When to Use MLA Formatting

MLA is the preferred formatting style for the Humanities. This includes:

English Studies - Language and Literature
Foreign Language and Literatures
Literary Criticism
Comparative Literature
Cultural Studies
Communications
Religion
Theater

Formatting an MLA Paper

To learn about the general formatting guidelines for MLA, review pages 219-220 of EasyWriter.

As Lunsford explains, MLA does not require a title page, but they do require a proper header on the first page. When Lunsford explains the content that is provided in this header, she explains that you "double-space between each item" (219), meaning that every part of your paper is using double spacing. This does not mean to have an empty line between each item.

Your margins should be 1" on all sides, and you should use Times New Roman, 12-pt. font for all of your content.

Formatting a Works Cited Page

Your Works Cited list is your last page where you list the citations for the sources you referenced in your paper. EasyWriter provides you an explanation of how to format the Works Cited page on page 229, and provides an example on page 268.

Your Works Cited list must be in alphabetical order, must use the same font as the rest of the paper, and must be double spaced. You will also need to create hanging indents, as explained here.

Other Common In-Text Citation Scenarios

Source is written by two authors: page 222

You are citing from two authors with the same last name: page 223

Source is written by three or more authors: page 223

Quoting an Indirect Source

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited in another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. Page 225 provides an example of what this looks like.

In the example provided, Arthur Miller is the original source for this quote, but Martin and Meyer is the source you read and found the quote in.