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MLA Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition): End of Paper Checklist

A guide to citing sources in MLA style.

MLA 9th Edition End of Paper Checklist

This checklist will help you evaluate whether your MLA formatted assignment is ready to turn in or still needs more work. 

In-Text Citations

  • Have you included in-text citations for every source you have quoted and/or paraphrased?
  • Are the in-text citations properly constructed according to MLA style?
  • Does every in-text citation have a complete, matching citation in your Works Cited list?

Works Cited Page

  • Does it say Works Cited at the top of your page, centered, without any bolding, italicizing, or underlining?
  • Is the Works Cited page double spaced?
  • Are the citations in alphabetical order by the first word of each citation?
  • Are the citations properly constructed according to MLA style?
  • Is the second line of any citations longer than one line indented half an inch? This is called a "hanging indent" in your paragraph settings. 
  • Does each citation in the Works Cited list have a matching in-text citation in your assignment?

Overall Paper Presentation

  • Did you cite the appropriate number of sources according to your assignment instructions?
  • Is your paper double-spaced?
  • Are the margins set at 1" (2.54cm)?
  • Did you list your name, your instructor's name, course number, and date submitted before the title of your paper? (Unless required by your instructor, MLA style papers do not have cover pages.)
  • Are your body paragraphs left-aligned? Are the first lines of your paragraphs indented by a half inch?
  • Is your paper in an easy-to-read typeface (e.g. Arial, Times, New Roman) with a font size of 11 pt, 12 pt, or 13 pt?
  • Did you create a header at the top right of each page with your last name and page number?

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