How to do mla format on google docs

Imagine you’re sitting at your desk on a Sunday evening, finalizing your research paper that’s due tomorrow. You’ve chosen Google Docs for its ease of sharing with classmates and your professor, but now you’re faced with the daunting task of formatting your work according to the MLA style. You know that proper formatting is crucial for academic success, but you’re unsure where to start. How do you make sure your document meets MLA guidelines, from the title page to in-text citations? Let’s break down the steps you need to follow to format your Google Docs project in MLA style seamlessly.

To format your document in MLA style using Google Docs, start with a new document. Set the font to Times New Roman, size 12, and ensure the line spacing is set to double. Add a header with your last name and page number in the top right corner. Create a title page only if required by your instructor; otherwise, include your name, instructor’s name, course title, and date on the first page. Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch, and include in-text citations for any quoted or paraphrased material. Finally, create a Works Cited page at the end of your document, listing all sources in alphabetical order.

To create your document in MLA format, start by opening a new Google Docs file. Then, set your font to Times New Roman in 12-point size. To adjust line spacing, navigate to the toolbar, select “Format,” then go to “Line spacing,” and choose “Double.”

Now, for the header, click on “Insert,” then hover over “Headers & footers” and choose “Header.” In the header section, right-align your text (click on the right-align button on the toolbar) and type your last name followed by a space. To insert a page number, click on “Insert” again, choose “Page numbers,” and select the appropriate format.

If your instructor requires a title page, type your name, instructor’s name, course title, and date in the top left corner of the first page, double-spacing between these entries. If not, center the title of your paper, capitalizing major words, and place it a third of the way down the page.

For body paragraphs, be sure to indent the first line of each by one-half inch. When you incorporate quotes or paraphrases, use in-text citations formatted like this: (Author’s Last Name page number), ensuring that all cited sources are listed in your Works Cited section.

To create a Works Cited page, start a new page at the end of your document, titled “Works Cited” (centered at the top) and ensure that all entries are double-spaced. Each entry should begin with a hanging indent, meaning the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented half an inch. List sources in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, following MLA citation guidelines for the specific types of sources you’re using. By following these steps, you’ll ensure your paper adheres to MLA format and meets academic standards.