To put a paper in MLA format in Word, use 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman (or another readable font), double spacing with no extra space between paragraphs, and a 0.5-inch indent at the start of each paragraph. Add your last name and the page number in the top-right corner of every page, put a four-line heading at the top of the first page instead of a title page, and finish with a Works Cited page that uses hanging indents. Here’s how to set each one up for the MLA 9th edition.
Applies to: MLA Handbook, 9th edition, in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac, and Word for the web. Follow your instructor’s instructions if they differ. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Step 1: Set the margins, font and spacing
- Select Layout > Margins > Normal for 1-inch margins.
- Press Ctrl + A (Command + A on a Mac) to select everything.
- On the Home tab, choose Times New Roman and 12. MLA allows other clear fonts, but Times New Roman 12 is the safe choice.
- Open the Paragraph dialog with the small arrow in the corner of the Paragraph group.
- Set Before and After to 0 pt, and Line spacing to Double.
- Under Indentation, set Special to First line and By to 0.5″. Select OK.
Keep the text left-aligned with a ragged right edge; don’t justify it.
Step 2: Add your last name and page numbers
- Select Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3. The number appears in the top-right corner.
- Click just before the number, type your last name and press the Space bar once.
- Select the header text and set it to the same font and size as the paper.
- Double-click the body of the page to close the header.
Word’s default header position is half an inch from the top, which is what MLA asks for. The header appears on every page, including the first.
Step 3: Type the heading on the first page
MLA papers don’t have a title page unless your instructor asks for one. Instead, at the top left of the first page, type these four lines, double-spaced like the rest of the paper:
- Your full name
- Your instructor’s name
- The course name or number
- The date, written day month year, for example 7 October 2026
Remove the first-line indent for these lines so they sit flush left: select them and drag the top indent marker on the ruler back to the margin, or set Special to (none) in the Paragraph dialog.
Step 4: Add the title
- Press Enter after the date.
- Select Home > Center and remove the first-line indent for this line.
- Type your title in title case. Don’t make it bold, underlined, italic or larger, and don’t put it in quotation marks.
- Press Enter, switch back to Align Left, and start your first paragraph. It picks up the 0.5-inch indent.
There’s no extra blank line between the heading, title and text; double spacing provides the space.
Step 5: Create the Works Cited page
- At the end of your paper, press Ctrl + Enter to start a new page.
- Center the words Works Cited at the top, in the same plain text as your title.
- Press Enter, switch to Align Left, and type or paste your sources, double-spaced.
- Sort them alphabetically: select the entries and choose Home > Sort > OK.
- With the entries still selected, open the Paragraph dialog, set Special to Hanging and By to 0.5″, and select OK.
Your page number header continues onto this page automatically.
A note on Word’s citation tool
Word’s References > Insert Citation tool can build a bibliography, but its MLA style follows an older edition and adds details the 9th edition doesn’t use, such as the medium (“Print” or “Web”). If you use it, check each entry against the MLA 9th edition rules or a guide from your library before you submit.
Headings, quotations and other details
- Section headings: optional in MLA. If you use them, keep them consistent and left-aligned.
- Long quotations: quotes longer than four lines of prose go in a block indented 0.5 inch from the left margin, without quotation marks.
- Tables and images: label them (Table 1, Fig. 1) and add a caption with the source underneath.
Save time next time
Once the formatting is set, delete the text, keep the header, heading lines and Works Cited page, and save the document as a template with File > Save As > Word Template (*.dotx). Writing in APA instead? See how to set up APA format in Word.
Troubleshooting
The spacing looks bigger than double
Word is adding space after paragraphs. Select everything and set Before and After to 0 pt.
The page number is missing from the first page
The header is set to Different First Page. Double-click the header and clear that box on the Header & Footer tab. For more, see how to remove the page number from the first page in Word; MLA needs the reverse.
The header font doesn’t match
Headers use their own style. Double-click the header, select everything in it and set the font again.
Frequently asked questions
Does MLA need a title page?
No, unless your instructor asks for one. The four-line heading replaces it.
Is the title bold in MLA?
No. The title and the Works Cited heading are plain text, centered.
Related: How to display word count in Word.
Related: how to set 1-inch margins in Word.
Related: how to double space in Word.
Related: how to add a page number and header in Word.
Related: how to indent in Word.
Related: include a word count in MLA format.
Related: create a memo in Word.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.