Formatting Your MLA Works Cited Page Without Stress

Formatting an MLA Works Cited page can feel like a frustrating waste of time. One misplaced period, an incorrect hanging indent, or a missing italics tag can derail your research paper hours before deadline. Fortunately, mastering MLA 9th edition guidelines doesn't have to be a struggle when you know the exact rules.

The Modern Language Association updated its guidelines to streamline source citation. Whether you are citing scholarly books, journal articles, or online websites, your Works Cited list must follow uniform structure.

1. Core Rules for Layout and Spacing

Your Works Cited section appears at the very end of your paper and follows strict formatting guidelines:

• Separate Page: Always start your Works Cited list on a new page immediately following the main body of your paper.
• Title: Center the title Works Cited at the top of the page (1 inch from top margin). Do not underline, italicize, or place quotes around it.
• Margins & Spacing: Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides and double-space every line without adding extra space between entries.
• Running Header: Include your last name and the page number in the top-right corner, continuous with the rest of your document (e.g., Smith 9).

2. Ordering Entries Alphabetically

A common question students ask is: Does an MLA Works Cited page have to be in alphabetical order? Yes, absolutely.

Alphabetize all entries by the first word of each entry. In most cases, this is the author's last name. For works with no author, alphabetize by the first major word in the title (ignore "A", "An", or "The").

3. Setting Up Hanging Indents

Every reference entry longer than one line requires a hanging indent of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm). This means the first line of the entry is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented.

To create a hanging indent in Microsoft Word, select your references, open the Paragraph dialog box, locate Special under Indentation, and select Hanging by 0.5".

4. Run Automated Formatting Audits with Formatly

Manually auditing every author name, volume number, and hanging indent takes hours. Formatly automates this entire process with precision.

Formatly's Citation & Structure Audit™ checks structural formatting errors, heading hierarchy gaps, missing in-text citations for listed references, and citation–reference list mismatches. Your manuscript is scanned and formatted in seconds, with full tracked changes embedded directly inside Microsoft Word (.docx).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an MLA Works Cited page have to be in alphabetical order?

Yes. All entries on an MLA Works Cited page must be listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If a source has no author, list it alphabetically by the first word of the title (ignoring articles like A, An, or The).

Is an MLA Works Cited page double-spaced?

Yes. The entire Works Cited page must be double-spaced. Do not add extra line spaces before or after the "Works Cited" title, or between individual citation entries.

Should Works Cited be on a separate page in MLA format?

Yes. The Works Cited page must always begin on a new page at the end of your essay or research paper, maintaining continuous page numbering in the upper-right header.

How do you format a hanging indent in Word for MLA Works Cited?

In Microsoft Word, highlight your citations, right-click and select Paragraph. Under the Indentation section, change Special to Hanging and set it to 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).

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