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English 110: Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing Through Literature

Use library resources to locate and evaluate information for your class assignments.

What is MLA Style?

Modern Language Association MLA

Modern Language Association (MLA) Style citations are ones that you may be familiar with from high school. The most current version is the 9th edition (April 2021). This style of citation is required in your English classes, among others.

For more information about MLA Style, please review the options in this guide.

Video: "MLA Citations: 9th Edition"

Examples and Additional Resources

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.

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:

  1. Make sure to 'Show Ruler'.
  2. Select all citations.
  3. Click and drag the triangle to the half inch (0.50) mark.
  4. 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:

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