How to Make an MLA Header: Guidelines & Examples

When writing an academic paper in the humanities, whether for English literature, history, art history, or philosophy, formatting matters just as much as your core argument. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is the standard formatting system used by secondary and post-secondary institutions across the world.

One of the first things an instructor or grader sees when looking at your paper is the top left corner of the first page: the MLA header. While it might seem like a small administrative detail, an improperly formatted header signals a lack of attention to detail before your reader even gets through the opening line.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down everything you need to know about creating a flawless MLA header according to the latest MLA guidelines (9th Edition). We will cover formatting rules, line-by-line requirements, the difference between a header and a running head, special cases (like multi-author papers), and common mistakes to avoid.

1. What is an MLA Header?

In MLA style, an essay or research paper does not require a separate title page unless your instructor specifically requests one. Instead, all essential identifying information is placed directly at the top left of the first page of your essay. This four-line block of information is known as the MLA header.

The primary purpose of the MLA header is identification and organization. It tells your instructor:

• Who wrote the paper
• Who the paper was written for
• Which course or class section it belongs to
• When the paper was submitted

Beyond the four-line header block, MLA style also demands a running head (page number and your last name) at the upper right margin of every page, including the first. 

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2. General Page Setup & Formatting Rules

Before typing a single word of your header, you must ensure your document’s basic formatting settings align with standard MLA 9th Edition guidelines:

• Margins: Set all margins, top, bottom, left, and right, to exactly 1 inch (2.54 cm).
• Font: Select an easily readable font where standard and italicized text are clearly distinguishable. While Times New Roman (12-point) remains the traditional gold standard, MLA 9th Edition also accepts other standard fonts like Arial (11-point) or Calibri (11-point) unless your instructor specifies otherwise.
• Line Spacing: The entire document, including the four-line header, the paper title, and the main body text, must be double-spaced. Do not add extra spacing before or after lines or between paragraphs.
• Text Alignment: The header block must be aligned to the left margin.
• Paragraph Indentation: The first line of every body paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches (one tab press).

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3. The Four-Line MLA Header: Step-by-Step Breakdown

The standard MLA header consists of exactly four lines placed in the top left corner of your first page. It sits within the body text area (1 inch from the top margin), not inside the top margin header box.

Let’s break down what goes into each line:

Line 1: Student’s Full Name

Type your full legal name or the name you use for official course enrollment. Avoid nicknames unless your professor specifically allows them.

• Example: Eleanor Vance

Line 2: Instructor’s Name

Type your instructor’s title and last name (or full name). Always check your syllabus to see how your professor prefers to be addressed (e.g., Dr. Smith, Professor Davis, or Ms. Gable).

• Example: Dr. Marcus Aurelius

Line 3: Course Name & Number

Include the official course title and any specific section or class numbers. This helps instructors who teach multiple sections of the same class keep track of your paper.

• Example: ENG 102: Composition II or HIST 201-03

Line 4: Date of Submission

In MLA style, dates follow the Day Month Year format (international date format). Do not use commas, and do not write out the date in numerical shorthand (e.g., 10/12/2026). Spell out the full name of the month.

• Example: 12 October 2026

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4. The Paper Title & Main Body

Directly below the four-line header block comes your paper’s title:

1. Press Enter once (maintaining double-spacing).
2. Align the text to the Center.
3. Type your title using title case capitalisation (capitalize major words: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs; lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions unless they start the title or subtitle).
4. Do not bold, underline, italicize, or place quote marks around your entire title. (Italicize or use quotes only for titles of other works included within your title, e.g., Theme of Identity in “The Yellow Wallpaper”).
5. If you have a subtitle, separate it from the main title using a colon and a space (:).

After the title, press Enter once more, align the text back to the Left, press Tab to indent 0.5 inches, and begin typing your first paragraph.

5. The Running Head (Page Numbers)

While the four-line header sits on the page body, the running head sits inside the document’s header area—specifically in the top right-hand corner, 0.5 inches from the top edge of the page and right-aligned to the 1-inch right margin.

Rules for the Running Head:

• It includes your last name, followed by a single space, followed by the page number.
• It appears on every page of your paper, starting on page 1.
• Use the automated page numbering feature in your word processor (Word, Google Docs, Pages) so that page numbers update dynamically.
• The font and size of the running head must match the rest of your document (e.g., Times New Roman, 12pt).

Example of a Running Head: Vance 1

6. Complete MLA First Page Example

To visualize how all these components fit together on page 1, review the template below:

Vance 1

Eleanor Vance

Dr. Marcus Aurelius

ENG 102: Composition II

12 October 2026


                The Dual Nature of Fear in Gothic Literature

   The architectural design of Hill House serves as more than a simple backdrop 
for Shirley Jackson's narrative; it acts as an active catalyst for psychological 
disintegration. As modern readers explore mid-twentieth-century horror...

7. Special Cases & Exceptions

While the four-line header works for 90% of academic papers, certain assignments require tweaks to the standard format.

A. Multi-Author Papers (Group Assignments)

If you are submitting a paper written by two or more students:

• List every author’s full name on separate lines in alphabetical order by last name, or in order of contribution if instructed.
• For the running head, if there are two authors, include both last names (Smith and Jones 1). If there are three or more authors, use the first author’s last name followed by et al. (Smith et al. 1).

Group Header Example:

Group Header Example:

Arthur Pendelton
Gwen Stacy
Peter Parker

Professor Curt Connors

BIO 301: Advanced Genetics

15 November 2026

B. When a Cover / Title Page IS Required

Occasionally, an instructor will specifically request a standalone cover page (or if your paper is unusually long, like a thesis or capstone project).

If a title page is required:

1. Omit the four-line header block from page 1 of the body text.
2. Center the paper title about one-third of the way down the page.
3. Center your name, instructor’s name, course, and date near the bottom third of the page.
4. The running head (Lastname 1) is usually omitted on the cover page itself, beginning instead on page 2 (or starting on page 1 of the body text, depending on instructor preference).

8. Step-by-Step Instructions for Software Setup

Setting up margins, line spacing, and header areas varies depending on which word processor you use. Here is how to format an MLA header in the two most popular writing applications.

In Microsoft Word

1. Margins: Go to Layout > Margins > Select Normal (1 inch on all sides).
2. Spacing: Select all text (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), go to Home > Paragraph Settings (or the line spacing icon) > Set Line Spacing to Double. Ensure Before and After paragraph spacing are set to 0 pt.
3. Four-Line Header: Type your four lines on page 1.
4. Running Head:
   • Double-click inside the top margin of the page to open the Header area.
   • Go to Header & Footer options > Page Number > Top of Page > Select Plain Number 3 (Right-aligned).
   • Click directly to the left of the inserted page number, type your last name, and press space.
   • Highlight the running head text and ensure its font matches your body text (e.g., Times New Roman, 12pt).

In Google Docs

1. Margins: Go to File > Page setup > Ensure top, bottom, left, and right margins are set to 1 inch.
2. Spacing: Click Format > Line & paragraph spacing > Select Double. Ensure “Remove space before/after paragraph” is applied if extra space appears.
3. Four-Line Header: Type your four lines directly on the main document canvas.
4. Running Head:
   • Go to Insert > Headers & footers > Header.
   • Click Options > Page numbers > Position: Header, Start at: 1 > Click Apply.
   • Align the number to the Right (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R).
   • Type your last name before the number and add a space. Set font and size to match the rest of your essay.

9. Common MLA Header Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned students occasionally make minor formatting slips. Double-check your paper against this list of common pitfalls before submitting:

Common Mistake	Correct MLA Practice
Putting the 4-line header inside the document’s header box	Keep the 4-line block on the main body of page 1. Only the running head (Lastname 1) goes in the top margin header box.
Formatting the date as 10/12/26 or October 12th, 2026	Use the strict Day Month Year format with no commas or ordinal suffixes (12 October 2026).
Adding an extra blank line between the date and the title	Maintain consistent double-spacing throughout; do not add extra blank lines anywhere.
Bolding or underlining the paper title	Titles should be formatted in standard weight, centered, using title case capitalisation.
Manually typing page numbers on every page	Always use your word processor’s automated Insert Page Number tool so page numbers adjust automatically.
Forgetting to match the font in the running head	Word processors often default the header area font to Calibri or Arial. Change it manually to match your essay’s body font.

10. Summary Checklist

Before you hit “Submit” on your paper, do a quick visual check:

• [ ] Are all margins set to 1 inch?
• [ ] Is the entire document double-spaced without extra gaps?
• [ ] Does your running head (Lastname Page#) appear right-aligned in the top margin of each page? 
• [ ] Is the font in your running head identical to the font in the main body?
• [ ] Does the top-left corner contain your name, instructor’s name, course, and date on separate lines?
• [ ] Is the date written as Day Month Year (e.g., 28 July 2026)?
• [ ] Is your title centered, in title case, and unbolded?

By following these simple rules, you ensure your paper starts on a professional, polished, and academically rigorous foot!

Conclusion

Mastering the MLA header may feel like a small detail in the broader scope of research and writing, but it serves as the essential doorway to your academic work. 

Following these precise guidelines, from line spacing and 1-inch margins to the exact structure of your running head, demonstrates academic integrity, respect for formatting standards, and a high level of attention to detail before your reader even engages with your main argument. 

By using the step-by-step breakdown and checklist provided in this guide, you can confidently format your first page every single time, allowing your ideas and writing to take center stage without the distraction of avoidable formatting errors.