This document provides step-by-step instructions for properly formatting a paper in MLA style using Microsoft Word 2008 on a Mac. It details how to double space the text, set all margins to 1 inch except for the gutter, add a running header with the author's last name and page number, and insert key elements like the title and core header information. The 20 steps clearly outline each setting and menu selection needed to configure the document layout according to MLA guidelines.

1. Quick
Guide
to
MLA
Format
in
Microsoft
Word
2008
(Mac)
1
1. First,
double-­‐space
your
paper
before
you
begin
typing.
Click
on
“Format”
on
the
menu
bar
on
the
top
of
the
screen.
2. Next,
click
on
“Paragraph”
on
the
drop
down
menu.

2. 2
3. Next,
to
the
right
of
the
heading
“line
spacing”
click
on
the
blue
arrow.
4. Next,
click
on
“double”
on
the
drop
down
menu.
5. Next,
click
on
“OK.”
6.
Then,
click
on
“Format”
again
on
the
menu
bar
on
the
top
of
the
screen.
7.
Next,
click
on
“Document”
on
the
drop
down
menu.

3. 3
8.
All
margins
should
be
set
to
“1
inch”
except
“Gutter.”
Your
“header
and
footer”
has
to
be
0.5;”
this
measurement
is
already
set
for
you
in
Microsoft
Word.
9.
Next,
click
on
“OK.”
10.
Now
that
your
paper
is
double-­‐spaced,
the
next
step
is
to
add
a
running
header
with
your
last
name
and
page
number.
11.
First,
click
on
“view”
in
the
menu
at
the
top
of
the
screen.

4. 4
12.
Next,
on
the
drop
down
menu,
click
on
“Header
and
Footer.”
13.
Next,
in
the
header
section
on
the
top
of
the
page,
type
your
last
name.

5. 5
14.
Next,
click
on
“view”
in
the
menu
at
the
top
of
the
screen,
then
click
on
“toolbars,”
finally
click
on
“formatting.”
15.
Next,
click
on
“right
align”
in
the
tool
bar
at
the
top
of
the
screen.
This
will
automatically
move
your
name
over
to
the
right
corner.

6. 6
Next,
click
on
“close.”
16.
Next,
click
on
“insert”
in
the
menu
on
the
top
of
the
screen.
17.
Next,
on
the
drop
down
menu,
click
on
“page
numbers.”
18.
Next,
in
the
“page
numbers”
menu,
under
“position”
click
on
the
blue
arrow
and
change
from
“bottom
of
page”
to
“top
of
page”
and
click
on
“ok.”

7. 7
19.
Next,
add
your
first
and
last
name,
professor’s
last
name,
class,
and
date
in
the
format
you
see
below.
Notice
that
it
is
aligned
to
the
left.
20.
Lastly,
add
the
title
to
your
document.
To
enter
the
title,
click
on
“align
center”
in
the
tool
bar
at
the
top
of
your
screen.

8. 8
Revised
on
10/15/12