”
- Click, “OK.”
Indent a Citation Using the Drop-Down Menu in Word
In addition to right-clicking, you can also use the menu drop-down tab to create a second line indent for your works cited. For this method, follow these steps:
- Place your cursor at the beginning of your works cited entry.
- Move to the “Paragraph” toolbar.
- Click on the small arrow located on the bottom right, next to the word “Paragraph.”
- View the “Indents and Spacing” tab.
- Pick “Hanging” in the “Special Indent” field.
How to Make a Hanging Indent in Google Docs
For how to indent a citation and create a hanging indent in Google Docs, follow these steps:
- Go to the “Format” drop-down menu.
- Select “Align & indent.”
- In the “Special indent” field, select “Hanging.”
- The default indentation amount setting is 0.5 inches.
MLA Hanging Indent Examples – Works Cited
Once you know how to indent a citation, hanging indents for an MLA works cited are pretty easy to create. If your works cited entry is longer than two lines, keep using the hanging indent for additional lines. The hanging indent is used in formatting bibliographies, reference lists, and works cited pages to make each entry easier to read. Remember to double-space your citation sources as well.
MLA Works Cited Examples:
Steele, Thomas J., S.J., and Rowena A. Rivera. Penitente Self-Government: Brotherhoods and Councils, 1797 – 1947. Santa Fe: Ancient City Press, 1985.
Robe, Stanley L., ed. Hispanic Folktales from New Mexico: Narratives from the R.D. Jameson Collection. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1980.
Williams, Ryan and Tudor Williams. “Too Much E-Mail! A New IABC Survey Suggests Who Is To Blame and What We Can Do About It.” Communication World , 1 Nov. 2006.
APA Hanging Indent Examples – Reference List
Now that you’ve looked at what the hanging indent looks like in MLA, it’s time to look at some examples of APA hanging indents. The APA inverse indent is created the same way.
Reference List Examples:
Train, T. J., and Rivera, R. A. (2010). Exploring the psyche . Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.0598409539854039
Rainer, M. R. (Ed.). (1998). Psychology unplugged. University of California Press. https://doi.org/10.9438974923872908
Opening up the file drawer in cross-cultural psychology. (2020, October 14). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/non-weird-science/202010/opening-the-file-drawer-in-cross-cultural-psychology
How to Format a Citation With Hanging Indents
Using hanging indents in MLA format is important when creating your bibliography , reference list , or works cited page. Remember to use Times New Roman 12 and to double-space your entries. Once you get the hang of it, creating hanging indents is easy to do.
Works Cited Page Example
MLA 8th Edition Abbreviations and Acronyms
FAQ Creating Hanging Indents for a MLA Works Cited
How do you create a hanging indent.
To create a hanging indent, you need to indent the second and subsequent lines of your citation 5 spaces or 1/2 inch. You can do this by hitting "Enter" at the end of a line and adding 5 spaces to your second line. Additionally, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have special commands to automatically format a hanging indent on your references page.
What's a hanging indent in works cited?
In a works cited, a hanging indent is when the second and subsequent lines of a citation are indented 1/2 inch. The use of the hanging indent on the second and subsequent lines of a citation helps to distinguish where one citation ends and another one begins.
How do you do a hanging indent for references?
You can create a hanging indent on a citation by pressing "Enter" at the end of the line and adding 5 spaces to the next line. However, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have specific tools for creating a hanging indent. In Microsoft Word, after highlighting the section, you select paragraph, indents and spacing, hanging, and indention. You then click “OK”. In Google Docs, highlight the section then hit format, align & indent, indention options, special indent, and hanging. You’ll then click “Apply”.
Why is my hanging indent not working?
In many cases, a hanging indent is not working because the correct commands in the word processing software were not given. Double-check the instructions to ensure you have given your word processing software the correct commands. An automatic hanging indent also might not work if you hit “Enter” to force your citation to the next line.
What is a hanging indent APA?
In APA style, a hanging indent is 1/2 inch added to the beginning of the second and subsequent lines of a citation on your references page. The indentation works to break up the different citations to help your readers see where one ends and another begins.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 4.5 / 5. Vote count: 28
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?
What is I go to the next line and it goes all the way back again. What if I accidentally mess up and have to delete so it moves back EVERYTHING?
MLA Format Citation Generator (Free) & Quick Guide
Works cited examples and formatting tips, mla magazine citation format with examples, mla works cited for movies, films, and tv shows.
MLA 8th Edition Style Guide
Guide pages.
- MLA Formatting - Full Paper
- Citation Basics
- Authors & Contributors
- Entries & Chapters
- Books & eBooks
- Websites & Web Pages
- Government Documents
- TV, Film & Video
- Music & Podcasts
- Social Media & Email
- Artwork & Maps
- In-Text Citations
- Hanging Indent
- Microsoft Word
- Google Document
- Pages (Mac OS)
Hanging Indent in Microsoft Word
Highlight the text you want indented. You can select a single citation or multiple citations at a time.
- Click the arrow in the bottom right corner of the “Paragraph” from the menu at top
- In the middle “Indentation” panel under “Special:” select “hanging” from the drop-down menu
Hanging Indent in Google Document
- On the ruler at the top of the page, drag the Left Indent (light blue inverted triangle) to the right five spaces. You will notice, the First Line Indent marker (light blue rectangle above the triangle) will come along for the ride and the entire citation will move to the right.
- Drag that First Line Indent marker (light blue rectangle above the triangle) back to the left margin. It should move independently of the triangle and will create your hanging indent.
Hanging Indent in Apple Pages
- Click "View" in the top menu - then "Show Ruler"
- << Previous: In-Text Citations
- Next: Need Help? >>
- Last Updated: Feb 1, 2023 3:42 PM
- URL: https://researchguides.scc.losrios.edu/mla-style-guide
Citing Your Sources
- Chicago Style
- Other Styles
- Generating Citations
What is a hanging indent?
Hanging indents in microsoft word, hanging indents in google docs.
- How to Cite Artificial Intelligence
- Annotated Bibliographies
Hanging indents are used in the works cited or bibliography of MLA, APA, Chicago, and various other citation styles. They allow the reader to easily see the breaks between separate citations and quickly scan a works cited or bibliography for author names. A hanging indent is required to format your works cited or bibliography properly. See the image below for an example of what a hanging indent looks like.
Follow the instructions below to format a hanging indent in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Use the following steps to format a hanging indent in Microsoft Word. These steps work in both the full desktop version and the Office 365 online version of Word.
Use the following steps to format a hanging indent in Google Docs.
- << Previous: Generating Citations
- Next: How to Cite Artificial Intelligence >>
- Last Updated: Feb 21, 2023 4:34 PM
- URL: https://libguides.ccsu.edu/citations
Report a tech support issue
Elihu Burritt Library Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 - Map
CCSU Home | Central Pipeline | CentralSearch / Catalog | Sign In to CentralSearch | Search Library Website
Hanging Indents and Microsoft Word
The series Microsoft Word and MLA Style shows writers how to use Word to make their essays conform to MLA style guidelines. This post explains how to format hanging indents in Microsoft Word .
The MLA recommends using hanging indents for works-cited-list entries because they help readers see where an entry begins. The directions outlined below for adding hanging indents to text in Microsoft Word should work for most versions of Word on PCs or Macs, but, if they don’t, please consult Microsoft’s website .
Adding Hanging Indents in the PC Version of Word
To add a hanging indent to text in the PC version of Microsoft Word , first highlight the text that you want to format. Then click the Home tab at the top of the page, and you should see a section at the top labeled “Paragraph.” Click the small arrow symbol in the lower-right corner of that Paragraph section to bring up a window with different paragraph setting options. (Another way to navigate to that paragraph settings window is to highlight the text you want to apply a hanging indent to and then right-click on the highlighted text. Select Paragraph in the list of options given, and that same settings window will appear.)
In that settings window is a section titled “Indentation,” which has an option labeled “Special.” Click the drop-down menu beneath Special and select Hanging. Word will most likely have the default spacing of the hanging indent set to 0.5 inches, which is the standard spacing that the MLA recommends. If you need to adjust the spacing, you can do so by changing the number in the By section to the right of that Special section.
Once you’re done, click OK to save your changes and apply the hanging indent to your highlighted text.
Adding Hanging Indents in the Mac Version of Word
If you are using Word on a Mac, the process of adding a hanging indent is similar to the process outlined above for a PC. First highlight the text you want to apply a hanging indent to. Then right-click and select the Paragraph option in the menu, just as you would in the PC version of Word . Another way to access that paragraph settings window is to click the Format header in the bar at the top of the screen and then select the Paragraph option from the menu. A third way to access the paragraph settings would be to hold down the command, option, and M keys on the keyboard.
The paragraph settings window that appears will be similar to the window in the PC version, and it should have an option labeled “Special.” Click the drop-down menu beneath Special and select Hanging. The default hanging indent spacing should be 0.5 inches, which is the standard spacing that the MLA recommends. If you need to adjust the spacing, you can do so by changing the number in the By section to the right of that Special section.
Read more on hanging indents and formatting papers in MLA style.
Arathi 17 September 2022 AT 05:09 AM
what is the space to be set before and after every paragraph in Microsoft Word and how to set it?
Your e-mail address will not be published
Join the Conversation
We invite you to comment on this post and exchange ideas with other site visitors. Comments are moderated and subject to terms of service.
If you have a question for the MLA's editors, submit it to Ask the MLA!
Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
According to MLA style, you must have a Works Cited page at the end of your research paper. All entries in the Works Cited page must correspond to the works cited in your main text.
Basic rules
- Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. It should have the same one-inch margins and last name, page number header as the rest of your paper.
- Only the title should be centered. The citation entries themselves should be aligned with the left margin.
- Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.
- Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.
- List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as pp. 225-50 (Note: MLA style dictates that you should omit the first sets of repeated digits. In our example, the digit in the hundreds place is repeated between 2 25 and 2 50, so you omit the 2 from 250 in the citation: pp. 225-50). If the excerpt spans multiple pages, use “pp.” Note that MLA style uses a hyphen in a span of pages.
- If only one page of a print source is used, mark it with the abbreviation “p.” before the page number (e.g., p. 157). If a span of pages is used, mark it with the abbreviation “pp.” before the page number (e.g., pp. 157-68).
- If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from an online database, you should type the online database name in italics. You do not need to provide subscription information in addition to the database name.
- For online sources, you should include a location to show readers where you found the source. Many scholarly databases use a DOI (digital object identifier). Use a DOI in your citation if you can; otherwise use a URL. Delete “http://” from URLs. The DOI or URL is usually the last element in a citation and should be followed by a period.
- All works cited entries end with a period.
Additional basic rules new to MLA 2021
New to MLA 2021:
- Apps and databases should be cited only when they are containers of the particular works you are citing, such as when they are the platforms of publication of the works in their entirety, and not an intermediary that redirects your access to a source published somewhere else, such as another platform. For example, the Philosophy Books app should be cited as a container when you use one of its many works, since the app contains them in their entirety. However, a PDF article saved to the Dropbox app is published somewhere else, and so the app should not be cited as a container.
- If it is important that your readers know an author’s/person’s pseudonym, stage-name, or various other names, then you should generally cite the better-known form of author’s/person’s name. For example, since the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is better-known by his pseudonym, cite Lewis Carroll opposed to Charles Dodgson (real name).
- For annotated bibliographies , annotations should be appended at the end of a source/entry with one-inch indentations from where the entry begins. Annotations may be written as concise phrases or complete sentences, generally not exceeding one paragraph in length.
Capitalization and punctuation
- Capitalize each word in the titles of articles, books, etc, but do not capitalize articles (the, an), prepositions, or conjunctions unless one is the first word of the title or subtitle: Gone with the Wind, The Art of War, There Is Nothing Left to Lose .
- Use italics (instead of underlining) for titles of larger works (books, magazines) and quotation marks for titles of shorter works (poems, articles)
Listing author names
Entries are listed alphabetically by the author's last name (or, for entire edited collections, editor names). Author names are written with the last name first, then the first name, and then the middle name or middle initial when needed:
Do not list titles (Dr., Sir, Saint, etc.) or degrees (PhD, MA, DDS, etc.) with names. A book listing an author named "John Bigbrain, PhD" appears simply as "Bigbrain, John." Do, however, include suffixes like "Jr." or "II." Putting it all together, a work by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be cited as "King, Martin Luther, Jr." Here the suffix following the first or middle name and a comma.
More than one work by an author
If you have cited more than one work by a particular author, order the entries alphabetically by title, and use three hyphens in place of the author's name for every entry after the first:
Burke, Kenneth. A Grammar of Motives . [...]
---. A Rhetoric of Motives . [...]
When an author or collection editor appears both as the sole author of a text and as the first author of a group, list solo-author entries first:
Heller, Steven, ed. The Education of an E-Designer .
Heller, Steven, and Karen Pomeroy. Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design.
Work with no known author
Alphabetize works with no known author by their title; use a shortened version of the title in the parenthetical citations in your paper. In this case, Boring Postcards USA has no known author:
Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulations. [...]
Boring Postcards USA [...]
Burke, Kenneth. A Rhetoric of Motives . [...]
Work by an author using a pseudonym or stage-name
New to MLA 9th edition, there are now steps to take for citing works by an author or authors using a pseudonym, stage-name, or different name.
If the person you wish to cite is well-known, cite the better-known form of the name of the author. For example, since Lewis Carroll is not only a pseudonym of Charles Dodgson , but also the better-known form of the author’s name, cite the former name opposed to the latter.
If the real name of the author is less well-known than their pseudonym, cite the author’s pseudonym in square brackets following the citation of their real name: “Christie, Agatha [Mary Westmacott].”
Authors who published various works under many names may be cited under a single form of the author’s name. When the form of the name you wish to cite differs from that which appears on the author’s work, include the latter in square brackets following an italicized published as : “Irving, Washington [ published as Knickerbocker, Diedrich].”.
Another acceptable option, in cases where there are only two forms of the author’s name, is to cite both forms of the author’s names as separate entries along with cross-references in square brackets: “Eliot, George [ see also Evans, Mary Anne].”.
APA Citation Guide
Hanging Indentation
Introduction
A number of citation styles require the use of hanging indentation for citing sources at the end of a research paper or book. Here’s the quick explanation of how to add hanging indentation in MS Word.
What It Looks Like
Hanging indentation means that for every entry in your final bibliography, you indent each line after the first one tab space. Here’s an example of an MLA Works Cited Page with hanging indentation:
Now, you can of course just press Tab for every entry, but that’s laborious and MS Word will likely mess up your spacing if you go that route. There’s a much quicker way to achieve hanging indentation …
How To Add Hanging Indentation
Adding hanging indentation in MS Word is super easy. Just highlight your text and press Ctrl + T. That’s it!
Alternatively, you can take a more circuitous route and go to Home > Paragraph (click the little symbol to the right) > Special > Hanging Indentation.
If you take the latter route, you will be able to adjust the spacing options at the same time. For more details, check out the video above.
Username or Email Address
Remember Me
Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.
Module 7: MLA Citations
Mla works cited page formatting.
In MLA style, all the sources you cite throughout the text of your paper are listed together in full in the Works Cited section, which comes after the main text of your paper.
When citing an essay, you include information in two places: in the body of your paper and in the Works Cited that comes after it. The Works Cited is just a bibliography: you list all the sources you used to write the paper. The citation information you include in the body of the paper itself is called the “in-text citation.”
Formatting the Works Cited Section
- Page numbers: Just as the rest of your paper, the top of the page should retain the right-justified header with your last name and the page number.
- Title: On the first line, the title of the page—“Works Cited”—should appear centered, and not italicized or bolded.
- Spacing: Like the rest of your paper, this page should be double-spaced and have 1-inch margins (don’t skip an extra line between citations).
- Alphabetical order: Starting on the next line after the page title, your references should be listed in alphabetical order by author. Multiple sources by the same author should be listed chronologically by year within the same group.
- Hanging indents: Each reference should be formatted with what is called a hanging indent. This means the first line of each reference should be flush with the left margin (i.e., not indented), but the rest of that reference should be indented 0.5 inches further. Any word-processing program will let you format this automatically so you don’t have to do it by hand. (In Microsoft Word, for example, you simply highlight your citations, click on the small arrow right next to the word “Paragraph” on the home tab, and in the popup box choose “hanging indent” under the “Special” section. Click OK, and you’re done.)
A correctly formatted Works Cited page, according to the MLA handbook.
- Revision and Adaptation. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- MLA: The Works Cited Section. Authored by : Catherine McCarthy. Provided by : Boundless. Located at : https://www.boundless.com/writing/textbooks/boundless-writing-textbook/writing-a-paper-in-mla-style-humanities-255/mla-citations-and-references-303/mla-the-works-cited-section-319-16905/ . Project : Boundless Writing. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Image of How to Cite an Essay. Provided by : WikiHow. Located at : http://www.wikihow.com/Cite-an-Essay . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Formatting Your Paper
- Book Review
- Email and Tweets
- Encyclopedia
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Master's Thesis or Project
- Music Albums & Songs
- Newspaper Article
- Formatting Your Paper
- Parenthetical Documentation
- Ethically Use Sources
Paper Set Up
MLA has a number of rules your instructor may want you to follow. The following information is what the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook had and is confirmed by Purdue OWL as the 8th edition of the MLA Handbook does not give this information. NOTE: Your instructor may prefer slight changes to these rules. Check with your instructor for any variations.
Document Format: Margins - 1 inch all sides, including top, bottom, left and right.
Font preference and size - Choose a standard, easily readable typeface and type size e.g. Times Roman 12-pt.
Line Spacing - Double spacing should occur throughout the document.
Page Numbers - Page numbers should be located in upper right corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. Type your last name before the page number unless specified differently from your instructor.
Paragraph Indentation - Paragraphs should be indented 5 spaces or 1/2 inch.
Punctuation Spacing - Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces.
View sample papers from the MLA website.
Works Cited
Always start your works cited on a new page.
Page title - The words Works Cited should appear centered one inch from the top of the page. If you have only 1 citation the title should be Work Cited.
Line Spacing - Double space between each line.
Alignment - The first line of each entry should align with the left margin. All subsequent lines should be indented 5 spaces or set a hanging indent at 1/2 inch.
Order of entries - Alphabetical order by author. If there is no author, use the title of the document. If you have more than one entry by the same author, o rder the entries alphabetically by title, and use three hyphens in place of the author's name for every entry after the first.
- << Previous: Web Page
- Next: Parenthetical Documentation >>
- Last Updated: Oct 11, 2022 10:59 AM
- URL: https://libguides.css.edu/MLA8
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
MLA formatting refers to the writing style guide produced by the Modern Language Association. If you’re taking a class in the liberal arts, you usually have to follow this format when writing papers. In addition to looking at MLA examples, ...
When writing in MLA format, use block quotes for quotes that are more than four lines long by introducing the quote with a colon and indenting the entire quote 1 inch from the left margin and flush to the right margin.
When citing a speech, it may help writers to see the speech as a written work with a title and an author. The author is, of course, the speaker, and like MLA citations of written works, the speaker’s name is listed first, with surname first...
A hanging indent is required for your citations (Works Cited or References pages) when you use MLA or APA style citations.
To create a hanging indent, you need to indent the second and subsequent lines of your citation 5 spaces or 1/2 inch. You can do this by hitting
Hanging Indent in Microsoft Word · Click the arrow in the bottom right corner of the “Paragraph” from the menu at top · In the middle “Indentation
Hanging indents in Microsoft Word · Highlight the citation(s) you want to indent. If you have multiple citation entries, make sure there is a
Update: 5-2-2020: Here's a link to a handout on doing a hanging indent in MS Word, Office 365, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and Word for Apple:
How to create hanging indents for MLA Works Cited pages.
The paragraph settings window that appears will be similar to the window in the PC version, and it should have an option labeled “Special.”
Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent. List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed.
Hanging indentation means that for every entry in your final bibliography, you indent each line after the first one tab space. Here's an example of an MLA Works
Hanging indents: Each reference should be formatted with what is called a hanging indent. This means the first line of each reference should be flush with the
Alignment - The first line of each entry should align with the left margin. All subsequent lines should be indented 5 spaces or set a hanging