MLA Citation Guide 8th Edition: MLA Home

Follow these guidelines in formatting your MLA paper:

- Double-space the text of the paper.

- Use Times New Roman font, 12 point.

- Leave only one space after punctuation marks.

- Set margins of the document to 1 inch on all sides.

- Tab indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin.

- Make a page header that numbers all pages in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

Works Cited Page:

1. Alphabetize by first word in entry (no numbers, bullets, etc.)
2. Double space (no extra spaces between entries)
3. Reverse/hanging indent
4. Citations with more than one line of text should be double-spaced and have a hanging indent of 1/2 inch or 5 spaces. For additional examples of citations in MLA style see the OWL at Purdue MLA Formatting and Style Guide.

The Writing Center in the Library Learning Resources (LLR) building provides guidance and tutoring for writing across the curriculum.

Appointments are required for tutoring (same day appointments are often possible). 

To make a 45 min appointment with a tutor, go to the Writing Center website and use the online scheduling system. Online Reservations are required.

Ref. LB2369 .G53 2016

Welcome to the MLA resource page. MLA is a style of writing and formatting that is created and updated by the Modern Language Association, and is most commonly used in the humanities, such as in English courses.

Within this guide, you'll find examples of citations for a Works Cited page based on the MLA Handbook, 8th ed., 2016.  Copies of the Handbook are available in the Reference Collection of the Library. If you need help with your MLA citations, check with the reference librarian in person, by phone at (805) 378-1506 or email at mcreference@vcccd.edu.

Note: Many databases now include citation features. These citations may not be completely correct and frequently have errors in capitalization and names. Use them as a starting point and be sure to check them before including them in your paper. 

Need to cite a different type of source than those that are covered in this guide The following links go to other trusted sites on MLA.

 
MLA citation guide by Amy Fyn at Bowling Green State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.

Adapted from Chris Miko - Bowling Green State University Libraries.

Examples on this guide are based on the MLA Handbook, 8th ed. Be sure to check the MLA Handbook for additional examples.