- Double-spaced throughout the paper (no extra space, no single spacing).
- One inch margins on all sides
- Readable font (e.g., Times New Roman) and standard size (12 point font).
- Text remains the same throughout with no variation other than italicizing.
- Indent the first word of each paragraph.
- Use the running header (upper right hand corner) for your last name and page numbers.
- Heading in upper left corner of page one. Include your name, teacher's name, course title, and the date.
- Title is centered (keep it very simple; no decorative, bold, underlined, or "silly" fonts).
- MLA research papers do not include a cover page, unless otherwise required by your teacher.
- Parenthetical citations are placed at the end of the sentence and inside the final punctuation.
- Parenthetical citations should not interfere with the readability of the paper.
- Parenthetical citations should be brief and simply identify the source.
- NoodleTools provides the exact in-text reference for each of your citations; try it!
- MLA does not cite using footnotes or endnotes.1 All citations are written in the narrative of the text or as parenthetical references.
Works Cited (if you use NoodleTools, all of this will be done for you)
- Works Cited begins on a separate page, immediately following the final page of the essay.
- Works Cited title is centered at the top of the page (it is not labeled "Bibliography" or "References").
- The first line of each citation is at the left margin, second and third lines are indented 1/2" (thus a "hanging" indent).
- Alphabetical order for all entries (do not sort citations by type or genre).
1“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts” (Moynihan).
