How To Do MLA Format using Pages on Mac? | MLA Format
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How To Do MLA Format using Pages on Mac?

This tutorial will show you how to do MLA Format using Pages on your Mac. This tutorial makes use of Pages version 5.1. It is very easy and we are going to accomplish the following settings:

I. How to Set the Font and Size:

  1. Start your Pages App => Click on New Document to create a new document => Choose the Blank Template.
  2. By default, Pages uses font Helvetica and font size 11. These are not right and we need to change them.
    mac-pages-font
  3. Click on the font name and change it to Times New Roman.
  4. Click on font size 11 and change it to font size 12.
    pages-mac-font2

II. How to Set the Margins in Pages on Mac:

By default, Pages uses the default margin of 1″ inch for all top, right, bottom & left and that is correct so there is no need to change.

If you would like to verify the margins, here are the steps: Click on the Setup icon located on the very top right corner => then set the margins under Document Margins.

pages-mac-margins

 

III. How To Create a Header in Pages on Mac:

  1. Click on View => click on Show Layout => a layout of your document and header should now appear.
    pages-mac-headers
  2. Click on the Format Icon to display the font properties (see in the image below for the Format Icon location).
  3. Click on the 3rd box on the Header.
  4. Notice the font on the Header is NOT Times New Roman => change the font to Times New Roman.
  5. Type your LastName => hit the Spacebar key on your keyboard once => click on the Insert => click on Page Number (to insert automatic page number).
    pages-mac-headers2

IV. How to Setup Line Spacing to Double Spaced:

  1. Under Spacing => click on “1.0 – Single” and choose “2.0 – Double“.
    pages-mac-linespacing-double

V. How to Enter the First Page Information:

  1. Type your full name => press Enter.
  2. Type your professor’s name => press Enter.
  3. Type course title => press Enter.
  4. Type your paper’s due date => press Enter.
  5. Click on the Align Center icon on the formatting toolbar (to center your blinking cursor) => Type the title of your paper, capitalizing the first letter and all major words and proper nouns. Do not use italics, boldfaced type, underlining, or all caps to format your title. Do not type a period at the end of the title => press Enter.
  6. Click on the Align Left icon (to bring your blinking cursor to the left).
  7. Click on the Tab key to indent 1/2 inch to begin your first paragraph. Use the Tab key on every next new paragraphs. Your completed setting should look like this:
    pages-mac-mla-firstpage

VI. How to Setup the Works Cited Page:

Follow this how-to when you are ready to work on your Works Cited page. The Works Cited page has the following characteristics:

  • A heading “Works Cited” centered one inch below the top edge of a new page. Do not bold or underline this heading.
  • No indent on the first line of each entry. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line or lines 1/2 inch from the left margin.
  • Alphabetize entries in your list of works cited by the author’s last name, using the letter-by-letter system.
  1. Immediately after typing the final line of your paper, click on Insert => Page Break (to begin a new page). Your header with your last name and automatic page numbering should appear at the top right of your paper.
  2. Click on the Align Center icon so that the text is centered.
  3. Type Works Cited (do not underline, boldface, italicize, or enclose the title in quotation marks).
  4. Press the Enter key once to begin a new line.
  5. Click on the Align Left icon so that the text is aligned left.
  6. Now type your sources. Don’t worry about indentation on the subsequent line/lines yet.
  7. Once you are done typing your sources => highlight all your sources => click on View => click on Show Ruler => now click on the Left Indent icon and drag it to the 1/2 inch mark.
  8. Now click on the First Line Indent icon and drag it to 0 inch mark. You are done setting the Hanging Indent for your Works Cited page.
    pages-mac-workscited

I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Take care!

{ 40 comments… add one }
  • Genevieve Aloisi August 24, 2020, 12:03 pm

    The examples were very helpful

  • Stephanie J Layton May 14, 2020, 2:28 pm

    this was helpfull

  • Dimple Verma January 12, 2020, 5:59 pm

    I really appreciate this tutorial thanks for providing.

  • Sue March 16, 2019, 7:47 pm

    Life saver!

  • Sam March 1, 2019, 11:44 pm

    OMG THANK YOU LIFE SAVER!!!!!!!

  • Perla January 7, 2018, 2:42 pm

    Thanks man!

  • Christopher Lewis October 3, 2017, 10:40 am

    This format also works on Pages 6.2 as well. It’s just that setup section is today called document. But it is still the same, but I was running macOS 10.12.5

  • Zachary Impey September 23, 2017, 6:49 pm

    Excellent work explaining the MLA format! The picture and text combo made it clear and easy to understand. Buy yourself a cookie; you deserve it!

  • Michelle July 11, 2017, 12:14 pm

    Thank you, you helped me make indent hanging.

  • Monica February 4, 2017, 1:09 am

    Beautifully explained, thank you to whoever took the time for such an excellent guide.

  • omar August 30, 2016, 6:43 am

    Thanks so much for the help! I would’ve failed If it wasn’t for you!

  • Janet July 16, 2016, 5:46 pm

    Super helpful! Thank You!

  • Jesus May 4, 2016, 2:18 pm

    Is it normal when I get to the bottom margin and after my last line of text before the page changes there is another blank line? This makes my margin look like a 1.25 margin. The only way i can get the last line of text to rest in the margin is by making the spacing between paragraphs 14pt, is that allowed in MLA?

  • Cooper February 19, 2016, 2:48 pm

    Thank you for the MLA format instructions, it was really helpful.

  • A December 11, 2015, 12:43 am

    Wonderful, thank you! I had it formatted and saved as a template! THANK YOU I’ve been struggling with the header for so long and I can’t believe it was so easy to do hahaha

  • Ronak September 24, 2015, 10:07 pm

    Just wanted to let you know, this is the best thing ever. My microsoft word just expired and my paper was due today. Thanks to you I got it done perfectly. Thank you very much!!!

  • John June 8, 2015, 10:21 pm

    You my friend deserve to sit at the right hand of god, thank you so much

  • Gia June 2, 2015, 9:31 pm

    So helpful. Thank you so much!!

  • Madeleine April 30, 2015, 9:38 pm

    I found this EXTREMELY helpful!! I was so confused on how to format the header on a Pages account but you definitely cleared that up 🙂

  • Jennvall April 22, 2015, 3:06 pm

    Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for posting this! So very simple and helpful!

  • Spencer March 17, 2015, 1:50 am

    Super awesome!! Thanks heaps!! Definitely saved me from exporting to my Windows computer and making it in there.

  • Joe March 16, 2015, 10:59 pm

    Thank you for spending the time on making this! Really helpful!

  • Aitana March 3, 2015, 9:03 pm

    Thanks! This was very helpful.

  • Daisy February 27, 2015, 3:22 am

    Thank you so much. You are amazing. This was very helpful.

  • Ray February 24, 2015, 6:33 pm

    I love you for making this.

  • Quanah January 20, 2015, 10:18 pm

    What wonderful help. I’ll certainly keep this on hand for my university papers.

  • Nancy Caraballo January 14, 2015, 12:08 am

    Thank you for making my switch to MAC easy and affordable.

  • Eli Towle November 14, 2014, 12:15 pm

    This is beautiful

  • Peero November 10, 2014, 2:41 pm

    This is a good resource.

  • Bobby October 27, 2014, 5:52 pm

    Thanks so much for the help!

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