The Writing YSU Center

Formatting Documents in MLA Style:

A Short Guide for Microsoft Word


Note: This was developed using Word 2002.Your version of Word may differ slightly. See your program “Help” documentation to resolve any differences.


There are several important steps to properly formatting a document per MLA guidelines. These steps include the margins, the page numbers, and the works cited page. Following are instructions and illustrations to help you complete formatting tasks.


Margins


To format Margins, follow these commands from the Menu Bar.


File > Page Setup > Margins


  1. The top, bottom, left, and right margins should be set at 1”.

  2. The header and footer should be set at 0.5”.

  3. The gutter should be set to 0.



* If this is your home computer, you may also see a button which says “Default…”. Click this button. The computer will open a dialog box asking if you would like to change the default settings. Click “Yes”. This will cause all new documents on your computer to open with the proper margins (although you can adjust them later or set new defaults, if necessary).



Page Numbers


MLA formatting requires that every page include a page number, prefaced with the author’s last name. Follow these commands from the Menu Bar:


Insert > Page Numbers


  1. Set Position to “Top of page (Header)”

  2. Set Alignment to “Right”

  3. Check the box beside “Show number on first page”



Now your paper will have page numbers. The next step is to add your last name to the header. Follow these commands from the Menu Bar:


View > Header and Footer


This will cause the body of your paper to look gray. Scroll to the top of your paper. There should be a dashed line around the top inch of your paper.




Move the mouse pointer overtop your page number and click once. This should cause a tiny frame to form around the number, and the cursor should now be blinking beside the page number.

Making sure your cursor is to the LEFT of the number, type your name, and hit a single space.


Now, double-click the mouse pointer further down on your paper. Scroll up and down; your name should be next to each page number.


Works Cited Entries


MLA requires that entries on the Works Cited page be formatted with a hanging indent. Before you follow any of the menu steps for the works cited page, be sure to use the mouse to select ONLY your works cited entries. Then, do the following:


Format > Paragraph > Indents and Spacing


  1. Under the Indents and Spacing tab, there will be a section labeled “Indentation”

  2. Under the “Indentation” section, there will be a drop-down menu box labeled “Special”

  3. Click this menu, and select “Hanging”

  4. Under the drop-down menu labeled “By:” set the measurement to 0.5”

  5. Click “OK”



Your works cited entries should now be properly indented.

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