Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA General Format 

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. 

Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material produced by other writers. 

If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the  MLA Handbook  (9th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the  MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing  (3rd edition). The  MLA Handbook  is available in most writing centers and reference libraries. It is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this page for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA Style.

Paper Format

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the  MLA Style Manual . Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in  MLA Style :

General Guidelines

  • Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
  • Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.
  • Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).
  • Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
  • Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times.
  • Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)
  • Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.
  • If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

  • Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested or the paper is assigned as a group project. In the case of a group project, list all names of the contributors, giving each name its own line in the header, followed by the remaining MLA header requirements as described below. Format the remainder of the page as requested by the instructor.
  • In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
  • Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
  • Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text. For example:  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
  • Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
  • Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number. Number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit the last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)

Here is a sample of the first page of a paper in MLA style:

This image shows the first page of an MLA paper.

The First Page of an MLA Paper

Section Headings

Writers sometimes use section headings to improve a document’s readability. These sections may include individual chapters or other named parts of a book or essay.

MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

MLA does not have a prescribed system of headings for books (for more information on headings, please see page 146 in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing , 3rd edition). If you are only using one level of headings, meaning that all of the sections are distinct and parallel and have no additional sections that fit within them, MLA recommends that these sections resemble one another grammatically. For instance, if your headings are typically short phrases, make all of the headings short phrases (and not, for example, full sentences). Otherwise, the formatting is up to you. It should, however, be consistent throughout the document.

If you employ multiple levels of headings (some of your sections have sections within sections), you may want to provide a key of your chosen level headings and their formatting to your instructor or editor.

Sample Section Headings

The following sample headings are meant to be used only as a reference. You may employ whatever system of formatting that works best for you so long as it remains consistent throughout the document.

Formatted, unnumbered:

Level 1 Heading: bold, flush left

Level 2 Heading: italics, flush left

Level 3 Heading: centered, bold

Level 4 Heading: centered, italics

Level 5 Heading: underlined, flush left

How to Create MLA Format Headings and Headers, With Examples

Matt Ellis

What’s the difference between an MLA heading and an MLA header? MLA headings are the titles of individual sections or pages in formal writing; headings are usually written in a larger font and in bold to stand out. An MLA header, also known as the running head , is the short line of text at the top of each page that gives the page number and author’s surname (last name).

The MLA heading and MLA header are both essential parts of the format, so if you want to know how to write a research paper in MLA, you need to learn the rules for both. In this guide, we’ll explain how to write both an MLA heading and an MLA header correctly and will also share an MLA format template you can follow at home.

MLA heading vs. MLA header

Learning the MLA format is hard enough without confusing the words heading and header . Let’s take a closer look at them so you can learn what each one means and easily remember their differences when you start writing your paper.

An MLA heading is the title of an individual section or page in a piece of writing—portions of your paper that aren’t quite big enough to be chapters. For example, this section you’re reading now is under the heading “MLA heading vs. MLA header.” Headings help structure a paper and break up information to make it easier to comprehend. They’re also used as the titles of stand-alone pages, such as the MLA works cited page , where the MLA citation list goes.

An MLA header, also known as the running head , is a quick line of text at the top of each page with the page number and author’s surname. A requirement when writing in the MLA format, the MLA header allows readers to track each page with a page number and reminds them whose paper they’re reading.

How to create an MLA heading

Some headings, such as the titles for pages like the MLA works cited page or the section for endnotes , are necessary. However, other headings, like ones in the text itself, are optional.

MLA format recommends using headings as a way to organize your paper but warns against overusing them to compensate for poor structure. Therefore , aside from stand-alone page titles, headings should be used only when necessary, as a way to assist the reader, not the writer.

There are multiple kinds of headings, even in the same paper, that designate main sections from subheadings. Generally, headings are divided by level , such as heading level 1 or heading level 3 . High-level headings (e.g., heading level 1) are used to divide the paper into main sections, while low-level headings (e.g., heading level 3) are used to divide the main sections into smaller subsections. This makes it easy to show the reader which sections belong in which categories.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a paper comparing unicorns and rhinoceroses. Your paper would have two main parts, one for unicorns and another for rhinos, both of which would use heading level 1 for their titles.

When you start discussing the various attributes of unicorns in the unicorn section, such as horn length or the presence of tails, you would introduce these subsections using heading level 2. That shows the reader that they’re still part of the bigger “unicorn” section. The same idea would also apply to the rhino section.

MLA format has no formal rules for the font sizes and styles of headings. However, it says that “a boldface, larger font indicates prominence; a smaller font, italics, or lack of bold can be used to signal subordination.” In other words, use the biggest, boldest heading for level 1 and use smaller, lighter (less bold) headings for lower levels. You can even use italics instead of bold for low levels.

MLA heading level 1 example

MLA heading level 2 example

MLA heading level 3 example

Your word processing program should already have presets for different levels of headings, so feel free to use those.

MLA also has a few particular rules for how to format your headings:

  • Each heading level should be used at least twice or not at all. For example, if you’re going to use a heading level 1 for one section, you need to use it for a second section as well; you can’t just use heading level 1 a single time. The exception is when headings are used as page titles.
  • Within text, headings are flush with the left page margin (1 inch) and not indented or centered. When headings are used as page titles, on the other hand, they are centered.
  • Include an empty line both above and below a heading.
  • Avoid numbering or lettering your headings as lists (e.g., ( 1) The Beginning or (Z) The Ending ), unless this is conventional for the field you’re writing in.
  • Use title capitalization for headings (e.g., The First Letter of Each Major Word Is Capitalized ).

How to create an MLA header

Headers refer to text that comes at the top of every page, including the title page and works cited page. A header usually mentions the page number but sometimes offers extra information like a chapter title. The opposite of a header is a footer, which refers to text that comes at the bottom of the page. Keep in mind that footers are different from footnotes .

MLA headers are much simpler to understand than MLA headings. Although other formats, like Chicago and APA, have different header styles, the MLA header is merely the surname of the author and the page number, in that order. No periods, hyphens, or any abbreviations like p. In practice, MLA headers should look like this:

Shakespeare 37

The header, or running head , goes in the upper-right corner of the page, half an inch from the top (breaking the 1-inch margin) and flush with the right margin. If the paper has several authors, and not everyone’s name fits in the header, don’t list any authors’ names and use only the page number.

Most word processors can handle MLA headers automatically. All you have to do is set it up once, and the rest will be generated for you.

Does the MLA heading go in the header?

One question we commonly get is, Does the MLA heading go in the header? The answer is no . MLA headers use only the surname of the author and the page number—nothing else.

MLA format template for headings and the header

[Author Last Name] [Page #]

Main Section 1 [MLA heading level 1]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Subsection 1 [MLA heading level 2]

Subsection 2 [MLA heading level 2]

Main Section 2 [MLA heading level 1]

MLA heading and MLA header FAQs

What is an mla heading.

MLA headings are the titles of individual sections or pages in formal writing; they are usually written in a larger font and in bold to stand out. For example, the heading of this section is “MLA heading and MLA header FAQs,” while the subheading is “What is an MLA heading?”

What is an MLA header?

Also known as a running head , an MLA header is the short line of text at the top of each page that gives the page number and author’s surname. They help track every page with numbers and remind the reader whose paper they’re reading.

Do MLA headings go in the header?

No, MLA headings do not go in the header. MLA headers use only the surname of the author and the page number—nothing else. `

mla header for essay

  • How to setup your software
  • Sample MLA Paper – normal paper
  • Sample MLA Paper – has cover page
  • Sample APA Paper
  • Sample Chicago Paper
  • Sample CSE Paper
  • APA Format Guidelines

MLA Format Heading

This page contains guidelines on how to properly format the headings of your research paper using the MLA format.

1. The Opening Page:

On the opening page or the first page, you would include the whole heading and your paper’s title. The whole heading would include the following information:

  • Your Instructor’s Name
  • Your Class Information
  • Your Paper’s Due Date
  • Font: choose an easy to read font such as Times New Roman.
  • Font Size: set the font size to be twelve (12) throughout your research paper, including your paper’s title. Never set the font site larger than 12.
  • Margins: 1-inch for top/bottom/right/left throughout your paper.
  • Double-space: double-space throughout your paper. Don’t add extra spaces (besides double-space) between your headings, your title and your paragraphs.

Sample of the Opening Page:

mla header for essay

A sample of the first page of your paper.

2. The Inner Pages:

For the pages that follow the first page, set the heading like this: instead of the whole heading, you would use the header feature on your word processing program and including the following information: Your Last Name and the Page Number.

Sample of the Inner Page:

mla header for essay

Example of the heading for inner pages.

3. The Works Cited Page:

Every research paper must include a works cited page.

  • The works cited list is placed at the end of your paper, on a new page.
  • The heading for your works cited pages should be the same as the heading for your inner pages, which include your name and the page number at the top.
  • Enter the title as “ Works Cited ” and place this title 1-inch from the top of the page, see more details in the example illustration picture below.

Sample of the Works Cited Page:

MLA Format Works Cited

Example of the works cited page.

– MLA Handbook, 8th edition

If you find this website useful, please share with a friend:

This helped a lot thank you

Thank you so much 😀

Best website hands down. Got an A, thank you!

Thank you and God bless you! Jesus loves you!

I like how this site tells us the perfect way to write an essay on paper.

This page is helpful to a new student.

this is great!

Cool. But how many grade school students will look at this website to see how to set up their papers.

Wow, This site is amazing!

I have the following level 3 heading in my thesis:

Project management office and (pmo) metrics team.

Should the abbreviation pmo be in lower case as it is or should it be in upper case?

Please Advise. Thanks.

So for the works cited page, you don’t need the name, teacher, date, and period heading at all?

No. It should only be on the first page of the essay.

This is some good stuff to know.

I have to write a paper for an application and they want it to be in MLA format. I don’t know how to do the heading because it’s not going to one teacher in particular and it is not for one class.

I don’t think you need a heading besides the “Last name-1” on the inner pages.

Hey Shannon. You might try “To Whom it may concern” or something like that. Don’t trust me on this because I am not for sure on that and if you did do this you might get it wrong and whoever might not accept your application. I hope you figure out how to do it and do great on that application! 😀 – Christopher

Leave a Comment

Current ye ignore me @r *

Leave this field empty

Next post: Commonly Misspelled or Confused Word Pairs

Previous post: MLA Format Cover Page

  • The Format of the Research Paper
  • MLA Format Cover Page
  • MLA Format Headings
  • MLA Citations
  • MLA Format Works Cited
  • MLA Format FAQs
  • MLA Format Sample Paper
  • MLA Sample Paper w/ Cover and Outline Pages

HOW TO SETUP YOUR SOFTWARE

  • MLA Format using Google Docs
  • MLA Format Microsoft Word 2016
  • MLA Format using Pages on Mac

Copyright © 2011–2024 • MLA Format • All rights reserved. Currently, MLA is at its 8th edition. This website has no official relationship with the Modern Language Association and is not endorsed by the MLA.

  • Features for Creative Writers
  • Features for Work
  • Features for Higher Education
  • Features for Teachers
  • Features for Non-Native Speakers
  • Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
  • Grammar Guide

MLA Format: The Ultimate Guide to Correctly Formatting Your Paper

Hannah Yang headshot

Hannah Yang

the ultimate guide to MLA headings cover

So you need to create an MLA heading? You’re not alone—MLA format is one of the most common styles you’ll be expected to use when you’re writing a humanities paper, whether you’re a high-school student or a PhD candidate.

Read on to learn what a correct MLA heading looks like and how to create one that works like magic.

What Is an MLA Heading?

How do you format an mla heading, what is an mla header, how do you format an mla header, headings are only the beginning, commonly asked questions about mla headers, final thoughts.

The term “MLA heading” refers to five lines of important information that appear at the top of the first page.

Here are two examples of what an MLA heading could look like:

Hermione Granger

Professor McGonagall

Transfiguration—6th period

18 October 1991

“How to Turn A Matchstick into a Needle”

MLA heading set out in Word

Harry J. Potter

Prof. Remus Lupin

Defense Against the Dark Arts

4 March 1994

“Why I Think My Professor Is a Werewolf”

Why are these headings important? Well, your teacher probably collects hundreds of papers every year. If any identifying information is missing from these assignments, grading and organizing them becomes much more of a challenge.

MLA headings ensure that all key information is presented upfront. With just a glance at the first page, your teacher can easily figure out who wrote this paper, when it was submitted, and which class it was written for.

essay heading tip: save your heading as a template

What Are the Parts of an MLA Heading?

An MLA heading should include:

  • Your instructor’s name
  • The name of the class
  • The date the assignment is due
  • The title of your paper

Your instructor may give you specific guidelines about how much detail to include in each line. For example, some teachers may ask you to refer to them by their titles, while others may ask you to use their full names. If you haven’t been given any specific instructions, don’t sweat it—any option is fine as long as it’s clear and consistent.

Follow these formatting rules for your MLA heading:

  • Start each piece of information on a separate line
  • Don’t use any periods, commas, or other punctuation at the end of the line
  • Keep the heading double-spaced, in the same font as the rest of your paper
  • Left-align the first four lines (they should start at the 1-inch margin on the left side of your paper)
  • Center the title (it should appear in the middle of your paper)
  • Make sure your title is in title case

Title case means that major words should be capitalized and minor words should be lowercase. Major words include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and any word longer than four letters. Minor words include conjunctions, prepositions, and articles.

Tip: Remember that Hermione’s “Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare” shortens to S.P.E.W., not S.F.T.P.O.E.W—only the major words are capitalized!

graphic of the SPEW acronym highlighting major words

The MLA heading should only appear on the first page of your paper . But wait, you’re not done yet! In the rest of your paper, you need to include something called an MLA header at the top right corner of every page.

Think of the MLA header as a short, simple “You are here” marker that shows the reader where they are in the paper. By looking at the MLA headers, your instructor can easily understand where each page goes and which paper it belongs to.

What Are the Parts of an MLA Header?

The MLA header consists of your last name and page number.

For example, the second page of Hermione Granger’s essays would be labeled “Granger 2”, the third would be labeled “Granger 3”, and so on.

MLA headings in Word

Creating MLA Headers in Microsoft Word

If you’re writing your paper in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

  • Click Insert
  • Scroll down to Page Numbers and click on it
  • Set the position to “Top of Page (Header)”
  • Set the alignment to “Right”
  • Make sure there’s no checkmark in the box for “Show number on first page”
  • Click on the page number and type your last name before the number
  • Set your font and font size to match the rest of your paper, if they don’t already

Creating MLA Headers in Google Docs

If you’re writing your paper in Google Docs, follow these steps:

  • Scroll down to Page Numbers and hover over it
  • Choose the option that sets your page number in the upper right corner
  • Set your font and type size to match the rest of your paper, if they don’t already

Tip: After you create your first MLA header, save a template document for yourself that you can re-use next time, so you don’t have to follow these steps every time you write a paper!

Once you've got your headings sorted, it's time to start writing your paper. While we can't help you edit the content of your essay , ProWritingAid is here to make sure your grammar, spelling, and style is on point.

As well as checking your grammar, ProWritingAid also shows you your progress towards key goals like varied sentence structure, active voice, readability, and more. The target scores are all based on averages for real essays, so you'll always know if you're on track.

screenshot of essay writing goals in prowritingaid software

Ready to start receiving feedback before you submit your work?

Whose last name should you use in your MLA header if you’re writing a group paper?

The MLA Style Guide has no specific guidelines for group projects. You should always include the names of all members of the group project in the first line of your heading, but you don’t necessarily need to do this for the header on every page.

If there are only two or three authors collaborating on your paper, you can include all of your last names in the MLA header, e.g., “Granger, Potter, and Weasley 2.”

If you’re part of a bigger group and it would take up too much space to include all of your last names, you can write the name that comes first in the alphabet and then add “ et al. ”, e.g., “Granger et al. 2.” (The term “et al.” is short for the Latin term “et alia”, which means “and others.” You’ll often see it used in academic papers with multiple authors.)

example of a heading for a larger group project

Should you include your class period in your MLA heading or just the class name?

There’s no MLA rule about this, but when in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of including too much information in your heading rather than not enough.

If your instructor teaches more than one version of the same course, they’ll probably find it helpful if you specify the class period you’re in. You can either include your class period after the class name, e.g., “History of Magic—2nd period”, or before the class name, e.g., “2nd Period History of Magic.”

What should you write in your MLA heading if you don’t have an instructor?

If you have no instructor, you can explain the situation in the line where you would normally put the instructor’s name, e.g., “Independent Study” or “No Instructor.”

What should you write in your MLA heading if you have multiple instructors?

If you have multiple instructors, you can include both of their names in the line where you would put the instructor’s name. If you’re in a college course where you have a professor and a TA, you should choose whose name to include in the header depending on who will ultimately be reading your paper.

no instructor vs. multiple instructors

Should you include the date you started writing the paper or the date the paper is due?

The MLA Style Guide has no specific guidelines about which date you need to put in the heading. In general, however, the best practice is to put the date the assignment is due.

This is because all the papers for the same assignment will have the same due date, even if different students begin writing their assignments on different days, so it’s easier for your instructor to use the due date to determine what assignment the paper is for.

Should you format the date as Day Month Year or Month Day Year?

In MLA format, you should write the date in the order of Day Month Year. Instead of writing May 31 2021, for example, you would write 31 May 2021.

What font should you use for your MLA heading and header?

Both the heading and the header should be in the same font as the rest of your paper. If you haven’t chosen a font for your paper yet, remember that the key thing to aim for is readability. If you choose a font where your teachers have to squint to read it, or one where your teachers can’t figure out the difference between what’s italicized and what isn’t, you should rethink your choice.

When in doubt, go with Times New Roman, 12 pt. It’s always a safe bet for MLA papers unless your instructor specifically tells you otherwise.

font comparison to show easier and more difficult-to-read fonts

Do you need to italicize or bold the title of your MLA paper?

No. There’s no need to use any special styling on the title of an MLA paper, such as bold or italics.

How do you format section titles in your MLA paper?

If you’re writing a paper with multiple sections, you may need to include a subtitle at the top of each section.

The MLA Style Guide gives you two options for using subtitles in a paper: one-level section titles or several-level subtitles (for papers with subsections within each section).

For one-level section titles, the formatting is simple. Every subtitle should look the same as the title (centered and double-spaced, with no special formatting).

one level section title examples

The only difference is that instead of using title case, you should capitalize only the first word of each subtitle. For example, a title would be spelled “How to Turn a Matchstick into a Needle”, while a subtitle would be spelled “How to turn a matchstick into a needle.”

For several-level subtitles, you will need to format each level in a different way to show which level each section is at. You can use boldface, italics, and underlining to differentiate between levels. For example, subtitles at the highest level should be bolded, while subtitles at the next level down should be italicized.

See the chart below for MLA’s suggested formats.

three different formats to denote different subtitle levels

What is the difference between MLA format and APA format?

MLA and APA are two sets of guidelines for formatting papers and citing research.

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association. The MLA handbook is most often used in fields related to the humanities, such as literature, history, and philosophy.

APA stands for the American Psychological Association. The APA format is most often used in fields related to the social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, and nursing.

The APA manual includes a heading format similar to the MLA heading format with a few key differences, such as using a separate cover page instead of simply including the heading at the top of the first page. Both heading formats ensure that all of your papers include all your key identifying information in a clear and consistent way.

consult the MLA handbook if you're unsure

Where can you learn more about MLA style?

If you have questions about how to format a specific assignment or paper, it’s always best to consult your instructor first. Your school may also have a writing center that can help you with formatting questions.

In addition, Purdue has fantastic resources for all kinds of formatting topics, from MLA headings to MLA citations and everything in between.

If you would like to find out more directly from the Modern Language Association, consult the MLA Style Center or the MLA Handbook (8th edition).

Now you’re ready to write an MLA paper with a fantastic heading. Make sure your essay does your heading justice by checking it over with ProWritingAid.

Write Better Essays Every Time

Are your teachers always pulling you up on the same errors? Maybe you're losing clarity by writing overly long sentences or using the passive voice too much?

ProWritingAid helps you catch these issues in your essay before you submit it.

ProWritingAid for Students

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

How to Create a Header in MLA Style

How to Create a Header in MLA Style

  • 2-minute read
  • 6th January 2023

In MLA style papers, the header is an important component. You may have heard of both headers and headings, so what’s the difference? And how are they formatted in MLA ? Read on to learn more.

What Is an MLA Header?

In the MLA style , the header is found on every page of your paper. It’s in the top right corner and provides your last name and the page number. To create one in Microsoft Word, follow the steps below:

  • Go to Insert > Page number > Top of page. Choose the option that shows the page number on the right side.

mla header for essay

2. Add your last name and make sure the font style and size match with the rest of your paper. Your header should now appear on each page of your paper.

mla header for essay

What About Headings in MLA?

The MLA style doesn’t typically require a cover page, but your instructor still needs to see some introductory information. That’s where a heading comes in. It goes on the first page in the upper left-hand corner, and it includes your name, instructor’s name, course name/number, and the date.

mla header for essay

As seen in the screenshot, the heading must be double spaced and in a readable font. You should then put the title of your paper below your heading, centered on the page.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

As far as section headings go, MLA doesn’t have any specific rules – however you choose to format them, just ensure that you remain consistent throughout the paper.

Summary: MLA Headers and Headings

The MLA style offers lots of flexibility and can be pretty easy to follow, once you get the hang of it. As a quick review, remember:

  • Headers go on the top right corner of every page and include your last name and the page number.
  • Headings go on the first page and include your name, professor’s name, course name/number, and the date.

If you need help with your MLA paper, our editors are here for you. We can help you out with formatting, references , and, of course, editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, clarity, and concision. Get your first 500 words proofread for free to try it out!

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

4-minute read

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

How to Ace Slack Messaging for Contractors and Freelancers

Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

COMMENTS

  1. Creating an MLA Header | What to Include & How to Format It - Scribbr">Creating an MLA Header | What to Include & How to Format It -...

    The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows: Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman; Set 1 inch page margins; Apply double line spacing; Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page; Center the paper’s title; Indent every new paragraph ½ inch; Use title case capitalization for headings

  2. General Format - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

    Writers sometimes use section headings to improve a document’s readability. These sections may include individual chapters or other named parts of a book or essay. Essays. MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

  3. MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template - Scribbr">MLA Format | Complete Guidelines & Free Template - Scribbr

    The header in MLA format is left-aligned on the first page of your paper. It includes. Your full name. Your instructor’s or supervisor’s name. The course name or number. The due date of the assignment.

  4. MLA Format Headings and Headers | Grammarly">How to Create MLA Format Headings and Headers | Grammarly

    An MLA header, also known as the running head, is a quick line of text at the top of each page with the page number and author’s surname. A requirement when writing in the MLA format, the MLA header allows readers to track each page with a page number and reminds them whose paper they’re reading.

  5. MLA Format Heading | MLAFormat.org">MLA Format Heading | MLAFormat.org

    This page contains guidelines on how to properly format the headings of your research paper using the MLA format. On the opening page or the first page, you would include the whole heading and your paper’s title. The whole heading would include the following information: Your Name Your Instructor’s Name Your Class Info

  6. MLA Format: Headings to Citations, the Full Guide - ProWritingAid">MLA Format: Headings to Citations, the Full Guide - ProWritingAid

    The term “MLA heading” refers to five lines of important information that appear at the top of the first page. Here are two examples of what an MLA heading could look like: Example 1. Hermione Granger. Professor McGonagall. Transfiguration—6th period. 18 October 1991. “How to Turn A Matchstick into a Needle” Example 2. Harry J. Potter.

  7. Header in MLA Style | Proofed's Writing Tips">How to Create a Header in MLA Style | Proofed's Writing Tips

    What Is an MLA Header? In the MLA style, the header is found on every page of your paper. It’s in the top right corner and provides your last name and the page number. To create one in Microsoft Word, follow the steps below: Go to Insert > Page number > Top of page. Choose the option that shows the page number on the right side. 2.

  8. I style headings and subheadings in a research paper? | MLA ...">How do I style headings and subheadings in a research paper? | ...

    How do I style headings and subheadings in a research paper? | MLA Style Center. Headings and subheadings can help organize and structure your writing. In general, longer and more complex works warrant more of them than shorter ones.

  9. MLA Heading and Header Formats (With Examples)">MLA Heading and Header Formats (With Examples)

    4 Min read. MLA (Modern Language Association) offers a flexible guideline for formatting your MLA headers and heading. Rather than worry if you’re doing it right, just follow these simple tricks for creating an MLA format heading and headers. And just to make sure you understand all the style tricks, you’ll learn about section headers too.

  10. Paper - MLA Style Center">Formatting a Research Paper - MLA Style Center

    Do not use a period after your title or after any heading in the paper (e.g., Works Cited). Begin your text on a new, double-spaced line after the title, indenting the first line of the paragraph half an inch from the left margin. Fig. 1. The top of the first page of a research paper.