UPDATE (5/20/26 @ 7:30am AZ time):
The GCU Library's updated version of LopeCat, the library’s online catalog, is live! For more details on what has changed, visit the What's New Guide .
Citing Sources in MLA: Formatting MLA Papers
Getting Started Formatting a Paper
A Typing Template, a formatted Word document that you can use to type your paper, is available at the link below. Using a template is highly recommended, as the basic formatting—the margins, font type and size, indents, and spacing—are already set up for you. The templates also include instructions. You can also find the template on the Student Success Center's Writing Center, under "Style Guides and Templates."
MLA has additional examples and instructions on formatting in the MLA Handbook Plus.
New for 9th Edition: Formatting rules were added for tables, figures, and annotated bibliographies. You can find all the new rules in chapter 1 of the Handbook , linked below.
- MLA Formatting of Papers This link opens in a new windowRequires login with GCU username and password.
- MLA Sample Papers This link opens in a new windowRequires login with GCU username and password.
Need to download Office? Office is available to GCU students, please visit the Tech Support website to view download instructions:
Need more help with using Word? Visit the Microsoft Office Training Center below:
- Microsoft Office Training Center from Microsoft This link opens in a new windowA guide to different Office applications in one convenient location!
Basic Formatting Guidelines
MLA uses the following basic format rules for papers.
- Margins of 1 in. on all sides.
- Double-space the entire paper.
- Place your last name in the header to the right, along with the page numbers.
- Use a standard size of font, such as Times New Roman size 12.
- Indent the first line of each paragraph .5 in.
- The first page begins with a heading, one inch from the top, and aligned on the left. The heading has the following, each on their own line:
- Your name.
- Your instructor's name.
- The course number.
- The date.
- On the next line, add the title, centered.
- Begin the works cited page on a separate page. Place "Works Cited" at the top, centered.
- Each entry on the works cited list has a hanging indent of .5 inches.
Word & Template Troubleshooting
How to Change Your Font to Times New Roman 12 in Word
First, copy and paste your citation into your Word document, or if you are not using a citation generator, type the information for the citation on your Word document.
Next, highlight the citation using your mouse so that the background of the text turns blue or gray as pictured.
Once the citation is highlighted, move your mouse cursor to the Font Section of the Home Ribbon, and click on the Dropdown Menu listing the various font styles. You can scroll through this list until you see Times New Roman. Click on it to select that font style. Your changes will occur automatically.
While the citation is highlighted, move your cursor back to the Font Section of the Home Ribbon once more and this time click on the Dropdown Menu listing the font sizes. Choose 12 by clicking on it. Your changes will occur automatically.
Change Case
You can change the case of your text from uppercase to lowercase automatically in most Microsoft applications (Word, PowerPoint, etc.). This can be very helpful when you are creating your reference list, as some of the citation generators that are built into the library databases will place names or titles in all capital letters as seen below.
To change the case of your text, you will start by highlighting the part of the text you want to change.
Once your text is highlighted, locate the Change Case option in the Font section of the Home Ribbon at the top of the page. When you hover your mouse over the icons on this area, a description of each will appear. When you find the Change Case icon, click on it using your Left Click Button on your mouse.
Once you click on Change Case, you will see a menu of options. To change text from uppercase letter to lowercase letters, just click on Lowercase in the menu.
This will change any highlighted text to all lowercase letters. You will then need to go back and capitalize the first letter, and the first letter after a colon or em dash.
How to Organize a Reference List in Alphabetical Order
Create your Reference list, making sure to correct the citations for proper APA format.
Use your mouse to highlight the entire Reference List so that the background text is blue or gray as shown below.
While your references are highlighted, move your mouse to the Paragraph section of the Home Ribbon and click on the AZ Sort icon.
Click on Sort. When you do this the Sort By menu appears. On this menu select Paragraph from the dropdown, choose Text as the Type, and place a mark in Ascending as shown. Then click OK.
Your references will then be placed in alphabetical order by author’s last name.
Steps to Create a Hanging Indent in Word
First, start by copying and pasting your citation into your Word document. Or, if you are not using a citation generator, type the information for your reference citation by hand.
After this is done, highlight the citation using your mouse so that the background is either blue or gray as shown below. Then, go to the Paragraph Section of the Home Ribbon (located next to the Font options) and choose Line Paragraph Spacing, and then click on Line Spacing Options.
You will see the following menu. Locate the word “Special” in the indentation section. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Hanging” by clicking on it. After this, click on “OK.”
After you do this, it will place your citation in the proper hanging indent format for APA as seen below. You can do this with multiple citations so that they all come out uniformly.
Merge Formatting
Sometimes when copying and pasting from the databases into Word or PowerPoint you will see several black lines obscuring the text. This happens frequently when copying and pasting citations from EBSCOhost databases such as LopeSearch, CINAHL or Academic Search Complete.
This is due to a formatting error that can be easily corrected using the following steps:
Delete the blacked out text from your page. After you have removed the text you don’t want, place your mouse on the page and click the Right Click button on your mouse (please see the Using a Mouse section of this guide for further guidance).
After right clicking on the page, you will see the Copy/Paste menu. From here, simply click on the Merge Formatting option or the middle clipboard.
*Note, if you are creating a reference list for any citation style, make sure to review the text to make sure the copied citation is accurate. The Merge Formatting option will sometimes remove hanging indents or italics, please review carefully before submitting.
On a Mac/Apple device? Options not showing on right-click?
Use the Paste menu on the Home Tab. It is the first menu item on the left. Make certain your cursor is where you want to paste too. Click the down arrow below paste and choose Merge Formatting under Paste Options.
