What Information goes on Each Line for a Proper MLA Format Heading?
Back to: Academic and Professional Writing Unit 3
What Information goes on Each Line for a Proper MLA Format Heading?
The MLA format was designed by the Modern Language Association in the MLA Handbook to create a standard for formatting research papers. This was done with an aim to keep the papers uniform and professional regardless of the subject. Its rules encompass everything within a paper ranging from citing your sources to when words should be italicised to spacing of headers and margins.
Proper MLA Format Heading
The first page of the research paper according to the MLA format paper starts with a four-line left-aligned header containing:
● Your full name
● Your instructor’s name
● The course name and number
● The date of submission
Steps for MLA Format
● Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
● Set 1 inch page margins.
● Apply double line spacing.
● Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page.
● Centre the paper’s title.
● Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.
The following MLA format guidelines can be applied to the document:
● Times New Roman 12
● 1″ page margins
● Double line spacing
● ½” indent for new paragraphs
● Title case capitalization for headings
Rules of MLA Format:
● One-inch margins. All four sides of the document must have an inch of space from the paper’s edge.
● Indented paragraphs: Every paragraph must be intended with a half-inch wide space, which is the default indent from the Tab key.
● Double space lines: All lines should be double-spaced to make the paper easy to read.
● Page numbers: The page numbering must be in the upper-right, after the writer’s last name.
● Comprehensible font: The two most used and preferred fonts for research papers are Arial and Times New Roman.
The MLA format provides a common standard for formatting and citations that everyone follows during research thereby giving them a reliable source of reference. The format set by MLA also enables researchers to remain consistent. The citations allow others to find the information that one has used in their research paper. It gives everyone a common template they can refer to for research. It simplifies the process of research and also makes the paper easy to read and comprehensible.
