How to Create an MLA Heading: A Simple Guide

Creating a proper MLA heading is essential for formatting your research paper correctly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the necessary steps to create a clear and professional MLA heading, ensuring your work meets academic standards.
By Taylor

Understanding the MLA Heading

The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is widely used in the humanities, particularly in writing on language and literature. A correctly formatted MLA heading provides important information about your paper. Let’s break it down step-by-step.

Step 1: Use the Right Font and Size

Start with a standard, easily readable font like Times New Roman, size 12. This ensures your heading looks professional and is easy to read.

Step 2: Set Up Your Margins

Your document should have 1-inch margins on all sides. This is a standard practice in MLA formatting and helps keep your text within the page boundaries.

Step 3: Align Your Text to the Left

The entire heading should be left-aligned, which means it starts from the left margin.

Step 4: Include Your Information

Your MLA heading should include the following details:

  1. Your Name: Start with your full name. For example:

Taylor Smith

  1. Instructor’s Name: Below your name, write your instructor’s name. For example:

    Professor Johnson

  2. Course Name: Next, include the course name or number:

    English 101

  3. Date: Finally, add the date in the format Day Month Year (e.g., 15 October 2023):

    15 October 2023

Example of an MLA Heading

Putting it all together, your MLA heading should look like this:

Taylor Smith  
Professor Johnson  
English 101  
15 October 2023

Step 5: Add the Title of Your Paper

After your heading, you should leave one double-spaced line and then center the title of your paper. Make sure to use standard capitalization rules (capitalize major words). For example:

The Impact of Technology on Education

Final Touches

Remember, the entire heading and title should be double-spaced, with no extra spaces between lines. Your final document should look neat and organized, making it easy for readers to follow.

Conclusion

And there you have it! With these simple steps, you can create a proper MLA heading that meets academic standards. Remember to keep practicing, and soon it will become second nature. Good luck with your writing!