Download MLA Format Cheat Sheet

MLA Format Cheat Sheet
Formatting Basics

Double space throughout paper, with no extra spaces between paragraphs.

Everything should be left justified (except for headings).

Top, bottom, and side margins should be one inch.

Indent the first word of each paragraph by ½ inch or 5 spaces (use Tab).

Do not use a title page: simply type your name, instructor’s name, course, and date. This should be
justified left.

Center the title of the paper and headings. Do not underline, put in “quotation marks,” or set in
ALL CAPITALS.

Number all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, ½ inch from the top and flush
with right margin. Type your last name before the page number, and do not use “p.” before the
number.
SAMPLE FIRST PAGE:
In-text Citations
You should always provide parenthetical citations for the following:
- Direct quotes
- Paraphrases (putting information into your own words)
- Summarized material
- Words specific or unique to the author
- se of an author’s argument or line of thinking (ideas or theories)
- Historical, statistical, or scientific facts
- Articles or studies you refer to in your text
1
Examples of Works Cited List and In-Text Citations
Use www.easybib.com
Type of Source
Works Cited List
In-Text Citation
(list and alphabetize by author’s last name )
Book: single author
Book: more than one
author
Author Unknown
An Edition of a Book
(list and alphabetize by title)
A Work prepared by
Editor
Poem or Short Story
Newspaper article from
Online Database
Magazine article
Journal article
Entire Web site
Web page within a
larger Web Site.
Video
Speech
Print Interview
Smith, Jane. Leadership and Women. Boston:
Free Press, 1996. Print.
Hill, Mike and Susan Hall. Woman in the
Car. New York: Yale Press, 1986. Print.
(Smith 336)
Encyclopedia of Art. New York: Free Press,
2007. Print.
Crane, Susan. Songs for Children. 4th ed.
Mobile: Free Press, 2006. Print.
Head, J.W. Green Poems. Ed. Lynn Gilchrist.
New York:
Free Press, 1998. Print.
Burns, Robert. “Red, Red Rose.” 100 BestLoved Poems. Ed. Philip Smith. New
York: Dover, 1995. 26. Print.
Green, James. “Start Fresh with Education.”
Mobile Press Register 6 April 1987:
G9. GALILEO. Web. 6 June 2007.
Jones, Wesley. “I’d Rather Travel.” Time 26
June 1998: 70-72. Print.
Huff, Sue. “The Ins and Outs of Education.”
(continuous pagination) JSE 78.1
(1990): 45-68. Print.
Canterbury Tales Clearing House. 2006. Jones
University. Web. 6 June 2007.
(Encyclopedia of Art 124)
Benson, L.D. “The Knight’s Tale.” The Geoffrey
Chaucer Page. 2000. Harvard
University. Web. 6 June 2007.
“2009 Commencement.” YouTube. YouTube,
27
May 2009. Web. 23 July 2009.
Angelou, Maya. "On the Pulse of Morning”
Inauguration of President Clinton.
Washington D.C. 19 Jan. 1993. Speech.
Gordimer, Nadine. Interview. New York Times.
10 Oct. 1991, late ed.: C25. Print.
2
(Hill and Hall 15)
(Crane 568)
(Head 65)
(Burns 26)
In your text:
“Green reports…”
(Jones 70)
(Huff 46)
In your text:
“The Canterbury Tales
Clearing House…”
(Benson)
(“2009 Commencement”)
Maya Angelou said that
"text of quotation."
OR
"Text of quotation"
(Angelou).
(Gordimer)