A works cited page is your MLA source list: a new page titled Works Cited, double-spaced, with hanging indents and entries in alphabetical order.
If you’re staring at a blank page and thinking, “what does a works cited page look like?” you’re not alone. The layout clicks once you know the few visual rules that signal MLA.
This walkthrough shows the page setup, the title line, the spacing, and the entry shape you’ll see in most class papers.
What Does A Works Cited Page Look Like?
A Works Cited page looks like the final page of your paper, with the centered heading Works Cited at the top and a list of sources beneath it. The list is double-spaced, the first line of each entry starts at the left margin, and wrap lines are indented half an inch (a hanging indent).
Entries are sorted alphabetically by the first word you see in each entry, often an author’s last name. That left edge becomes a tidy scan line for readers.
| Part Of The Page | What You See | Check |
|---|---|---|
| New Page | Starts after the final paragraph | Insert a page break |
| Title Line | Centered “Works Cited” in plain text | No bold, underline, or quotes |
| Margins | One inch on all sides | Use Page Setup |
| Font And Size | Matches the rest of the paper | Don’t switch fonts here |
| Line Spacing | Double-spaced from top to bottom | No extra blank lines |
| Entry Alignment | First line flush left | Same left edge each time |
| Hanging Indent | Wrap lines indented 0.5 inch | Only the first line “sticks out” |
| Alphabetical Order | A to Z by the first element | Scan the first words down the list |
| Header | Page number continues (if used) | Match your paper’s header rule |
Where The Works Cited Page Goes
In MLA papers, the Works Cited page comes after the final page of your main text. If your paper uses endnotes, the Works Cited list comes after the endnotes.
Page numbering usually continues without a reset. If your instructor wants a header, the Works Cited page follows the same header style as earlier pages.
What A Works Cited Page Looks Like With MLA Spacing
MLA spacing is steady. Double-space the heading and the list, and keep the spacing the same between every line.
Skip extra blank lines. The list should look like one continuous set of entries with consistent rhythm.
How The Heading Line Should Sit
Center the words Works Cited on the first line. Keep the text plain. Start the first entry on the next double-spaced line.
How Hanging Indents Create The Page Shape
The hanging indent creates the classic MLA look. First lines stay flush left. Any line that wraps shifts right by half an inch.
Use your word processor’s hanging indent setting, not tabs or spaces, so the indent stays stable when you edit.
Set A Hanging Indent In Google Docs
- Select your Works Cited entries.
- Go to Format → Align & indent → Indentation options.
- Choose Special indent: Hanging and set it to 0.5.
Set A Hanging Indent In Microsoft Word
- Select your Works Cited entries.
- Open Paragraph settings, then set Special: Hanging to 0.5″.
- Check a long entry to confirm wrap lines indent.
What Goes On A Works Cited Page
A Works Cited page lists every source you cite in your paper. It’s not a reading list. If a source never appears in your in-text citations, it usually doesn’t belong here.
Each entry gives enough detail for a reader to locate the same source again, in print or online.
Use MLA Core Elements To Build Entries
MLA entries use “core elements” placed in a standard order. You include the elements that fit your source, then stop.
The element order is listed on the MLA Style Center page Works Cited: A Quick Guide, which helps when your source feels odd or incomplete.
Think In Source And Container Layers
Many sources sit inside a larger container. An article sits inside a journal. A short story sits inside an anthology. A video sits on a platform.
When the container matters, name it and add the container details after the source title. This is where journal titles, site names, and database names show up.
When A Source Has Two Containers
Some sources travel through more than one “home.” A journal article might appear inside a journal, then inside a database. A film might appear on a streaming platform, then inside an app store listing.
In those cases, list the first container, then add the second container details after it. Use commas to separate parts, and end the entry with a period when you’re done.
How To Write Entries That Look Consistent
After the page layout is set, consistency is the real “polish.” Readers expect patterns: author formatting, title punctuation, container italics, and dates and locations placed in the same spots.
If your list feels uneven, it’s often one missing element or a punctuation pattern that changes mid-list.
Author Names And The First Word Rule
Most entries start with an author’s last name, then first name. That inverted name is what makes alphabetizing straightforward.
If no author is listed, the entry begins with the title. Your A–Z order then follows that title.
Titles, Quotation Marks, And Italics
Short works, like articles, poems, episodes, and web pages, are often placed in quotation marks. Standalone works, like books and films, are commonly italicized.
Match the title text shown in the source, then keep your punctuation pattern steady across the page.
Capitalization And Abbreviations
In many MLA classes, titles use standard English title capitalization. That means you capitalize major words and leave short prepositions and articles in lowercase, unless one starts the title.
Abbreviations for volume, issue, and page numbers are usually shown as vol., no., and pp. in MLA-style templates.
Dates, Page Ranges, And URLs
Use the details that help locate the source. Print articles may need volume, issue, year, and a page range. Web sources may need a publication date and a URL.
When you include a URL, make sure it points to the specific item you used, not a general home page.
DOI Versus URL For Articles
If a scholarly article has a DOI, many instructors prefer it because it stays stable over time. If there’s no DOI, a direct URL can work, especially when the source is open-access.
Match Works Cited Entries To In-Text Citations
The first element of each Works Cited entry is what your in-text citations point to. If your in-text citation starts with an author name, the Works Cited entry should start with that author name.
If your in-text citation uses a shortened title because there’s no author, the Works Cited entry should begin with that same title. This match helps your reader jump from the citation in your paragraph to the right entry on the list.
Common Entry Patterns You Can Copy
Templates cut down on small slips. Fill in your details, delete pieces that don’t apply, then proof the punctuation.
| Source Type | Core Pieces In Order | Sample Template |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Author, Title, Publisher, Year | Last, First. Book Title. Publisher, Year. |
| Book Chapter | Author, Chapter Title, Book Title, Editor, Pages, Publisher, Year | Last, First. “Chapter Title.” Book Title, edited by First Last, pp. xx–xx. Publisher, Year. |
| Journal Article | Author, Article Title, Journal Title, Volume, Issue, Year, Pages, DOI/URL | Last, First. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. x, no. x, Year, pp. xx–xx. DOI or URL. |
| News Site Article | Author, Page Title, Site Name, Date, URL | Last, First. “Page Title.” Site Name, Day Mon. Year, URL. |
| Web Page With No Author | Page Title, Site Name, Date, URL | “Page Title.” Site Name, Day Mon. Year, URL. |
| YouTube Video | Creator, Video Title, Platform, Uploader, Date, URL | Creator. “Video Title.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Mon. Year, URL. |
| Podcast Episode | Host, Episode Title, Podcast Title, Publisher, Date, URL | Host Last, First, host. “Episode Title.” Podcast Title, Publisher, Day Mon. Year, URL. |
| Film | Film Title, Director, Studio, Year | Film Title. Directed by First Last, Studio, Year. |
| Interview | Person Interviewed, Interview Type, Date | Last, First. Personal interview. Day Mon. Year. |
Tricky Cases That Trip People Up
A few edge cases change how an entry starts, which changes how the list sorts. Use the same page rules, then follow the source details you have.
Two Works By The Same Author
Some classes replace a repeated author name in the second entry with three hyphens. Other classes repeat the author name for clarity. Use your instructor’s preference, then keep the titles in alphabetical order under that author.
Organizations As Authors
If an organization is the author, start with the organization name. Alphabetize by that name, then list the title and container details as usual.
Missing Dates Or Page Numbers
If a web source shows no clear date, omit the date rather than guessing. Keep a stable locator, such as a URL. If a print source has no page numbers, omit the page range and keep the rest of the entry intact.
A Five-Minute Build Checklist Before You Submit
Do a fast pass with your eyes before you submit. You’re checking the page as a whole, not just single entries.
- Heading reads Works Cited and is centered.
- Whole page is double-spaced with no extra blank lines.
- Each entry begins flush left.
- Wrap lines are indented 0.5 inch.
- First words down the list follow A–Z order.
- Punctuation patterns repeat cleanly.
Common Fixes When The Page Looks Off
When the page doesn’t match the usual MLA look, the cause is often a setting, not your citation text. Fix the layout first, then proof the entries. Run a final spellcheck, then skim for double spaces, stray commas, and missing italics so the list reads clean on screen.
Spacing And Indents Drift After Edits
Select the list and reapply double spacing, then reapply a true hanging indent setting. Delete tabs and manual spaces used for indentation, since they shift when text wraps.
Alphabetizing Feels Confusing
Alphabetize by the first element of each entry. When there’s no author, sort by the first main word of the title and ignore articles like “A,” “An,” and “The.”
One More Look At The Core Question
If you’re still asking, “what does a works cited page look like?” here’s the mental snapshot: a centered Works Cited heading, double spacing, and hanging indents that make the left edge easy to scan.
When you want the full paper formatting context, MLA shares a short PDF on Formatting a Research Paper. Use it to match your header and margins to the rest of the assignment.