should an essay in mla format have a title

should an essay in mla format have a title

In MLA format, an essay should typically have a title. The title provides readers with a clear indication of the essay’s topic and sets the tone for the content. It is considered a standard practice to include a title in MLA-formatted essays.

Here’s how you should format the title in an MLA essay:

1. Title Placement:
   • Center the title on the first page of your essay.
   • Do not bold, underline, italicize, or use quotation marks for the title.
   • The title should be in plain text, in the same font and size as the rest of the essay.
2. Capitalization:
   • Capitalize the first and last words of the title.
   • Capitalize all major words in the title (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and some conjunctions).
   • Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions unless they are the first or last word in the title.
3. Punctuation:
   • Use standard punctuation in your title. No additional punctuation is necessary.

Here’s an example of how to format an essay title in MLA:

However, it’s essential to verify if your instructor or the specific guidelines for your assignment have any specific requirements regarding the title. In some cases, instructors may provide instructions for formatting the title or may prefer a different format. Always follow the guidelines provided by your instructor or institution if they differ from the general MLA guidelines.