Formatting an essay in MLA (Modern Language Association) style can be tricky, even for experienced writers. Missing italics, incorrect citations, or misplaced page numbers can cost you points—but these errors are easy to fix once you know what to look for.
At Essay24.com, we’ve reviewed thousands of papers and noticed the same MLA format mistakes popping up repeatedly. Below, we break down the most common errors, provide corrections with examples, and share pro tips to ensure your next essay is flawless.
1. Incorrect First Page Header
❌ Mistake:
John Smith
English 101
May 5, 2024
✅ Correction:
John Smith
Professor Johnson
English 101
5 May 2024
MLA requires your professor’s name and European date format (day month year).
2. Wrong Page Number Format
❌ Mistake: “Page 1” at bottom center
✅ Correction: “Smith 1” in top right corner
Last name and number only, no “page” label.
3. Incorrect Title Formatting
❌ Mistake:
THE GREAT GATSBY: SYMBOLISM
✅ Correction:
Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
No all caps, no unnecessary italics, standard title case.
4. Misformatted In-Text Citations
❌ Mistake: (Fitzgerald, p. 42)
✅ Correction: (Fitzgerald 42)
No “p.” abbreviation, no comma before page number.
5. Works Cited Not Alphabetized
❌ Mistake:
- Smith, John
- Adams, Mary
✅ Correction:
- Adams, Mary
- Smith, John
Always alphabetize by author’s last name.
6. Missing Hanging Indents
❌ Mistake:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great…
✅ Correction:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great…
(Second line indented 0.5″)
Use Paragraph Settings > Special > Hanging in Word.
7. Wrong Source Title Formatting
❌ Mistake: “The Great Gatsby”
✅ Correction: The Great Gatsby
Book titles italicized, not in quotes.
8. Incorrect Spacing
❌ Mistake: Single-spaced text
✅ Correction: Entire document double-spaced
No exceptions – everything double-spaced.
9. Missing Access Dates
❌ Mistake:
www.example.com/article
✅ Correction:
www.example.com/article. Accessed 5 May 2024.
Required for all online sources without publication dates.
10. Extra Paragraph Spacing
❌ Mistake: Paragraphs with blank lines between
✅ Correction: Indent first line, no extra spacing
Indent first line 0.5″ instead of adding space between paragraphs.
Pro Tip: Always check your paper against the official MLA Handbook (9th edition) or use our Essay24.com formatting service to guarantee perfect MLA style.
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