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Title Page and Heading Block
MLA itself does not require a separate title page for academic papers. For a course paper, your name, instructor, course, and date appear in a heading block on the first page, left-aligned, above the paper title. However, most graduate schools require a formatted title page for theses and dissertations. You must follow your institution's ETD template or graduate school handbook—it supersedes MLA.
No Title Page (Course Paper Heading Block)
If your school does not require a title page, format the first page with a heading block in the top-left corner, before your paper's title and body text:
With Title Page (Required by Many Graduate Schools)
If your graduate school requires a title page, it typically follows this layout: title centered and bolded, author name centered below, institution and program info centered, and date at the bottom. The exact spacing and content depend on your ETD template. Here is a common structure:
Do not assume MLA requires a title page. Many graduate schools provide an official ETD template that specifies exact formatting for title pages, signatures, abstract placement, and other front matter. Download your school's template first and follow it exactly. The template overrides MLA formatting in these areas.
Margins, Spacing, and Font
MLA 9 sets clear rules for basic page setup. These requirements apply throughout your thesis, from the title page to the Works Cited list. Many graduate schools adopt these same standards in their ETD templates.
| Element | MLA 9 Rule |
|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch on all four sides (top, bottom, left, right) |
| Line spacing | Double-spaced throughout (entire paper) |
| Font | 12-point, readable serif or sans-serif (Times New Roman, Georgia, Calibri, etc.) |
| Font consistency | Same font throughout entire paper (exceptions: code, figures, special symbols) |
| Paragraph indent | First line of every paragraph indented 0.5 inches (half inch) |
| Justification | Left-aligned; do not justify (force both margins flush) |
Special Notes
Font choice: MLA 9 is font-neutral. Times New Roman 12pt remains the most common choice in academic writing, but Calibri, Georgia, and Arial are equally acceptable. Your graduate school may have a preference—check your ETD template.
Double spacing: Every line of your paper must be double-spaced, with no extra blank lines between paragraphs. Let your word processor's double-spacing setting handle all vertical spacing. The exception is footnotes or endnotes, which follow your word processor's default behavior.
Larger margins for binding: Some universities require a 1.5-inch left margin to accommodate binding. If your graduate school specifies this in its handbook or ETD template, use their measurement instead of the standard 1-inch MLA margin.
Block quotations: Quotations longer than three lines of poetry or four lines of prose should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, double-spaced, without quotation marks. The citation appears after the final punctuation.
Running Head and Page Numbers
MLA uses a simple running head format: your last name followed by a space and the page number, positioned in the top right corner of every page (including the first page). This is the standard format, though many universities substitute a numbers-only header for formal theses.
Standard MLA Running Head Format
In the top right corner of every page, place your last name and the page number:
Smith 1
This is the first line of your paper body text, which begins about 1 inch from the top of the page...
The running head should be positioned in the header area of your word processor (not manually typed on each page) and should use the same font and size as the body text.
University-Specific Variations
Many graduate schools do not use the MLA running head for theses and dissertations. They may require:
- Page numbers only (no name), centered at the top or bottom of every page
- Roman numerals for front matter (abstract, acknowledgments, table of contents) and Arabic numerals for the body
- No running head at all, just a page number at the bottom center
Check your graduate school's ETD guidelines or template before formatting your running head. University requirements override MLA style for formal theses.
Heading Levels
Unlike APA, which prescribes five numbered heading levels with specific formatting, MLA does not define formal heading levels. Instead, MLA suggests a practical three-level scheme commonly used in humanities theses. The key principle: headings should be visually distinct and hierarchical, but there is flexibility in implementation.
| Level | Position | Formatting | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centered | Bold | Major section headings (Chapter 1, Literature Review, Conclusion) |
| 2 | Left-aligned | Bold and Italic | Subsection headings within a major section |
| 3 | Left-aligned | Italic | Sub-subsection headings (used sparingly) |
Visual Example
Chapter One: The Foundations of Modern Poetry
This paragraph begins a new line after the Level 1 heading. The text is left-aligned and double-spaced, with the first line indented 0.5 inches.
Historical Context
This paragraph follows a Level 2 heading, which is bold and italic. Sub-topics within the section use this level.
The Romantic Era
A Level 3 heading, in italic only, may be used for further subdivision. Use this level sparingly; most theses use only Levels 1 and 2.
Guidelines
- Do not skip heading levels. If you use a Level 2 heading, all Level 2 headings should be similarly formatted.
- Each heading should introduce a new section—do not place a heading immediately before a single short paragraph.
- Headings should use title case (capitalize first and last words and all major words).
- If your graduate program has published a style guide or template with different heading styles, follow that instead.
Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page lists all sources you quoted, paraphrased, or referenced in your thesis. It appears on a new page at the end, after your paper ends but before any appendices.
Basic Layout Rules
- Title: Center the word "Works Cited" at the top of the page in regular font (not bold or italicized), using title case.
- Alphabetical order: List all sources in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If there is no author, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignoring "A," "An," "The").
- Hanging indent: The first line of each entry is flush left; all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches. Set this via your word processor's paragraph formatting, not by manual tabs.
- Line spacing: Double-space the entire Works Cited page, including between entries. No extra blank lines.
- Font: Use the same font as the rest of your paper (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt).
- Page number: The Works Cited page uses the same running head format as the rest of your paper (your last name and page number, top right).
Example Entries
Journal article:
Delacroix, Marie. "Narrative Fragmentation in Postcolonial Literature." Journal of Modern Letters, vol. 34, no. 2, 2021, pp. 156–178.
Book:
Chen, Robert. The Architecture of Memory: Building Narrative Across Generations. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Manually formatting every entry is error-prone. Use a tool like the MLA Style Center's interactive citation tool, your library's citation manager, or software like Zotero or Mendeley to generate correctly formatted entries. Then review each one for accuracy.
In-Text Citations
In MLA, in-text citations use the author-page format: place the author's last name and the page number (if available) in parentheses immediately after the quoted or paraphrased material, before the period. The page number is optional if the source has no page numbers or if you are citing the source as a whole.
Basic Format
When quoting or paraphrasing, insert a parenthetical citation with the author's last name and page number:
As Chen argues, "The structure of memory is not linear but recursive" (156).
If the author's name appears in the sentence, omit it from the parenthetical and include only the page number:
Chen argues that "the structure of memory is not linear but recursive" (156).
Web Sources (No Page Numbers)
For web pages and online sources without page numbers, use only the author's last name (or the title if there is no author). Do not use URL or digital object identifiers (DOIs) in the in-text citation:
According to the MLA Style Center, "Works Cited entries must be arranged alphabetically" (MLA).
Multiple Works by the Same Author
If you cite two or more works by the same author, include a shortened version of the title in the parenthetical to distinguish them:
One source emphasizes the linguistic turn in poetry (Chen, "Architecture" 45), while another explores narrative recursion (Chen, "Memory" 89).
Unlike Chicago style, MLA does not typically use footnotes or endnotes for citations. Put all citation information in in-text parenthetical citations and the Works Cited page. Footnotes may be used for supplementary content (e.g., "See also the discussion in Appendix A"), but citations belong in parentheses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MLA require a separate title page for a thesis?
MLA itself does not require a separate title page for academic papers. However, most graduate schools and universities do require one for theses and dissertations. Check your institution's ETD template or graduate school handbook first. If your school requires a title page, the heading-block format (name, advisor, program, date left-aligned on the first page) is used only for course papers.
What is the difference between MLA and APA for a thesis?
MLA is far more common in humanities theses (literature, history, languages, philosophy). APA dominates in the social sciences. MLA uses author-page in-text citations and a Works Cited list; APA uses author-year citations and a References list. MLA does not prescribe numbered heading levels the way APA does. Always check your graduate program's requirements first—they may mandate one style over the other.
Is MLA 8 or MLA 9 the current standard?
MLA 9 (published in 2021) is the current edition. MLA 8 is no longer the latest, but some institutions have not yet updated their templates or guidelines. Confirm which edition your graduate school specifies in its handbook or ETD guidelines. When in doubt, use MLA 9.
How do I cite the same source twice in a row?
In MLA, if you cite the same source in consecutive sentences or paragraphs, use the same in-text citation format (author's last name and page number). You do not need a special shortened form—just repeat the citation. MLA 9 eliminated the old "ibid." convention. If the source is obvious from context, you may omit the citation for the second mention, but this is discouraged in formal theses.
Can I use a different font than Times New Roman?
MLA 9 is font-neutral and permits any readable 12-point font. Times New Roman, Calibri, Georgia, and Arial are all acceptable. Your graduate school may have a preference stated in its ETD template. Choose one font and use it consistently throughout your thesis. The key is readability and consistency, not a specific typeface.
Sources
- MLA Style Center — Official MLA 9 formatting guidance, including current rules for margins, headings, citations, and Works Cited formatting.
- MLA: Formatting Papers — Comprehensive guide to paper setup, margins, fonts, and line spacing.
- MLA: Works Cited Page — Detailed requirements for Works Cited layout, entry order, and hanging indents.
- MLA: In-Text Citations — Author-page citation format and examples for all source types.