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MLA Format Google Docs

This tutorial will show you how to do MLA Format using Google Docs on Google Drive. It is very easy and we are going to accomplish the following settings:

There are two methods:

– Method 1, to use a Google Template with settings pre-configured
– Method 2, to perform the settings yourself (recommended)

Method 1: Using a Google Template:

  1. On the Google Docs menu, click on File => New => From Template.
    googledocs-mlatemplate
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see many professional templates.
  3. Scroll all the way down
  4. Under the Education category, click on the template that says “Report MLA
  5. The template will be copied to your Google Drive and you are ready to type your essay.

Method 2: How to Perform all of the Settings Yourself:

I. How to Set the Font and Size:

  1. When you create a new document, the default font is Arial and size 11.
    googledocs-fontandsize
  2. Click on the font and change it to Times New Roman.
  3. Click on font size 11 and change it to font size 12.
    googledocs-fontandsize2

II. How to Set the Margins in Google Docs:

Google uses the default margin of 1 inch for all top, right, bottom & left so there is no need to change.

If you would like to verify the margins, here are the steps: click on File => Page Setup

googledocs-pagesetup-margins

III. How To Create a Header in Google Docs:

  1. Click on Insert => click on Header & page number => click on Header.
    googledocs-header
  2. Notice the font on the Header is NOT Times New Roman => change the font to Times New Roman and font size 12.
  3. Notice the cursor is blinking on the left, click on the Right Align icon to align the cursor to the right.
    googledocs-header2
  4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard twice.
  5. Type your Last Name => press the Spacebar key on the keyboard once.
  6. Click on Insert => Header & page number => Page number => then click on the first box.
    googledocs-header3
  7. Now click on anywhere below the Header line to close the Header.

IV. How to Setup Line Spacing to Double Spaced:

  1. Click on the Line Spacing button => Choose Double.
    googledocs-line-spacing-doublespaced

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:googledocs-firstpage-mla

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).
  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 the Left Indent icon and drag it to the 1/2 inch mark.
    googledocs-workscited-hangingindent
    googledocs-hangingindent2
  8. Now click on the First Line Indent icon and drag it to 0 inch mark. You are done setting the Hanging Indent for Google Docs.
    googledocs-hangingindent3

You are done with the settings. I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Take care!

{ 216 comments… add one }
  • thank you February 21, 2018, 11:11 am

    this is soo helpful

  • shannon February 11, 2018, 5:40 pm

    THANK YOU!! I’ve been out of school 20 years, this just saved me so much time!!!

  • trinity November 16, 2017, 4:47 pm

    THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

  • Flow from Progessive October 19, 2017, 7:05 pm

    Thank you for the help!

  • Chance Cash October 12, 2017, 12:18 pm

    Thank you It has helped me a lot!

  • Jakes Twin October 3, 2017, 10:07 am

    Thanks a bunch

  • Jake from State Farm October 1, 2017, 10:15 pm

    THANK YOU

  • Avery Peterson September 14, 2017, 12:23 pm

    This really helped me. It was really easy to understand and it saved my grade. Thanks!

  • Cam Chow September 5, 2017, 1:20 pm

    thank you for this. It helped me get a good grade 🙂

  • Macey Gloria August 26, 2017, 11:47 pm

    super helpful with the header!

  • Anonymous August 19, 2017, 10:35 am

    THANKS so much

  • Khoirul Anwar June 14, 2017, 6:06 pm

    This was really helpful thx

  • corey June 11, 2017, 5:57 pm

    bless ur soul,, i hope you live a long, happy life surrounded by the people you love and care about

  • Jimm April 21, 2017, 4:17 am

    Amazing thanks.

  • Matthew April 19, 2017, 7:23 pm

    It’s really helpful

  • Luke April 19, 2017, 3:12 pm

    Helped 🙂

  • Steve April 19, 2017, 8:05 am

    Bless your heart

  • Melissa April 9, 2017, 1:51 pm

    This is awesome for people using the desktop version. However, when using the app on iPad, none of this works and the iPad won’t let you use the desktop version without constantly trying to move you into the app. The app formatting options are much more limited and much harder to find. If anyone knows of a similar tutorial for the iPad app version, that would be GREATLY appreciated.

  • Banquisha February 28, 2017, 8:29 pm

    Thank you so much this helped me out so much

  • Bob henery February 10, 2017, 4:28 pm

    OMG you saved my life I stayed up all night doing my English project and yo guys saved MY STICKEN LIFE THANKS

  • NO comment February 7, 2017, 11:09 pm

    I’ve been doing this my whole life and couldn’t figure it out so thank you. SIncerely, a 15 yr old.

  • A Roca January 24, 2017, 5:33 am

    Thank you, sir for making my life so convenient and smooth!

  • Melita Nesbit January 24, 2017, 1:37 am

    This site is my saving grace! I am 34 years old and it has been 10 years since I last attended school. I am now taking online classes for my associates degree and have used this website to guide me through my English course. It’s awesome!!

  • Joanna Morrow January 10, 2017, 1:12 pm

    Extemly well put together! wow!!! Thank you, as I am new to this and have a google chromebook.

  • IzL December 15, 2016, 4:37 pm

    That was so helpful! Thank you so much, your tutorials are awesome!

  • Thanks December 6, 2016, 3:55 pm

    Thanks

  • Samantha November 8, 2016, 5:16 pm

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. It was smooth and to the point. It helped reduce a lot of stress for my freshman year in college. Thank you again! I will definitely be using this in the future.

    Best regards!

  • Detra Wilson November 3, 2016, 8:17 am

    This is an awesome resource! I’m going to use this for my students.

  • Nnnn November 2, 2016, 7:23 pm

    So helpful

  • James October 17, 2016, 2:24 pm

    Thanks

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