MLA 9 Format for Papers
How the MLA Handbook (9th edition) lays out a class paper, plus a formatter that applies it to your Word file for you.
Try It Free on Your Paper →The Rules at a Glance
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides. |
|---|---|
| Font | A readable font such as Times New Roman, 12 pt. |
| Spacing | Double-spaced throughout, including the heading, quotations, and Works Cited. No extra space between paragraphs. |
| Header | Your last name and the page number in the top right corner of every page, half an inch from the top. |
| Heading Block | No title page unless your instructor asks for one. At the top left of page 1: your name, your instructor, the course, and the date (for example, 29 October 2026), each on its own line. |
| Title | Centered on the line after the date, in title case, with no bold, underlining, or quotation marks. |
| Paragraphs | First line indented 0.5 inch. |
| Block Quotations | Prose quotations longer than four lines, indented 0.5 inch from the left margin, without quotation marks. |
| Works Cited | On a new page, titled Works Cited and centered. Entries alphabetized, double-spaced, with a 0.5 inch hanging indent. |
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the MLA heading block and centered title on page 1.
- Adds your last name and the page number to the top right of every page.
- Sets 1 inch margins and double spacing throughout.
- Formats block quotations and builds the Works Cited page with hanging indents.
- Formatting software only. It never writes or rewrites a word of your paper.
Format Your Paper in About a Minute
Pick your school, drop in your Word file or PDF, and see your own title page done to these rules before you pay. Your paper never leaves your computer.
Common Questions
Does an MLA paper need a title page?
No. MLA 9 uses a heading block at the top left of the first page instead: your name, your instructor, the course, and the date. Use a title page only if your instructor asks for one.
What goes in the MLA header?
Your last name and the page number, in the top right corner of every page, half an inch from the top.
How do you write the date in MLA?
Day, month, year, with the month spelled out: 29 October 2026.
Is the Works Cited page double-spaced?
Yes. Like the rest of the paper, it is double-spaced, with entries in alphabetical order and a 0.5 inch hanging indent.
Based on the MLA Handbook (9th edition) student paper format, as summarized by the Purdue Online Writing Lab. Your instructor’s instructions come first.