Yes, a Works Cited page is double spaced in MLA style, with no extra blank lines between entries.
If your teacher circled spacing on a Works Cited page once, you know how annoying a tiny formatting miss can be. The good news: the rule is simple. The tricky part is how word processors sneak in extra space, or how a hanging indent can make spacing look “off” when it’s fine.
This guide walks you through what “double spaced” means on a Works Cited page, what to set in Google Docs and Microsoft Word, and the common spots where spacing goes wrong. You’ll get a quick checklist you can run before you submit.
are work cited pages double spaced? Set spacing double.
Work cited page double spacing rules for MLA papers
In MLA, the Works Cited page uses the same line spacing as the rest of the paper: double spacing from the first line to the last. That means:
- Double space within each citation entry.
- Double space between entries.
- Do not add extra blank lines between entries.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab states to “double-space all entries, with no extra space between entries” on an MLA Works Cited page. MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format is a clean reference if you want to see the rule in print.
| Item | What To Set | What Students Mess Up |
|---|---|---|
| Line spacing | Double (2.0) | Using 1.15 or “Multiple” by mistake |
| Space before/after | 0 pt before, 0 pt after | Extra 6–10 pt after paragraphs |
| Extra blank lines | None | Pressing Enter between entries |
| Title | Works Cited centered, plain text | Bold, underline, or quotes |
| Alignment | Left aligned entries | Fully justified text |
| Hanging indent | 0.5 in (second line onward) | Indenting the first line instead |
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides | Different margins on the last page |
| Font | Readable, same as paper | Switching fonts on the Works Cited page |
Are Work Cited Pages Double Spaced?
Yes. In MLA, the works cited page is double spaced from top to bottom. If you see uneven spacing, it’s often paragraph spacing settings, not your line spacing.
What “double spaced” means in plain terms
Double spacing means there’s a full blank line of vertical space between each line of text. In most editors, the setting is labeled “2.0” or “Double.” It’s not the same thing as pressing Enter after each line, and it’s not the same thing as adding extra space after each paragraph.
On a Works Cited page, each citation is a paragraph. So if your document is set to add “space after paragraph,” you’ll get a bigger gap between entries than MLA wants. That’s the #1 spacing trap.
Works Cited vs. bibliography vs. references
Teachers use these terms differently across classes, so check your assignment sheet. In MLA, the standard page is titled “Works Cited” and lists only sources you cited in the paper. Some instructors ask for a “Works Consulted” page, which can include sources you read but didn’t cite. In APA, the list is called “References.” The spacing rule in APA is also double spacing, which can help when you take classes that switch styles mid-year.
Quick setup in Google Docs
Google Docs gets you close fast, but it can sneak in extra spacing if your text is pasted from another doc. Use these steps to lock it down:
- Select your Works Cited entries (not the whole paper, unless you want the same settings throughout).
- Go to Format → Line & paragraph spacing → choose Double.
- In the same menu, click Custom spacing and set Before and After to 0.
- Set the hanging indent: Format → Align & indent → Indentation options → Special indent → Hanging (0.5″).
How to spot hidden extra spacing in Docs
Click inside one citation entry, then look at the toolbar line spacing icon. If it shows “Add space after paragraph,” click it once to remove. Your entries should look evenly stacked, with the same gap between lines inside an entry and the gap between entries.
Quick setup in Microsoft Word
Word is powerful, and that’s why spacing glitches happen. Word treats each Works Cited entry as a paragraph, and many templates add 8 or 10 points after each paragraph by default.
- Select the Works Cited entries.
- Open Paragraph settings (Home tab → small arrow in the Paragraph group).
- Set Line spacing to Double.
- Set Spacing: Before = 0 pt, After = 0 pt.
- Check the box that says Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style if it appears.
- Set Special indent to Hanging (0.5″).
Word tip that saves frustration
If your teacher wants MLA format across the whole paper, set these paragraph defaults before you write. If you already wrote the paper, apply the paragraph settings just to the Works Cited section so you don’t mess up headings or block quotes.
Common spacing mistakes that cost points
Spacing errors come from tiny, easy-to-miss settings. Run this list before you export to PDF or hit submit.
Adding a blank line between entries
In MLA, you don’t press Enter to create gaps between entries. The double spacing already creates the right visual separation. Extra blank lines turn your Works Cited page into triple spacing in places.
Using “Multiple” instead of “Double”
Some apps set line spacing to “Multiple 1.99” or “Multiple 2.15.” It might look close on screen, but it can print odd. Stick with the standard “Double” option.
Leaving space after paragraphs turned on
This one is sneaky. Your text can still show as double spaced, yet entries sit farther apart than the lines inside them. That’s a red flag. Set “After” spacing to 0 pt.
Hanging indent set backward
A Works Cited entry uses a hanging indent: the first line starts at the left margin, and any wrap lines shift right by 0.5 inch. If you indent the first line instead, your citations will look wrong even if spacing is right.
MLA spacing details that teachers notice
Once your line spacing is correct, the remaining checks take seconds. They’re the sort of small things a grader can mark fast.
Title formatting
Use the label “Works Cited” centered at the top of the page. Keep it in the same font and size as the rest of the paper. Skip bold, italics, underline, and quotes.
Consistent font and margins
MLA does not lock you to one font, yet your Works Cited page should match the paper. Keep margins consistent too. Students sometimes paste citations from a citation tool and end up with a different font size on the last page.
Alphabetical order and spacing
Alphabetize by the first main element of each entry, often the author’s last name. If an entry has no author, alphabetize by title. After that, spacing stays double throughout—no “extra” space after A, B, or C sections.
When double spacing still looks wrong
Sometimes the settings are correct, yet the page still looks messy. That’s usually one of these problems:
- Manual line breaks were inserted with Shift+Enter.
- Mixed styles are applied across entries, so one citation is “Normal” and another is “Body Text.”
- Pasted text carried formatting from a web page or PDF.
Fix it by selecting the whole Works Cited list, clearing formatting, then reapplying double spacing and a hanging indent. In Word, “Clear All Formatting” is your friend. In Docs, use Format → Clear formatting, then reset spacing and indent.
Spacing checks when you use citation tools
Citation generators can save time, yet they can leave odd formatting behind. Many tools output plain text with hidden line breaks, or they paste in a different paragraph style. The result: one entry is double spaced, the next entry has extra space after it, and the whole page looks uneven.
Paste as plain text when you can
If you’re copying a citation from a website, paste without formatting, then apply your Works Cited styling. In Google Docs, use Ctrl+Shift+V (or Command+Shift+V on Mac). In Word, use “Keep Text Only.” This keeps your font, spacing, and indent rules consistent.
Watch for forced line breaks
Some generators insert a manual line break between elements of the same entry. That can break a hanging indent and make spacing look jagged. Click at the end of each line. If your cursor “jumps” to the next line before it reaches the right margin, delete that line break and let the text wrap naturally.
Do a PDF preview before you submit
Spacing can look fine in your editor and shift in a PDF export, mainly when fonts substitute or margins change. Export once, then scan the Works Cited page for one-off gaps, a stray extra blank line, or a single entry that lost its hanging indent. Fix it in the source file, then export again.
APA reference list spacing if your class uses APA
Some classes ask for MLA in one assignment and APA in the next. It helps to know the overlap. APA’s reference list is also double spaced, with no extra lines between references. The APA Style site spells that out on its reference list setup page: Reference list setup.
The labels and punctuation differ between MLA and APA, yet the spacing habit carries over: double spacing throughout, no extra “after paragraph” spacing, and a hanging indent for wrap lines.
| Style | List label | Spacing rule |
|---|---|---|
| MLA | Works Cited | Double spaced, no extra lines between entries |
| APA | References | Double spaced, no extra space between references |
| Chicago notes-bib | Bibliography | Often single spaced entries with a blank line, unless instructor says otherwise |
Submission checklist before you turn it in
Run this quick pass and you’ll catch the spacing stuff that costs points.
What graders spot in ten seconds
Most rubrics start with the easy wins: correct page label, double spacing that stays consistent, and hanging indents that line up. A fast scan also catches extra blank lines and one entry pasted in a different font. If your page looks evenly stacked and left aligned, you’re already ahead.
- Confirm line spacing shows Double (2.0) on the Works Cited page.
- Confirm paragraph spacing Before and After is set to 0 pt.
- Remove any blank lines between entries.
- Check hanging indents: first line flush left, wrap lines indented.
- Scan for one odd citation with different font or spacing, then fix that entry’s style.
- Export to PDF and glance at the last page; spacing can shift with page breaks.
If you’re still unsure, read the prompt on your assignment sheet. Some instructors ask for a different list name or spacing rule for a special format. When the rubric says something else, follow the rubric.
One last reminder: are work cited pages double spaced? In MLA formatting, yes. Set double spacing, kill extra paragraph spacing, and your Works Cited page will look clean on the first try.