This document is a set of instructions in order to format a paper in MLA style with Microsoft Word. This document is directed primarily toward those using a Windows machine on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) campus.

Setting the Document Attributes

An MLA style paper should fit certain standard layout guidelines.  This section describes how to meet those guidelines.

Set the font to 12-point Times New Roman.
MS-Word documents often default to 10-point pitch.  This is too small for most people to read easily.

1. From the menu, select "Format | Font..."
2. Click on the "Font" tab (if it is not already on top)
3. Set the font for Times New Roman, Regular, and 12.
4. Click "OK" or, to reset the default, click "Default..." and then "Yes"

Set the page margins to one inch all around

1. From the menu, select "File | Page Setup..." and click the Margins tab.
2. Set the top, bottom, left, and right margins to 1 inch.
3. Click "OK" or, to reset the default, click "Default..." and then "Yes".

Set the line spacing to double.  All text is double spaced, including quotations from other sources and the Works Cited list.

Note: You may wish to draft your paper in single-space, so that you can see more words on the screen at one time; if so, follow these instructions just before you print.

1. From the menu, select "Edit | Select All".
2. From the menu, select "Format | Paragraph..." and click the "Indents and Spacing" tab.
3. Set "Line spacing" to "Double".
4. Click "OK"

Adding the Header

The following section explains how to add a header consisting of your last name and the page number (see figure, below).

1. Click View at the top of the screen and a list of options will appear.
2. Click Header and Footer. The header section will appear inside a gray dotted square. Inside the square you will see a flashing cursor.
3. On the menu bar just above the ruler, click the Align Right icon (it looks like four lines aligned to the right).
4. Type your Last Name.
5. Add a single blank space after your name.
6. On the floating menu bar, click the Insert Page Number icon (looks like a number symbol in a page). It will automatically place the current page number on every page of your report.
7. Click Close to return back to your document. You can look at the top right-hand section of your page to see the header. It appears faint, to remind you that it is automatic; when you print your paper it will not appear faded.

Adding the Title Block

MLA style does not call for a separate title page. Instead, you should begin your paper with a title block (described below).

• Note that the title is not simply "Research Paper" or "Hamlet's Madness".
• Don't type spaces to center the title. Instead, click the Center icon located at the top of the screen (see image, right).
• Read the example paragraph below for a few tips about titles.

LastName 1

Firstname Lastname

Professor D. Jerz

English 110-010

31 January 2000

Original Website:
http://www.uwec.edu/jerzdg/orr/articles/research/mla_style.html