The Best Way To Create A Header In MLA Format

It was half a century ago the Modern Language Association (MLA) created a Style Manual as a guide to format academic papers. After considering several facts, MLA format is created to make it simple for users to go with. When you consider such an MLA-style page header, it will be very simple. You can see only the page number and the author’s last name on the right-side margin. In this article, let us discuss the basics and the steps to create a header in MLA format.

Basics Of MLA Header – How Do You Recognize It?

1. Set The Paper Format:

Before starting the procedure, you must set the standard white 8.5″ x 11″ or A4 size paper to prepare the MLA style sheet. Before formatting your header, ensure you set the word processor to this paper size.

2. Get The Right Font:

Though the MLA format didn’t specify any specific font size, you can choose the classic and easy-to-read fonts. So, the preferred choice is, of course, Times New Roman.

Coming to the size of the font is set to 12-point. Now, you must use the same font style and size for the header and the main text. In most cases, the MLA heading format recommends you choose the right font, which is not italic type.

3. Check The Margins For The Right Size:

MLA style indicates one-inch or 2.54-cm margins on the page edges. The page number should get the right alignment to the margin, so you should choose one inch from the right edge. You can go for the standard header and footer margin settings, as the header text should always come one-half inch from the page’s top position.

4. Provide Your Last Name And Page Number To The Right Margin:

If the last name is Pattinson, you need to add that name along with the page number. So, you need to add this header on the top of the margin as “Pattinson 4.” 

5. Try To Skip The First Page Header:

MLA style allows the author, editor, or instructor not to add the first-page header, or one can also leave it blank. Since MLA format didn’t use any title pages, you can see your full name on the first page of the text. 

Steps To Create A Header In MLA Format In MS Word:

See The Document Margins & Settings First:

You can create an MLA header in any Word version, as it doesn’t depend on which version you will create the simple header. The first step is to choose the margins around 1 inch or 2.54 cm. Again, it would help if you chose the font style, Times New Roman, or another simple style. 

Creating The MLA Header In Word 365:

It is one of the web-based versions of the word processor where you need to create an MLA header format. The first thing is to click on the Insert tab at the top of the page. Next, choose the Page numbers button, and you will see a drop-down arrow showing many options. You need to choose “Add to Header or Footer.” You must choose the one with the page number in the top right corner.

Once you click, you will see the inserted page number to be shaded. So, now type the last name and give one space. After adding the last name and page number, you need to change the font to Times New Roman and the size to 12-point. After adding them, you can click below the shaded area to start your main body content. Now, the finished header remains hidden.

Creating The MLA Header In Word 2013:

The most recent version that people use is the Word 2013 version. Here are the steps to add the MLA Header in Word 2013.

1. Firstly, click the Insert tab on the top of the Word document.
2. Choose the Page Number option, and you will see a drop-down menu.
3. Choose “Top of Page” and then go for “Plain Header 3” as the header section.
4. Soon after choosing this option, you will see the page number section to be shaded. Now, you need to provide your last name and press the spacebar.
5.  After highlighting the page number and last name, you need to choose the font style of Times New Roman.
6. Then, click below the dotted line to continue to the main body text area.

Creating The MLA Header In Word 2007 or 2010:

Here the actual process varies when compared to other versions of MS Word. One can’t see the header in the Word document unless it is under Print view mode. The header and footer option comes under the View Menu in this older version. Though you will find options to add images, symbols, etc. you need to add only last name and page numbers in case of MLA format.

1. Now, it’s time to set the header to get it on the right-hand corner, which is a one-half inch or 1.27 cm from the top side. 
2. You can use the pop-up menu or the alignment option to choose the right alignment.
3. To insert page numbers, choose the ‘Insert’ option and go for “page numbers.” 
4. Then, you must choose the format, position, and alignment options accordingly. 
5. Soon after you see the shaded page number, you need to edit it with your page number and the last name. 
6. Again, as discussed above, some authors may look for the first page without the page number. 
7. So it would help if you chose whether to show the first page with the page number or not. For this, you will find an optional box in the Page Numbers to make the number “1” appear or not on the first page.

Conclusion:

This is how you can format the MLA header in different Word document versions. Thus, it has become easy for you to create an MLA header using the above step-by-step procedure.

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