MLA Report Writing Mechanics

MLA General Format Requirements--Check with your teacher or assignment details

Paper:

• White, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.

• Use one side only.

• Left alignment.

Header - Pagination:

• Right alignment.

• Last name, space, automatic numbering, header set at .5

Heading:

• Left alignment.

• Student name, [return] teacher name, [return] class, period, [return] date D M Y (month spelled out). (double-spaced)

Title:

• Centered. Double space above and below title.

• Do not underline title, or put in quotation marks, or type it in all caps.

• Title page, if used, should include title, name, course and/or teacher, and date.

Margins:

• One inch at top, bottom, and sides.

Indenting:

• Indent five spaces (or one inch for handwriting) for each new paragraph.

• Set-off long direct quotations (four or more lines) by indenting one inch (10 spaces) from the left margin.

• For works cited entries, indent all lines one half inch except the first line. Set your word processing program to do a hanging indention.

Text:

• Double space body text and works cited entries.

• Double space set-off quotations. Block quotations are usually introduced with a colon.

• Use standard 12 point fonts.Times New Roman front is recommended.

• When ending a sentence, use one space before starting the next sentence. Two spaces can be used if you are consistent.

Quoting:

• When quoting directly, use quotation marks with reference citation.

• Do not use quotation marks for set-off quotations.

• Use three spaced periods...when omitting anything within a quotation.

• Use brackets [ ] to enclose anything added or changed within a quotation.