So You’re Being Forced to Use MLA

A Helpful Guide

STEP 1: Open Microsoft Word

STEP 2 : Set Margins.2.a: Click Page Layout.2.b: Click Margins.

STEP 2 : Set Margins.2.c. Open Drop Down Menu2.d Click Custom Margins

STEP 2 : Set Margins.2.e Type in 1  in Top, Bottom, Left, Right for one inch margins2.f Click OK

STEP 3 : Running Header3.a Double Click in margin to open header editor

STEP 3 : Running Header3.b Type in your last name

STEP 3 : Running Header3.c Click HOME and then right justify button (alternatively, you can cold [CTRL] and press [R]

STEP 3 : Running Header3.d Now, click INSERT, then 3.e click Page Number

STEP 3 : Running Header3.f Scroll over Current Position3.g Click on Plain Number

STEP 4 : Font Size4.a Choose Home4.b Click Scroll Down option for font4.c Choose Times New Roman

Note: We’re in a state of flux at the moment, as other fonts, such as Calibri, are being used. Some allow many others, but all professors are down with TNR

STEP 4 : Font Size4.d Choose Home4.e Click Scroll Down option for size4.f Choose 12

Note: We’re in a state of flux at the moment, as other fonts, such as Calibri, are being used. Some allow many others, but all professors are down with TNR

STEP 4 : Font Size4.g Double click on your running heaf4.h Be sure your running head is also TNR 124.i Click off of Header onto main document

Note: We’re in a state of flux at the moment, as other fonts, such as Calibri, are being used. Some allow many others, but all professors are down with TNR

STEP 5 : SPACING5.a Click HOME5.b Click Line and Paragraph Spacing

STEP 5 : SPACING5.c Choose 2.0 under scroll down menu

STEP 6: INFORMATION BLOCK6.a Type your name as seen below, hit [enter]6.b Type your professor’s name6.c Type out class number and your meeting time as shown6.d Type out the current date as shown

Note: Step 6.c will vary from teacher to teacher. I opt for block information because we’re in a high school. Some colleges name classes with four letters and four numbers« ENGL 1000 » or with a section name for each clas « ENG 100-004 ». Follow your teacher’s advice.

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.a Center your title directly below the INFO block, then hit enter and align cursor to left

Note: Unimportant words, such as prepositions, articles, conjunctions, or the to in an infinitive (She Hopes to Run) in the middle of a title should not be capitalized. The first word always is. Use a colon to separate titles from subtitles. For more: http://www.santarosa.edu/~kthornle/30/CapitalizationMLAStyle.pdf

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.b Type your essay. 7.c Indent Paragraphs (hit [Tab])7.d Don’t hit [enter] to add an extra line between paragraphs

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.e Click on the line after the final sentence of conclusion.7.f Click INSERT7.g Click Page Break

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.h Click HOME7.I Click Center Justify

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.j Type « Works Cited » and press enter

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.k Click HOME7.l Click left justify

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.m Type out your Work Cited entries.7.m.i (alternative) Paste them in. If you do, follow these steps:7.m ii : Highlight premade citation and select « copy »

STEP 7: Title, essay, and Works Cited Stuff7.m.iii: Paste into word document7.m.iv: Check to make sure the FONT and SIZE are still Times New Roman

STEP 8: HANGING INDENTS8.a Highlight your cited sources on the work cited page (not the title)8.b Click on HOME, then Line & Paragraph Spacing, then Line Spacing Options

STEP 8: HANGING INDENTS8.c Under « Special, » choose « Hanging », then8.d Click « OK »

STEP 8: HANGING INDENTS8.e Click HOME, then click Sort

STEP 8: HANGING INDENTS8.f Be sure « ascending » is selected, then click « OK »8.g Repear 8.e-8.f every time you add an cited entry