MLA Citation Header: Format, Heading & Page Number Guide
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0 sourcesMLA Citation Header refers to two things in MLA 9th edition: the four-line heading (your name, instructor, course, date) in the top-left of page one, and the running head (your last name plus page number) flush right on every page.
What is an MLA citation header?
An MLA header is the identifying text at the top of an MLA-formatted paper. It has two parts: a four-line heading block in the upper-left of the first page, and a running head — your surname and the page number — in the upper-right corner of every page. MLA uses no separate title page.
People search “MLA citation header” when they mean the paper’s opening block, not a Works Cited entry. Both live under the same style rules: double spacing, a legible font, and 1-inch margins on all sides. Get the header right and the rest of the page falls into place.
What are the MLA header format rules?
Place four lines flush left, one inch from the top and left edges, double-spaced with no extra blank lines: your full name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Below them, center the title. Everything uses the same 12-point font.
| Element | MLA 9 rule |
|---|---|
| Position | Upper-left, flush with the 1-inch left margin |
| Lines | Name / Instructor / Course / Date, each on its own line |
| Spacing | Double-spaced throughout — no extra space between lines |
| Date format | Day Month Year: 18 July 2026 (no commas) |
| Font | Readable, e.g. Times New Roman 12 pt; body and header match |
| Title | Centered under the date, plain text — no bold, italics, or quotes |
What does the header look like, part by part?
The heading names who wrote the paper, for whom, in what class, and when. The running head sits separately in the top-right corner. Read the colour-coded example below to see each piece in its correct place.
- Your name — full name on line one, exactly as your instructor expects it.
- Instructor — line two, with the correct title (Professor, Dr., Ms.).
- Course — line three, the course name or number as listed.
- Date — line four, day-month-year with no commas.
- Running head — surname + page number, flush right, on every page.
How do I add the running head with page number?
Type your last name, one space, then the page number in the upper-right corner, half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin. It repeats on every page, so use your word processor’s header field rather than typing it manually on page one.
The number is a plain numeral — no “p.”, no “page”, no period. MLA lets instructors waive the running head on page one, so check your assignment; when in doubt, leave it on. The running head font and size match the body text.
Running headMilton 1 · Milton 2 · Milton 3
MLA header examples you can copy
Below are three real, correctly formatted heading blocks. In your document each line is double-spaced and the title is centered; the running head appears separately in the top-right corner.
StandardJared Milton / Professor Alanna Reyes / English 102 / 18 July 2026 / Silence and Voice in Modernist Fiction (centered)
Course numberPriya Nandakumar / Dr. Okonkwo / HIST 214 / 3 December 2025 / Trade Routes of the Indian Ocean (centered)
Two-author groupLena Fischer and Marcus 180 (last name of first author only in running head → Fischer 1)
For collaborative papers, MLA suggests listing each name on its own line in the heading; use the first author’s surname in the running head, or check your instructor’s preference.
What are the most common MLA header mistakes?
The frequent errors are adding a title page, bolding the paper title, using the wrong date order, and inserting extra blank lines. MLA is deliberately minimal: no cover sheet, no oversized title, no decorative spacing. Fixing these four issues usually makes a header compliant.
| Mistake | Correct MLA 9 |
|---|---|
| Separate title page | None — heading goes on page one |
| Bold or 14-pt title | Plain 12-pt, centered, title case |
| Date as “July 18, 2026” | 18 July 2026 |
| Extra line before the title | Continuous double spacing |
| “Page 1” in the corner | Surname + numeral only |
How do I set up the header in Word and Google Docs?
In both editors, use the built-in header area for the running head so the page number updates automatically. Type the heading block in the body of the document. Set the whole file to double spacing and a 12-point serif font before you start typing.
Microsoft Word
- Insert > Header > Blank, set alignment to right, type your surname and a space.
- Insert > Page Number > Current Position to add the auto-updating numeral.
- Home > Line Spacing > 2.0; check margins are 1 inch under Layout.
Google Docs
- Insert > Headers & footers > Header, then right-align.
- Type your surname, a space, then Insert > Page numbers.
- Format > Line & paragraph spacing > Double for the body text.
How accurate is this guide, and what are its limits?
These rules follow the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, the current standard as of 2026. They are accurate for standard student essays, but individual instructors and journals often issue their own overrides — and their instructions always win over the general handbook.
This page covers the header, not full document formatting such as block quotations, headings within the body, or the Works Cited list. If your professor supplies a template or a rubric, match it exactly; MLA explicitly defers to assignment guidelines. When your date, name order, or running-head placement differs from a syllabus, follow the syllabus.
MLA header FAQ
Short, direct answers to the questions students ask most about the MLA citation header.