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Click here for an MS Word document example and explanation

These are the basic facts about formatting a paper according to the MLA (Modern Language Association). All your written work should be submitted with MLA formatting.

• The page has one inch margins all around (nothing is written on the last three lines of lined paper)
• When typed or word processed, a “normal” font in 12 point is used
• Lines are double spaced in typed or word processed work
• The student’s last name and page number are in the upper right hand corner ½ inch from top of the page on all pages
• The student’s name, teacher’s name, class, and date are on the first four lines in the upper left hand corner of the first page inside the one inch margins
• The date is in international format i.e. 8 August 2012
• The title is centered on the fifth line with no extra lines before or after the title
• All paragraphs are indented ½ inch or five spaces
• No extra lines are used between paragraphs

To set up a MS Word page using MLA formatting use the following steps (you may need to adapt the steps if you are using some other word processor):

1. Open an MS Word document
2. Set the Margins: Click on the "File" drop down menu > click on "Page Setup" > set the margins at one inch > set the gutter at zero > set the orientation at "Portrait" > apply to "Whole document" > click "OK"
3. Set the Line Spacing: Click the "Format" drop down menu > click "Paragraph" > set alignment "Left" > set indentation to "zero" > set before and after spacing to "zero" > set "Line Spacing" to "Double" > click "OK"
4. Set the Font: Set the font at "Times New Roman" and "12 pt" on the icon bar (or click the "Format" drop down menu > click on "Font" > set the font at "Times New Roman," the style at "Regular," and the size at "12")
5. Insert the Page Number: Click the "View" drop down menu > click on "Header and Footer" > click on the "Insert" drop down menu at the top of the screen >  click on "Page Numbers" > set alignment "Right" > check "Show number on first page" > click "OK"
6. Insert Your Last Name: While in the "View" menu and "Header and Footer" option, click on "Right Align" icon (or click on the "Format" drop down menu > click on "Paragraph" > set alignment to "Right" > click "OK") > Type last name > click on "Close" on header bar in the middle of the screen
7. Type Your Identifying Information: Type your first and last name > tap "Enter" on the keyboard > type your teacher's name > tap "Enter" on the keyboard > type your class including subject and period > tap "Enter" on the keyboard > type the date in international form (10 August 2009) > tap "Enter" on the keyboard
8. Type Your Title: Click the "Center Align" icon (or click on the "Format" drop down menu > click on "Paragraph" > set alignment to "Center" > click "OK") > type the title (capitalize first, last, and all main words - do not use quotation marks unless you are actually quoting the title of a short story or poem) > tap "Enter" on the keyboard>click the "Left Align" icon (or click on the "Format" drop down menu > click on "Paragraph" > set alignment to "Left" > click "OK")
9. Type your paragraphs: Tap the "Tab" key > type your paragraph > do not tap the "Enter" key until you have typed the whole paragraph > tap the "Enter" key only once at the end of a paragraph (you should not have an extra line space between paragraphs > use the "Tab" key to indent the beginning of each paragraph

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