Part I: How to Format a Document - Commack Schools



Instructions for Formatting a Document in MLA Format

Microsoft Word 2010

IMPORTANT: Format your paper BEFORE you begin typing. Trust me on this one!

A. OPENING A DOCUMENT

1. Open Microsoft Word 2010 and go to File on the menu toolbar.

2. Click New and then click Blank Document (a blank document may open automatically).

***Make sure your cursor is at the VERY TOP LEFT of your page before continuing. ***

B. MARGINS

1. Go to Page Layout on the menu toolbar and click Margins.

2. Under the Margin Tab, click the choice Normal (left, right, top, bottom must be 1 inch).

C. LINE SPACING

1. Go to Page Layout on the menu toolbar.

2. On the Paragraph tab, check to see if under the Spacing section the “Before” and “After” boxes are set to 0 pt. (on some computers the default is set to .10 and must be changed to 0 pt.) Don’t change the “Indent” section.

3. On the Paragraph tab, pull down the arrow and look for Line Spacing (on Indents and Spacing tab) and click Double Space. Click OK (or Choose 2.0 for double-spacing.) If your cursor is not at the very top of your page, your spacing will be incorrect, especially in your heading.

D. FONT

1. Go to the Home section on the menu toolbar.

2. From the Font tab, Select Times New Roman.

3. Select size 12 for the font size. 

E. HEADER and FOOTER

1. Go to Insert then Header on the menu toolbar (OR just double click at the top of your page; a header box will appear.) Hit the tab button two times.

2. Change the font style to Times New Roman. Leave the font size at 11 points. Type your Last name (capitalize the first letter of your last name) and press the space bar 1 time.

3. Click on the Page Number (in the Header & Footer section). Select the Current Position and then Plain Number. The page number will be automatically inserted after your last name.

(NOTE: never just type in the number “1” after your last name--You must format the page number as outlined in this step or the page number will not change automatically when you go to the next pages in your document.)

4. Place your cursor at the bottom of the page or go back to Insert and click go to Footer. Change the text to Times New Roman but leave the font size at 11 points. Type the name of the assignment (usually the Journal #).

F. STARTING YOUR WORK: MLA HEADING AND TITLE

1. Make sure you have clicked OUT of the header/footer and placed your

cursor on the upper left hand corner of your new document.

2. Type the MLA heading (see example).

3. After the heading, press enter once.

4. Type your title. Center your title. Do not italicize, bold,

underline or put your title in quotes. After the title, press

enter once. (Remember your document is already formatted

for double space so you do not need to do it again.)

5. Press tab to indent the first sentence of your paragraph.

• There should not be any additional white space on the document.

• Use the “Writing Pitfalls” checklist to proofread all work.

• Note: There is a difference between a header and heading.

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EXAMPLE HEADING

Johan Smith

Mrs. Malone

English 10 E, Period 9

9 September 2019

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