When you hear “MLA format,” you might immediately think of thick rulebooks, endless citation rules, and essay templates that feel way too rigid.
Trust me — it sounds scarier than it actually is. Once you understand the basics, MLA (Modern Language Association) style is actually one of the simplest academic formats to use.
Today, I’ll walk you through how to set up your essay, how to handle citations (including books, movies, magazine articles, websites, and even AI tools like ChatGPT!), and what your first page should look like — all with easy examples you can follow.
Let’s dive in!
How to Set Up Your MLA Essay
Here’s your go-to checklist for MLA basics:
- Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
- Spacing: Double-spaced everywhere
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Page Numbers: Top right corner with your last name before the number
Example page header:
Eubanks 1
Pro Tip:
Use the “Insert Page Number” tool in Word or Google Docs — it’ll save you formatting headaches.
How to Set Up the First Page in MLA
In MLA, unless your instructor requests a title page, everything goes on the first page. In the top left corner, double-spaced, list:
Your Name
Instructor’s Name
Course Title
Date (Day Month Year — no commas)
Example:
Sally Eubanks
Professor Brown
English 101
28 April 2025
Centered Title Example:
How the Internet Has Changed Academic Research
After the title, hit “Tab” once to start your first paragraph. Keep double-spacing everywhere.
How to Do In-Text Citations in MLA
Whenever you quote, paraphrase, or reference someone else’s ideas, you’ll need an in-text citation.
Basic example:
Scholars argue that “social media has reshaped communication norms” (Johnson 45).
No author? Use a shortened version of the title:
(“Rise of AI” 2)
No page numbers (such as websites)? Just the author’s name or title:
(“How to Bake a Cake”)
How to Cite Different Sources in MLA
Now let’s break down how to cite different types of sources — both in-text and on your Works Cited page.
📚 How to Cite a Book
In-Text Citation:
(Author’s Last Name Page Number)
Example:
(Smith 122)
Works Cited Entry:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example:
Smith, John. The Future of Technology. Penguin, 2021.
🎬 How to Cite a Movie
In-Text Citation:
(Title of Movie)
Example:
(The Social Network)
Works Cited Entry:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Main Actors, Production Company, Year.
Example:
The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher, performances by Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, Columbia Pictures, 2010.
📰 How to Cite a Magazine Article
In-Text Citation:
(Author’s Last Name Page Number)
Example:
(Lee 34)
Works Cited Entry:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine, vol. Volume Number, no. Issue Number, Day Month Year, pp. Pages.
Example:
Lee, Maria. “The Next Big Tech Trends.” Time, vol. 197, no. 5, 10 May 2024, pp. 30-35.
🎓 How to Cite an Academic Journal Article
In-Text Citation:
(Author’s Last Name Page Number)
Example:
(Garcia 201)
Works Cited Entry:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Pages. Database Name, URL.
Example:
Garcia, Elena. “Virtual Learning and Student Engagement.” Journal of Online Education, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 198-210. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1234567.
🌐 How to Cite a Website
In-Text Citation:
(Author’s Last Name)
or
(“Title of Webpage”)
Example:
(Johnson)
or
(“History of Video Games”)
Works Cited Entry:
Author’s Last Name, First Name (if known). “Title of Webpage.” Website Name, Publisher (if different from website name), Publication Date, URL.
Example:
Johnson, Alex. “The History of Video Games.” Gaming Archives, 5 March 2025, http://www.gamingarchives.com/history-video-games.
▶️ How to Cite a YouTube Video
In-Text Citation:
(Creator’s Name)
or
(“Title of Video”)
Example:
(CrashCourse)
Works Cited Entry:
Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
CrashCourse. “The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1.” YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 26 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I.
🤖 How to Cite ChatGPT (for Programming Help)
In-Text Citation:
(OpenAI)
Or:
According to ChatGPT, a basic Python script for merging PDF files requires importing the PyPDF2 library.
Works Cited Entry:
OpenAI. ChatGPT, 28 April 2025, chat.openai.com.
(Check your instructor’s preferences! Some may ask for additional detail.)
How to Set Up Your Works Cited Page
Here’s how to format your Works Cited page:
- Start it on a new page
- Center the title Works Cited (no bold, italics, or underline)
- Double-space everything
- Use a hanging indent (first line normal, second line indented)
Example Works Cited page:
Works Cited
CrashCourse. “The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1.” YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 26 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I.
Garcia, Elena. “Virtual Learning and Student Engagement.” Journal of Online Education, vol. 15, no. 3, 2024, pp. 198-210. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1234567.
Johnson, Alex. “The History of Video Games.” Gaming Archives, 5 March 2025, http://www.gamingarchives.com/history-video-games.
Lee, Maria. “The Next Big Tech Trends.” Time, vol. 197, no. 5, 10 May 2024, pp. 30-35.
OpenAI. ChatGPT, 28 April 2025, chat.openai.com.
Smith, John. The Future of Technology. Penguin, 2021.
The Social Network. Directed by David Fincher, performances by Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, Columbia Pictures, 2010.
Quick Final Tips
✅ Alphabetize your Works Cited entries
✅ Keep everything in Times New Roman, 12-point font
✅ Double-check that in-text citations match your Works Cited list exactly
✅ Stay consistent — MLA is all about clean, readable structure!
Now you’re ready to tackle your next MLA essay like a pro!
📚 Bookmark this guide — trust me, future you will thank you when those deadlines sneak up!
Sally the Scribe 
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