Library Research Guides: MLA Style Guide: Works Cited Page

General Instructions

The Works Cited page should have a page number, continuing on from the paper.

Center the words Works Cited one inch from the top of the page.

Continue double-spacing – no extra spaces between citations.

Citations should be listed alphabetically by the first word of the citation. Alphabetical arrangement of author names is generally done letter by letter. For example:

Descartes, René

De Sica, Vittorio

If there are multiple works by one author, use ---. in place of the author’s name. Put them in alphabetical order by title (see The Cat in the Hat, in the Works Cited Example on this page).

Use a 'hanging indent.' If the citation is longer than one line of the page, indent the remaining lines(s) approximately one-half inch from the left margin.

In Microsoft Word:

Select and right-click on the block of text,
From the pop-up menu, click on Paragraph
Under the heading Special, select Hanging.

In Google Docs: Highlight text –> go to: Format –> Align and Indent –> Indentation Options –> Special Hanging

*See further instructions on this page.

Creating a Hanging Indent - Videos and Instructions

Do not use the space bar or tabs to line up citations in your document! Use a 'Hanging Indent'.

A hanging indent is required for your citations (Works Cited or References pages) when you use MLA or APA style citations.

For more explanations of these methods, please see the videos in the playlist below or click on the tabs above for step-by-step instructions.

GWC Library Youtube Channel Playlist: Formatting Works Cited
A playlist of additional videos that help you format hanging indents in either Word or Google Docs.

Google Docs.

In Google Docs you will need to use the 'ruler' to set up your page for a hanging indent. Here is what that looks like:

Create a hanging indent in Google Docs: Show ruler; Select all citations; Click and drag triangle to half inch; Click and drag rectangle back to left margin

Steps to creating a hanging indent in Google Docs:

Make sure to 'Show Ruler'.
Select all citations.
Click and drag the triangle to the half inch (0.50) mark.
Click and drag the rectangle back to the left margin (0.00).

Microsoft Word.

In Microsoft Word you may also use the 'ruler' OR (easier) use the paragraph tab to format the indentation and line spacing:

Hanging Indent using MS Word

Steps to creating a hanging indent in Microsoft Word:

Select all citations.
Click open 'Paragraph Settings' Menu.
Select 'Special' in the Indentation Section.
1. Choose 'Hanging.'
Line Spacing is 'Double.'

Works Cited Example

Note: Do NOT highlight your citations.

Highlighting is used to show the alphabetical ordering of your Works Cited page and the naming of in-text citations. See the example on the In-text Citations page for how these sources would be used within an essay.

Sampall 6

Works Cited

Huber, Suzanne. “The Impact of Food Allergies on Social and Emotional Development.” Childhood Psychological Disorders: Current Controversies, edited by Alberto M. Bursztyn, Praeger, 2011, pp. 143-66. Letizia, Joan. "Trichinosis.” Infectious Diseases & Conditions, edited by H. Bradford Hawley, vol. 3, Salem Press/Grey House, 2012, pp. 1073-75. Salem Health. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX7744200576/GVRL?u=hunt25841&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=2d303a3f. “Parasites - Trichinellosis (also known as Trichinosis).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Sept. 2020, www.cdc.gov/parasites/trichinellosis/disease. “Salmonella.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Nov. 2022, www.cdc.gov/salmonella. Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat. Random House, 1985. ---. Green Eggs and Ham. Beginner Books/Random House, 1988.