MLA Heading Tool
MLA Heading Generator
Generate a proper MLA 9 first-page heading. Fill in the fields below and see a live preview.
Preview
Your heading will appear here...
First paragraph begins here...
What Is an MLA Heading?
The MLA heading is the four-line block that appears at the top-left corner of the first page of your paper. It identifies you, your instructor, your course, and the date.
The heading is left-aligned, double-spaced, and uses the same 12pt Times New Roman font as the rest of the paper. There is no extra space between heading lines.
MLA Heading Format
The four lines appear in this order:
- Your name — First and last name
- Instructor name — Professor, Dr., or full name as your instructor prefers
- Course — Course name or number (e.g., ENG 101, English Composition)
- Date — In Day Month Year format (e.g., 15 September 2024)
MLA Heading Example
John Smith
Professor Davis
ENG 101
15 September 2024
The paper title appears centered on the next line, below the heading:
Research Paper Title
MLA Heading vs. Title
These are two different things:
- Heading = the four-line block with your name, instructor, course, and date. Left-aligned at the top of page 1.
- Title = the title of your paper. Centered below the heading.
Do not put the title in the heading. Do not bold, underline, or enlarge the title. MLA titles are in plain text, centered.
Common Mistakes
The MLA heading is always left-aligned. Only the title is centered.
The heading uses plain text. No bold, italics, underline, or larger font size.
The heading identifies you. The title identifies your paper. They are separate elements.
MLA does not require a separate title page unless your instructor specifically asks for one.
MLA uses Day Month Year (15 September 2024), not Month Day, Year (September 15, 2024).
How to Use the Generator
- Enter your name, instructor name, course, and date in the fields above.
- Optionally add a paper title to see it centered below the heading.
- Preview your heading in the document preview below the form.
- Copy the heading text, or click "Use in MLA Formatter" to transfer your details to the full formatter.