OmniDocLiterature Review in MLA Format: Word Template Setup
Set up a literature review in MLA style in Word, covering margins, the page header, the first-page heading, and a Works Cited page with hanging indents.
A literature review in MLA style often gets formatted by hand at the last minute, and that is where small errors creep in. Margins drift, the header is missing a page number, or the Works Cited entries lose their hanging indent. Students who search for a literature review template MLA usually want one file they can set up correctly once and reuse for every draft. This article walks through that setup in Word.
You will end up with a document that follows MLA rules for margins, font, spacing, the running header, the first-page heading, and the Works Cited page. You will also have a short checklist for confirming the layout before you submit. Everything here applies to the body of a literature review, so you can paste your draft in after the setup is done.
How do you set up an MLA literature review in Word? The short answer
Create one blank document, set the page and text rules once, and save it as your working file before you write a word of the review. The rules are the same as for any MLA paper, so the review needs no special layout.
| Your situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting from scratch in Word | Set margins, font, and spacing before typing | Changing these after the text is in place can shift headings and page breaks |
| Your draft already exists in a Word file | Apply the rules to the whole file, then check each page | Pasted text often keeps old spacing and indents |
| Your draft is a PDF | Convert or export it to Word first, then format it | Formatting rules only apply to an editable file |
| You prefer working in a browser | Use the UniDoc web editor at app.unidoc.top, which offers Word-compatible editing | You get the same page setup and export to a Word-format file |
Before you start
Check these items first, because they decide how you set up the document.
- Your instructor's requirements. MLA sets general rules, but a course may ask for a different font, a title page, or an abstract. Assignment instructions override the defaults in this guide.
- Your source list. Gather the sources you plan to cite so you can format the Works Cited page in one pass rather than revisiting each entry later.
- Your heading details. You will need your name, your instructor's name, the course name and number, and the date in the format your instructor uses.
- Your current draft. If you already wrote the review in another program, copy only the plain text. Pasting formatted text from other sources brings hidden styles with it.
- A plan for saving. Keep the setup file separate from your draft, so you can open a clean copy for every new assignment.
Setting up the MLA layout in Word, step by step
- Open a blank document. Start with an empty Word file, or open a blank document in the UniDoc web editor at app.unidoc.top. A blank file avoids inherited styles from a pre-formatted template.
- Set all four margins to 1 inch. Open the page setup settings and enter 1 inch for top, bottom, left, and right. These are the MLA margins for the whole paper, including the Works Cited page.
- Choose a readable 12-point font and double spacing. Times New Roman at 12 points is a common choice, and MLA asks for a clear, legible font. Apply double line spacing to the whole document so the heading, body, and Works Cited all match.
- Indent the first line of each body paragraph by 0.5 inch. Use the paragraph indent setting rather than pressing the space bar. Set this once in the document's default paragraph style so every new paragraph picks it up.
- Add the running header. Open the header area and type your last name, followed by a space, then insert a page number field. Using a field lets Word number the pages automatically, so you never have to type the numbers by hand. Align the header to the right.
- Build the first-page heading. Type your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date on separate lines, left-aligned and double-spaced. Press Enter once, then center your review title. Do not bold, italicize, or underline the title unless it contains a title that normally uses italics.
- Create the Works Cited page on a new page. Insert a page break after the last page of the review, type "Works Cited," and center it. Keep the title in the same font and spacing as the rest of the paper.
- Apply the hanging indent to the Works Cited entries. Select the entries and set a 0.5-inch hanging indent, so the first line of each entry stays at the margin and the following lines are indented. Sort the entries alphabetically by the first word of each entry.
- Save the setup as a reusable file. Save a copy with a name such as "MLA lit review setup," with the heading placeholders still in place. For each new assignment, open that copy, replace the placeholders, and begin writing.
Check the result
Before you submit or print, scroll through the whole file and check these items.
| Check | How to see it | If it's wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | Open the page setup settings and confirm all four values read 1 inch | Reset the values and reflow the text, then recheck the page breaks |
| Header and page numbers | Scroll through every page, including the Works Cited page | If numbers are missing or typed by hand, delete them and reinsert the page number field |
| Double spacing | Select a paragraph and confirm the line spacing setting is double | Reapply double spacing to the whole document, not just the new text |
| Paragraph indents | Look at the first line of several body paragraphs | Reset the indent in the paragraph settings and remove any extra spaces |
| Works Cited hanging indent | Check that the second and later lines of each entry are indented | Select the entries and reapply the 0.5-inch hanging indent |
| Heading and title | Compare the first page against your instructor's sample or guidelines | Adjust the spacing, alignment, or emphasis to match the rules |
If you draft in a PDF tool and export to Word, open the exported file and repeat these checks, because exported layouts can differ from the original. Do not treat any export as final until you have reviewed it page by page.
❓ FAQ
1. Does an MLA literature review need a title page?
Usually not. MLA places the heading on the first page of the paper, followed by the title, so a separate title page is not part of the standard layout. Follow your instructor's instructions if they ask for one.
2. Should the title be bold or underlined?
No. MLA asks for the title to be centered in the same font as the body text, without bold or underline. Italics apply only when the title itself refers to a work that normally uses italics.
3. Can I use a general Word template instead?
You can, but check it carefully. Many generic templates use different spacing, add a cover page, or set a different header style. Compare its margins, spacing, and header with the steps above before you use it.
4. Does a literature review need an abstract?
MLA papers do not normally include one. Add an abstract only if your instructor requires it.
📝 Summary
Formatting a literature review in MLA style comes down to one setup file with the right margins, font, spacing, header, heading, and Works Cited layout. Build that file once, check it page by page, and reuse it for each new review. Confirm your instructor's specific rules before you finalize the document.
