MLA Heading and Header Format, with Examples

The MLA heading format is four double-spaced lines at the top left of the first page: your name, your instructor's name, the course and the date. The MLA header is your surname and the page number, top right on every page.

These two small details are among the first things a marker sees, so getting them right is an easy way to start on a good note. This guide shows both, with examples and setup steps for Word and Google Docs.

A Complete First Page in MLA Format

Here is how the top of a correctly formatted first page looks. The header sits in the page header area; everything else is typed in the body of the page.

                                              Okafor 1

Amara Okafor
Professor Lindqvist
English 102
9 October 2026

              Setting and Solitude in The Winter House

     The first line of the essay begins here, indented 0.5 inches...

Notice that there are no blank lines between the heading lines, the title and the first paragraph. Double spacing alone creates the gaps.

The first paragraph is indented 0.5 inches, like every paragraph that follows. In your document, italicize the novel's name within the otherwise plain title, because it names another work.

The Four-Line MLA Heading

The heading sits at the top left of the first page, inside the normal 1-inch margin. It is double-spaced like the rest of the paper, with no extra blank lines.

Write the month in full in the heading. Abbreviated months, such as Oct., belong in Works Cited entries, not the heading.

Instructor Names

Use the form your instructor prefers, such as Professor Lindqvist or Dr Lindqvist. If you are unsure, check the course page or how they sign emails.

The Surname and Page Number Header

The header appears on every page, including the first. It contains your surname, a space and the page number, aligned to the right.

• Place it 0.5 inches from the top of the page, flush with the right margin.
• Use the same font and size as the essay.
• Do not add "p.", "page", a comma or a hyphen: write "Okafor 3".
• Use your word processor's header feature so the numbers update automatically.
• The header helps a marker put printed pages back in order if they come apart, which is why it appears on every page.

Some tutors ask you to leave the surname off the first page or to use page numbers alone. Follow their instructions if they differ from the standard format.

Placing the Title

The title goes on the line directly after the date, centered. MLA keeps it plain: no bold, italics, underlining, quotation marks or larger font.

• Capitalize it in title case.
• Italicize or put in quotation marks only the titles of other works within your title, as you would in the essay itself.
• Do not add an extra blank line before or after the title.

Setting It up in Word and Google Docs

Both programs can place the header automatically, so page numbers stay correct as you edit. Set the header up before you start writing and you will never need to think about it again.

Microsoft Word

1. Set margins to 1 inch on all sides under Layout, then Margins.
2. Choose a readable font, such as Times New Roman 12 point, and set line spacing to 2.0.
3. Go to Insert, then Page Number, then Top of Page, and choose the right-aligned option.
4. In the header, click before the number and type your surname followed by a space.
5. Check the header distance from the top is 0.5 inches under the header options.
6. Close the header and type the four-line heading at the top left of the first page.
7. Press Enter after the date, center the line and type your title.

Menu names vary slightly between versions of Word, but the header and page number tools are always under Insert.

Google Docs

1. Open File, then Page setup, and set margins to 1 inch.
2. Set the font to a readable 12-point option and line spacing to double.
3. Go to Insert, then Page numbers, and choose the option with numbers at the top right on every page.
4. Click in the header before the number and type your surname and a space.
5. Make sure the header text is right-aligned and in the same font as the essay.
6. Type the heading at the top left of the first page, then the centered title.

Group Projects and Title Pages

For a group paper, list each member's name on its own line at the start of the heading, followed by the instructor, course and date. If all the surnames will not fit neatly in the header, page numbers alone are a common solution; check with your tutor.

MLA does not require a separate title page. If your instructor asks for one, follow their template, and leave out the four-line heading on the first page of the essay unless told otherwise.

MLA Heading or APA Title Page?

Students switching between styles often mix up the first page. The two styles open a paper quite differently.

If your tutor asks for MLA with a title page, follow their instructions for what it should contain. The rest of the paper still uses the MLA header and spacing.

After the First Page

From page two onwards, only the header carries over. There is no repeated heading or title.

• The header continues with your surname and the next page number.
• Every paragraph keeps its 0.5-inch first-line indent.
• The Works Cited list starts on a new page, with the same header, and its title centered in plain text.
• Long quotations are indented 0.5 inches as a block, still double-spaced.

Common MLA Heading Mistakes

How EssayOasis Helps with MLA Formatting

Send your essay and any course instructions. An editor sets the heading, header, title, margins and spacing to MLA 9th, then checks every in-text citation against your Works Cited list.

If you need a full custom essay, it arrives formatted in MLA 9th from the first line, for study and reference. Free revisions within the scope of your original request are included.