Double Space MLA Format | MLA Rules Teachers Check

Double spacing sounds simple, yet lots of papers miss it. Hidden settings like paragraph spacing and pasted text cause most mistakes often.

This article shows what “double spaced” means in MLA, where it applies, and how to set it in Word and Google Docs so your pages look right.

What Double Spacing Means In MLA Papers

In most word processors, “double” is a line spacing value of 2.0. That spacing runs between lines of text, not between paragraphs. Your aim is steady spacing that stays consistent across every part of the paper.

MLA papers are typically double-spaced throughout: the heading, the title, the main text, block quotes, and the Works Cited list. If your class has different rules, follow those rules for the assignment, then keep the rest of MLA consistent.

Where Double Spacing Applies

Use this table as a quick map. It shows what to double-space and what to watch for so you don’t add accidental blank lines.

Paper Part	Spacing Setting	What To Watch
Main body paragraphs	Line spacing 2.0	Turn off extra space “after” paragraphs
First-page heading	Line spacing 2.0	No extra blank line between heading lines
Centered title	Line spacing 2.0	Use one regular line break, not extra “Enter” taps
Block quotes	Line spacing 2.0	Indent the block; don’t switch to single spacing
Works Cited entries	Line spacing 2.0	Use hanging indent; keep spacing consistent
Tables and figure captions	Line spacing 2.0	Captions can drift if pasted from another source
Endnotes (if used)	Line spacing 2.0	Notes often import with mixed spacing
Header with last name and page number	Line spacing 2.0	Header area can keep old settings from a template

Double Space MLA Format Requirements

Double spacing is one piece of MLA presentation. It works best when the rest of the page settings are steady too. This section stays focused on spacing, but it flags the settings that quietly change how “double-spaced” looks on the page.

Line Spacing Vs Paragraph Spacing

Line spacing controls the distance between lines. Paragraph spacing adds extra space before or after a paragraph. Many templates add space after each paragraph, which makes your paper look like it has blank lines even when you never hit Enter twice.

In a standard MLA layout, keep paragraph spacing at 0 before and 0 after, then rely on the first-line indent to show new paragraphs. That gives you clean, even pages that match what most instructors expect.

Page Settings That Keep Spacing Honest

• Margins: 1 inch on all sides is the usual classroom expectation.
• Font and size: A readable, standard font at 12 pt is common in school settings.
• Indenting paragraphs: First line indented 0.5 inch. Don’t add blank lines between paragraphs.

Double Spaced MLA Format Setup In Microsoft Word

Word can look correct on screen and still print with odd gaps if paragraph spacing is turned on. Set line spacing and paragraph spacing together, then lock the settings into your main style.

Set Double Spacing For The Whole Document

1. Select all text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac).
2. Open Paragraph settings (Home tab → the small arrow in the Paragraph group).
3. Set Before to 0 pt and After to 0 pt.
4. Set Line spacing to Double.
5. Check “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style” if you see extra gaps.

Keep Word From Changing Spacing Mid-Paper

If spacing keeps snapping back, a style is doing it. Update the style you’re writing in so new paragraphs don’t inherit old spacing.

1. Find the style in use (often “Normal”), then right-click and choose Modify.
2. Select Format → Paragraph, then set Before 0, After 0, and Line spacing Double.
3. Save the change so the document stays consistent.

Double Spaced MLA Format Setup In Google Docs

In Google Docs, double spacing takes seconds, but extra paragraph space is the usual trap. Fix both settings so your pages keep a steady rhythm.

Apply Double Spacing And Remove Extra Paragraph Space

1. Select all text (Ctrl+A or Command+A).
2. Go to Format → Line & paragraph spacing.
3. Choose Double.
4. Choose Remove space after paragraph (and remove space before, if it appears).

Handle Pasted Text Cleanly

Text pasted from a website or PDF can bring hidden spacing with it. After pasting, select the pasted section and reapply your paragraph settings. If the layout still acts odd, paste without formatting, then reapply your font and spacing.

Double Spaced MLA Format Setup For Headings And Titles

The first page is where spacing mistakes show up fastest. MLA first-page formatting is simple, but it must be consistent: your heading is double-spaced, the title is double-spaced, then your first paragraph starts right away.

First Page Spacing Pattern

• Type the heading lines with one Enter between each line.
• Press Enter once after the last heading line, then type the centered title.
• Press Enter once after the title, then start your first paragraph.

The main idea is “once.” If you double-space the document correctly, pressing Enter once already creates the right vertical gap. Pressing Enter twice creates a triple-spaced look.

Headers And Page Numbers

Most MLA papers use a header with your last name and the page number on the right.

Block Quotes In Double Spaced MLA Format

Block quotes are a common place for spacing to drift. Many writers change settings to “make it fit,” then forget to switch back. Keep the document at double spacing and format the block with indentation instead.

Format A Block Quote Without Breaking Spacing

1. Start the block quote on a new line.
2. Indent the whole block 0.5 inch from the left margin.
3. Keep line spacing at 2.0.
4. Place the citation after the closing punctuation, following your class citation rules.

If your editor has a “Quote” style, it can help with indentation, but make sure it does not switch the line spacing to single. When in doubt, open Paragraph settings and confirm the line spacing remains Double.

Works Cited Spacing In Double Space MLA Format

The Works Cited page should match the rest of the paper: double-spaced, with no extra space between entries. The special part is the hanging indent, not the line spacing.

Hanging Indent Without Extra Blank Lines

1. Start Works Cited on a new page.
2. Center the title “Works Cited” on the first line of that page.
3. Set line spacing to Double and paragraph spacing to 0 before and 0 after.
4. For each entry, use a hanging indent so the first line is flush left and the rest lines up 0.5 inch in.

If you want the official MLA guidance on overall paper formatting, the MLA Style Center paper-formatting rules lays out the standard expectations in one place.

Why Works Cited Often Looks Off

Most spacing issues on Works Cited come from copying citations from a generator or a database. Those sources may paste in invisible line breaks, odd tabs, or paragraph spacing after each entry. The fix is simple: select the whole Works Cited list, set Before 0 and After 0, then reapply Double.

Common Mistakes That Break Double Spacing

These mistakes are easy to miss while you’re writing. A quick scan can catch them before you submit.

Extra Space After Every Paragraph

If your paper looks like it has a blank line between paragraphs, check paragraph spacing. Set spacing before and after paragraphs to 0 and rely on the first-line indent instead.

Manual Blank Lines From Pressing Enter

When a document is truly double-spaced, pressing Enter once creates the expected gap. Extra Enter taps stack empty lines and make the page look uneven.

Mixed Spacing After Pasting Text

Pasted text can bring its own spacing rules. After pasting, select that section and reapply your paragraph settings. In Word, a “keep text only” paste can reduce layout surprises.

Works Cited Entries With Hidden Line Breaks

Hidden line breaks create uneven spacing inside one entry. If an entry breaks in a strange place, place the cursor where the break occurs and backspace once. Then let the text wrap naturally at the margin.

Troubleshooting Double Spaced MLA Format Problems

When spacing looks off, it helps to name the symptom, then fix one setting at a time. This table covers the most common spacing headaches.

What You See	Likely Cause	Fix That Works
Big gaps between paragraphs	Paragraph spacing set after each paragraph	Set Before 0 and After 0 for the whole document
Only the header is single-spaced	Header area uses different paragraph settings	Edit the header and set line spacing to Double
Block quote looks tighter than the rest	Quote style applied with single spacing	Select the block and set line spacing back to Double
Works Cited has space between entries	Extra space after paragraphs	Select the list and set After 0, then reapply Double
Lines look crowded even on Double	Line spacing set to “Exactly”	Switch to Double (2.0 in most editors)
Random lines jump to 1.5 spacing	Mixed formatting from pasted text	Select the section, clear formatting, then reset spacing
Spacing changes after you hit Enter	Style applies new settings on new paragraphs	Modify the style so it keeps Double and After 0

Quick Checks Before You Turn It In

Do a fast review with a spacing lens. You’re checking consistency, not rewriting the paper.

One Minute Visual Scan

• Scroll from top to bottom. Look for sudden tight sections or sudden big gaps.
• Click inside the heading, title, main text, and Works Cited. Confirm each area reads “Double” in paragraph settings.
• Check the first page: heading lines, title, and first paragraph should flow with one Enter between parts.

Three Targeted Tests

1. Click a normal paragraph. Confirm Before 0 and After 0.
2. Click a block quote. Confirm it’s still Double and only indented.
3. Select the Works Cited list. Confirm Double, no extra space between entries, and hanging indents stay aligned.

If your assignment sheet uses the phrase double space MLA format, it’s fine to repeat it in your planning notes. In your essay text, keep the writing natural and let the formatting do the work.

When you set double space MLA format correctly once, the rest gets easier: one Enter between parts, no blank lines between paragraphs, and a Works Cited page that keeps the same rhythm as the body text.

Make Your Spacing Stable For The Next Paper

After you finish this assignment, save a clean template. Start with margins, font, header, and paragraph settings already in place. That way, you won’t spend the last hour hunting down spacing glitches.

On a new paper, set spacing before you write. Then, if you pull in text from outside sources, reset formatting right after you paste. Those two habits prevent most double-spacing problems before they start.