how to do a works cited page for an essay in mla format

how to do a works cited page for an essay in mla format

Creating a Works Cited page in MLA format for your 1000-word essay is an essential part of properly citing your sources. Here’s how to set up and format a Works Cited page:

1. Title and Formatting:

• Place the title “Works Cited” at the top, centered, without bold, italics, or quotation marks.
• Use the same Times New Roman font, 12-point size, and double spacing as the rest of your essay.
• Make sure there is a one-inch margin on all sides.

2. Alphabetical Order:

• List your sources alphabetically by the author’s last name. If there is no author, use the title of the source.

3. Hanging Indent:

• Create a hanging indent for each citation. To do this, use the ruler in your word processing software or the “Paragraph” settings. The first line of each citation should align with the left margin, while subsequent lines should be indented by 0.5 inches.

4. Citation Formatting:

• Format each citation according to the type of source (book, article, website, etc.) following the MLA guidelines. Here are some examples:
• Book:
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  Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. *Title of Book.* Publisher, Year.

• Journal Article:
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  Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Title of Article." *Title of Journal,* vol. volume number, no. issue number, Year, pp. page numbers.

• Website:
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  Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Title of Webpage." *Name of Website,* publication date, URL.


5. In-Text Citations:

• Ensure that the sources listed in your Works Cited page match the in-text citations in your essay.

Here’s a sample Works Cited page for a 1000-word essay in MLA format:

Remember that the specific format and citation style may vary depending on the type of source and the specific requirements of your assignment. Always refer to the MLA Handbook or your instructor’s guidelines for precise formatting details.