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Microsoft Word will help you format and alphabetize your bibliography entries by utilizing some of its tools.
Using the Hanging Command (newer versions of MS Word):
The easiest way to indent the second and subsequent lines using MS Word is to using the "Hanging" formatting command, which starts the first line on the margin, and then hangs the next lines under the main line -- indented 1/2 inch. In the newer versions of Word, this is the easiest way to format lines.
Works Cited (or Consulted) pages always are positioned at the end of your
document. Place the cursor at the end of your document, and insert a page break.
These menus may vary a little depending on the version of MS Word you are
using.
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| To use the "Hanging" command, place your cursor where you want the lines to "hang."
Go to Format on the main menu bar and select Paragraph. Now
change the "None" to "Hanging" in the Special menu. The default for
the line indent is 1/2 inch. Now lines that you type below where you set
your cursor will automatically "hang" when you type. To return to normal lines, place the cursor under the hanging text, and return the Special command to "None." |
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To add a Works Cited page to your document using the left margin tabs:
1. Place the cursor at the end of your document, and insert a page break.
- Select Insert for the Menu bar.
- Select Break. A window will appear.
- Select Page Break and "OK." A new page will appear at the end of your document.
2. Select Center on the Tool bar and press the enter key twice to go approximately 2 inches down the page. Type "Works Cited." Press enter.
3. Select Flush left on the Tool bar. Your cursor should move to the left margin. Select Double Space.
4. With your mouse, drag the bottom left margin marker on the ruler to the one half inch mark. This will set your left margin so that the first line of an entry will be on the left margin, and subsequent lines will be indented one-half inch, as is required for MLA documentation on the Work Cited page.
5. Type each of your entries. Let each entry wrap to the next line. Do not use the "enter" key until you reach the end of the entire citation.
6. When finished with your entries, you will need to alphabetize them. Use the mouse to select all of the text of your citations. Go to Table on the menu bar, and select Sort Text. A menu will appear. Be sure that it is set up as this picture indicates.
The "paragraphs" under Sort By means that it will sort each entry separately that has been separated by a hard return (you using the enter key at the end of each entry).
7. Select OK and your entries will be alphabetized.*
*If you have a punctuation mark at the beginning of your entry, Word will alphabetize these first, before the letters of the alphabet. Be sure to delete the punctuation mark before sorting and then add it back after sorting! Also, if you have an entry that is being alphabetized by the title of the article (in the case of an anonymous work), and the title begins with an article (the, a), erase the article, or put it at the end of the title (i.e. "Last Person in Town, The") so the entry will be alphabetized correctly and then put the word back in after sorting.
See sample Works Cited page at end of this document.
A basic MLA style sheet has been included in your Instructions group to help you prepare your Works Cited page. This document is called MLA STYLE. To access this document, double click the mouse on the blue MLA STYLE hyperlink above.
