MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Dread the MLA 9th Edition Format? You're Not Alone.
The thought of formatting an academic paper can send shivers down any student's spine. Between getting the margins right, perfecting your in-text citations, and ensuring your Works Cited page is flawless, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But mastering MLA doesn't have to be a nightmare.
Understanding the MLA 9th Edition Format
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a widely used format for academic papers, especially in the humanities. Keeping up with its specific guidelines, particularly the latest MLA 9th edition format, can feel like a constant battle. This guide will demystify the core requirements, helping you present your work professionally and correctly.
General Formatting Guidelines
Getting the basic setup right is crucial for any MLA paper. These foundational elements ensure consistency and readability throughout your document.
Page Setup and Layout
- Margins: Set all margins (top, bottom, left, right) to one inch.
- Font: Use an easily readable font like Times New Roman or Calibri, size 12pt.
- Spacing: Double-space your entire paper, including the Works Cited page.
- Page Numbers: Place a header in the upper right-hand corner of every page, including your last name followed by the page number (e.g., "Smith 1").
- First Page: The first page doesn't need a separate title page. Instead, include your name, your instructor's name, the course name, and the date, all double-spaced on separate lines in the upper left-hand corner. Below this, center your paper's title.
Mastering In-Text Citations
In-text citations tell your reader where you got your information. In MLA, these are typically parenthetical and include the author's last name and the page number(s) where the information was found.
Author-Page Format
The most common form is the author-page citation. For example, if you're quoting or paraphrasing from page 25 of a book by John Doe, you'd write: "..." (Doe 25). If the author's name is mentioned in the sentence, only the page number is needed (25).
For sources without an author, use a shortened version of the title. For instance, if citing an article titled "The Future of AI," you might use ("Future of AI" 10).
Understanding these citation rules is key to avoiding plagiarism and giving proper credit. For more detailed guidance on academic honesty, you might find resources on academic integrity helpful.
Crafting the Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page lists all sources you've referenced in your paper. It appears at the end of your document on a new page.
Basic Structure and Entries
- Heading: Center the title "Works Cited" at the top of the page. Do not bold, italicize, or underline it.
- Alphabetical Order: List all entries alphabetically by the author's last name (or by the first significant word of the title if no author is present).
- Hanging Indent: The first line of each entry should be flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines should be indented by 0.5 inches.
- Double Spacing: The entire Works Cited page should be double-spaced.
Common Entry Examples
While MLA 9th edition format emphasizes a "template" approach for sources, here are basic structures for frequently used types:
- Book: AuthorLastName, FirstName. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
- Article in a Periodical: AuthorLastName, FirstName. "Title of Article." Title of Periodical, vol. X, no. Y, Date, pp. Z-Z.
- Website: AuthorLastName, FirstName (if available). "Title of Page/Article." Title of Website, Day Month Year, URL.
Even with these guidelines, formatting can be tedious. Explore more writing tips and tricks on the Formatly blog to streamline your workflow.
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