Master MLA Works Cited formatting: hanging indents, double spacing, margins, and alphabetical order for your research paper.
What Makes a Proper Works Cited Page
A Works Cited page is the final page of an MLA-formatted research paper where you list every source you cited in your paper. The formatting is strict and specific: every entry must follow the same rules for margins, spacing, indentation, and alphabetical order. A single formatting error can make your page look unprofessional or confuse your reader about which sources you actually consulted.
The core formatting requirements are:
Double spacing: All entries are double-spaced, with no extra space between entries
1-inch margins: Same as the rest of your paper (top, bottom, left, right)
Hanging indent: The first line of each entry aligns with the left margin; all other lines are indented 0.5 inches
Alphabetical order: Entries are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name (or by title if there is no author, ignoring articles like "A," "An," and "The")
"Works Cited" heading: Centered at the top of the page, not italicized or in quotation marks
Note: MLA style uses the heading "Works Cited," while APA style calls it "References." See our APA vs. MLA comparison for more style differences.
How Hanging Indents Work
The hanging indent is the most visually distinctive part of a Works Cited page. It allows your reader to quickly scan the left margin for author names while keeping all the publication details aligned underneath. Below is a visual example of how it should look:
MLA Format · Works Cited Entry Example
Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Pan Books, 1979.
Notice how "Adams" begins at the left margin, but "Pan Books, 1979" is indented. This is the hanging indent in action. The first line "hangs" out to the left while the rest of the entry is indented.
Method 1: Microsoft Word
The process in Microsoft Word is straightforward and works the same way in recent versions (Word 2019, Office 365, and newer).
Select all your citations. Click at the beginning of your first entry and drag to select all the text on your Works Cited page, or press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select all.
Open the Paragraph dialog. Go to the Home tab. In the Paragraph group (usually on the right side of the ribbon), click the small arrow or launcher icon at the bottom-right corner of the group to open the Paragraph dialog box.
Navigate to Indents and Spacing. The dialog box opens with the Indents & Spacing tab already selected. Look for the Indentation section.
Set the Special indent to Hanging. Under Special, click the dropdown menu and select Hanging. The default value of 0.5" will appear automatically—this is exactly what you need for MLA format.
Apply and close. Click OK to apply the hanging indent to all selected text.
If you're using Word on a Mac and don't see a Paragraph group on the Home tab, look for Layout or Format in the top menu bar instead. Some Mac versions place the indent controls in a slightly different location.
Method 2: Google Docs
Google Docs makes hanging indents equally easy, though the menu path is different. This works in any browser where you have Google Docs access.
Select all your citations. Click at the beginning of your first entry and drag to select all the text, or press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac).
Open the Format menu. Click Format in the top menu bar.
Navigate to Align & indent. In the dropdown, find and click Align & indent.
Open Indentation options. Click Indentation options to expand the full indent menu.
Set Special indent to Hanging. Under Special indent, click the dropdown and select Hanging. Make sure the value shows 0.5" next to it.
Apply. Click anywhere outside the menu, or press Enter to apply the change.
Google Docs automatically applies the indent to the selected text. If you want to adjust the indent size (for example, to 0.75"), use the text field next to the dropdown to change the value. However, MLA requires exactly 0.5 inches, so leave it as is.
Alphabetical Order and Spacing
Once your indents are set, make sure your entries are in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If an entry has no author, alphabetize by the title, ignoring articles (A, An, The) at the beginning.
To help with sorting and verifying alphabetical order, use our Works Cited alphabetizer tool. It automatically ignores articles and can sort your entire list at once—just paste your entries and let it organize them correctly.
Double-check that there is no extra line spacing between entries. Your entire Works Cited page should be double-spaced throughout, with no gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the hanging indent apply to every entry or just long ones?
Every entry on your Works Cited page must have a hanging indent, regardless of its length. Even a one-line citation (which is rare in MLA) should still be formatted as if it were going to continue on a second line, so the hanging indent rule still applies consistently. This is what makes a Works Cited page instantly recognizable.
Do I center the Works Cited heading?
Yes, the "Works Cited" heading must be centered at the top of the page. Do not italicize it, do not put it in quotation marks, and do not underline it. It is simply centered, plain text in the same font as the rest of your paper.
What if my citation only has one line?
Hanging indents still apply. Even if an entry is so short that it fits on a single line (which is uncommon in MLA), the hanging indent formatting rule is still in effect. The first line starts at the left margin, and any continuation would be indented 0.5 inches. It is important to keep this consistent across all entries.
Can I use tab stops instead of the hanging indent tool?
While you can technically use tab stops to create an indent effect, using the built-in hanging indent tool (Home > Paragraph > Special > Hanging) is far simpler and more reliable. Tab stops can be unpredictable if you paste text from other sources, copy your paper to a different computer, or open it in a different program. The hanging indent tool is automatic and portable.
What's the difference between MLA "Works Cited" and APA "References"?
Both MLA and APA require a bibliography-style page at the end of your paper, but they use different names and slightly different formats. MLA calls it "Works Cited," while APA calls it "References." Both pages list only the sources you cited in your paper, and both use hanging indents. For a complete comparison of MLA vs. APA formatting, see our MLA vs. APA guide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting the hanging indent on short entries: A hanging indent applies to every entry, no matter how short.
Using the wrong special indent type: Make sure you select "Hanging," not "First line" (which indents only the first line, the opposite of what you need).
Not double-spacing: The entire Works Cited page, including between entries, must be double-spaced.
Alphabetizing incorrectly: Remember to ignore articles (A, An, The) when alphabetizing by title, and always alphabetize by last name if an author is present.
Centering the wrong text: Only the "Works Cited" heading is centered; the actual citations remain left-aligned (with the hanging indent).