To create a Works Cited page in MLA format, follow these key steps:
Formatting the Works Cited Page
- Start the Works Cited on a new page at the end of your paper.
- Title the page Works Cited , centered at the top, without italics or quotation marks.
- Use the same one-inch margins and header (last name and page number) as the rest of your paper.
- Double-space all entries with no extra space between them.
- Align the first line of each citation to the left margin.
- Indent the second and subsequent lines of each entry by 0.5 inches (hanging indent) to clearly separate entries
Organizing Entries
- List entries alphabetically by the author's last name.
- If no author, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignore "a," "an," or "the").
- For multiple works by the same author, arrange alphabetically by title and replace the author’s name with three em dashes (---) for subsequent entries
Basic Citation Elements
For each source, include relevant elements in this order:
Author(s). Title of source (italicized if a book or website). Title of
container (e.g., journal, website), other contributors (editors, translators),
version, number, publisher, publication date, location (pages, URL, DOI)
Example for a Book
- Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Vintage International, 2007.
Example for a Website
- California Wildlife Protection Coalition. California Mountain Lion Page. Sierra Club, 24 Mar. 1999. Web. 13 April 2013.
Creating Hanging Indents
- In Microsoft Word: Highlight entries → Right-click → Paragraph → Indentation → Special → Hanging → 0.5 inches.
- In Google Docs: Highlight entries → Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → Special indent → Hanging → 0.5 inches
Summary
- Title the page Works Cited , centered.
- Alphabetize entries by author or title.
- Use double spacing and hanging indents.
- Include full citation details for every source cited in your paper.
- Only list sources you directly referenced, not those merely consulted
This structure ensures clarity and proper credit to your sources, following MLA guidelines.
