The Ultimate Guide to Formatting Your MLA Paper in Google Docs

If you are writing an academic paper or research project, you may need to follow MLA format for your citations and references. MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is one of the most common styles used in the humanities, online newspapers and social sciences. However, how do you create MLA format in Google Docs, the popular online word processor?

Here are some quick steps to do MLA format in Google Docs:

• First, click “File” > “New” > “From Template.”

• Next, under “Education”, choose the “MLA Report” template.

• Consequently, this template already has the appropriate margins, font (Times New Roman, 12 point), line spacing (double spacing), and basic header settings.

• Then, simply replace the placeholder text with your own information and content.

MLA formatting has many rules and guidelines, such as using a specific font, size, spacing, margins, headings, and more. Initially, it can be difficult to remember and apply all of these details correctly, especially if you are working on multiple jobs at once.

However, Google Docs has many features that make MLA formatting easier and faster, such as template gallery, automatic page numbers, hanging indents, and more.

As a result, in this blog post, we’ll show you how to use Google Docs to write an article in MLA format, step by step.  

How to do MLA format in Google Docs ?  

MLA formatting is a common style for academic articles, especially in the humanities, literature, and social sciences. To apply MLA formatting in Google Docs, you can use a template or set the formatting manually.

Furthermore, follow below mentioned methods to do mla format in Google docs:

Using a template

Google Docs has a built-in template for MLA formatting that you can use to create your article. Follow below mentioned steps to use the MLA format template in Google Docs:

• To start, open a new document in Google Docs or go to an existing document.

• Next, click File > New > From Template.

• Then, scroll down to the Education section and click Report MLA from various style guides. This will open a new document with MLA formatting settings and sample text.

• After that, replace the sample text with your own information, such as your name, instructor name, course name, date, and title. Be sure to center the title and capitalize the title.

• Now, write your article below the title, using double spacing and a half (½) inch indentation for new paragraphs. You can use the Tab key or the spacing button to create the indent.

• Finally, to insert page numbers and your last name in the header, double-click at the top of the page. Then, click Insert > Header and Page Number > Page Number. Choose the option that shows the page number in the upper right corner. Type your last name before the page number and press the space bar once.

Setting Up Manually

First, open a new document and select File > Page Setup from the dropdown menu.  

Next, set one-inch margins on all sides.

• Go to File > Page Setup and adjust the margins in the Margins tab.

Then, set the font to Times New Roman, size 12

• Initially, go to Format > Paragraph Styles > Normal Text and select Update ‘Normal Text’ to match.

• Subsequently, select Save as my default styles from Options under Format > Paragraph Styles to apply your styles by default.

After that, set the line spacing to double

• Go to Format > Line Spacing and select Double from the dropdown menu.

Additionally, add a header with your last name and page number

• Go to Insert > Header and Page Number > Page Number in the drop-down menu and select the option with the page number in the upper right corner.

• Then, type your last name before the page number and press the space bar once.

Next, add a title block with your name, instructor name, course title, and date

• Align the text to the left and use double spacing. Capitalize the first letter of each word in the title, except articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.

Subsequently, add a title for your article

• Center the title and use the same font and size as the rest of the document. Use no formatting for the title, such as underlining, italics, or bold. Leave an empty line below the title.

After that, indent the first line of each paragraph 0.5 inches

• Use the Tab button or the ruler to create the indentation.

Then, add in-text citations from any source you use

• Use parentheses to enclose the author’s last name and the page number where the information is found. For example: (Smith 23).

Finally, at the end of your document, make a Works Cited page

• Start a new page and center the Works Cited title. Arrange your sources by the last name of the author in alphabetical order.

• Use a hanging indent for each entry, meaning that the first line is flush with the left margin and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches. Set one-inch margins on all sides of the document. This is also known as the indention option.

• Use double spacing and the same font and size as the rest of the document. Follow MLA guidelines for formatting each type of font.

Also Check: How to change margins in Google Docs ?

What are the steps to add citations in Google Docs ?

Citations are essential to academic writing, as they give credit to the sources you use and help your readers find them. One way to create and format citations in different styles, including MLA format, is to use a citation tool. Initially, Google Docs has a built-in citation tool that makes this process easy and convenient.

Therefore, in this blog post, we’ll show you how to use the Citations tool in Google Docs to add citations in MLA, APA, or Chicago Author-Date style.

To begin, to add citations in Google Docs, you need to use the Appointments tool which is available in the Tools menu.

Furthermore, follow below mentioned steps to use citations in Google docs:

• First, open your document in Google Docs and click Tools > Appointments.

• Next, select MLA, APA, or Chicago Author-Date as your formatting style from the Citations sidebar.

• Then, click + Add Citation Source and select your source type and access type.

• Subsequently, enter the source information manually or use a URL or ISBN to search for it automatically.

• After that, click Add Citation Source to save the source to the sidebar.

• When you are ready to cite, in the text of your document, place the cursor where you want the citation to appear.

• Next, in the Citations sidebar, hover over the source you want to cite and click Cite button.

• Consequently, the quote will be inserted in the selected style within the text of your document.

• Finally, to create a bibliography, go to the end of your document and click Insert bibliography in the Citations sidebar.

Also Check: Insert signature in Google Docs

How can you use MLA format in Google Docs on mobile? (iPhone or Android)

Formatting a document in MLA style in the Google Docs mobile app involves applying specific settings for margins, font, spacing, and citations.

Follow below mentioned steps to use mla format in Google docs on mobile:

Open Google docs app (Android or iPhone) and create a new document or open an existing one.

Apply basic format:

• Font: First, tap the “Aa” symbol in the top bar and choose “Times New Roman” from the font options. Set the font size to 12 points.

• Spacing: Next, under the “Aa” symbol, tap the “Paragraph Spacing” option and select “Double” spacing.

• Margins: Subsequently, while there is no direct margin setting on mobile devices, you can achieve the standard 1-inch margins by using rulers in other apps or by marking margins visually on your screen reader.

Add header information:

• First, double-tap at the top of the document to create a blank line.

• Next, type your last name followed by a space, then tap the three dots in the top right corner and choose “Align button & Indent.”

• Subsequently, select “Align Right” for the last name and space.

• Then, on the next line, write your instructor’s name, course name, and date, each on separate lines. Align these lines to the center using the “central Align button and Bleed” option.

• Finally, on the next line, type the title of your article and click the center align button to align it to the center.

Set page numbering:

• Initially, tap the “Insert” menu (plus sign icon) and choose “Page Number.”

• Next, select the desired location (for example, top right) and tap “Apply.”

Create a hanging indent for the Works Cited page:

• First, once you have completed your essay, create a new page for the Works Cited list.

• Next, at the top of the page, write “Works Cited” and center it.

• Then, highlight all text in the Works Cited list.

• After that, tap the “Aa” symbol and then “Align button and Bleed.”

• Finally, choose “Pendant” in the “Special Indent” option and set the indent value to 0.5 inches.

Use the citation tool (optional):

• While the mobile app doesn’t offer a built-in citation tool like the desktop version, you can consider using a separate citation management app or website to create your citations in MLA format and then copy and paste them into your document.

Also Check: Add a text box in Google Docs

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MLA format is a widely used style for academic writing in the humanities and social sciences. Furthermore, it helps you cite your sources correctly and present your article in a clear and organized manner.

Moreover, Google Docs makes it easy to apply MLA format to your documents, whether you use a template or set the formatting manually. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be able to create a professional, coherent document that meets MLA standards.

Additionally, you can save time and avoid errors by using the features and tools that Google Docs offers, such as automatic page numbers, hanging indents, and more.

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)