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Formatting an Academic Paper in Microsoft Word

Title Pages in APA

Creating a Title Page for a Paper in APA Format

  1. A title page is required for papers in APA format.
  2. If you're adding a title page to an existing document, click in the upper-left corner of the first page.
  3. Click the Insert tab.
  4. Click the "Blank Page" button.
  5. All of the information on your title page should be vertically centered (to center your text, highlight it, then press Ctrl-E). 
  6. Press Enter three or four times to create space at the top of your title page.
  7. Type the title of your paper in boldface on one or two lines. Press Enter two times.
  8. Type your first name, middle initial and last name. Press Enter.
  9. Type your institutional affiliation (e.g. Department of English, Tacoma Community College). Press Enter.
  10. Type the course name and number (e.g. ENGL 271: Contemporary American Literature). Press Enter.
  11. Type the date on which the paper is due.

Title Pages in MLA

Creating a Title Page for a Paper in MLA Format

  1. A title page is optional for a paper in MLA format unless your instructor requests one.
  2. All text on the title page should be vertically centered (to center your text, highlight it, then press Ctrl-E).
  3. The title page begins with the name of your college (e.g. Tacoma Community College).
  4. Press Enter 8 times to bring the cursor about one-third of the way down the page.
  5. Type the title of your paper. Press Enter and type the subtitle of the paper, if necessary.
  6. Press Enter 7 times to create more space.
  7. Type your first and last names. Press Enter
  8. Type the name and number of your course (e.g. ENGL 271: Contemporary American Literature). Press Enter.
  9. Type your teacher's name. Press Enter.
  10. Type the date the assignment is due.

Formatting the First Page of a Paper in MLA Format

  1. All pages in an MLA-formatted paper should be double-spaced.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the first page, type your first and last name. Press Enter.
  3. Type your instructor's name. Press Enter.
  4. Type the name and number of your class (e.g. ENGL 271: Contemporary American Literature ). Press Enter.
  5. Type the date on which the assignment is due. Press Enter.
  6. Type the title of your paper. The title should be vertically centered (to center the title, highlight it, then press Ctrl-E). Press Enter.
  7. Press Ctrl-L to align your text with the left-hand margin. Begin typing your paper.

CC BY SA license

Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.

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