Microsoft Word 7 Settings for MLA 6th edition
Information Commons @ CTC | Cannell Library | Clark College
Set the font and size
To format a new document: Before doing
anything else, from the Font menu select Times
New Roman, 12.
To format an existing document: press CTRLA to select the entire document. From the Font
menu choose Times New Roman, 12.
Format the Header
1. Click the Insert tab
2. In the “Header & Footer” section, click Page
Number  Top of Page  Plain Number 3
3. Place the curser to the left of the page number and
backspace. Type your last name.
4. To close the header, double click anywhere in the
document outside of the header.
Set all margins to 1 inch
1. Click Page Layout tab
2. Click the Margins icon
3. Choose Normal
Format the document information
1. Type your name, Enter
2. Type your professor's name, Enter.
3. Type the course name and number, Enter.
4. Type the date, in this format:
date month year, example: 17 March 2006
5. Enter
Set line spacing to double space
1. Click the Home tab. In the “Paragraph”
section, click the arrow in the bottom right
corner.
Format the body
1. Click the Home tab.
2. In the “Paragraph” section click on the align
center icon (bottom row, second from left).
3. Type the title. Capitalize the first word, all major
words and proper nouns. Do not underline,
boldface, italicize, or enclose in quotes). Enter.
4. In the “Paragraph” section click on the left align
icon (bottom row, left).
5. Set the paragraph indent to ½”: Click the Page
Layout tab. Click the arrow in the bottom right
corner of the Paragraph box. In the indentation
menu, set left to 0.5”
6. Enter your text and just type. Don’t press Enter
until you are ready to start a new paragraph.
2.
3.
In Spacing, set Before and After to 0 pts.
Set Line Spacing to double.
th
(page images from Rules for Writers, 6 edition, 2009 Update, pages 71-72)
Format the Works Cited page
1. Start a new page for Works Cited:
Click the Insert Tab, in the “Pages” section click
Page Break.
2. Click the Home tab, click on the Align Center
icon.
3. Type the words: Works Cited (do not underline,
boldface, italicize, or enclose in quotes). Enter
4. Click on the Align Left icon.
5. In the “Paragraph” section, click the arrow in the
bottom right corner.
6. In the Indentation menu, under Special, choose
Hanging.
7. Type each citation (source). Press Enter once after
each source.
Finishing Touches
1. Printer setting: single-sided, turn OFF “EconoMode” mode:
a. Click Print. Click Properties (top right corner)
b. In the Paper/Quality tab, make sure “EconoMode” is unchecked
c. In the Finishing tab, make sure “Print on both sides” is unchecked
2. Fasten pages together with a staple, unless instructed otherwise.
th
Common/Handouts2009-10/MS Word Setting for MLA 6 .docx km 1/26/2010