Typing a poem in MLA format means 1-inch margins, double spacing, an MLA header, and poem line breaks kept as written.
MLA formatting can feel picky, yet it’s often the fastest part to fix. Once your page is set, you can write without second-guessing spacing.
This article shows how to format a standalone poem and how to type poem lines in an MLA essay. You’ll get rules for spacing, stanzas, quotes, and citations.
Page setup checklist before you type
Lock in the document settings first. If your teacher gives class rules that differ from MLA, follow the class rules.
| MLA element | What to set | Quick note |
|---|---|---|
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides | Use page setup, not manual spaces. |
| Font | Readable 12-pt font | Times New Roman is common; match your class rule if stated. |
| Line spacing | Double-space the full document | Set spacing in Paragraph settings so it stays consistent. |
| Paragraph indent | First line indent 0.5 inch | Use the ruler or Paragraph indent, not eyeballed tabs. |
| Header | Last name + page number, top right | Put it in the header area so it repeats on each page. |
| Heading block | Your name, teacher, course, date (top left) | Four lines, double-spaced, no labels unless required. |
| Title | Centered, plain text | No bold, no italics, no underline unless the title itself needs it. |
| Page size | Letter (8.5×11) unless told otherwise | Check before printing or exporting to PDF. |
How To Type A Poem In MLA Format
When people search “how to type a poem in mla format,” they usually mean one of two tasks: formatting a poem you wrote as a standalone submission, or typing poem lines inside a longer MLA paper. The page rules stay the same, and the poem formatting shifts based on the task.
Set up your document in Word or Google Docs
In Word, set 1-inch margins in Layout, pick a readable 12-point font, then set Line spacing to Double. In Google Docs, use File > Page setup for margins and Format > Line & paragraph spacing for Double.
Next, add the MLA header. Open the header area, type your last name, then insert a page number so it updates on its own. This avoids page-number drift when you revise.
Type the MLA heading and title
On page one, type your name, your teacher’s name, your course, and the date on four separate lines at the top left. Press Enter once, center your title, press Enter again, then switch back to left alignment for the poem.
Decide if you need a title page
Most MLA papers start right on page one with the heading block and title. Some teachers still ask for a title page. If you’re told to add one, follow the class rule and keep the rest of the paper in standard MLA layout after that first page.
One small trap: don’t add extra blank lines under the title “to make room.” Stay double-spaced and let the text flow.
Know when to start a new page
Use page breaks so Works Cited starts on a new page, and start a second full poem on a new page unless told otherwise.
Typing a poem in MLA format for class papers
Poems don’t behave like paragraphs. Line breaks carry meaning, so your job is to keep the poem’s lineation intact while still following MLA page rules.
Keep line breaks as the poem has them
Type each poetic line and press Enter at the end of that line. If a single line runs past the right margin, let it wrap naturally. Don’t force a hard break mid-line. Keep going until that poetic line ends, then press Enter once.
Show stanza breaks with one blank line
Between stanzas, press Enter once to leave a blank line. Keep that spacing uniform from start to finish. Extra blank lines can make the poem look like it has more stanzas than it does.
Handle indentation the way the poem uses it
Some poems indent certain lines for shape or rhythm. Keep that indentation. In Word or Docs, use Tab or the ruler indent so each indented line lands in the same spot.
If you need two indent levels, set custom tab stops. That keeps your spacing steady instead of stacked spaces that drift as you edit.
Title rules for poems you submit
If your poem has a title, keep it centered and plain text. If the poem is untitled, use the first line as the title. Put that first line in quotation marks and center it.
How to quote a poem inside an MLA essay
If you’re writing an essay and need to include lines from a poem, MLA gives you two formats: short quotations that stay in your paragraph, and long quotations that become a block. The switch point is based on line count.
Quote up to three lines in your paragraph
For one to three lines of verse, use quotation marks. Use a slash between lines, with a space on both sides of the slash. After the quote, add a parenthetical citation with the author’s last name and the line number or line range.
Place the citation right after the closing quotation mark, then put your period after the parenthesis. If you name the poet in your sentence, you can cite only the line numbers in parentheses.
Quote four or more lines as a block
For four or more lines of verse, start the quote on a new line, indent it 0.5 inch from the left margin, and keep double spacing. Do not use quotation marks around the block.
Preserve the poem’s line breaks. Put the parenthetical citation after the last line of the block, with no period after the citation.
To double-check the core MLA page rules, match your file against Purdue OWL MLA General Format. For the MLA organization’s own layout notes, read MLA Style Center formatting papers.
Use ellipses and brackets without changing meaning
If you remove words from a quoted line, use an ellipsis. If you add a clarifying word, put it in square brackets. Keep edits small so the poem’s voice stays the poem’s voice.
In-text citations for poems
Poems can be printed with line numbers, without line numbers, or inside collections with page numbers. MLA still wants a clear pointer so your reader can find the same passage.
When the poem has line numbers
Use the line number or line range in your parenthetical citation. Stay consistent: if you cite lines once, keep using lines for that source.
When the poem has no line numbers
If there are no printed line numbers, you can count lines yourself and cite the line range you counted. If your source has stable pages, many teachers accept page numbers instead.
When you cite more than one poem by the same poet
If your Works Cited lists two poems by the same author, add a short form of the poem title in the parenthetical citation so the reader knows which one you mean. Keep it short and match the title you used in Works Cited.
Works Cited entries for poems
Your Works Cited entry changes with where you found the poem. Use the details your source gives you, then keep the order MLA expects: author, title of the poem, container, publisher details, and location details.
Poem in a book by a single author
Poet’s last name, first name. “Poem Title.” Book Title, Publisher, Year, pp. page range.
Poem in an anthology
Poet’s last name, first name. “Poem Title.” Anthology Title, edited by Editor Name, Publisher, Year, pp. page range.
Poem on a website
Poet’s last name, first name. “Poem Title.” Site Name, Publisher or sponsor, Date, URL.
Quick citation patterns for common poem sources
| Where the poem is from | In-text citation tip | Works Cited core pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Printed poetry book | (Lastname 14–18) with line range | Poet; “Poem Title”; Book Title; Publisher; Year; pp. |
| Anthology with editor | (Lastname 72) or line range | Poet; “Poem Title”; Anthology Title; edited by Editor; Publisher; Year; pp. |
| Website page | (Lastname lines 5–9) or your counted lines | Poet; “Poem Title”; Site Name; date; URL. |
| Database or online collection | Use line numbers if shown; else page from PDF | Poet; “Poem Title”; Collection Name; database; URL or DOI. |
| Poem with no author listed | Use a short title (“Title” 3–6) | “Poem Title”; Container; publisher; date; location. |
Common formatting snags and quick fixes
Extra spacing that won’t go away
If lines spread out, check paragraph spacing. In Word, set spacing Before and After to 0 pt. In Docs, turn off “Add space before paragraph” and keep double spacing on.
Line breaks collapse when you paste
Pasting from a web page can crush stanza breaks. Paste into a plain text editor first, then copy into your document. After that, restore stanza blank lines by hand.
Indentation drifts from line to line
Spaces drift as you edit. Use tabs or the ruler indent. If you need a repeatable second indent, set a tab stop so the spacing stays even.
Small layout choices that make poems readable
MLA doesn’t ask you to turn a poem into a paragraph. Keep left alignment for the poem body unless the poem itself uses centering or stepped lines. Don’t indent the first line of each stanza just because your essay paragraphs use an indent; poems follow their own shape.
If your poem uses an epigraph or a dedication line, set it the way you wrote it in your draft. Keep the same font and spacing as the rest of the document, unless your teacher asks for single spacing in that area.
If you’re printing, check that wrapped lines don’t get cut off by printer margins.
Final pass checklist for a clean MLA poem
Before you submit, run this quick pass. If you came here for “how to type a poem in mla format,” this list is the last screen you’ll want to see.
- Margins are 1 inch and the document is double-spaced from top to bottom.
- Header shows your last name and an auto-updating page number in the top right.
- Heading block has your name, teacher, course, and date on four separate lines.
- Title is centered and plain text.
- Poem lines keep the same line breaks as the source or as your draft.
- Stanzas are separated by one blank line.
- Indented lines use tabs or ruler indents, not stacked spaces.
- Short quotes use slashes; long quotes use a block with preserved line breaks.
- In-text citations point to line numbers or stable pages, and Works Cited matches the source type.
- You saved the file with a clear name and exported to PDF if your class portal prefers it.
Once these boxes are checked, your formatting is done. Then you can spend your energy on the words, not the layout.