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MLA 9 formatting comes down to a short list of settings: 1-inch margins, a readable 11-13 pt font (12 pt Times New Roman is the usual choice), double spacing throughout, a four-line heading at the top left of page 1, a centered title, a header with your last name and page number at the top right of every page, and a Works Cited page with a 0.5-inch hanging indent. This guide gives one filled template, a checklist you can run before submitting, and a table showing where university library guides agree and where your instructor decides. It follows MLA 9th edition (2021), checked as of October 2026.
MLA 9 formatting at a glance
| Element | Setting |
|---|---|
| Paper and margins | 8.5 x 11 in paper, 1 in margins on all sides |
| Font | Readable, 11-13 pt; Times New Roman 12 pt is the common example; italics must be clearly distinguishable from roman text |
| Spacing | Double-space everything, including the heading, quotations, notes and Works Cited; one space after a period; text flush left, not justified |
| Paragraphs | First line indented 0.5 in (press Tab once) |
| First page | No separate title page unless requested; heading block top left, then the centered title |
| Header | Last name, a space, then the page number, flush right, 0.5 in from the top |
| Block quotations | Longer than four typed lines: indent 0.5 in |
| Works Cited | New page at the end, centered heading, alphabetical, 0.5 in hanging indent |
How do you set up the page in MLA 9?
Use 8.5 x 11 in paper with 1-inch margins on every side, a legible font between 11 and 13 pt, and double spacing for the whole paper, including the heading block, block quotations, notes and the Works Cited page. Leave one space after a period and keep the text flush left rather than justified. Indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 in, which is one press of the Tab key. If your instructor gives different instructions, follow the instructor.
What goes in the first-page heading and title?
An MLA paper does not need a separate title page unless one is requested. Start the page with a four-line block at the top left, double-spaced: your name, your instructor’s name, the course name and number, and the date written as day month year. Below the date, on a new line, center the title in Title Case. Do not underline it, italicize it, put it in quotation marks or set it in all capitals. Double-space between the title and the first line of text. If your instructor asks for a cover page instead, see our guide to the MLA cover page.
How does the header with last name and page number work?
Place your last name, a space and the page number in the header, flush right, 0.5 in from the top of the page. Use Arabic numerals, and insert the number with your word processor’s page-number field so it updates itself. Whether the header appears on page 1 is something your instructor can decide; see the comparison table below. The steps for Word and Google Docs are in our guide to MLA page numbers.
How should the Works Cited page be formatted?
Start the Works Cited on a separate page at the end of the paper, with the same margins and the same header as the rest of the paper. Center the words Works Cited at the top, without italics or quotation marks. Double-space the list with no extra space between entries. List entries alphabetically by the author’s last name (by editor for an edited collection, or by title when there is no author), and give each entry a hanging indent: the first line flush left, every later line indented 0.5 in. Every entry should correspond to a citation in the text. The entry patterns themselves are covered in our guide to MLA Works Cited format.
What does a filled MLA 9 paper look like?
The template below uses fictional content only: the student, instructor, course and paper do not exist. Annotations in square brackets describe the formatting and are not part of the paper.
[Header, top right, 0.5 in from top] Rivera 1
Jordan Rivera [flush left, double-spaced]
Professor Morgan
ENGL 101
14 March 2026
The Revival of Paper Maps [centered, Title Case,
no italics or quotes]
[0.5 in indent] Paper maps are making a comeback in classrooms,
and this essay asks why. One fictional source argues that maps teach scale
(Okafor 194). [Double-spaced text continues,
flush left, 1 in margins, 12 pt Times New Roman.]
[Block quotation: only if longer than four typed lines; indent
the whole quotation 0.5 in from the left margin.]
---------------------------- new page -----------------------------
[Header, top right] Rivera 4
Works Cited [centered]
Author, First. [Entry written to the MLA pattern for its source type.
Second and later lines are indented 0.5 in (hanging indent).]
Author, Second. [Next entry, alphabetical, no extra blank line.]
The in-text citation (Okafor 194) in the sample shows the author-and-page form, with the page number and no p. or pp. (Okafor is a fictional author.) For other in-text patterns see in-text citation examples in MLA.
MLA 9 formatting checklist
- Paper size 8.5 x 11 in; margins 1 in on all sides.
- Readable font, 11-13 pt; italics clearly distinct.
- Whole paper double-spaced, including heading, quotations, notes and Works Cited.
- One space after each period; text flush left.
- Four-line heading top left: name, instructor, course, date (day month year).
- Title centered in Title Case, with no underline, italics, quotation marks or all caps.
- First line of each paragraph indented 0.5 in.
- Header on each page: last name, space, page number, flush right (page 1 per your instructor).
- Block quotations over four typed lines indented 0.5 in.
- Works Cited on its own page, heading centered, alphabetical, hanging indent 0.5 in, no extra space between entries.
- Every Works Cited entry matches a citation in the text.
Where do the style guides agree, and where does your instructor decide?
Three university library guides (listed under Sources, checked 29 October 2026) agree on the core layout and differ on a few details.
| Item | UPRM Libraries | Columbus State CC Library | UCF Libraries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margins | 1 in | 1 in | 1 in |
| Font size | 11-13 pt | Legible, e.g. Times New Roman 12 pt | Times New Roman or similar, 11-13 pt |
| Paragraph indent | 0.5 in | 1/2 in with Tab | 0.5 in |
| Header position | Top right, last name and page number | 1/2 in from top, flush right | 0.5 in from top, flush right |
| Header on page 1 | Every page | Instructor may ask you to omit it on page 1 | Running head with last name and page number |
| Separate title page | Heading on first page | Not unless requested | First page begins with the heading, title below the date |
| Hanging indent | Required; measurement not stated | Described as five spaces | Later lines 0.5 in |
This page uses 0.5 in for the hanging indent, the measurement given by UCF. All three guides say to follow your instructor’s instructions where they differ from the defaults.
Which deeper MLA pages cover each part?
| Part of the paper | Read next |
|---|---|
| Cover page requested by an instructor | MLA cover page |
| Header and page numbers | MLA page numbers |
| Long quotations | MLA block quote |
| Notes | MLA footnotes |
| Works Cited entries | MLA Works Cited format |
| In-text citations | MLA in-text citation examples |
FAQ
Does an MLA paper need a title page?
No, not unless your instructor requests one. The heading block and centered title go at the top of page 1, and the text starts below the title.
What font and size should I use in MLA 9?
Any readable font in the 11-13 pt range. Times New Roman 12 pt is the example the guides give, and italics should be clearly distinguishable from the surrounding text.
Should the page number appear on page 1?
The default header is your last name and page number at the top right of every page. Columbus State Community College Library’s guide notes that an instructor may ask you to omit it on page 1, so check your assignment.
Should I add a blank line between Works Cited entries?
No. Double-space the whole list without extra space between entries.
Sources and edition
Edition: MLA 9th edition (2021), as of October 2026. Sources checked on 29 October 2026:
- UPRM Libraries, “MLA 9th Edition Style Guide: Formatting your Paper” (page last updated 27 October 2026): https://libguides.uprm.edu/MLA9/en/formatting
- Columbus State Community College Library, “MLA Citations: Format Your Paper” (last updated 29 July 2026): https://library.cscc.edu/mla9/format
- UCF Libraries, “MLA Style Guide: General Guidelines” (last updated 7 May 2025): https://guides.ucf.edu/MLA9
- MLA Style Center, “In-Text Citations: The Basics” overview, for the page-number-only form such as (Baron 194): https://style.mla.org/in-text-citations-overview/
