How to Format a Word Document in Proper MLA Style

1
How to Format a Word Document in Proper MLA
Style

• Brother Martin High School Library

2
Page Setup

• Margins
• Pull down File, click Page Setup
• Change top, bottom, left and right margins to 1
• Set header margin at .5 from edge
• Set footer margin at 0
• Click OK
• Font
• Pull down Format, click Font
• Set font at Times New Roman
• Set font style Regular, font size 12
• Click OK

3

• Indents
• Pull down Format, click Paragraph, Indents and
  Spacing
• Alignment Left
• Indention Special, First Line, by .5
• Note you must change indention for your Works
  Cited Page
• Spacing
• Line Spacing
• Double, OK

4
Proper Heading

• At left margin, double spaced, 1 from top edge
• Your First Name, Last Name Ex. John Doe
• Teachers Name Mr. Smith
• Course Biology
• Day Month Year Paper Submitted 24 September 2004
• Center align and type title
• Do not underline or change font of title

5
Creating a HeaderMLA requires your last name
and page number on each page

• Pull down VIEW, click Header and Footer
• Click on right alignment icon on the toolbar
• Type your last name
• Leave one space
• Click insert page icon (1st icon - white page
  with )
• Click close
• Each additional page of your document will now be
  paginated
• Although a header looks lighter on screen, it
  will print to match the rest of your paper

6
Works Cited Page

• This page is considered part of your research
  paper. See the tutorial Preparing an MLA Works
  Cited in Microsoft Word posted on Brother Martin
  Web site http//brothermartin.com/bmlibrary/studen
  tguides.htm
• An example of an MLA style paper and accompanying
  Works Cited page are found on pages 320-21 of the
  MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th
  Edition available at the circulation desk of the
  Brother Martin Library.