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How to make a cover page essay in various formatting styles: MLA, APA, ASA, Chicago

Published 23 Sep 2024

Cover sheets often make your first impression of your work, and each style has a specific layout, font, and structure guidelines. This article will guide you through creating a cover page example in different formatting styles, such as APA, MLA, ASA, Harvard, and Chicago. By following the tips outlined here, you'll get the answer to “What is a cover page for an essay and how to format it correctly?” for each style, ensuring a professional and organized presentation for your assignments.

What is a cover sheet for an essay?

Also known as a title page, this is the first sheet of an academic or professional document that provides essential information about the work. It creates the first impression for your readers, so it should be concise but contain the necessary information about your text. 

Typically, it includes the title of the problem solution essay , the author's name, the instructor's or professor's name, the course title, and the submission date. Depending on the formatting style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago), details like institutional affiliation or running headers may also be required.

Why is it important to be included?

Understanding how to make a title page for an essay is crucial because this is an essential component of academic and professional writing. It serves multiple purposes and is key in setting the tone for your work. A well-structured cover sheet indicates professionalism and attention to detail. Here's why it matters:

  • First impression : It introduces your work and sets a positive tone by adhering to formatting guidelines.
  • Professionalism: It demonstrates that you follow institutional or instructor-specific requirements, helping standardize a submission.
  • Identification : It provides key information like the title, author, and course, ensuring the philosophy paper is easily identifiable and organized.
  • Context : It helps the reader quickly understand the purpose and content of the document.

A poorly formatted or missing title sheet can negatively impact the perception of your work, so it's crucial to include one to add structure and professionalism.

When to use an essay cover page?

This element should be implemented in the following situations:

  • Academic papers: Most academic essays and term papers, especially those following specific formatting styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago, require this component.
  • Research projects: For larger academic projects like theses, dissertations, and research reports, an APA cover page for a college paper is often mandatory to present key details.
  • Professional reports: Business reports, proposals, and formal documents often use cover pages to introduce the paper's title, author, and other relevant information.
  • Assignments with specific guidelines: When instructors or institutions provide specific guidelines for the submission of an explication essay , a title sheet is usually required to ensure clarity and organization.
  • Publishing or conference submissions: This element may be needed to present relevant details like the title, author, and institution when submitting research papers or articles to journals, conferences, or publishing houses.

Always refer to your department’s instructions to determine if a cover sheet is needed.

How does an essay title page vary based on the paper type?

Depending on the essay type and the specific guidelines provided, the response to “What is a cover page and how should it be completed?” can differ, as its format and content can vary. Discover the essential differences:

  • Academic essays require indicating the title, student name, course, instructor, and date. These texts follow APA format cover page or MLA citation styles.
  • Research papers are similar to academic essays but are more formal in format. Their title sheets often contain institutional affiliation and a running head (in APA essay cover).
  • Narrative/personal essays are less formal and may have creative titles with student and course details indicated on the first page.
  • Creative writing focuses on creative titles. It comes with fewer formal requirements.
  • College admission essays are focused on content and require simple formatting. On the first sheet, they often have just a name and an optional title.
  • Lab reports and scientific essays are formal papers that require indicating a title, student name, course, and institution on the first sheet. These texts follow strict scientific formatting rules, such as APA.

How to make a cover page: general guidelines

Creating the first sheet at grade schools was simple: indicate your name and the date, and you were done. However, at the university, essay writing becomes more complex. Structuring a diversity essay and following grammar rules involve several steps that might seem unfamiliar or overwhelming. Understanding the proper essay format can help ease the process, but deciding on the right structure and maintaining grammar accuracy can still feel challenging.

One of the most important aspects of presenting your essay is the first sheet, yet many students are unsure how to make a cover page for an essay. To help, we’ve compiled a guide on making the title sheet for the most common citation styles used in academic writing.

A college paper cover page includes key information such as the essay title, author's name, and sometimes additional details like the page number, course title, instructor’s name, and submission date. It's important to consistently format your APA cover page with the rest of your essay, ensuring a polished and professional presentation. Here are some tips for crafting a well-designed page for a deductive essay :

  • Margins: Keep all margins at 1 inch to maintain uniformity.
  • Font: Use a clear, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman or Arial.
  • Font size: Stick with a standard font size of 12 for readability.
  • Spacing: Double-line spacing gives your essay a clean and organized look.

Following these guidelines, you can create a cover page that complements your essay and makes a strong first impression on your reader.

APA cover page format

APA formatting is typically used for academic papers in Psychology, Business, and Social Sciences. Let’s consider specific guidelines for title sheets according to this style.

Key elements:

  • Title: Centered, bolded, in title case (capitalize significant words). Place it 3-4 lines from the top of the APA format cover page.
  • Author's name: Beneath the title of your proposal essay , with no titles or degrees (e.g., “James Smooth”).
  • Institutional affiliation: Directly under the author’s name, listing the institution (e.g., “University Name”).
  • Course name: Below the institution (you may use the abbreviations), e.g., “PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology.”
  • Instructor's name: Directly below the course name (e.g., “Dr. Jane Doe”).
  • Date: Beneath the instructor’s name (e.g., “September 10, 2024”).

Additional elements:

  • Page number: In the top right corner, starting from page 1.
  • Font: Times New Roman 12 pt or another APA-approved font.
  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout.

This structure should be centered and have double spacing in the example of the essay cover page.

How to format an MLA cover page example

This type of formatting is generally used for an MLA essay cover in the Humanities (Literature, Philosophy, Languages, or cultural studies). To create an MLA-format cover page example for an essay, you should include the following elements, aligned to the left and double-spaced.

  • Student’s name: At the top, aligned to the left.
  • Instructor’s name: Below the student’s name.
  • Course name: Below the instructor name (e.g., “ENG 101”).
  • Date: Below is the course number (e.g., “10 September 2024”).
  • Centered on the page after the date. Capitalize major words, but do not bold, underline, or italicize them.
  • No page number is required on the first page unless specified by the instructors.

MLA cover pages are simple, without extra formatting or running headers like in APA.

How do you format a Chicago-style cover page?

This formatting style is required for academic papers in History, Anthropology, Art History, and similar fields of study. A cover page for an essay in Chicago style follows a simple format. The text should be centered and double-spaced.

  • Title of the paper: Centered about one-third down the page, in title case (capitalize major words). No bolding, underlining, or italicizing in the Chicago cover sheet is required.
  • Subtitle (if any): Placed directly below the title.
  • Author’s name: Centered several lines below the title.
  • Course information: Include the course name, instructor’s name, and date, each on separate lines, centered near the bottom of the page of your exploratory essay .

Optional elements:

  • This page does not require a running head or page number in Chicago style unless specified in the assignment guidelines.

This format focuses on simplicity and a clean, professional presentation.

How to format an ASA title page?

If your exploration is related to Sociology, you definitely have to learn the ASA formatting requirements. The ASA cover page for the research paper follows a straightforward format. The text on the first page should be centered and double-spaced.

  • Title of the paper: Centered in the upper half of the page, with capitalized major words. No bolding, underlining, or italics.
  • Author’s name: Centered below the title.
  • Institutional affiliation: Directly below the author’s name.
  • Word count: Include the manuscript's word count at the bottom of the page.
  • Course information: If your instructor requires it, include the course name, instructor’s name, and date near the bottom of the page.
  • Running head: Include it on subsequent pages but not the title page.

This formatting style requires clean and professional cover sheets with minimal design elements.

How do you format a Harvard cover page?

When working on an  extended essay  in Natural Sciences, Management, or Social Sciences, you can't avoid dealing with Harvard formatting rules. A Harvard-style cover sheet example for an essay is straightforward and includes all the following elements: centered and double-spaced.

  • Title: Placed about one-third down the page, in title case (capitalize major words). No bold, italics, or underlining.
  • Course name: Centered below the author’s name.
  • Instructor’s name: Below the course name.
  • Institutional affiliation: Below the instructor's name.
  • Date of submission: Centered at the bottom of the page.

This format has simple rules, without page numbers or running headers on the first sheet unless otherwise specified.

Final thoughts

The knowledge of how to do a cover page for an essay in APA, MLA, or Chicago styles is crucial for any student. Each of these formatting styles has its own distinct rules, from title placement to font choice, and understanding these nuances is key to presenting your work in a polished, professional, and well-structured manner. A properly executed paper cover page leaves a positive first impression on instructors and sets the tone for the quality and attention to detail within the rest of your paper.

However, it’s impossible to deny that formatting can sometimes be confusing or overwhelming, especially when juggling multiple assignments requiring different styles. If you don’t understand “What does a cover sheet look like?” or struggle with formatting or academic tasks, EduBirdie is here to provide support. Whether you need help with writing, editing, or formatting, EduBirdie’s team of experts is always ready to assist, ensuring you meet your academic goals confidently and easily.

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Written by Helen Birk

Helen Birk is a skilled writer specializing in producing comprehensive guides on various academic tasks, including research projects, case studies, and annotated bibliographies. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of academic requirements, Helen provides essential tips and strategies for students to excel in their academic pursuits. In addition to her writing expertise, Helen is passionate about maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle, often sharing her insights on wellness and personal development.

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American Psychological Association

Title Page Setup

A title page is required for all APA Style papers. There are both student and professional versions of the title page. Students should use the student version of the title page unless their instructor or institution has requested they use the professional version. APA provides a student title page guide (PDF, 199KB) to assist students in creating their title pages.

Student title page

The student title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation, course number and name for which the paper is being submitted, instructor name, assignment due date, and page number, as shown in this example.

diagram of a student page

Title page setup is covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 2.3 and the Concise Guide Section 1.6

mla format essay cover page

Related handouts

  • Student Title Page Guide (PDF, 263KB)
  • Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3MB)

Student papers do not include a running head unless requested by the instructor or institution.

Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page.

Paper title

Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired. There is no maximum length for titles; however, keep titles focused and include key terms.

Author names

Place one double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names. Center author names on their own line. If there are two authors, use the word “and” between authors; if there are three or more authors, place a comma between author names and use the word “and” before the final author name.

Cecily J. Sinclair and Adam Gonzaga

Author affiliation

For a student paper, the affiliation is the institution where the student attends school. Include both the name of any department and the name of the college, university, or other institution, separated by a comma. Center the affiliation on the next double-spaced line after the author name(s).

Department of Psychology, University of Georgia

Course number and name

Provide the course number as shown on instructional materials, followed by a colon and the course name. Center the course number and name on the next double-spaced line after the author affiliation.

PSY 201: Introduction to Psychology

Instructor name

Provide the name of the instructor for the course using the format shown on instructional materials. Center the instructor name on the next double-spaced line after the course number and name.

Dr. Rowan J. Estes

Assignment due date

Provide the due date for the assignment. Center the due date on the next double-spaced line after the instructor name. Use the date format commonly used in your country.

October 18, 2020
18 October 2020

Use the page number 1 on the title page. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word processing program to insert page numbers in the top right corner of the page header.

1

Professional title page

The professional title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation(s), author note, running head, and page number, as shown in the following example.

diagram of a professional title page

Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the professional title page.

Paper title

Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired. There is no maximum length for titles; however, keep titles focused and include key terms.

Author names

 

Place one double-spaced blank line between the paper title and the author names. Center author names on their own line. If there are two authors, use the word “and” between authors; if there are three or more authors, place a comma between author names and use the word “and” before the final author name.

Francesca Humboldt

When different authors have different affiliations, use superscript numerals after author names to connect the names to the appropriate affiliation(s). If all authors have the same affiliation, superscript numerals are not used (see Section 2.3 of the for more on how to set up bylines and affiliations).

Tracy Reuter , Arielle Borovsky , and Casey Lew-Williams

Author affiliation

 

For a professional paper, the affiliation is the institution at which the research was conducted. Include both the name of any department and the name of the college, university, or other institution, separated by a comma. Center the affiliation on the next double-spaced line after the author names; when there are multiple affiliations, center each affiliation on its own line.

 

Department of Nursing, Morrigan University

When different authors have different affiliations, use superscript numerals before affiliations to connect the affiliations to the appropriate author(s). Do not use superscript numerals if all authors share the same affiliations (see Section 2.3 of the for more).

Department of Psychology, Princeton University
Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University

Author note

Place the author note in the bottom half of the title page. Center and bold the label “Author Note.” Align the paragraphs of the author note to the left. For further information on the contents of the author note, see Section 2.7 of the .

n/a

The running head appears in all-capital letters in the page header of all pages, including the title page. Align the running head to the left margin. Do not use the label “Running head:” before the running head.

Prediction errors support children’s word learning

Use the page number 1 on the title page. Use the automatic page-numbering function of your word processing program to insert page numbers in the top right corner of the page header.

1

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If you’re writing an MLA-style paper for your class, you may need to include a title page or a cover page before the body. While the official MLA 9 Handbook does not mandate a title page, you should include one if your professor asks you to or you’re working on a group project.

In this article, we’ll break down the MLA format title page (also known as an MLA cover page). It’s always easier to just learn from samples, so we’ve included some great MLA title page examples!

When to use an MLA title page

An MLA title page is usually required for formal research papers, essays, and other academic assignments. It is also used while writing dissertations , graduate theses, and other extended works. A title page in the MLA format may not be necessary for shorter assignments or in-class essays. 

If you’re unsure about whether your assignment needs an MLA cover page, consult with your professors or check your university’s guidelines.

What goes in an MLA format title page 

An MLA format title page typically includes the following elements:  

  • Author’s name 
  • Professor/instructor’s name
  • Course name 
  • Title of the paper 
  • Date of submission 

For bigger projects or papers that you plan on submitting to journals, you may also need to include your university’s name on the title page. Just to be sure, it’s advised that you check the journal’s submission guidelines for a detailed list of elements to include in this section. For reference, you can also look up samples or check the publication’s previous editions.

MLA title page formatting guidelines 

The MLA Handbook specifies important formatting guidelines you must follow while creating a title page. Refer to the guidelines below while writing your MLA cover page:

  • Double-space all the elements on the title page.  
  • Do not include a header on the title page. 
  • Use the same font type and size you have adhered to throughout the paper (preferably, 12-point Times New Roman).
  • Align each element (except the paper title) with the left margin. 
  • List the information in the following order: 1. Author’s name 2. Instructor’s name 3. Course name and details 4. Date of submission 5. University name
  • If there are multiple authors, list each of their names in separate lines. 
  • In the center of the page, center-align the title of your paper. 
  • Use the title case while writing the title of your paper. 
  • Italicize names of media such as books, films, and TV shows. 

If you don’t need to include an MLA cover page, you will have to include a title section in the top half of your paper’s first page. The formatting guidelines for this are largely the same as the title page, except that the title is center-aligned in the line following your name and credentials.

Since this is the first page of your paper, you’ll have to add an MLA header in the top right corner of the page. Here’s how the page should look:

How to create an MLA title page on MS Word 

Students no longer have to manually format their academic papers and can rely on the blessings of Google Docs and MS Word. These word processors come with built-in templates that automatically format documents according to the MLA style. You can use these features to format your title page as well as the rest of the research paper. 

Follow these steps to write a title page in MLA format:  

  • Launch Microsoft Word and open a blank document. 
  • Under the “File” menu, click on the “New” tab. 
  • Use the search bar and type “MLA” to find a sample template. 
  • Select the template that corresponds to your document type (research paper, essay, etc.). 
  • Check the preformatted document to see if it largely matches your university or department’s style guidelines. 
  • Replace the placeholder text in the document with your paper’s information. 
  • Cross-check what you have with your guidelines once again and fill in additional details that the template may have missed.
  • Save your document and continue to add the rest of your text. 

MLA title page examples 

The guidelines we’ve laid out give you a general overview of the MLA title page format. Whether you’re working on a paper, essay, dissertation, or journal article, you will be required to adhere to these conventions. 

The format required of you may vary from the standard MLA cover page depending on the university guidelines or submission rules. To make it easier for you, we’ve put down some MLA title page examples that you can refer to while formatting your paper. 

MLA title page example: Two authors 

1. MLA cover page with two authors

2. MLA title section with two authors

MLA title page example: Three or more authors 

1. MLA cover page with multiple authors

2. MLA title section with multiple authors

If you need experts to review your paper, our paper editing services are at your… well, service! Meanwhile, here are some resources to help you learn more about the MLA style and academic writing: 

  • How to Cite Sources in the MLA Format
  • MLA Citation Examples: Essays, Websites, Movies, and More
  • How to Write an MLA Essay Header
  • How to Write a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Research Paper Outline: Templates & Examples   

Frequently Asked Questions

Should i include a title in an mla format paper, should the mla title page be double-spaced, should the mla title page be numbered, where should the mla title page be placed within the paper, what goes in the mla title page.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Formatting and Style Guide

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Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The following overview should help you better understand how to cite sources using MLA  9 th edition, including how to format the Works Cited page and in-text citations.

Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in MLA. See also our MLA vidcast series on the Purdue OWL YouTube Channel .

Creating a Works Cited list using the ninth edition

MLA is a style of documentation that may be applied to many different types of writing. Since texts have become increasingly digital, and the same document may often be found in several different sources, following a set of rigid rules no longer suffices.

Thus, the current system is based on a few guiding principles, rather than an extensive list of specific rules. While the handbook still describes how to cite sources, it is organized according to the process of documentation, rather than by the sources themselves. This gives writers a flexible method that is near-universally applicable.

Once you are familiar with the method, you can use it to document any type of source, for any type of paper, in any field.

Here is an overview of the process:

When deciding how to cite your source, start by consulting the list of core elements. These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order:

  • Title of source.
  • Title of container,
  • Other contributors,
  • Publication date,

Each element should be followed by the corresponding punctuation mark shown above. Earlier editions of the handbook included the place of publication and required different punctuation (such as journal editions in parentheses and colons after issue numbers) depending on the type of source. In the current version, punctuation is simpler (only commas and periods separate the elements), and information about the source is kept to the basics.

Begin the entry with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and the rest of the name, as presented in the work. End this element with a period.

Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.

Title of source

The title of the source should follow the author’s name. Depending upon the type of source, it should be listed in italics or quotation marks.

A book should be in italics:

Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House . MacMurray, 1999.

An individual webpage should be in quotation marks. The name of the parent website, which MLA treats as a "container," should follow in italics:

Lundman, Susan. "How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow, www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html.*

A periodical (journal, magazine, newspaper) article should be in quotation marks:

Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature , vol. 15, no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50.

A song or piece of music on an album should be in quotation marks. The name of the album should then follow in italics:

Beyoncé. "Pray You Catch Me." Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

*The MLA handbook recommends including URLs when citing online sources. For more information, see the “Optional Elements” section below.

Title of container

The eighth edition of the MLA handbook introduced what are referred to as "containers," which are the larger wholes in which the source is located. For example, if you want to cite a poem that is listed in a collection of poems, the individual poem is the source, while the larger collection is the container. The title of the container is usually italicized and followed by a comma, since the information that follows next describes the container.

Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories, edited by Tobias Wolff, Vintage, 1994, pp. 306-07.

The container may also be a television series, which is made up of episodes.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.

The container may also be a website, which contains articles, postings, and other works.

Wise, DeWanda. “Why TV Shows Make Me Feel Less Alone.”  NAMI,  31 May 2019,  www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/May-2019/How-TV-Shows-Make-Me-Feel-Less-Alone . Accessed 3 June 2019.

In some cases, a container might be within a larger container. You might have read a book of short stories on Google Books , or watched a television series on Netflix . You might have found the electronic version of a journal on JSTOR. It is important to cite these containers within containers so that your readers can find the exact source that you used.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation , season 2, episode 21, NBC , 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031?trackId=200256157&tctx=0%2C20%2C0974d361-27cd-44de-9c2a-2d9d868b9f64-12120962.

Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal , vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest, doi:10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

Other contributors

In addition to the author, there may be other contributors to the source who should be credited, such as editors, illustrators, translators, etc. If their contributions are relevant to your research, or necessary to identify the source, include their names in your documentation.

Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard , Vintage-Random House, 1988.

Woolf, Virginia. Jacob’s Room . Annotated and with an introduction by Vara Neverow, Harcourt, Inc., 2008.

If a source is listed as an edition or version of a work, include it in your citation.

The Bible . Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed., Pearson, 2004.

If a source is part of a numbered sequence, such as a multi-volume book or journal with both volume and issue numbers, those numbers must be listed in your citation.

Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362. Accessed 20 May 2009.

Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Translated by H. E. Butler, vol. 2, Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980.

The publisher produces or distributes the source to the public. If there is more than one publisher, and they are all are relevant to your research, list them in your citation, separated by a forward slash (/).

Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine. 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive, www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

Women's Health: Problems of the Digestive System . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2006.

Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation . Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.

Note : The publisher’s name need not be included in the following sources: periodicals, works published by their author or editor, websites whose titles are the same name as their publisher, websites that make works available but do not actually publish them (such as  YouTube ,  WordPress , or  JSTOR ).

Publication date

The same source may have been published on more than one date, such as an online version of an original source. For example, a television series might have aired on a broadcast network on one date, but released on  Netflix  on a different date. When the source has more than one date, it is sufficient to use the date that is most relevant to your writing. If you’re unsure about which date to use, go with the date of the source’s original publication.

In the following example, Mutant Enemy is the primary production company, and “Hush” was released in 1999. Below is a general citation for this television episode:

“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer , created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, Mutant Enemy, 1999 .

However, if you are discussing, for example, the historical context in which the episode originally aired, you should cite the full date. Because you are specifying the date of airing, you would then use WB Television Network (rather than Mutant Enemy), because it was the network (rather than the production company) that aired the episode on the date you’re citing.

“Hush.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, performance by Sarah Michelle Gellar, season 4, episode 10, WB Television Network, 14 Dec. 1999 .

You should be as specific as possible in identifying a work’s location.

An essay in a book or an article in a journal should include page numbers.

Adiche, Chimamanda Ngozi. “On Monday of Last Week.” The Thing around Your Neck, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, pp. 74-94 .

The location of an online work should include a URL.  Remove any "http://" or "https://" tag from the beginning of the URL.

Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention." Emerging Infectious Diseases , vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article. Accessed 8 Feb. 2009.

When citing a physical object that you experienced firsthand, identify the place of location.

Matisse, Henri. The Swimming Pool. 1952, Museum of Modern Art, New York .

Optional elements

The ninth edition is designed to be as streamlined as possible. The author should include any information that helps readers easily identify the source, without including unnecessary information that may be distracting. The following is a list of optional elements that can be included in a documented source at the writer’s discretion.

Date of original publication:

If a source has been published on more than one date, the writer may want to include both dates if it will provide the reader with necessary or helpful information.

Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine. 1984. Perennial-Harper, 1993.

City of publication:

The seventh edition handbook required the city in which a publisher is located, but the eighth edition states that this is only necessary in particular instances, such as in a work published before 1900. Since pre-1900 works were usually associated with the city in which they were published, your documentation may substitute the city name for the publisher’s name.

Thoreau, Henry David. Excursions . Boston, 1863.

Date of access:

When you cite an online source, the MLA Handbook recommends including a date of access on which you accessed the material, since an online work may change or move at any time.

Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing the Living Web." A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.

As mentioned above, while the MLA handbook recommends including URLs when you cite online sources, you should always check with your instructor or editor and include URLs at their discretion.

A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a series of digits and letters that leads to the location of an online source. Articles in journals are often assigned DOIs to ensure that the source is locatable, even if the URL changes. If your source is listed with a DOI, use that instead of a URL.

Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. "Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates." Environmental Toxicology , vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library, doi: 10.1002/tox.20155.

Creating in-text citations using the previous (eighth) edition

Although the MLA handbook is currently in its ninth edition, some information about citing in the text using the older (eighth) edition is being retained. The in-text citation is a brief reference within your text that indicates the source you consulted. It should properly attribute any ideas, paraphrases, or direct quotations to your source, and should direct readers to the entry in the Works Cited list. For the most part, an in-text citation is the  author’s name and the page number (or just the page number, if the author is named in the sentence) in parentheses :

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

Again, your goal is to attribute your source and provide a reference without interrupting your text. Your readers should be able to follow the flow of your argument without becoming distracted by extra information.

How to Cite the Purdue OWL in MLA

Entire Website

The Purdue OWL . Purdue U Writing Lab, 2019.

Individual Resources

Contributors' names. "Title of Resource." The Purdue OWL , Purdue U Writing Lab, Last edited date.

The new OWL no longer lists most pages' authors or publication dates. Thus, in most cases, citations will begin with the title of the resource, rather than the developer's name.

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018.

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  • Creating an MLA title page

MLA Title Page | When You Need One & How to Format It

Published on July 12, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on March 5, 2024.

In MLA style , a title page is usually not required for your paper. Instead, MLA recommends including a header on your first page listing your name, your instructor’s name, the course name and number, and the submission date, followed by the title of your paper.

However, you should include a separate title page instead in these cases:

  • Your instructor requires it
  • The paper is a group project (i.e. you need to list multiple authors)

The formats for a separate title page and a first-page header are shown below. You can also use our templates in Word or Google Docs.

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Table of contents

Mla title page format, creating an mla header, frequently asked questions about mla format.

To create an MLA format title page, list the following on separate lines, left-aligned at the top of the page:

  • Your co-authors’ names, each on its own line, if it’s a group project
  • Your instructor’s name
  • The course name and number
  • The submission date

Then leave a few blank lines and list the title of the paper, centered and in title case, halfway down the page. All text should be double-spaced and in the same font as the rest of the paper.

MLA title page

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Most MLA papers will instead list this information in a header , which appears on the same page as your opening paragraphs instead of on a separate page before them. In the header, left-aligned, list

Then on the next line, write the title of your paper, centered and in title case. On the line after that, start your first paragraph. The header and title should be double-spaced, like the rest of the paper.

MLA header

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

  • Your instructor requires one, or
  • Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

If you’re working on a group project and therefore need to list multiple authors for your paper , MLA recommends against including a normal header . Instead, create a separate title page .

On the title page, list each author on a separate line, followed by the other usual information from the header: Instructor, course name and number, and submission date. Then write the title halfway down the page, centered, and start the text of the paper itself on the next page.

MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman , since it’s easy to read and installed on every computer. Other standard fonts such as Arial or Georgia are also acceptable. If in doubt, check with your supervisor which font you should be using.

MLA Style  is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2024, March 05). MLA Title Page | When You Need One & How to Format It. Scribbr. Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/mla-title-page/

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MLA Format Sample Paper, with Cover Page and Outline

Here is a sample paper in MLA format that has both the cover page and the outline pages . This paper has 10 pages so if you are under a slow Internet connection, please wait a few seconds for all of the pages to load. This paper is current with the latest MLA manual.

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Title Page

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Outline Page 1

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Outline Page 2

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Page 1

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Page 2

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Page 3

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Page 4

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Page 5

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, Works Cited

mla sample paper

MLA Format Sample Paper, End of Sample Paper.

– Diana Hacker (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006).

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MLA Format Heading

This page contains guidelines on how to properly format the headings of your research paper using the MLA format.

1. The Opening Page:

On the opening page or the first page, you would include the whole heading and your paper’s title. The whole heading would include the following information:

  • Your Instructor’s Name
  • Your Class Information
  • Your Paper’s Due Date
  • Font: choose an easy to read font such as Times New Roman.
  • Font Size: set the font size to be twelve (12) throughout your research paper, including your paper’s title. Never set the font site larger than 12.
  • Margins: 1-inch for top/bottom/right/left throughout your paper.
  • Double-space: double-space throughout your paper. Don’t add extra spaces (besides double-space) between your headings, your title and your paragraphs.

Sample of the Opening Page:

mla format essay cover page

A sample of the first page of your paper.

2. The Inner Pages:

For the pages that follow the first page, set the heading like this: instead of the whole heading, you would use the header feature on your word processing program and including the following information: Your Last Name and the Page Number.

Sample of the Inner Page:

mla format essay cover page

Example of the heading for inner pages.

3. The Works Cited Page:

Every research paper must include a works cited page.

  • The works cited list is placed at the end of your paper, on a new page.
  • The heading for your works cited pages should be the same as the heading for your inner pages, which include your name and the page number at the top.
  • Enter the title as “ Works Cited ” and place this title 1-inch from the top of the page, see more details in the example illustration picture below.

Sample of the Works Cited Page:

MLA Format Works Cited

Example of the works cited page.

– MLA Handbook, 8th edition

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I have the following level 3 heading in my thesis:

Project management office and (pmo) metrics team.

Should the abbreviation pmo be in lower case as it is or should it be in upper case?

Please Advise. Thanks.

So for the works cited page, you don’t need the name, teacher, date, and period heading at all?

No. It should only be on the first page of the essay.

This is some good stuff to know.

I have to write a paper for an application and they want it to be in MLA format. I don’t know how to do the heading because it’s not going to one teacher in particular and it is not for one class.

I don’t think you need a heading besides the “Last name-1” on the inner pages.

Hey Shannon. You might try “To Whom it may concern” or something like that. Don’t trust me on this because I am not for sure on that and if you did do this you might get it wrong and whoever might not accept your application. I hope you figure out how to do it and do great on that application! 😀 – Christopher

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Essay Cover Page - MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and APA Format Cover Sheet

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Picture this, you have completed your daily duties and now settling in to complete an essay. What is the worst that would happen? Well, the majority of high school, college, university, and graduate students undervalue the need to format an essay cover page properly. In return, most of them end up with either great essays with a poorly done cover page or a poorly done essay with a poorly formatted cover page.

I don’t know which of the above categories, but mine was worse. It is a great mistake to care less about the proper formatting of a title page for any essay. Sometimes the content in the entire class can be great, and the cover page becomes what separates a good grade from a poor grade. You do not have to leave anything to chance when working to maintain a good GPA, do you?

Why master how to make an essay Cover Sheet?

Your title page informs the reader or the professor what to anticipate in your essay. Sometimes, if they are in a hurry, a catchy topic can entice them to read your essay from introduction to conclusion.

The cover page has your name, title of the essay, institution, instructor, and date. A well-formatted title page is enough a getaway to a strict professor’s marks or grade fountain.

And when you are almost giving up on your cover page, we give you a reason to smile. In this article, we will teach you how to make a cover page for an essay, MLA cover page format, Chicago cover page format, APA cover page format, and Harvard cover page format, with examples.

Why should you learn How to Make a Cover Page for an essay?

Sometimes professors and instructors assume the basic things like formatting a college essay. In the end, students end up losing marks over flimsy mistakes. A common question students ask is “how do you make a cover page for an essay?” or “what is to be included on a title page?”

If you have had these questions or related ones, you are in the right place at the right time. We will take you through cover page essay essentials. But before then, why do we have an essay cover page. Or simply, what is an essay cover page?

An essay cover page is the opening page, sometimes called the title page, and offers a comprehensive description of the essay title, identifies the student, and sometimes bears the date and the instructors’ names.

You will notice that the cover pages for essays differ depending on the specific format you are using. For instance, when creating the MLA essay cover page format, you should only do so if the essay prompt requires you to. If not asked for one, there is never any need to include one. The same applies to Harvard, Chicago, and APA cover page formats.

MLA Essay Cover Page Format with Template/Example

Also known as the Modern Language Association, MLA is a unique essay writing and citation format. It is important to mention that most MLA essays do not require an essay cover page. Nevertheless, some instructors insist on you having a cover page for your MLA paper.

When requested to have an opening or cover page for MLA papers, these are some of the details to include:

  • Author’s Name
  • Instructor’s Name
  • The Due Date

Here is a sample MLA cover page template

MLA Sample essay cover page

Note that the format for MLA research paper cover page is slightly different. It will contain:

  • Name of university
  • Title of the Research Paper
  • The subtitle of the research paper
  • Your Name (Author’s Name)
  • Course Name and Number
  • Instructor/Professor’s Name

Below is a sample MLA research paper cover sheet

MLA research paper title page cover sheet

Some professors or instructors will advise you to use the research paper MLA format title page for your essay.

How do you format an MLA Cover Page?

Formatting an MLA title page is easy!

  • It should be double-spaced.
  • The preferable font is Times New Roman size 12 or a legible font.
  • All the letters must be in Title Case.
  • It should have 1-inch margins throughout the paper.
  • Ensure that the title page is double spaced.
  • Remove any spaces between paragraphs from your Microsoft Word settings page.

See the details in the sample MLA format cover page provided above. Notice the difference between the two and always read the instructor’s essay prompt before deciding on which one to settle for.

APA Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Students have been asking this for a while, and we felt like addressing it would save many of you out there. “How do I make an APA cover sheet?” Well, just like MLA, an APA essay cover page is easy to make.

To begin with, the APA style title page should include:

  • Running head (Left aligned in the header section).
  • Page Number (Right aligned).
  • Title and subtitle of the essay/paper (centered)
  • Name of the author (centered).
  • Institutional Affiliation (centered).
  • Author’s Note (for long research papers, thesis, and dissertations).

An important note, in APA the title should not exceed 50 characters and should be in capital letters. Times New Roman font size 12 is always preferred as well.

For more details, see the example APA title page provided below.

sample APA essay cover page

Note that there are changes to APA 6. In APA 7, there is no "Running head" instead, you will only need a page number situated to the top left of the paper. Here is a sample APA 7 Cover page.

APA 7 sample Cover Page

Chicago Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Even though less common in academic essay writing, understanding the Chicago essay title page is necessary. It can save you some trouble when writing a Chicago style paper, which is the case with most literature and humanities subjects such as history. Thus, after reading this, you should understand how to format a Chicago essay title cover page correctly.

Here are tips when making Chicago format opening page:

  • Chicago title page has no page number or running head in the header section.
  • Using Times New Roman or any legible font of size 12 is preferred.
  • All the text on the cover page is centered.
  • The cover page is double spaced with no spaces between paragraphs

You see, a Chicago style paper opening page is relatively simple to make. A caution, though, when making any type of cover page, your professor’s guidelines are your rule book. Therefore, everything you need to format an essay cover page is always in the prompt.

Chicago style papers are the easiest to handle. However, despite the ease of inserting a title page, it remains a challenge to most students. Sometimes, seeking professional help can be the only option. Our experts can help you craft your Chicago format essays and research papers, talk to us!

Here is a Chicago style format essay cover page.

Harvard Cover Page Format with Example/Template

Harvard formatting has a specific and well-organized cover page.

  • The shortened version of the title of the paper comes in the header section (aligned to the right) and is preceded by the page number).
  • The full title, written in all capital letters , appears halfway through the page.
  • The author’s name (three lines from the title).
  • Then four lines down you will have class name and code, name of the professor, City and State the university is located, and the due date.

Here is an example of the Harvard format Cover Sheet Page.

harvard  essay cover page template

Bottom Line

A cover page for an essay is a critical aspect when undertaking your academic writing tasks. Even though it might seem boring and unnecessary, it can be the only aspect left to differentiate who passes a course and who fails.

When writing an APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago format paper, produce an essay cover page that fits each formatting and citation style. I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to do the cover page as the last part of the essay after writing and proofreading. Yet some in our team prefer setting the cover page for their essays first before they outline the essays . As a ritual, it is my last part to shake hands with the mighty Microsoft Word or Google Document applications.

Check out our article on indenting paragraphs and how to title an article when writing an essay. 

Sometimes, you can ask the instructor or professor how to make a cover page for your essay. We believe no teacher will reprimand you. These are essential basics to keep with you as they will help you understand how to make a cover page for an essay. If you need help writing an essay, our professional writers can always come in handy. Until then, have a happy academic writing session!

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Important note: Unless your instructor gives you a template, don't use an MLA template or tool as there can be common errors.

  • Times New Roman 12 black font
  • Header in upper right with name and page number: Jones 1
  • Line Spacing – double throughout
  • Tab in the first line of a paragraph ½” or .5
  • Heading in upper left
  • Title centered after heading
  • Works Cited, if any, on a new page
  • 1” margins – top, bottom, left, right.  Some defaults are 1.25″ left and right.
  • Margins are not set in the Paragraph box. In Word or Works, margins are set in "Page Layout" or in "File/Page Setup/Margins."
  • Times New Roman 12 black font.
  • Do not use bold or underlining.
  • Do not use all caps except for an abbreviations such as NATO, AIDS.
  • Do not use italics unless there is a rule that says to use italics.
  • Check default and reset default if necessary. Your instructor may accept a different font style: however, Times New Roman 12 Black is a standard setting in school and business.
  • Left align – this is the usual default setting.
  • Do not block or justify where the right margin is even.
  • Alignment can be set in the Paragraph box if the icon is not visible.

See Related Documents on right sidebar for an image of alignment settings.

Line Spacing

  • Double space – and only double space throughout, even after the heading and around the title, if any.
  • Check default settings in the Paragraph box and reset per instructions under Paragraph Settings below.

Paragraph Settings

Some programs such have defaults in the Paragraph box which interfere with proper double spacing.

The settings in the Paragraph dialogue box should be as follows to have proper double spacing:

  • Indentation (on top) should be set at 0 left and 0 right.
  • Spacing (on the lower left) should be set to 0 Before and 0 After.
  • Line Spacing (on the lower right) should be set to double.
  • Check the box that says “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same  style .”
  • Click Default (at the bottom) and select  Yes  to change defaults.

In Google docs, you can change Paragraph settings under Spacing to 0 next to Before and 0 next to After by going into the double spacing tool and clicking Custom Settings. You will have to select (highlight) the entire paper including the heading in the upper left before making the change once the paper is typed.

In Pages, you can change the Paragraph settings by clicking on Format on the top navigation bar and then Paragraph. Remember that you have to highlight (select) the entire paper including the heading in the upper left before making change in Paragraph once the paper is typed.

First Line of a Paragraph

  • Tab in the first line of a paragraph 1/2″ or .5 from the left margin.
  • The Tab default is usually at this setting. If not, reset defaults.

Spacing after a period or other end punctuation

Unless your instructor advises otherwise, you may use one or two spaces after a period as long as the use is consistent.

  • If the instructor asks for a title page, prepare the title page as per the assignment instructions.
  • Do not use a heading on the first page if a title page is required.

Create a header in the upper right corner using the Header tool with your last name and page number.

  • In Word 2007 or higher, click Insert/Header/Blank. Do not choose any option with lines, boxes, or other font or color.
  • Delete Type text
  • Click Home and align right. Your cursor should be on the right side.
  • Type in your last name only. Then hit the space bar once. This will put a space between your last name and page number.
  • After you hit the space bar, hit Insert/Page # to insert pages. Do not manually type in the page number.
  • Do not use the word page or any abbreviation of the word such a pg. or p. between your last name and the actual page number: Jones 2.
  • While MLA format calls for the header to appear on the first page, some instructors may ask that there be no header on the first page since your name is already there. To remove the header from the first page, check Different first page in the Header tool.
  • These instructions may work for higher versions of Works.
  • For lower versions of Word or Works, click View/Header and Footer to get into the Header tool.
  • If you are unable to follow on your computer, your program should have a Help button to give directions on how to insert a header.

Instructions for Creating Header in Office 365

  • Click Insert/Header.
  • Tab over to the third box on the right.
  • Under Home, click the align right button so that your cursor is all the way on the right side.
  • Hit the space bar and then click Insert Page # and click the box with the number in the upper right.
  • Click on the body of the paper to get out of the Header box.
  • You will not see your header in the default view which is the edit view.
  • You can click View and then Reading View on the left.
  • Type a heading in the upper left corner of the first page unless your instructor asks for a title page. Do not use the Header tool to create a heading.
  • Type the heading as follows: your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date (in military style – day month year – no commas) double spaced on separate lines.
  • Do not use commas in the date.  Months should be abbreviated if longer than four letters: Sept., Oct., and so on. Here is an example: 14 Oct. 2009
  • Do not indent the heading.
  • Your instructor may request different information to be typed into the heading.
  • After the heading, center the title of the paper or name of assignment.
  • Do not use bold, underlining, or a different font style or size for the title.
  • Do not use quotation marks or italics unless the title of the paper includes the title of a published work since short, published works must be in quotation marks, and long, published works must be in italics.
  • Remember that in MLA format, the requirement is to double space and only double space throughout.
  • There should not be any more than a double space before or after the title or name of assignment.

Works Cited

If a Works Cited page is required for your assignment, at the end of the body of the paper, click Insert/Page Break or Insert/Break/Page Break – however your computer gives options – to get to the top of a new page to do the Works Cited.

  • Do not use the Enter key to get to the next page.
  • Use the same settings including double spacing throughout except that the first line of each source must start at the left margin and the second and any subsequent lines must be indented 1/2”.
  • This is called a hanging indent.
  • To create a hanging indent, make sure to type your sources one under the other hitting Enter at the end of each source.
  • Then, highlight the Works Cited list and go into the Paragraph dialogue box.
  • Under Special, select Hanging from the drop-down menu. Once selected, the default under By should be .5″.
  • Remember that your list has to be alphabetized and the page must have the words Works Cited centered on top.

Troubleshooting Common Page Setup Problems

  • There is an error in settings in the Indentation Box in Paragraph. Highlight paper and change to 0 in both Left and Right under Indentation in the Paragraph dialogue box.
  • You’ve accidentally hidden your white space. Position your cursor at the top of the page until you see a double line. Then, double click.
  • You have typed in a page number instead of using Insert Page Number.
  • Click to Home, position your cursor at the beginning of your last name, then click the align right button.
  • You have not reset the setting in Paragraph under Spacing on lower left to 0 before Before and 0 before After.  You have to highlight the whole page before changing settings for them to take place on the page.
  • You have not checked the box that states “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style. You have to highlight the whole page before changing settings for them to take place on the page.

Other Resources for Your Setup Problems

  • Help tool in your program. Generally, there’s a tool or a link to a tool. Just search your problem.
  • Online at website of your program. Word and other programs have help pages on their site.
  • The PHSC Technical Support link: See Resource Links on the right side page for Technical Support or call 727-816-3732 .
  • Just Google? Maybe. However, just searching around on the Internet open files and here and there is one way to pick up a virus, and you don’t know how reliable the source is. You are better of getting help with the first listed methods. Never download a help program.
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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write an Essay Cover Page

How to Write an Essay Cover Page

What you include in your cover page depends slightly on which citation style you are using, but the rules are generally the same.

Guide Overview

  • APA cover pages
  • MLA cover pages

For APA cover pages:

Include the title of the paper, running head, the author’s name, institutional affiliation, and an author’s note.

Here is an example of a cover page in APA:

APA Cover Page

For MLA cover pages:

Cover pages are not as frequently used in MLA format, as the inclusion of headers is preferred.

A header looks like this:

Header in MLA

Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor.

Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format:

Cover page in MLA

For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page generator   here.

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MLA Cover Page Maker for Students

Download template:

Many research papers follow the MLA citation style. This format has specific guidelines for referencing works cited and formatting a title page. Students unfamiliar with MLA style details can now use our cover page generator tool.

When you use an  MLA cover page maker , you get a free title page formatted according to the MLA style rules and guidelines.  Our expert team  is sure you will love this tool that will ease your writing process!

  • ️💻 About MLA Cover Page Maker
  • ️👣 MLA Cover Page Guide
  • ️🔒 MLA Format Header
  • ️📝 Examples
  • ️🔗 References

💻 MLA Cover Page Maker – What It Does

We did our best to make our MLA cover page generator easy to use. You must fill out the form and click the button once done. The tool will automatically generate the title page for you.

To use the MLA format cover page generator, provide this information :

  • Paper title
  • Paper subtitle
  • Author name (first and last name)
  • Additional authors (if applicable)
  • Instructor name

You can also specify if the title should be in a header or placed on a separate page.

👣 MLA Format Cover Page Guidelines

A title page is usually not required in MLA style . However, you might need to create one if 1) your instructor requires it and 2) you are working on a  group project .

How to Do an MLA Title Page?

Want to know how to write a cover page in MLA format ? Let’s go through the essential elements of this format. Here is a list of MLA cover page elements for you to know how to create one:

  • The name of co-authors (for a group project),
  • The name of the instructor,
  • The course number and name,
  • The due date for the project.

How to Format an MLA Title Page?

You must follow the specific formatting rules for an MLA title page. The following are the basic guidelines on how to make an MLA title page:

  • Use double spacing.
  • Keep the letters centered.
  • Use the Times New Roman font style.
  • Use the 12-font size.
  • Capitalize every word, excluding short terms like a, an, or, in, the, end, etc.
  • Place the title of the research paper and subtitle (if applicable) one-third up the page (upper section).

🔒 MLA Format Header

If your instructor does not demand you to create a separate title page for your paper, you can create a running head for the first page. Our MLA header generator will do this in a couple of clicks!

An MLA header is located on the text’s first page in the upper right-hand corner. As for the contents, a header is the same as the title page. However, it requires a different formatting style and is placed on the same page as the actual research paper text.

The MLA format header includes the paper’s title, author name (or names), and course information.  The following are  formatting  guidelines for the MLA header that you must apply to your paper:

  • Double spacing,
  • Left-justified text,
  • Times New Roman font,
  • Font size 12,
  • Right-justified page number.

Once again, you can skip creating an MLA header if you make a separate title page.

📝 MLA Cover Page Examples: Bad & Better

Here is a  good MLA cover page example :

The picture illustrates a good MLA page example.

Students’ most common mistake in an MLA title page is formatting. Here is a typical  example of a wrong MLA format :

The picture illustrates a bad MLA page example.

As you can see, the spacing rules are violated here – there should be empty lines between the author’s and the professor’s names.

With the MLA cover page generator, you can skip all the worry about getting the format right. Our professional instrument will ensure you follow all the rules. Give it a try!

Updated: Aug 16th, 2024

🔗 References

  • MLA General Format // Purdue Writing Lab
  • Using MLA Format | MLA Style Center
  • MLA Format | The University of Kansas Writing Center
  • How to Write an Appendix in a Paper: Examples and Tips on Writing

TAFT COLLEGE

MLA Style Guide, 9th Edition: Formatting Your MLA Paper

  • Works Cited entries: What to Include
  • Title of source
  • Title of container
  • Other contributors
  • Publication date
  • Optional Elements
  • Book with Personal Author(s)
  • Book with Editor(s)
  • Book with Organization as Author
  • Parts of Books
  • Government Publication
  • Journal Article
  • Magazine Article
  • Multivolume Works
  • Newspaper Article
  • Other Formats
  • Websites, Social Media, and Email
  • Works Cited Practice
  • About In-text Citations
  • In-text Examples
  • How to Paraphrase and Quote
  • Formatting Your MLA Paper
  • Formatting Your Works Cited List
  • MLA Annotated Bibliography

MLA recommends using 12-point Times New Roman font or another readable typeface (e.g. serif ).

Use double-spacing throughout the entire paper.

Leave 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and each side.

Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch from the left margin.

Quotes longer than 4 lines should be written as a block of text a half an inch from the left margin.

Heading and Title

An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below:

Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout).

Your Instructor's Name

Course Number or Name

Center the title on the next line. Follow the rules for capitalization. Do not italicize, underline, or bold the title. An exception is when your title includes a title.  Example:  The Attitude toward Violence in A Clockwork Orange

Indent the next line and begin typing your text.

Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of every page. The page numbers will be one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. If your instructor prefers no page number on the first page, begin numbering from 2 on the second page.

Formatting first page MLA MS Word using a MAC

Formatting first page mla goggle.dox, formatting first page mla ms word using pc, mla format setup in word 2013.

The links below provide step by step instructions on setting up your paper using MLA Style guidelines.

  • Formatting Your Paper using MS Word - PC
  • Formatting Your Paper using MS Word - MAC

Sample MLA Paper

  • MLA Research Paper Template Properly formatted MLA Style research paper. Download and save to your computer so that you will always have the correct format for writing.

MLA 8th Edition Paper Formatting

There are three sample papers available in the MLA Style Center. Check them out to see the correct formatting.

  • << Previous: How to Paraphrase and Quote
  • Next: Formatting Your Works Cited List >>
  • Last Updated: Sep 20, 2024 3:59 PM
  • URL: https://lib.taftcollege.edu/c.php?g=628017

IMAGES

  1. Q: What information should I include in a cover page?

    mla format essay cover page

  2. Title page in MLA style

    mla format essay cover page

  3. 🐈 Mla format essay cover page. Here's How to Make a Cover Page For an

    mla format essay cover page

  4. MLA Format for Papers and Essays

    mla format essay cover page

  5. Microsoft Word Cover Page Templates Free Download

    mla format essay cover page

  6. Mla Format Essay

    mla format essay cover page

VIDEO

  1. Formatting Your MLA Essay (Docs)

  2. MLA Essay Formatting

  3. chief election commissioner confrence for mla eLection

  4. How to Save MLA format in Microsoft Word

  5. Title Page (MLA Format)

  6. MLA Style Works Cited List: Citing eBooks

COMMENTS

  1. MLA Format Cover Page

    Learn how to format a cover page for your research paper according to MLA style. See examples of cover page and first page with and without cover page.

  2. Creating an MLA title page

    Here are the steps you need to take to create the perfect MLA title page: At the top of the page, type the name of your high school, college, or university (if applicable). Skip down approximately one-third of the page and type the title of your research paper using title case.

  3. MLA General Format

    Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another.

  4. MLA Sample Paper

    This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. This resource contains a sample MLA paper that adheres to the 2016 updates. To download the MLA sample paper, click this link.

  5. How to Make a Cover Page: Formatting Tips for Students

    How to format an MLA cover page example This type of formatting is generally used for an MLA essay cover in the Humanities (Literature, Philosophy, Languages, or cultural studies). To create an MLA-format cover page example for an essay, you should include the following elements, aligned to the left and double-spaced. Key elements:

  6. How to Make a Cover Page: APA and MLA Format

    1 Place the page number (always 1) in the upper-right corner of the page, flush right with the one-inch page margin. This is part of the running head that goes on every page in APA format, although for student papers this header only includes the page number. 2 Three or four lines down (double-spaced) from the top page margin, write the paper ...

  7. MLA Format Cover Page

    How to Format Your MLA Cover Page: This page is double spaced and the letters are centered. Font: Times New Roman. Font size: 12. The first letter of each word should be capitalized with the exception of very short words such as: the, and, of, or, a, an, in, to, for. Note: the first letter of the first word should be capitalized, regardless of ...

  8. MLA Format

    Cite your MLA source. Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document: Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman. Set 1 inch page margins. Use double line spacing. Include a ½" indent for new paragraphs. Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page. Center the paper's title.

  9. Title Page Setup

    Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page. Place the title three to four lines down from the top of the title page. Center it and type it in bold font. Capitalize major words of the title. Place the main title and any subtitle on separate double-spaced lines if desired.

  10. How to Create an MLA Title Page

    Follow these steps to write a title page in MLA format: Launch Microsoft Word and open a blank document. Under the "File" menu, click on the "New" tab. Use the search bar and type "MLA" to find a sample template. Select the template that corresponds to your document type (research paper, essay, etc.). Check the preformatted document ...

  11. MLA Formatting and Style Guide

    MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

  12. MLA Title Page

    MLA title page format. To create an MLA format title page, list the following on separate lines, left-aligned at the top of the page: Then leave a few blank lines and list the title of the paper, centered and in title case, halfway down the page. All text should be double-spaced and in the same font as the rest of the paper.

  13. MLA: Formatting Your Cover Page

    This is a brief tutorial demonstrating how to format a cover page in Microsoft Word using the 8th edition of MLA Format.

  14. 18 Free MLA Format Templates (Word & PDF)

    Setting up an MLA format involves the following steps: From the tabs and command functions, click Insert, then Page Number, and select Plain Number 3 from the Top of Page window. This creates page numbers. Go to fonts and set it to Times New Roman and size point 12. Enter and center your title.

  15. MLA Format Sample Paper, with Cover Page and Outline

    Source: - Diana Hacker (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006). Here is a sample paper in MLA format that has both the cover page and the outline pages. This paper has 10 pages so if you are under a slow Internet connection, please wait a few seconds for all of the pages to load. This paper is current with the latest MLA manual.

  16. PDF Formatting a Research Paper

    Do not use a period after your title or after any heading in the paper (e.g., Works Cited). Begin your text on a new, double-spaced line after the title, indenting the first line of the paragraph half an inch from the left margin. Fig. 1. The top of the first page of a research paper.

  17. MLA Format Heading

    This page contains guidelines on how to properly format the headings of your research paper using the MLA format. 1. The Opening Page: On the opening page or the first page, you would include the whole heading and your paper's title. The whole heading would include the following information: Your Name. Your Instructor's Name.

  18. Essay Cover Page

    Well, just like MLA, an APA essay cover page is easy to make. To begin with, the APA style title page should include: Running head (Left aligned in the header section). Page Number (Right aligned). Title and subtitle of the essay/paper (centered) Name of the author (centered). Institutional Affiliation (centered).

  19. MLA Page Format

    Click Insert/Header. Tab over to the third box on the right. Under Home, click the align right button so that your cursor is all the way on the right side. Hit the space bar and then click Insert Page # and click the box with the number in the upper right. Click on the body of the paper to get out of the Header box.

  20. How to Write the Perfect Essay Cover Page (2019 Edition)

    An MLA formatted paper will have a cover page that looks slightly different from an APA formatted essay's cover page. Likewise, a Chicago-style paper will have a different style cover page as well. ... MLA Cover Page Format MLA actually does not require one to use a cover page. Usually, the relevant information (name of author, professor's ...

  21. How to Write an Essay Cover Page

    Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor's name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor. Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format: For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page ...

  22. MLA Cover Page Maker

    The following are the basic guidelines on how to make an MLA title page: Use double spacing. Keep the letters centered. Use the Times New Roman font style. Use the 12-font size. Capitalize every word, excluding short terms like a, an, or, in, the, end, etc. Place the title of the research paper and subtitle (if applicable) one-third up the page ...

  23. MLA Style Guide, 9th Edition: Formatting Your MLA Paper

    Heading and Title. An MLA research paper does not need a title page, but your instructor may require one. If no instructions are given, follow the MLA guidelines below: Type the following one inch from the top of the first page, flush with the left margin (double spacing throughout). Your Name. Your Instructor's Name. Course Number or Name. Date.