How to put your essay into correct MLA format - Microsoft Word versions 1997-2003
If you are using Microsoft Word versions 1997-2003 (older version), follow these steps. If not, see other side:
1. Open Microsoft Word. (Double click the large blue “W” shortcut icon on your desktop, or click the “start” menu in the lower left, click “all programs,” click “Microsoft Office,” and click “Microsoft Word.” Or, if you already have a file saved, locate and double click the file.)
2. Looking near the top of the screen, check to make sure that your document is set to Times New Roman font, with the size set to 12.
3. Set your margins to one inch:
a. Click the File menu and choose Page Setup
b. Under the “Margins” section, click on the small up and down arrows until the “Top,” Bottom,” “Left,” and “Right” margins are set to one inch [1”].
c. Click OK to close page setup.
4. Set your document to double spacing:
a. Click the Format menu and choose Paragraph… (You may need to click the small down arrow on the Format menu to make the Paragraph option appear.
b. Below Line spacing, in the lower right side of the window, where you see “Single,” click the blue down arrow to the right and choose “Double.”
c. Click OK to close the Paragraph window.
5. Type the correct information that goes only on the beginning of page 1:
a. Type your name and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
b. Type your instructor’s name (Mr. O’Roark) and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
c. Type the name of your class (English 097) and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
d. Type the date the essay is due in the form of: date number; full name of month; full name of year, like this: 15 March 2008 and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
e. Type a title for your essay that gives an interesting hint of what it will be about. Use Capital Letters at the Beginning of Each Important Word.
f. Center your title in the middle of the left and right sides of the page:
i.
With your cursor flashing on the line of your title, click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows centered lines, like this:
1. (If you can’t find this, you may need to click the small black-on-dark-blue arrow all the way on the right side of the top of the screen in order to make this icon appear.)
ii. Press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
g.
Align the first line of your essay after the title to the left side of the page: With your cursor flashing on the line below your title, press the Backspace key once, OR click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows left-aligned lines, like this:
h. Press the tab key to indent your first paragraph. (When you are finished with your first paragraph, you will press Enter ONE TIME and then press the tab key to start a new paragraph.)
i. NOTE: This is page 1 of your essay. There is NO extra title page in MLA format.
6. Enter a header with page number that will automatically be placed at the top of each page:
a. Click the View menu and choose Header and Footer.
b.
Type your last name and press the space bar.
c. Click the icon with the number sign that looks like this: #
d.
Align your header on the right side of the page: Click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows right-aligned lines, like this:
e. Click Close on the Header and Footer window.
7. Save your work by choosing Save under the File menu and selecting where you want to save.
1. Open Microsoft Word. (Double click the large blue “W” shortcut icon on your desktop, or click the “start” menu in the lower left, click “all programs,” click “Microsoft Office,” and click “Microsoft Word.” Or, if you already have a file saved, locate and double click the file.)
2. Looking near the top of the screen, check to make sure that your document is set to Times New Roman font, with the size set to 12.
3. Set your margins to one inch:
a. Click the File menu and choose Page Setup
b. Under the “Margins” section, click on the small up and down arrows until the “Top,” Bottom,” “Left,” and “Right” margins are set to one inch [1”].
c. Click OK to close page setup.
4. Set your document to double spacing:
a. Click the Format menu and choose Paragraph… (You may need to click the small down arrow on the Format menu to make the Paragraph option appear.
b. Below Line spacing, in the lower right side of the window, where you see “Single,” click the blue down arrow to the right and choose “Double.”
c. Click OK to close the Paragraph window.
5. Type the correct information that goes only on the beginning of page 1:
a. Type your name and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
b. Type your instructor’s name (Mr. O’Roark) and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
c. Type the name of your class (English 097) and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
d. Type the date the essay is due in the form of: date number; full name of month; full name of year, like this: 15 March 2008 and press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
e. Type a title for your essay that gives an interesting hint of what it will be about. Use Capital Letters at the Beginning of Each Important Word.
f. Center your title in the middle of the left and right sides of the page:
i.
With your cursor flashing on the line of your title, click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows centered lines, like this:
1. (If you can’t find this, you may need to click the small black-on-dark-blue arrow all the way on the right side of the top of the screen in order to make this icon appear.)
ii. Press Enter ONE TIME to go to the next line.
g.
Align the first line of your essay after the title to the left side of the page: With your cursor flashing on the line below your title, press the Backspace key once, OR click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows left-aligned lines, like this:
h. Press the tab key to indent your first paragraph. (When you are finished with your first paragraph, you will press Enter ONE TIME and then press the tab key to start a new paragraph.)
i. NOTE: This is page 1 of your essay. There is NO extra title page in MLA format.
6. Enter a header with page number that will automatically be placed at the top of each page:
a. Click the View menu and choose Header and Footer.
b.
Type your last name and press the space bar.
c. Click the icon with the number sign that looks like this: #
d.
Align your header on the right side of the page: Click on the small icon near the top of the screen that shows right-aligned lines, like this:
e. Click Close on the Header and Footer window.
7. Save your work by choosing Save under the File menu and selecting where you want to save.
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