Paragraph SpacingPapers should have no extra spacing after paragraphs. This should be the default for Word, but if your default setting is to have 10pt spacing after paragraphs, change your default.
There are reasons why double-spacing is the standard for the essays you write in high school and college: double-spacing is easier to read quickly because the lines don't blur together; also, double-spacing gives your reader room to write comments on your personal statement (and yes, some admissions officers do print
On the first page of your paper, type a four-line header that includes your name, the instructor's name, the course name, and the date. This appears at the top of the first page only and is aligned left.
You can double-space all or part of a Word document. To double-space the whole document, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing, and choose Double. Tip: To double-space only part of the document, select the paragraphs you want to change, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose 2.0.
This format is sometimes called hanging indent, and you can set your word processing program to create it automatically for a group of paragraphs. Hanging indent makes alphabet lists easier to use.
Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper. Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side. Indent the first word of each paragraph 1/2 inch from the left margin. Indent set-off quotations 1 inch from the left margin.
An MLA paper has a standard look for every page including 1-inch margins, a readable font, a running header including your last name and page number, and author-page in-text citations. At the end of your paper, you will include a works cited with a list of all the sources used in the paper.
In text formatting, a double space means sentences contain a full blank line (the equivalent of the full height of a line of text) between the rows of words. By default, most programs have single spacing enabled, which is a slight space between each line of text, similar to how this paragraph looks.
Click Design, then Paragraph Spacing. Pick which spacing you want (the default is Open), and notice your whole document will preview as you mouse over the different settings. If you don't like those options, click Custom Paragraph Spacing and change the numbers under Paragraph Spacing.
How to Set Up a MLA Format in Microsoft Word
- Set the page margins. From the main menu, select "File," then click "Page Setup" from the drop-down menu.
- Set the font. The MLA requires that all manuscripts be written in the Times New Roman font at a 12-point pitch.
- Set double spacing.
- Set your header.
How to setup MLA formatting in Word 2016
- On the Home tab, click the arrow that expands Paragraph Settings.
- On the Layout tab, click Margins and select Normal (1" on all sides).
- Click on the Insert tab.
- Type your last name and hit the space bar once.
“Double-spaced” simply means that there is one blank line between every line of type. All modern word- processing programs have a double-space mode. In Microsoft Word 2013, you will need to set line spacing to “Double” and also ensure that no additional spaces are added before or after paragraphs.