MLA Report Writing Mechanics

MLA General Format Requirements--Check with your teacher or assignment details

Paper:

  • White, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.
  • Use one side only.
  • Left alignment.

Header - Pagination:

  • Right alignment.
  • Last name, space, automatic numbering, header set at .5

Heading:

  • Left alignment.
  • Student name, [return] teacher name, [return] class, period, [return] date D M Y (month spelled out). (double-spaced)

Title:

  • Centered. Double space above and below title.
  • Do not underline title, or put in quotation marks, or type it in all caps.
  • Title page, if used, should include title, name, course and/or teacher, and date.

Margins:

  • One inch at top, bottom, and sides.

Indenting:

  • Indent five spaces (or one inch for handwriting) for each new paragraph.
  • Set-off long direct quotations (four or more lines) by indenting one inch (10 spaces) from the left margin.
  • For works cited entries, indent all lines one half inch except the first line. Set your word processing program to do a hanging indention.

Text:

  • Double space body text and works cited entries.
  • Double space set-off quotations. Block quotations are usually introduced with a colon.
  • Use standard 12 point fonts.Times New Roman front is recommended.
  • When ending a sentence, use one space before starting the next sentence. Two spaces can be used if you are consistent.

Quoting:

  • When quoting directly, use quotation marks with reference citation.
  • Do not use quotation marks for set-off quotations.
  • Use three spaced periods...when omitting anything within a quotation.
  • Use brackets [ ] to enclose anything added or changed within a quotation.