▷ MLA Format Template Word 2026 — Free Download (.docx)

MLA format is the standard citation style for English literature, language studies, comparative literature, film, and most humanities courses. If your professor requires MLA 9th edition and you need a properly formatted paper to start from, this page gives you a ready-to-use MLA format template for Word — download it, fill in your content, and submit.

Download MLA Format Template for Word

The template follows MLA 9th edition (2021) requirements. It includes the four-line header, centered title, double-spaced body with in-text citation examples, an optional section headings example, a comparison table, and a complete Works Cited page with ten formatted entries.

⬇ DOWNLOAD MLA TEMPLATE (.docx)

Free download · MLA 9th edition · Microsoft Word compatible · No registration needed

What’s Included in the MLA Template

Four-line header — Student name, professor name, course name, and date — correctly positioned top left, no separate title page
Centered title — In title case, no bold, no underline, no quotation marks
Double-spaced body — Times New Roman 12pt, 1-inch margins, 0.5-inch first-line indent on every paragraph
In-text citation examples — Author-page format (Smith 45), two authors, three or more (et al.), no page number, same-author disambiguation
Optional section headings — Bold, flush left, title case — acceptable in longer MLA papers
Sample table — MLA-style table with label and title above
Works Cited page — Ten fully formatted entries: journal articles, books, edited volumes, a website, and a literary primary source

MLA Format Requirements: The Complete Guide

MLA format looks simpler than APA at first glance — no title page, no abstract, no running head — but its citation system has specific rules that differ meaningfully from other styles. This guide covers everything you need to format an MLA paper correctly.

Page Setup

MLA papers use standard US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches) with 1-inch margins on all sides. The font is Times New Roman 12pt. All text is double-spaced throughout the paper — the header, title, body, block quotations, and Works Cited. The first line of every paragraph is indented 0.5 inches. Do not add extra space between paragraphs.

Header and Title (No Title Page)

MLA student papers do not use a separate title page. Instead, a four-line block appears at the top left of the first page, double-spaced like the rest of the paper:

Line 1: Your full name
Line 2: Your professor’s name
Line 3: The course name and number
Line 4: The date (Day Month Year format: 14 March 2026)

After the four-line block, the title appears centered on the next double-spaced line. The title uses title case but is not bold, underlined, or in quotation marks — unless it contains a title that would normally be italicized or in quotation marks (e.g., An Analysis of Beloved).

Page Numbers

MLA page numbers appear in the top right header with your last name before them: Smith 1, Smith 2, etc. In Word, set this as a right-aligned header with your last name, a space, and then an automatic page number field. Page numbers begin on the first page of text.

In-Text Citations: Author-Page Format

MLA in-text citations use the author’s last name and the page number, with no comma between them, enclosed in parentheses. The citation goes before the closing punctuation of the sentence.

One author, paraphrase: (Smith 45)
One author, direct quote: (Smith 45) — same format
Two authors: (Smith and Jones 78)
Three or more authors: (Brown et al. 112)
No page number (website, etc.): (Johnson) — omit page reference
Author named in sentence: Smith argues that «[quote]» (45). — only the page number in parentheses
Two works by same author: (Smith, «Article Title» 45) or (Smith, Book Title 112)
Two authors with same last name: (J. Smith 45) and (M. Smith 23)
No author: Use a shortened version of the title: («Article Title» 45) or (Book Title 112)
Entire work (no specific page): (Morrison) — just the author name

Block Quotations

When a quotation is longer than four lines of prose (or more than three lines of poetry), use a block quotation. Indent the entire quotation one inch from the left margin — do not use quotation marks. The citation goes after the final punctuation, not before it (the opposite of regular quotes). Introduce the block quotation with a complete sentence and a colon.

MLA Works Cited Format for Every Source Type

The Works Cited page begins on a new page after the body of the paper. The heading «Works Cited» is centered and not bold. Entries are listed alphabetically by the first element (usually author’s last name) and use a hanging indent — first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches. The entire page is double-spaced.

MLA 9th edition uses a universal «container» format for all source types, which makes the system more flexible than previous editions. The core elements, in order, are: Author. Title of Source. Title of Container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.

Journal Article

Last, First. «Title of Article.» Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##–##.

Example: Clarke, Emily. «Close Reading in the Digital Age.» New Literary History, vol. 54, no. 1, 2023, pp. 34–58.

Book

Last, First. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Example: Johnson, Michael. The Art of Literary Analysis. Oxford UP, 2022.

Book Chapter (Edited Collection)

Last, First. «Title of Chapter.» Title of Book, edited by First Last, Publisher, Year, pp. ##–##.

Website

Last, First. «Title of Page.» Name of Site, Publisher or Sponsor, Day Month Year, URL.

Note: MLA 9th edition recommends including the access date for websites only when the content is likely to change or has no publication date: Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Article in an Online Database

Last, First. «Title of Article.» Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. ##–##. Database Name, DOI or URL.

Film or Video

Title of Film. Directed by First Last, Production Company, Year.

Poem from an Anthology

Last, First. «Title of Poem.» Title of Anthology, edited by First Last, Publisher, Year, pp. ##–##.

MLA 9th Edition: Key Changes from the 8th Edition

MLA 9th edition (2021) introduced several changes from the 8th edition (2016). If you have older course materials, here are the most important updates:

Inclusive language guidance added — The 9th edition added a chapter on inclusive language, including guidance on avoiding bias in writing.
Section headings now endorsed — The 9th edition explicitly endorses using headings in longer papers, which was ambiguous in the 8th edition.
Formatting for tables clarified — Tables are labeled «Table» followed by an Arabic numeral, with the label and title above the table.
URL formatting simplified — URLs no longer need to be broken at punctuation marks at line breaks; let the word processor wrap naturally.
Abbreviations updated — Some publisher abbreviations changed (e.g., «U» for University in publisher names: «Oxford UP» not «Oxford University Press»).
Author format clarified for two+ names — The first author is inverted (Last, First), but additional authors are listed normally (First Last) separated by «and.»

How to Use the MLA Template: Step-by-Step

Fill in the four-line header — Replace the placeholder lines with your name, your professor’s name, the course name, and the date (Day Month Year format).
Replace the centered title — Use title case. Do not bold, underline, or add quotation marks unless the title contains an italicized work title.
Update the page header — In Word: Insert → Header → Edit Header → type your last name, a space, then Insert → Page Number → Top of Page → Plain Number 3 (right-aligned).
Write your introduction — The template has working citation examples. Follow the same pattern: (Author Page) for all in-text citations.
Use section headings if needed — For longer papers, bold flush-left headings in title case are acceptable. Remove them for shorter essays where they’re unnecessary.
Replace the sample table — Rename Table 1 and update the data. Keep the label and title above the table.
Build your Works Cited — Replace the ten example entries with your actual sources. Keep the hanging indent and alphabetical order.

Common MLA Format Mistakes

Using a title page — MLA student papers use a four-line header, not a separate title page. Adding a title page is incorrect unless your professor specifically requests one.
Putting a comma in the citation — MLA uses (Smith 45), not (Smith, 45). No comma between author and page number.
Adding «p.» before the page number — MLA in-text citations omit the abbreviation: (Smith 45), not (Smith p. 45). Only the Works Cited uses «pp.» for page ranges.
Bolding or underlining the title — The paper title on the first page should be in plain title case — no bold, no underline, no quotation marks.
Not including page numbers in the header — Every MLA paper needs a last-name-page-number header (Smith 1) on every page, including the first.
Calling the bibliography «Works Cited» but including unread sources — Works Cited includes only sources you actually cited in the paper. If you want to include additional sources, use a separate «Works Consulted» list.
Forgetting the hanging indent in Works Cited — Every Works Cited entry uses a hanging indent: first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches. This is the opposite of a standard paragraph indent.
Using «Ibid.» or footnotes for citations — MLA does not use ibid. Every citation repeats the author and page, every time. Footnotes in MLA are used only for supplementary commentary, not for citations.

MLA vs. APA vs. Chicago: When to Use Each

The choice of citation style depends on your discipline and often on your professor’s explicit instructions. MLA is standard in English literature, literary criticism, languages, and most humanities courses at the undergraduate level. APA is required in psychology, education, nursing, and the social sciences. Chicago is required in history, philosophy, and some interdisciplinary humanities programs.

The most visible differences between MLA and the other formats: MLA has no title page and no abstract; APA and Chicago both use title pages. MLA uses author-page citations (Smith 45); APA uses author-date (Smith, 2024); Chicago uses footnotes. MLA calls its bibliography «Works Cited»; APA calls it «References»; Chicago calls it «Bibliography.»

Frequently Asked Questions

Does MLA 9th edition require a title page?

No. Standard MLA student papers use a four-line header at the top left of the first page (your name, professor’s name, course, date), not a separate title page. Some professors or institutions do request a title page — if yours does, follow their specific instructions. The template uses the standard MLA header format.

How do I cite a website in MLA when there’s no author?

When a website has no identified author, begin the Works Cited entry with the title of the page in quotation marks. In the in-text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks: («MLA Format» 3) if there are page numbers, or («MLA Format») if there are none. Never use the website’s URL as the citation.

What is the difference between Works Cited and a Bibliography in MLA?

Works Cited includes only the sources you actually cited in your paper — every source in the text must appear in Works Cited, and every entry in Works Cited must be cited in the text. A bibliography (or «Works Consulted») includes sources you read but did not necessarily cite. Most MLA papers require a Works Cited, not a full bibliography. Check your assignment instructions to confirm which is expected.

Do I need to include the access date for websites in MLA?

MLA 9th edition recommends including an access date («Accessed 14 Mar. 2026») only when the content is likely to change over time or when no publication date is available. For stable websites with a clear publication date, the access date is optional. When in doubt, include it — it adds information without hurting the citation.

Can I use headings in an MLA paper?

Yes. MLA 9th edition endorses section headings for longer papers where they help the reader navigate the content. Headings should be in bold, flush left, and in title case. MLA does not specify multiple heading levels the way APA does — use a simple, consistent system that reflects the structure of your paper. For short essays of five pages or fewer, headings are usually unnecessary.

How do I format a long quotation in MLA?

Quotations of more than four lines of prose (or more than three lines of poetry) should be formatted as block quotations. Start on a new line, indent the entire quotation one inch from the left margin, maintain double spacing, and do not use quotation marks. Place the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation — the opposite of regular in-text citations. Introduce the block quotation with a sentence that ends in a colon.

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