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MLA Style Guide: Formatting MLA in Word

A guide to Modern Language Association (MLA) Style, 9th edition.

Formatting in Word

This page will show you how to format MLA style papers in Microsoft Word (specifically the Office 365 version we use at St. Andrews).

Per MLA 9th edition, you must: 1) double-space & insert page numbers throughout the paper, and 2) list your sources alphabetically in the Works Cited page(s) using handing indent.

Spacing

To double-space your paper. click on the Line and Paragraph Spacing button and then select 2.0. 

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Adding Page Numbers

Click on the Insert menu and then click on the Page Number tab. Hover over 'Top of Page' and select 'Plain Number 3' (to insert page numbers in the top right margin of your pages).

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Sorting Sources Alphabetically

To alphabetize your sources,

  1. Highlight all your sources
  2. Click the 'A-Z Sort' button.
  3. In the 'Sort Text' pop-up box, click Sort by: Paragraphs, select Text for type, and click the Descending radio button.
  4. Click OK.

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Create a Hanging Indent

To create a hanging indent,

  1. Highlight all sources
  2. Click the dialog launcher Button image under the 'Paragraph'
  3. Under the 'Indentation' area, select Hanging under the 'Special' drop-down menu.
  4. Click OK.

(See Screenshot Above)