MLA Heading and Header
Updated September 2026
Two things people mix up: the MLA heading is the four-line block in the top-left of page one; the MLA header is your surname and page number in the top-right of every page. MLA uses no title page, so these do that job.
The heading (page one, top-left)
Your Name Instructor's Name Course Name/Number Day Month Year
Four lines, flush left, double-spaced, same font as the body. The date is in MLA's day-month-year order: 12 June 2026. Directly below the heading comes the centered title (Title Case, plain text), then your first paragraph.
The header (every page, top-right)
Half an inch from the top, right-aligned: your last name + a space + the page number — Alvarez 3. It appears on every page including the first, and updates automatically if you use your word processor's header/page-number feature.
Heading vs. header — the distinction
- Heading — four lines, top-left, page one only, identifies you and the assignment.
- Header — surname + page number, top-right, every page, helps reassemble a dropped stack of pages.
- Title — centered between the heading and the first paragraph; never bold, italic, or underlined.
- No title page in MLA — the heading replaces it (unless your instructor specifically asks for one).
The rest of the paper
Double-spaced throughout, 1-inch margins, ½-inch paragraph indents, and a Works Cited page at the end. Full layout in MLA Format.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- What's the difference between an MLA heading and header?
- The heading is the four-line block (name, instructor, course, date) at the top-left of page one. The header is your surname and page number at the top-right of every page.
- Does MLA use a title page?
- Not by default — the four-line heading on page one replaces it. Add a title page only if your instructor requires one.
- What date format does the MLA heading use?
- Day-month-year: 12 June 2026. Months over four letters are abbreviated in citations but usually written out in the heading.
- Is the title bold or underlined?
- Neither — the title is centered, Title Case, in the same plain font as the body. No bold, italics, underline, or quotation marks.