Set one-inch margins and double spacing, add the running header, build the four-line first-page heading, center the essay title, indent each paragraph, and finish with a Works Cited page when sources are used.
Set up the essay before writing
Choose US Letter paper unless your instructor specifies another size. Apply one-inch margins, a readable standard-size font, double spacing, zero extra paragraph spacing, and a half-inch first-line indent.
Build the essay’s first page
Add your last name and automatic page number at the upper right. In the body, type your name, instructor, course, and date on four left-aligned lines, then center the essay title.
Format body paragraphs
Return to left alignment after the title. Start each paragraph with a half-inch first-line indent and maintain double spacing. Do not insert extra blank lines to separate paragraphs.
Handle quotations and section headings
Short quotations remain in the paragraph. Longer quotations may require a block format; section headings should be informative and consistently styled. Verify detailed source-use rules in an authoritative MLA reference.
Finish and submit
Review the running header, title styling, spacing, and indents. If the essay cites sources, add a Works Cited page and confirm that every in-text citation has a matching entry.
Create your MLA header
Enter your details once, see the complete first page, then copy or download it.
Open the free generatorFrequently asked questions
Does an MLA essay need a title page?
Usually no. Use the standard first-page heading unless your instructor specifically requests a separate title page.
How long should an MLA essay be?
MLA controls presentation, not assignment length. Follow the word-count or page-count requirement from your instructor.
Based on the MLA Style Center’s paper-formatting guidance and the MLA Handbook, ninth edition. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Always follow your instructor’s directions.