MLA Formatting Guide

9th Edition · For a 2,500-Word Argumentative Essay

General Formatting Requirements
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including Works Cited
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides
  • Page numbers: Top right corner with your last name (e.g., Smith 1)
  • No title page required, use the MLA heading on the first page
  • Paragraph indent: 0.5 inches (one tab) for the first line of every paragraph
  • Word count: Approximately 2,500 words (about 8–10 pages of body text)
  • Title: Centered, not bold, not underlined, not italicized, in title case

Need More Help?

Visit the MLA Style Center or check Berea Writes! Chapter 7 for citation guidance.